November 2, 2026

Thompson, Roth are IMCA winners at Dubuque

By Jerry Mackey

DUBUQUE, Iowa (June 24) – Sunday racing action at Dubuque Speedway provided the fans with a thrilling night of action packed plenty of wheel-to-wheel action on Casey’s General Store Night at the Races.

Derek Thompson found the tacky track to his liking in scoring the 20-lap Merfeld Auto IMCA Modified feature. Thompson led the most laps in taking the checkers ahead of Austin Moyer and Matt Short.

Jason Roth won his second consecutive GSI Collision Specialists IMCA Northern SportMod main event. Roth took the point position after the midway portion of the 18-lap main and went on to cross under the flag stand ahead of Gage Neal and Troy Bauer.

dubuquespeedway

Hurst reigns at Dubuque

By Rob Hinckley DUBUQUE, Iowa (July 21) – Dozens swarmed to Hoker Trucking/C&W Trucking/Kam Koncepts Victory Circle. Tears flowed. There was emotion in the winner’s voice. Jeremiah Hurst has won many, but the season championship at his hometown Dubuque Speedway is always special. Hurst started eighth but made his run to the front quick, taking the point for good on lap five and won the Eichman’s Bar & Grill IMCA Late Model 25-lapper Sunday evening at Dubuque Speedway. “It’s always special to win here,” Hurst said. “We’ll just keep winning. The finale had to go to overdrive/overtime as runner-up Joel Callahan slammed the turn two wall and finally stopped on turn four as the white flag was ready to fly. Hurst beat Jeff Tharp, Eric Pollard, Nebraska’s Cory Dumpert and Donnie Pataska on the green, white, checkered finish. “That (car) thing was digging holes off the turns,” Hurst said. “I knew I had to get to the bottom when I saw (Pollard) on the bottom. My car owner (Ken Roberts) and I had the same [Read More]

$250 Sunoco bonus highlights races in Dubuque this Sunday night

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Extra money is on the line for the winner of Sunday’s main event for IMCA Sunoco Late Models at Dubuque Speedway. The fourth $250 Sunoco Race Fuels bonus of the season will be paid to the June 6 Late Model winner in Dubuque. Sunoco bonuses will be presented at Late Model sanctioned tracks again this year. Drivers are eligible for one bonus during the 2021 racing season. Winners so far this year are Matt Ryan at 300 Raceway in Farley, followed by Sean Johnson at Independence Motor Speedway and Andy Eckrich last Saturday night at 34 Raceway in West Burlington. IMCA will announce mid-week before the dates bonuses are to be awarded at each track. The grandstand opens at 4 p.m. and general admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65 and over, $6 for students 13-17, and 12 and under get in free with a paid adult. Racing is set to get underway following 6 p.m. hot laps.

Gansen among Dubuque season championship checkers

By Rob Hinckley DUBUQUE, Iowa (Aug. 25) – He tossed another helmet tearoff as the white flag flew. Matt Gansen’s car made it that final lap as he won the 20-lap Merfeld Brothers Automotive IMCA Modified Season Championship feature Sunday evening at Dubuque Speedway. “The car started to overheat and steam was hitting my faceshield,” a jubilant Gansen said. “I was using a tearoff every lap. I didn’t know what was going on on the track.” Gansen moved by early leader Jaden Fryer after several side by side laps on lap nine and extended the advantage. “It looked like (Fryer) was staying on the bottom and we were fast enough up top,” Gansen added. “I wasn’t sure if he would figure something else out so wanted to make the move.” Tyler Madigan also passed Fryer late. Track champion Bryce Garnhart and Timmy Current rounded out the top five. “It takes consistency and wins,” Garnhart said. “We put a lot of time in at the shop and I can’t thank my crew and sponsors enough.” Tyler [Read More]

Feature

IMCA Releases 2027 Rules with Minor Changes

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 2, 2026) — IMCA has released its 2027 rules package, featuring minor updates and clarifications across several divisions, along with changes to helmet requirements and head and neck restraint regulations for minor drivers. In the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock divisions, frame ground clearance must measure a minimum of 6.5 inches and a maximum of nine inches beneath the oval frame holes, identified as letters D and K in the 1978-88 Monte Carlo frame drawing. Floating or removable bars are not permitted in either division. Stock Cars will no longer be permitted to use Camaro nosepieces on anything other than the Camaro MD3 body, while Hobby Stocks will not be allowed to use lightweight pressure plate. For Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Speedway Motors fabricated lower A-frames, part numbers 91035297-L and 91035297-R, have been added to the rules. The interior deck must also be level from left to right within a one-inch tolerance. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod division will have the same interior deck requirement, [Read More]

Feature

Every Point Counts as Vlies Captures First Northern SportMod National Title

By Ben Deatherage CASCO, Wis. (Oct. 20, 2026) — CASCO, Wis. (Oct. 20, 2026) — At just 19 years old, Coy Vlies accomplished something no Wisconsin driver had done before, becoming the first from the Badger State to capture the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod national championship. The Casco racer was also the youngest of IMCA’s 2026 national champions, prevailing in the closest national championship battle of the season by edging Jarett Franzen by a single point after a campaign that produced 19 feature victories in 45 starts. For Vlies, the possibility of winning a national championship seemed like a long shot entering the year, particularly with Wisconsin’s limited weekly racing opportunities compared to other parts of the country. “I thought going into the season if winning a national championship in the state of Wisconsin was even possible because you can only race two times a week up here,” Vlies said. “But everything fell the right way this year, and it all worked out.” Driving the Prestige Custom Cabinetry & Millwork/Vlies Custom Race Bodies/Casco Kids Zone No. [Read More]

Feature

Cogburn Returns Stronger to Capture First Southern SportMod National Championship

By Ben Deatherage ROBINSON, Texas (Oct. 22, 2026) — After coming up just short of a national championship in 2025, Trevor Cogburn returned with unfinished business in 2026. The 21-year-old Robinson, Texas, racer captured his first Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod national championship. Cogburn also earned his first Texas State championship and repeated as Heart O’ Texas Speedway track champion, completing a season that began with a determination to settle the score after narrowly missing the national title the previous year. His championship continued Texas’ dominance of the division, making Cogburn the 11th consecutive driver from the Lone Star State to capture the national title. Since the division began crowning national champions in 2005, Texas drivers have claimed 21 of the 22 championships, with Jesse Baldwin of New Mexico in 2015 the lone exception. In 2025, Cogburn finished tied for the national points lead but lost the championship on a tiebreaker determined by the number of 40-point victories. “We just decided to come back stronger this year and put on a show,” Cogburn said. Driving [Read More]

Related Articles