North Peace drivers compete at IMCA Winter Nationals in Arizona

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The IMCA.tv Winter Nationals racing spectacular will feature some drivers from the North Peace.

Fort St. John’s Johnny Beaumont and Jason Westgate, along with Charlie Lake’s Russell Duncan, made the trip down to Arizona to compete in the IMCA modified class.

Modified racers, which combine open-wheel racers with stock cars, are a popular event at Taylor Speedway, located minutes from Fort St. John.

“It’s two weeks of racing,” said Beaumont.  “I’ve always dreamed of driving down in the States a little bit, so that’s what we’re doing.”

“It had been on my bucket list for years. There are hundreds of cars, mostly from the US, but there are about a dozen Canadians who come down to compete.”

Beaumont competed at the same event in 2024, located at Cocopah Speedway outside of Yuma, Arizona.

He had several top-20 finishes in differing classes last year, and feels the new location at Central Arizona Raceway will afford him and his fellow Peace Region drivers a different experience.

“We come to learn,” explained Beaumont. “There’s lots of really fast people on a higher pro level than us, but we just come to learn and have fun.”

He adds that racing has been a fascination of his since he was a teenager, and it is generational in his family.

“We grew up in an auto wreck yard,” said Beaumont. “Our family started when I was 16. At one time, my dad, my brother, and I all raced.”

“It was 35 years ago we started racing, and we’re still doing it.”

The IMCA.tv Nationals begin on Tuesday, January 7th, and will run until January 18th at Central Arizona Raceway, about an hour southeast of Phoenix. 

Live action can be watched on the IMCA.tv website starting at 2:00 p.m.