Imca
Kollin Hibdon in victory lane at Cocopah Speedway. (IMCA photo)

Hibdon Hustles To Cocopah Mod Score

SOMERTON, Ariz. — Night four of the IMCA.TV Winter Nationals at Cocopah Speedway completed week one Saturday night, which was highlighted by Kollin Hibdon becoming the fourth different winner in as many nights of modified competition. 

Friday damage lowered the overall car count to 240.

Chaz Baca Jr. had the pole for the modified feature by finishing second in his heat, but it was Jake Pike that grabbed the lead on the start.

Pike controlled the race for 21 laps until Baca suddenly closed the gap and drove under Pike in turn four to become the leader. 

A yellow flag created a two-lap finish and Hibdon dove low into turn one on the start, threw a clean slider, and led the last two laps to win. Baca Jr. and Grey Ferrando completed the podium.

Cameron Starry raced from ninth to second in his heat race to earn the pole for the stock car main.

Starry led one lap before Zane DeVilbiss made an outside pass in turn four and multiple side-by-side laps followed.  Starry lost some ground but closed again when a power failure stopped the race. 

After a short delay the race resumed with a group of cars now battling for the win. Running high and low, a group of IMCA stock cars eyed the win.  

Starry had flavored the low line the entire race and sticking to that paid off when he regained the lead just in time to take the win. DeVilbiss was second and Justen Yeager was third.

The hobby stocks created their own excitement in a main that had drivers battling for positions in clusters.  Les Lundquist led a pack of three as laps were running out but stuck to the bottom line and it paid off for the win. 

Morgan Olmstead and Ryan Gilland completed the podium. 

Going from eighth to second in a heat race meant a pole start for Tyler Bannister in the Northern sport mod main. Bannister used his starting spot to collect the win.

Leading all the way, Bannister faced pressure and traffic much of the way. Tyler Johnson was right behind the leader with a bunch of cars right in front of them. Bannister maneuvered smoothly around the crowded track to win over Johnson and Nathan Speten.

Sport compact racing was a win for Oliver Monson with a late-race turn four pass.

Winter Nationals action resumes next Tuesday with the Gene Freeman Memorial Pit Crew Contest followed by a practice session. The following four nights will race the five IMCA divisions to complete the event. 

Replays of Winternationals events can be seen on SPEED SPORT affiliate IMCA.tv.