SOMERTON, Ariz. — The Winter Nationals continued at Cocopah Speedway on Friday night with 236 IMCA race cars in five divisions on hand.
The modified main was exciting from the start with Tony Toste and Jake Pike racing side by side for 11 laps. Several lead changes later, Pike was out in front when Kollin Hibdon made the move and used the top groove out of turn four to take over.
Hibdon stretched his lead over the last 14 laps to win over Jacob Hobscheidt and Pike.
Jon Debenenetti was third, but an illegal shock resulted in a DQ.
Stock cars were next to test the big three-eighths-mile for their main. Curt Lund was looking like it was his race, but Dylan Thornton closed the gap and used a turn four slider to take over with five laps remaining. Starting outside row six, Thornton collected the win over Lund and Jerry Filippo.
The Northern sport mods quickly became a two car tussle between Matthew Mayo and Tyler Bannister. The pair pulled away from the pack and had their own race for the lead. It was settled on lap 13 when Bannister used a perfectly executed turn four slider to be first at the line. Bannister held the lead the remaining laps to win over Mayo and Shane Paris.
Thomas Daffern led all but lap one to dominate the hobby stock main and earn his third Winter Nationals win this year. Joshua Cordova was second with Brandon Bombardo in third. Daffern’s top side drive out of turn four on lap two settled this one quickly.
Billy Foultz drove 15 flawless laps in the sport compact main to win over Kevin Reuter and Mike Giorgianni.