arkansas imca spring nationals

The packed clay and red dirt oval near Batesville has been on the radar for a couple of years now.  Excursions to the area seemed as though they were never timed correctly, or other plans interfered with a proper examination of the situation.  Not this time, somewhat.  Wires got crossed and what was thought to have started one day, actually kicked off the date after.  That did not make Thursday any less interesting though, as it enabled an opportunity to catch the warm-up acts, before the main feature on Friday.

The stands were not as packed as had been anticipated, though we were assured that would not be the case later in the season.  The Wimp Reed Arkansas IMCA Racing Spring Nationals at Batesville Motor Speedway put on an awesome show though!

The rumble seat for this venture featured multiple rounds of IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, Factory Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Hobby Stock, and Young Guns.  The later proved the most surprising overall, with a young lady of 11 years old behind the wheel of what looked to be a Ford Escort ZX2.  The car was unmarked as it seems she rolled her car last week and needed a quick replacement.  No joke.  She was up against a boy of 15 and though she did not win, she held her own, solidly.

Dust and the steady roar of highly tuned engines filled the evening, both increasing with intensity.  Those in the grandstands would prove lucky on this evening, as the wind directed the dust away into the surrounding hillside. The winners of the evening were lucky too, walking away with a decent cash prize for having swallowed not quite as much dirt as the persons behind them.