SOMERTON, Ariz. — The series opener of the eight-race Winter Nationals at Cocopah Speedway drew 237 entrants with modifieds leading at 93.
Five IMCA sanctioned divisions created the large field of competitors, which was broadcast by SPEED SPORT affiliate IMCA.tv.
Draw heats used passing and finishing points to add 14 drivers to the list for each feature. Heat winners redrew for starting spots to fill the first few rows, and the number of top point drivers to make 14 total were added. B-mains added further transfers and the top two in points not transferring started in the last row.
The modified field put 28 cars on the almost half-mile oval for a 25-lap main event. Brandon Beckendorf established a large lead, erased by a yellow flag after nine laps.
Tim Ward slid around Beckendorf into turn three when the green reappeared and came up a foot short at the line.
Using the outside groove in turn two, Ward took the lead the following lap. Once in front, Ward was completely in control and won over Chris Zogg and Beckendorf.
Stock cars saw Curt Lund use the top of turn four to lead from the start of the 25-lap feature with a 28-car field. Three laps in, Zachary Madrid began pressuring Lund and led the fourth lap after a turn four crossover move.
Lund wasted no time, again using the top line out of turn four to regain the lead one lap later. Jim Horejsi started putting pressure on Lund while Madrid was the victim of rough driving.
Horejsi drove under Lund on lap 17 on the bottom of turn two, but a melee before reaching turn three left only 13 cars able to run with Horejsi leading and Lund in the pits.
Horejsi dominated the final eight laps to win over Chase Berkeley, and a lap 24 backstretch pass put Mike Albertsen third.
Northern sport mods were led by Ty Rogers for eight laps until Shane Paris used a bottom turn two move to lead three laps.
Cam Reimers drove high out of turn four and made the top shelf work to pass Paris.
Reimers and Paris put on a show the final five laps, as Paris scored the win after using the bottom line successfully out of turn four. Reimers was second ahead of Jacob Mallet Jr.
The hobby stocks put on a display with multiple lead changes early until Thomas Daffern took control on lap six.
Daffern settled the matter by leading the rest of the race to win over Zack Tate and Brandon Bombardo.
The sport compacts feature went to Kevin Reuter over Billy Foultz and D.J. Werkmeister.
Night two of the Winter Nationals continues Thursday on IMCA.tv.