Untitled_471

Feature

Fulton Makes Successful Return to Racing with Close Racing Supply Eastern Region Rookie Honors

By Ben Deatherage ROME, Pa. (Oct. 22, 2026) — More than two decades after stepping away from racing, Charlie Fulton has found his way back behind the wheel and into championship recognition. The 54-year-old Rome, Pa., driver earned the 2026 Close Racing Supply Eastern Region Rookie of the Year award in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified division, completing a successful return to the sport he first became involved with nearly 30 years ago. Driving the Fulton Automotive/TL Powell Transport/Ed Carley Motorsports No. M64, Fulton recorded two feature victories, four podium finishes, 16 top fives, and 26 top-10 finishes in 29 feature starts across 33 events attended. Both victories came at The Hill Speedway, where he visited victory lane June 19 and Aug. 7. Fulton’s interest in racing began through his sister and brother-in-law, who have owned Modifieds for more than 30 years. He started competing around 1998 before stepping away in 2000, eventually returning in 2024 to race in the local Stock Car division. “I used to race a long time ago and got out of [Read More]

Feature

Dody Turns Unexpected Points Chase into Jet Racing Central Region Rookie of the Year Honors

By Ben Deatherage CLAFLIN, Kan. (Oct. 22, 2026) — Paxton Dody entered the 2026 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified season hoping to gain experience and collect a few respectable finishes. By the end of September, the 19-year-old from Claflin, Kan., had earned the Jet Racing Central Region Rookie of the Year honors and the Kansas State championship. Dody became the ninth driver from Kansas since 1995 to earn the Central Region rookie award and the second consecutive Kansan to claim the honor. Driving the Cates Parts City/Janousek Transportation/Abrams Trucking-sponsored No. 09 for Janousek Racing, Dody recorded five podium finishes, 14 top fives, and 24 top-10 finishes in 34 feature starts across 38 events at 13 different facilities. “This year we started like most rookies do and started with low expectations and just be really happy if we got any top tens or top fives,” Dody said. “We went out and our first race was the Sunflower Classic at RPM Speedway in Hays and ended up making the show there and being pretty decent.” After several encouraging performances, [Read More]

Feature

Frank Overcomes Difficult Start to Earn EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region Rookie Honors

By Ben Deatherage LORENA, Texas (Oct. 22, 2026) — Cody Frank’s pursuit of a national rookie championship nearly ended before it began, but the 38-year-old Lorena, Texas, driver overcame a difficult start to capture the 2026 EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region Rookie of the Year award in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car division. Frank became the 21st Texas driver to earn the Southern Region rookie honor since 2001 and the first since 2024, completing a comeback season that included two feature victories in 34 starts. “The year started off we were going to try for the national rookie but our first seven races we had six DNFs so that put a hurtin’ on things and ended up tearing some stuff up and that put a halt on that,” Frank said. “We kept pushing at it and started reeling off some top fives and had a couple of wins here and there and string some good runs and finished on a high note.” Frank finished the season with six podium finishes, 17 top fives, and 26 top-10 [Read More]