Excitement, field growing for upcoming Winter Nationals

There is now a coming attractions segment in the racing program at Cocopah Speedway.

It is otherwise known as the IMCA Modified Division feature event.

“Right now Cocopah Speedway is the hot ticket, the preferred destination for a lot of Modified racers in this corner of the country, because they all want to get a sneak peek at the track they will be racing on during the Winter Nationals,” said Greg Burgess, Cocopah Speedway's director of operations.

“That's what happened two weeks ago, and I fully expect to have a full house again Saturday night.”

Burgess was referring to the Jan. 7 racing program when a field of 65 cars turned up, 31 of them IMCA Modifieds.

The feature event winner that night, Robert Adams, from Red Rock, Ariz., said as much from victory lane as he described his trip to the Somerton oval as a test and tune session in preparation for the Cocopah Speedway IMCA Modified Winter Nationals presented by Sun Graphics, scheduled Feb. 9, 10 and 11.

“We were trying to get geared up for the national race,” said Adams after taking the win.

“He wasn't alone,” said Burgess. “Several of those drivers had never been here before, and they all wanted to see what this little track is all about. And I think they all went home with a pretty good first impression.”

The field was so large that the regular program required a “B” main event, in which any driver who did not automatically qualify for the “A” main event by finishing among the top four in their preliminary heat race had to race their way in. Only the top six moved from the “B” to the “A” main.

Saturday night's program will get under way with the first green flag at 7 p.m.

Along with the IMCA Modifieds, the night will feature the Pro-Stock, Street Stock and Factory Stock divisions in Round 9 of the 2011-2012 Cocopah Speedway Racing Series.

“I want everyone to know that while we might be spending a lot of time talking about the Modified guys, there is a lot of other, quality racing going on at the same time,” said Burgess. “We've got a great show lined up, from top to bottom.”

The most interesting development since the Jan. 7 racing program was put into the books was the change atop the Pro-Stock title chase. That's where Yuma's Frankie Rascon, still looking for his first feature event win of the season, moved into the No. 1 spot.

Rascon now leads the previous leader, Travis Dove, from El Centro, by two points.

On the Street Stock level, the title chase is looking more and more like a runaway as Yuma's Adolfo Noriega, the defending champion, keeps piling on the wins — and the points. Noriega is in the midst of a three-race feature event winning streak and has won six feature events so far this season.

Consequently, he's now 41 points ahead of his nearest challenger, Yuma's Leonard Jones.

In Factory Stock action, a new development has pretty much opened the door wide open for Yuma's Jimmy Davy to coast to the championship. His nearest challenger, Oscar Duarte, also from Yuma, has reportedly decided to move up to the Street Stock level permanently. He had been doing double duty on race nights, racing in both divisions.

Currently, Davy leads the Factory Stock field, enjoying a 45-point lead over Duarte. Next in line is Brawley's Amy Teague, who is 58 points behind Davy.

In the race to the track title in the Modified division, Yuma's John Malloy has moved to the head of the class, for now. Malloy has an eight-point lead over Yuma's Bobby Horton in second and a nine-point lead over Imperial's Duane Rogers in third. Both Horton and Rogers have led the title chase at one time or another so far this season.