The A-mod class and the numbers...and what drivers think

Car counts are always a subject in racing, and with the high gas and diesel prices this year it isn’t a big surprise there has been a decrease at several tracks. A few have bucked the trend, generally numbers are down.

The numbers in the A mod class have been going down in the last few years. It’s inspired a blog, and instead of me offering my viewpoints, I decided to let some drivers themselves offer their views, all from different areas.

The drivers include:

Aaron Johnson, Brainerd: Long-time IMCA Modified driver who has won six track championships at North Central Speedway since 2019

Ward Imrie of East St. Paul, Man.: Two-time Wissota Modified national champion (2017 and 2018) who races at Greenbush and River Cities at times during the summer.

Tyler Hall, Fertile, Minn.: Long-time IMCA Mod driver at tracks in the Red River Valley, former track champion at Fix It Forward and Buffalo River Speedways with 13 feature wins since 2017.

Mike Stearns, Aberdeen, S.D.: long-time modified driver and 2013 Wissota national champion, top runner for many years in eastern SD.

Brandon Beckendorf, Danube: Has raced IMCA, Wissota and USRA sanctions in recent years. Has 92 feature wins since 2020.

Jason Thoennes, Garfield: Three-time mod track champion at Viking, Mod Nationals Champ at Viking, more than 100 feature wins in career, well-respected veteran driver.

To keep it narrowed down; I chose to count the Minnesota tracks. I listed their sanctions and how many nights figured into the average. I did not include special events as this focus is on weekly racing.

Minnesota tracks

Arlington Raceway (IMCA, 8 nights): 9.3 mods per night

Bemidji Speedway (Wissota, 4 nights): 6.0

Deer Creek Speedway (USRA, 5 nights): 19.2

Fairmont Raceway (USRA, 5 nights): 6.4

Grand Rapids Speedway (Wissota, 6 nights): 11.0

Granite City Motor Park (Wissota, 4 nights): 11.8

Greenbush Race Park (Wissota, 3 nights): 13.6

Hibbing Speedway (Wissota, 3 nights): 6.2

I-94 EMR Speedway (Wissota, 2 nights): 17.5 (I did not include the Northern Lights series night)

KRA Speedway (Wissota, 3 nights): 7.3

Madison Speedway (Wissota, 4 nights): 10.8

North Central Speedway IMCA, 8 nights): 12.3

Ogilvie Raceway (Wissota, 4 nights): 19.7 (did not include Mod Nationals Nights)

Princeton Speedway (Wissota, 5 nights): 13.0

Proctor Speedway (Wissota, 3 nights): 6.0

Redwood Speedway (IMCA, 4 nights): 6.8

Viking Speedway (Wissota, 4 nights): 13.9, (I did not include the Northern Lights series night)

Worthington Speedway (IMCA, 5 nights): 9.4, does not include the special on 6-27-26

(I am not including tracks that run A mods only 2-3 times a summer – that would include Sheyenne Speedway, Norman County Raceway, River Cities Speedway and Buffalo River Speedway)

Some other facts

--Here are tracks I cover outside of Minnesota: Fix It Forward Speedway in West Fargo is averaging 15.2 IMCA Mods through three nights.  Jamestown averages 17.3 IMCA Mods through three regular nights (Don Gumke Racers Memorial was a special event and excluded).  Casino Speedway in Watertown, with three regular mod shows this season, is averaging 6.0 Wissota Modifieds.

--In recent years, Chateau Raceway near Lansing (USRA Mod), Murray County Speedway in Slayton (IMCA) and Fiesta City Speedway (Wissota) have all dropped the class because of low car counts.

--Dacotah Speedway in Mandan, which years ago was over 30 IMCA Modifieds some nights, averaged 21 cars during their regular weekly program in 2024. This year?  Through seven nights, they are averaging 16.6 and have not been higher than 18 cars in a night. On June 26, they had 14 IMCA Mods.

