IMCA Modifieds means business

While motorsport fans in Fallon have their eyes on the new additions to Thursday’s 2016 Octane, the classics never fail to turn heads to the raceways in town.

The International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) Modifieds return to Rattlesnake Raceway for Saturday and Sunday of the four-day festival. With 25-30 cars per class, 2016 Octane Fest Director and Rattlesnake Raceway promoter Chris Lumsden promised a fast, ground-pounding show.

“They travel from as far as California and down south, some from Parumph, Susanville, Winnemucca, Lovelock, Battle Mountain, Elko,” Lumsden said. “They come from all over, and it’s a pretty big event.”

Each race averages 15 second laps on the quarter-mile track, two days of racing and two separate payouts, which Lumsden said is a part of what attracts more racers.

“It gives them a chance to get two nights worth of state and regional points, which helps them a lot,” Lumsden said, adding the two-day and three-day shows are rarer on the West Coast than East, “The racers are running for state and regional points at each track they go, so some of the big names like Cory Sample or Sean Natenstedt go to as many tracks as they can to get as many points as they can.”

Sample (193 points) and Natenstedt (191) aren’t the only former champions returning for the IMCA.Others are 2010 regional champion Zane DeVilbiss and veteran Robert Miller (142). Miller, who last year won three IMCA championships in one season, also recently won his 100th main IMCA event.

While he can’t deny these guys are big name,s Lumsden added they’re just racing family to him, all a part of the charm Fallon brings to the Octane Fest this year.

The national points aren’t the only thing at stake at Rattlesnake Raceway, however, since the turnout brought in by the IMCA Modifieds will affect what Fans get to see at Rattlesnake Raceway next year.

“The big show is definitely the fairgrounds but I’ve been involved with the fest since day one and this is part of why we run these special events at the race tracks to tie in to the monster trucks and the car shows and Top Gun,” Lumsden said. “With my group taking over this year we’re trying to give a little more back to that and if things go a little better this year, since this year was a big chore, the staff might approach doing it again with four/five nights of big shows next year.”

All eyes on the modifieds should also look out for the NHRA West Coast Open returning this year. The drag races begin at Top Gun Raceway on Friday at 10 a.m. with eliminations through Sunday.