Colorado driver Ricky Alvarado earned himself a spot on the inside of the front row for Sunday's IMCA Modified Spring Nationals main event Friday by winning the first of two pole dashes.

Alvarado, from Delton, Colo., won the 24-car pole dash, beating four-time Spring Nationals champion Johnny Saathoff of Beatrice to the finish line.

Kyle Berck of Marquette finished third, while Dan Nelson of Beatrice was fourth and Dave Hardesty of Minneapolis, Kan., was fifth.

Also qualifying for Sunday's feature were Jordan Grabouski of Beatrice, sixth; Randy Brands of Boyden, Iowa, seventh; Robert Helkbust of Kenmore, N.D., eighth; and Marlyn Seidler of Underwood, N.D., ninth.

The top nine cars from Friday night's pole dash will make up the inside nine rows for Sunday's feature.

The outside nine rows for the main event will be determined tonight (Saturday) in a second pole dash.

Action tonight will include eight Modified heat races, four consolation races and the pole dash. Hot laps will start at 4 p.m. with racing at 5:30 p.m.

On Sunday, the Modified program will include last-chance races, as well as the 35-lap, $5,000-to-win main event. Racing begins at 1 p.m.

Also on the racing program Saturday and Sunday will be the IMCA Hobby Stocks.

The IMCA Hobby Stock Challenge will begin tonight with heat races, consolation races and a pole dash, which will determine the 10 cars making up the first five rows for Sunday's feature.

On Sunday, there will be last-chance races, as well as the Hobby Stock feature.

Friday night, the Modifieds were joined on the race track by the IMCA Sport Compacts with 15 cars competing in two heat races and an A Feature.

Austin Kurtzer of Nebraska City won the Sport Compact feature.

Kurtzer was followed to the finish line by Corey Burch of Junction City, Kan., who finished second, and Will McConnell of Omaha, who was third.

Scott Parde of Beatrice and Josh Wiens of Beatrice rounded out the top five cars, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.

Also placing in the Sport Compact feature were Alex Loveless, Lincoln, Kan.,, sixth; Janie Fralin, Beatrice, seventh; Jason Sand, Beatrice, eighth; Willy Moore, Exir, Iowa, ninth; Seth Ambrose, Jansen, 10th; Peter Kruse, Deshler, 11th; Jacob Harms, Beatrice, 12th; Steve Swarthout, Fairbury, 13th; Joshua Schlotfeld, Omaha, 14th; and Rusty Hodges, Beatrice, 15th.