-To see a few tracks outside the region, here are some numbers. Nodak Speedway in Minot is averaging 15.7 IMCA Mods through seven shows this year. In 2024, for regular race nights  (not including Dakota Mod Tour and other specials), they averaged 18.2. Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City is averaging 7.2 IMCA Mods a night (I excluded the $5,000 to win special) over six nights. Kossuth County Speedway in Algona, what once was a premier track in northern Iowa, is averaging 9.2 IMCA modifieds a night for seven nights.  Deer Creek in SE Minnesota averages 19.7, Mississippi Thunder in SW Wisconsin averages 12.3 (weekly shows)

Drivers Q and A

--The trend at most tracks (there are exceptions) is a decrease in A mod numbers over the past few years. Is this cause for alarm, or just part of racing where car counts go up and down?  Where have the drivers gone and how concerned are you?

Stearns: It is certainly cause for alarm. Anytime numbers drop it becomes a scary situation for all of us that compete in the class. There is always fluctuation in numbers. But once you start seeing numbers under 10 it’s becoming a serious problem. Some tracks around us are worse than others. Not too long ago I raced with a total of 4 modifieds. I believe it’s a mixture of some guys moving up to late models. And others just quit.

Johnson: I think the drop in A-mod numbers isn’t as alarming to me as some other classes, but I think the root of the problem like most, is costs. I think most drivers are dropping to lower less expensive classes or going up to late model for better pay and similar costs. Some may be quitting racing all together. I would say it’s just the ups and downs of it all.

Hall: I am concerned. Guys moving up to late models seem to be on the rise which is great…however a lot of it is cost. My first year in mods my shocks were $225 each now they are $450-500 even $600 each.  Tires when I started were $96 now they are $169. No attack on tracks but payouts are the same as 1999 which was a lot of money…but entry fees were $10-20; now they are $35 it all adds up and I think people are struggling to keep up with the expense.

Imrie: I think numbers in all classes are down some in general. A-mods do tend to be dropping some for sure. Some have quit. Some have gone up to late models, and there have been some that just didn't like the A-mod and end up going back to B-mod. It's concerning but hopefully it will trend back upwards in the near future.

Beckendorf: It is a cause for alarm, but I believe it also goes in cycles. The cost to be honest is on track with a stock car in the IMCA world. In the open mod world. I do feel like they put on more miles on the road. Weekly racing is on its way out. Too many things going on these days.

Thoennes: I am a little concerned but don’t feel it’s too late.  Car counts go up and down over the years.  Some drivers have quit/retired and some have changed classes.  So many things factor in like the amount of tracks racing on a Saturday night as an example.  Also, there are many options for Thursday, Friday and Sunday night as well.  For many, it’s not feasible to consistently run that many nights.

--I’ve heard from many drivers that A mod costs have kept rising (a few have said nearing late model costs) while purses at most tracks remain the same as 1-2 decades ago. Is this a fair statement, and what is the biggest cost challenge or challenges when racing an A mod?  

Thoennes: Yes, that is a fair statement.  Cost wise, everything has gone up.  Engines, chassis, shocks, etc.  IMO, allowing the 525 crate engine would definitely help get more drivers into the class as it is reasonably priced compared to the current options.  More cars equals more fans and the potential for purses to increase. 

Stearns: The cost has continued to rise, but that is across all classes. The biggest problem with modifieds is that we are now almost to the cost of Late Models and usually race for half the purse. Some guys have seen the benefit of moving to late models and racing for more money. I believe some guys moved to the late model class because at the time it had less cars. With less cars and better pay they were getting more return. Now it seems like the Late Models are thriving and the mods at suffering because of it. 

Johnson: I would say the biggest cost in A-mod racing is the cost of engines. A competitive A-mod motor is all of $25,000 and might not even last the season then needs thousands to be refreshed to keep going. Also, tires are a big expense and a requirement to be competitive. I would say if we can get payouts up and cost of tires and engines down and well as other parts this class car count will come back.

Hall: You’ll always have the top level guys with the big budgets they aren’t going anywhere…and honestly you’ll always have the bottom guys who run the same tires for 15 races and get lapped multiple times in a night (we need these guys FYI) but the run of the mill guy who is mid budget he’s the one getting squeezed out, on the verge of overspending his budget on shocks/tires/motors or quitting all together. We all invest time and money and to not compete it makes a fork in the road.

