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Batesville bringing IMCA Modifieds back to Friday night shows
BATESVILLE, Ark. (January 24) – A familiar division is back at Batesville
Motor Speedway this season, with the return of IMCA Modifieds to Friday
night race programs.
Sanctioned Modifieds had been a weekly staple at the north central Arkansas
speedplant from 1992 through 2001 and featured some of the best drivers and
highest average weekly car counts in the IMCA ranks those sea¬sons.
“Modifieds have turned into late models in terms of the cost. They’ve really
gotten out of hand and I’m one of the reasons why,” promoter Mooney Starr
said. “It was good when we paid $100,000 to win the Alltel 100 in 2004 and
word really got out about the division.”
“It was bad because that’s when guys started running $20,000 engines and
everything that goes with them,” he contin¬ued. “That’s wrong, because the
Modified is really for the weekly racer. There are drivers who can afford to
spend a lot of money, but most of them can’t. No one wants to come to the
track knowing they’re run¬ning for 17th or 18th place.”
IMCA rules will be in effect but Batesville’s $2,000 to win, $250 to start
March 25-27 Mid-America Modified Championship will not be sanc¬tioned, so
the winners of the three features will not qualify for the Fast Shafts
All-Star Invitational ballot.
Opening night of the regular point season is April 2 and IMCA point races
continue through Sept. 3.
“Going back to the sanction is going to be a big change. There’s been some
griping, but that’s to be ex¬pected,” said Starr. “After the season gets
started, drivers will realize the playing field is even and they’ll like it.
Two years from now, they’ll like it even more when they still have money in
their wallet and their bank ac¬count.”
Local track points earned at Batesville also count toward IMCA’s ButlerBuilt
Central Region standings.
“Batesville is not only one of the most recognized tracks in the area but in
the country and Mooney is one of the most entertaining and candid promoters
in the industry,” IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root said. “I
hated to see them drop their sanction but I’m glad they’re back and look
forward to building on this many years into the future.”
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