March 24, 2026

Central Arizona winners are Mecl, George

M-Tyler-Mecl-VL — Tyler Mecl scored the win in Saturday’s IMCA Modified feature at Central Arizona Speedway.

By Jeff McSpadden

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (May 12) – Persistent Tyler Mecl and a very fast Jason George were IMCA winners Saturday at Central Arizona Speedway.

Mecl used the outside of the speedway to surprise Jeremy Thornton and take over the lead coming to the stripe to complete the ninth lap of the IMCA Modified main.

From there, Mecl weathered one last caution on lap 12 to take the checkered flag by more than two seconds over Thornton and Trevor Mille.

Jason George shot from fifth to first, somehow going lower on the speedway than the three-wide trio of Gerry Glenn, Mark Farnes and Chris Tipton on the first lap of the Karl Chevrolet Northern Sport Mod feature.

George pulled away to a full straightaway lead by the halfway mark and simply checked out over the last 10 laps of the race. George crossed the finish line almost nine seconds ahead of Glenn.

centralarizonaspeedway

Thornton, Harrison prevail at Central Arizona

By Jeff McSpadden CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (April 28) – Jeremy Thornton rocketed to his second IMCA Modified victory of the season while Mark Harrison came back from early troubles to hold off Jason George in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature Saturday at Central Arizona Speedway. Thornton shot into the lead following an early restart and left the rest of the field to battle for second. At the finish, Thornton took a 2.303 second win over Tyler Mecl, Darin Center, Trevor Miller and Chuck Grohnke. With two laps remaining and a bunched-up restart, it appeared as if George might be able to challenge Harrison for the Northern SportMod win. But Harrison was up to the task and got a nice jump at the green. George stayed close but, in the end, would cross the stripe .488 seconds behind Harrison at the finish. Arron Hetrick held on to the third spot after crossing the line side by side with a charging Jimmy Terstriep.

Four January $1,000 to win features for IMCA Modifieds on tap at Central Arizona

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – IMCA Modifieds chase $1,000 top checks on four January race nights at Central Arizona Speedway. IMCA Northern SportMods also run for $750 to win on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 21 and 22 and Jan. 28 and 29 shows while IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars race for $400 to win on Jan. 21 and 22. Modified winners become eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western and EQ Cylinder Heads Southern regional, KMJ Performance State and track points will be awarded. Pill draw each night is $25. Adult pit passes are $35 with kids ages six and under admitted free. Spectator admission is $20 and free for kids ages 11 and under. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. with the front gate opening at 4 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m. Face masks are recommended. All four nights at Casa Grande will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. More information is available by calling 520 709-0718, at www.centralarizonaspeedway.com and on Facebook.

Baca, Thornton, Thompson get tour wins in Sunday afternoon show at Central Arizona

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 9) – Chaz Baca, Ricky Thornton Jr. and Cody Thompson all raced to second wins in their respective divisions, in the third IMCA Arizona Dirt Track Tour event of the weekend. Baca led the way to the $2,000 IMCA Modified checkers while Thornton collected the $750 IMCA Sunoco Stock Car checkers Sunday afternoon at Central Arizona Speedway while Thompson returned to Casa Grande for another impressive Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod victory, also good for $750. After a rough start to the 25-lapper, Baca led the distance in the Modified main. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, he was chased every time around the track by Tim Ward while Thornton made his way from 17th starting to third before a lap 14 caution. The race stayed green to the finish from that point. Thornton, Jeff Taylor and Casey Arneson rounded out the top five. Back-to-back yellows just after midway were all that slowed Thornton in his drive to the Stock Car win. Brendon LaBatte, Zachary Madrid, 10th starting Arron Hetrick and Chanse [Read More]

Feature

Hamilton Wins Modified Thriller at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 21, 2026) — Eric Hamilton won his second career Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature on Saturday night in a thriller, topping Tyler Bannister for the final night of the Southwest Shootout. Hamilton and Bannister engaged in a slide job-filled battle that thrilled the fans and event organizers with perhaps the best feature of the early part of the 2026 season at the one-third-mile dirt track. Bakersfield Speedway merged operations with Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway at the start of the 2025 campaign, with promoters Tim Huddleston and Scott Schweitzer combining efforts. Hamilton’s victory came over a red-hot Tyler Bannister for his first triumph in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region. Bannister, the 2025 IMCA Northern SportMod track champion, has adapted quickly to the Modifieds in 2026, with a win at Merced and the points lead at Bakersfield Speedway. Jake Pike of Pahrump, Nevada again was the evening’s hard charger, matching Friday night’s run from tenth to third to run 11th to third on Saturday. [Read More]

Feature

Manning Scores Second Straight Bakersfield Win Friday Night at Southwest Shootout

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 20, 2026) — Racing against one of the strongest Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified fields of the season, Gavyn Manning won his second consecutive feature at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on Friday night. Manning outfoxed a field of 17 Modifieds for his second win in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region after 30 laps of competition. Manning won a long duel with multi-time champion Brad Pounds for the lead in the first half of the feature, then defended from 2025 IMCA Northern SportMod champion Tyler Bannister over the closing stages. A green-white-checkered finish did not deter Manning, with the 2024 track champion sailing to the win. The win also represented redemption for Manning after a collision with Pounds on opening night bounced him from the event. Bannister finished second while Jake Pike of Pahrump, Nevada finished third from tenth on the grid. Pounds was fourth followed by Fernley, Nevada’s Shawn Natenstedt. Rob Sanders and Manning split the head races. Nicholas Johnson has had an outstanding start to his [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through March 19, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, 331; 2. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 326; 3. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 319; 4. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 314; 5. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine, Iowa, 300; 6. Steven Whiteaker, Robstown, Texas, 287; 7. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 285; 8. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 280; 9. Dean Abbey, Boyd, Texas, 271; 10. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 270; 11. Troy III Morris, Waterloo, Iowa, 264; 12. Chaz Baca, Stanhope, Iowa, 260; 13. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 234; 14. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 216; 15. Gage McCaughan, Scottsdale, Ariz., 210; 16. Justin Erickson, Glendale, Ariz., 208; 17. Spencer Hughes, Meridian, Mississippi, 193; 18. Cole Szlauko, Shell Beach, Calif., 190; 19. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 189; 20. Steve Askew, Valley View, Texas, 182. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 561; 2. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 558; 3. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn., 470; 4. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 413; 5. Dillon Richards, Wymore, Neb., 403; 6. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 400; 7. Kaden [Read More]

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