Baca Stars As IMCA Season Opens In Arizona

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — The IMCA point season opened Friday night at Central Arizona Raceway with five divisions on hand.

The 96-car field moved the top four or five from each heat to the redraw for main event starting positions. The number of heats determined the redraw count.

The stock cars were led by Kaden Woodie after he used the low line on the start to grab the lead from inside the second row. On one of the many restarts, Woodie slid up the track in turn two and Clay Erickson claimed the lead.

A couple laps later, on another restart, Erickson was the one to slide up turn two and Woodie was again in the lead. No further bobbles in turn two and Woodie won over Erickson and Larry Brignar.

Mark Martini led the Northern sport mod main for a couple laps until Kaden Woodie used the top line out of turn four to take the lead. That lasted a short while before Martini used a slider in turn four to regain the lead. Martini held on for the win over Woodie and James Meile.

Steve Bitting Jr. led all 20 laps of the hobby stock main with early pressure keeping things in doubt until Bitting Jr. stretched his lead to a more comfortable gap. A dramatic battle for second was settled when Zack Tate took the spot ahead of Reven Bitting.

The modifieds were led by Luke Silber for a couple laps before fifth starting Chaz Baca used the bottom of turns one and two to claim the lead.

A restart with five laps remaining presented hope for Baca’s followers, but Baca pulled away for the win. Luke Silber was second and Michael Egurola finished third.

The sport compact division finished the evening with a win by Billy Foultz.

Saturday night the second round of IMCA racing at Central Arizona Raceway can be viewed at SPEED SPORT affiliate IMCA.tv.