SOMERTON, Ariz. — Ethan Dotson redrew the pole and surprised nobody by winning his fourth consecutive IMCA.tv Winter Nationals modified main on Thursday at Cocopah Speedway.
With another $1,000 victory, Dotson earned a $500 bonus from Devilbiss Racing Chassis and one more win will increase the bonus to $1,000.
A 191-car field of five IMCA-sanctioned divisions returned for the first of the final three nights of the series.
Winning one of the six heats put Dotson in the redraw and getting the pole meant 24 other drivers faced a big challenge.Â
Dotson has been flawless in his fast modified and continued that trend, only losing some of his lead by driving in traffic the final 15 laps of the all green race. Tripp Gaylord was second and Tim Ward was third.
Stock cars lined up with Dallon Murty from Chelsea. Iowa making his first start in the series taking the lead in turn two when the front row tangled briefly. That lasted one lap when Josh Most used turn four’s bottom to lead after the second time around the three-eighths-mile oval.Â
Most built a six-car-length gap but Murty began to lessen the lead with top line laps, reaching Most with four remaining. When Most threw a turn four slider. Murty used a crossover move to take the lead.
A final lap had a side-by-side battle but Murty, driving a car he’d never sat in until practice the night before, used the top of turn four to post the win.
Bo Partain took second by driving under Most coming out of turn four to the checkers.
Northern sport mod action saw Shelby Alves led all but one lap to record the win. Shane Paris ran the top of turn four to lead lap three, but Alves used the bottom of the same turn to lead again a lap later. Alves won over Andrew Beckham and Izac Millicoat.
Hobby stocks again showed multiple groove racing with Zack Tate leading 13 laps until Brian Brown used the top groove in turn four for a winning pass.
Tate was spun to end his podium hopes so it was Jason Duggins and 20th-starting Dillon Richards following Brown across the line.
The mod lites made their first appearance at the IMCA.tv Winter Nationals and Riley Clem won the initial main.
The Friday and Saturday programs will be streamed live by IMCA.tv, a SPEED SPORT Network affiliate.