Imrie: Costs have definitely gone up. They've gone up in all classes to be honest. A-mods are still more reasonable than a late model cost wise. However, the gap is definitely getting closer. As far as cost challenges go there's really not one general. Basically, every single factor in racing has gone up. From tires to parts, to chassis and motors, heck even fuel just to get up and down the road.

Beckendorf: I do think the nightly costs are rising towards late model costs. Everything else has quadrupled in price in last couple decades why not pay?? I get tracks want to pay minimum. But I also think modified racing is gone as a weekly type of deal. Racing for $400-700 to win doesn’t cover the travel, tires, motor, shocks, etc. There are places/people trying to make a comeback though .. I honestly feel like if it’s not $1,000 to win you are going in the hole.

--Why the decline in numbers in the A mods, and are late models becoming a more desirable class to “move up to?”

Stearns: One of the other things that drives me nuts about the mod class is it seems very few tracks want to include them in their specials. I feel that pushes guys into other classes as well. If you don’t ever get to race the specials, it takes some of the fun away from the class. Also, you don’t get to race for an increased purse because of it. Anytime a track has a late model special they drop the mods. It is frustrating.

Hall: If you join the right groups on Facebook you can pick up a 1-5 year old late model for half of what a A-mod roller costs…race for twice the money or more and have the same expense in engines…it’s kind of a no-brainer, it really depends on your geographical location.

Imrie: I'm not sure if late models are necessarily the more desirable class to move up to. However, a lot of people are looking at the purse now days. And the simple fact is late model pay is usually a fair bit better. With the cost to run each class not being far apart, I believe that is the biggest reason for the turnover.

Thoennes: Late models have seen a nice rise in car count.  I believe it’s due to higher payouts, the allowing of the 525 crate -- and they are faster. 

Johnson: I would say the Late Model is a more desirable class because it's what the big names in dirt racing run. There are also more options for touring series and more pay along with similar costs.

Beckendorf: I do feel 100% confident a lot of the reason is tracks having more than 4-5 classes. Tracks are just lazy, trying to spread the competitors out. There should be only 4-5 classes so we can start at 7 and get done at 10:30.

--What should sanctioning bodies do to reverse the trend and get more drivers into the A mod class going forward?  Are you hopeful the trend will turn around?

Thoennes: Definitely hopeful!  The answers to the previous questions pretty much sums up what I feel will help the Modified class

Stearns: Historically numbers fluctuate, so I am optimistic that the class can still be saved. But I do feel the purse needs to be increased. Try to keep drivers interested in the class by paying comparably to late models. The mods put on a great show usually. It would be sad to see the class fade away. It’s been a staple of WISSOTA auto racing and I love the class.

Johnson: I would say the sanctioning bodies need to go away with the spec parts that are price gouging everyone. There is more than one option of part that will work good for racers and save them money; problem is the sanctioning bodies are specing parts and getting a kick back. Also, payouts need to go up I’m sure there is a way for sanctioning bodies to help tracks with that. I am hopeful this trend will turn around cause I can't see local racing die out.

Hall:  IMCA, USRA and Wissota I believe are all hurting but no one cuts the other any slack. I feel a LS engine option (525 crate) should be allowed in all sanctions and tires should be shared…no special stamping on parts…develop a level rule book across all sanctions so a guy can drive 10 miles with his IMCA car and race USRA or Wissota and vice versa.

Imrie: It’s a sanction body’s nightmare really; mostly it's cost-related. How to keep them down I really don't know. Technology is always moving forward. Far as getting numbers up from track to track. Payout is key. I've seen a track cut the pay dramatically and it directly reflects the car counts. I've also seen nearby tracks with quite good payouts thrive in numbers. Also promoters and staffs’ attitudes are a huge factor. The work they put in on the racetrack and facilities go a long way. Racing in general is a small community and word travels fast. There are always different tracks to travel to and racers will go somewhere else if track conditions are constantly bad, and if a promoters attitude follows the same suit. Far as counts go I'm hoping they are leveling out now and will be on the upswing in the years to come.  

Beckendorf: There is no reverse for the class. Every class has evolved, which is good , Sanctioning bodies just need to look at getting closer parity. I personally think B mods need to become A-modifieds. They’re closer than you would think.