November 4, 2026

DeYoung cruises at Crystal

CRYSTAL, Mich. (June 23) – Myron DeYoung took the early lead and then cruised to take the Lane Automotive IMCA Modified victory Saturday at Crystal Motor Speedway.

Kody Johnson was second, followed by A.J. Ward, Mitchell Hunt and Nick Stormzand.

crystalmotorspeedway

Harnick Powers to Victory at Crystal

By Ben Deatherage CRYSTAL, Mich. (Apr. 12, 2025) — The 20-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Crystal Motor Speedway delivered a dramatic finish during the track’s 2025 opener, ultimately awarding Austin Harnick the win after a post-race penalty. Kody Johnson, the 2017 Tri-City Motor Speedway champion, edged out Nathan Paitrick to lead the opening lap before a caution slowed the field. Chase Rosebrugh jumped into second on the restart and powered around Johnson to take command on lap 5. Rosebrugh, the 2023 DeVilbiss Racing Eastern Region Rookie of the Year, set a blistering pace and opened a sizable gap over the field. Harnick, the reigning Merritt Speedway track titlist and defending Great Lakes Nationals winner, settled into second and began to chip away at the lead. As Rosebrugh encountered thick lapped traffic, Harnick closed in to set up a tense final-lap showdown. The two battled fiercely coming to the white flag with slower cars still in play. Rosebrugh crossed the finish line first, but following post-race technical inspection, he was penalized two positions for [Read More]

Brian LeBaron takes dream job as new Crystal promoter

CRYSTAL, Mich. (Feb. 27, 2023) – He’s already been a race car driver and owner, but Brian LeBaron sees a childhood dream come true this season as the new promoter and general manager at Crystal Motor Speedway. “One of the things I love most in life is dirt track racing. This is something I always hoped would happen,” said LeBaron, who takes over the helm of the 3/8-mile Michigan clay oval now owned by his brother Jake and childhood friend Steve Vernon and purchased from long-time owners Ron and Mary Jane Flinn. “It’s something we started talking about at the 2021 awards banquet. It has taken a while but it finally happened.” “I know there are big shoes to fill, literally, and Ron left us an incredibly good product,” he continued. “I love the family atmosphere at Crystal and look forward to seeing my racing family again.” Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds have run at Crystal, the longest continuously sanctioned track in both Michigan and the Eastern Region, since 1988. Saturday night IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly [Read More]

IMCA Modified winner at Crystal to cash $1,500 check

CRYSTAL, Mich. (May 30, 2024) – Allstar Performance sponsors the Fast Shafts All-Star race and kids get autographs from all their favorite drivers this Saturday at Crystal Motor Speedway. The June 1 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature pays $1,500 to win, $1,000 for second, a minimum of $175 to finish in the top 10 and $150 for 11th through 20th place. Saturday’s show is draw/redraw. The winner becomes eligible to qualify for the upcoming Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational while the hard charger pockets $200 courtesy of Prime FX and Hilliard Heating and Air Conditioning. Drivers will sign autographs and hand out treats during Kids’ Night in the pits, sponsored by Artesian Well Produce and Spring Water, from 5-6 p.m. Pit passes are $35 and adult spectator admission is $15. Pits open at 2, the grandstand opens at 4 and the big track gets bust starting at 7 p.m.

Feature

RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars announce new safety and age requirements for 2027

ELKHORN, Neb. — Driver safety will take center stage in 2027 as RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars introduce new safety equipment requirements and age restrictions designed to provide additional protection for younger competitors. Effective Jan. 1, 2027, all drivers under the age of 18 competing in the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car division will be required to wear an SFI-approved head and neck restraint system. The new requirement strengthens the division’s commitment to driver safety and ensures that younger competitors have an additional level of protection whenever they take to the track. Along with the new safety equipment requirement, RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars will implement an additional age restriction based on track size. While drivers must be at least 14 years old to purchase a RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car license and compete in sanctioned events, beginning in 2027, drivers must be at least 16 years old to compete on tracks measuring one-half mile or larger. The new age restriction is the result of insurance requirements affecting younger drivers competing on larger racing surfaces. The change was necessary to [Read More]

Modified

Sites Charges From 12th to Win $3,116 Ed and Jan Billings Classic in NY-Penn Series Finale

By Michael Benjamin ISLE, N.Y. (Oct. 31, 2026) — Eddie Sites charged from 12th to capture the $3,116 second annual Ed and Jan Billings Classic on Saturday night at Thunder Mountain Speedway, closing out the Close Racing Supply NY/Penn IMCA Modified Series season during Monster Bash weekend. Nineteen Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds returned for the second night of competition. Gaege Higley of Wyalusing, Pa., collected his first career IMCA heat race victory in the opening heat. Aaron Benjamin won the second heat for his second victory in as many nights, while Matt Roberts of Afton, N.Y., claimed the third heat. David McDaniels of Sanger, Texas, captured the Dash 4 Cash. McDaniels and Roberts started on the front row of the feature, with Roberts taking the early lead. Several early cautions kept the field close, but Roberts maintained the advantage while Sites worked his way forward from the sixth row. Sites eventually caught Roberts, and the two battled for the lead over the next several laps before Sites completed the pass. Once out front, Sites pulled away [Read More]

Divisions

Lamphere Capitalizes on Late Trouble to Win Billy Ward Memorial with NY-Penn Series

By Michael Benjamin ISLE, N.Y. (Oct. 30, 2026) — James Lamphere took advantage of a late-race incident involving leader Keith Lamphere to capture the $1,004 fourth annual Billy Ward Memorial on Friday night at Thunder Mountain Speedway during the Monster Bash weekend for the Close Racing Supply NY/Penn IMCA Modified Series. A field of 24 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds checked in for the opening night of the season-ending doubleheader. Lamphere opened the evening by winning the first heat race aboard the Gary Lamphere-owned No. 87. Aaron Benjamin of Forksville, Pa., collected the second heat victory, while Rodney Morgan won the third heat and the Dash 4 Cash. Morgan and Gaege Higley brought the feature field to the green flag, but James Lamphere quickly moved forward from his fifth starting position to take the lead. Former series champion Keith Lamphere, who started at the rear of the field, worked his way through traffic and eventually passed James Lamphere for the top spot. Keith Lamphere continued to lead until contact with a lapped car in turn three late [Read More]

Related Articles