November 12, 2026

Ritchie records first Shawano IMCA Modified win

By Scott Owen

SHAWANO, Wis. (Aug. 18) – Justin Ritchie has won a number of features at Shawano Speedway, but the former late model track champion scored his first IMCA Modified feature Saturday night.

Cautions plagued the start of the event, but once the race got going Tim Rothe took the lead. Ritchie pursued Rothe until lap three when he made an inside pass to take the lead.

As Ritchie led, the action was hot and heavy behind him as Jason Czarapata, Lance Arneson and Wyatt Block all came from deep in the field to battle for second and third. In the end it was Ritchie making his way to victory lane followed by Czarapata, Block, Arneson and Konnor Wilinski.

Mitch Stankowski returned to victory lane after some time away from the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car division. Lucas Lamberies raced to his seventh local Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod victory of the year ahead of Tyler Sobiesczyk, who finished a career-best second.

shawanospeedway

Not a drop in the bucket – Shawano’s Racing for a Reason raises another $25K in childhood cancer fight

SHAWANO, Wis. (June 17, 2023) – IMCA Stock Car driver Luke Lemmens might have gone home with the big check, but the big winners at Shawano Speedway’s Racing for a Reason Night were St. Vincent Hospital and the battle against childhood cancers. The 12th annual event on June 17 brought a season-best 130 cars to the Northeast Wisconsin speed plant. Parking spots were at a premium as fans packed a very full grandstand and helped raise another $25,000 for the Child Life Services department at the children’s hospital in Green Bay. Most of $23,000 was raised selling bucket drop tickets for drawings for contents of 173 donated baskets containing everything from a television to Packer tickets to racing T shirts and a diecast of Nick Anvelink’s first IMCA Modified, and another $2,000 through a raffle for a hunting rifle donated by a local gun shop. Since 2012, $280,000 has been raised and donated to provide different items on the wish list at St. Vincent, somewhere between 80 and 90 percent of that through bucket drops. “I get floored [Read More]

Clements notches first career victory

By Scott Owen SHAWANO, Wis. (June 16) – Second-generation racer Bryce Clements scored his first Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod career feature win Saturday night at Shawano Speedway. The win was an early Father’s Day gift for his dad Scott, a former local sportsman racer. Kaden Besaw led the early stages while Clements fell in line behind him. Clements used the outside line to his advantage to take the lead on lap three and Kyle Raddant soon began to battle Besaw for second. Raddant eventually would get past Besaw, as would Jordan Barkholtz. The race was marred by a series of late cautions but Clements survived every challenge. Multi-time track champion Eddie Muenster scored his first local IMCA Modified win of the year and Travis Van Straten brought home win number four in IMCA Sunoco Stock Car action.

Bartz pockets top payday at Shawano

By Joe Orsini SHAWANO, Wis. (June 24, 2023) – Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds rolled out to race for $1,000 to win Saturday at Shawano Speedway and Jordan Bartz raced straight to victory lane to claim the check. Bartz utilized the momentum on the high side of the oval to grab the opening lap lead from her outside front row starting spot. Lucas Lamberies put on a show behind her, moving from eighth to fourth by lap three and then to third by lap four. A caution seven laps in slowed the pace and saw Bartz lead Marcus Yarie, Lamberies, Konnor Wilinski and Brekken Kleinschmidt back to green. As Yarie and Lamberies fell into a battle for second, Bartz looked to put some distance on the pair as they raced side-by-side. That breathing room was short-lived as Lamberies cleared Yarie on lap eight and put immediate pressure on the 12 of Bartz. The leader refused to wilt under fire and held on for the win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Lamberies crossed the line [Read More]

Feature

Room and Banquet Reservation Deadlines Approaching

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 10, 2026) — With the 2026 IMCA National Awards Banquet quickly approaching on Saturday, Nov. 28, attendees are reminded that the deadline to make hotel room reservations at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Neb., is Friday, Nov. 13. Rooms are filling quickly, and those planning to attend are encouraged to secure their accommodations before the deadline. Banquet tickets must also be purchased by noon CST on Friday, Nov. 20. Tickets are available through the National Banquet page at www.imca.com/banquet. The annual celebration will recognize IMCA National, Regional, State, track and Special Series champions, along with Rookie of the Year honorees from the 2026 racing season. The evening begins with cocktails at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 8 p.m. Formal attire is required. The Champions Reception will take place Friday, Nov. 27, from 6-9 p.m. at the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed in Lincoln.

Feature

Hibdon Banks $8,000 in Diamond in the Desert Modified Finale at Cocopah

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Nov. 7, 2026) — Kollin Hibdon capped the inaugural Wild River Family Entertainment Center Diamond in the Desert with an $8,000 victory in Saturday night’s 30-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified finale at Cocopah Speedway, holding off Cody Laney, who had won the first two nights of competition, to collect his 12th win of the season. Earlier in the evening, Hibdon set a new track record while winning the Taco John’s Modified Knockout time trial challenge to earn the pole starting position. The 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion battled 2021 winner Laney for the lead at the start, with Hibdon gaining the advantage over the Janssen Fabrication-owned No. 5L. A caution following the completion of the opening lap proved to be the race’s only stoppage. On the restart, Hibdon and Laney separated themselves from the rest of the field. Hibdon, this year’s Independence Motor Speedway track champion, maintained his advantage over Laney, who had won the previous two nights. Hibdon encountered lapped traffic on lap 11 but [Read More]

Feature

Souder Trades Two Wheels for Four on Way to GRT Race Cars South Central Rookie Honors

By Ben Deatherage GORDONVILLE, Texas (Oct. 30, 2026) — A decision between purchasing another dirt bike or trying something different led 24-year-old Austin Souder to the 2026 GRT Race Cars South Central Region Rookie of the Year award in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified division. Souder becomes the 32nd Texas driver to earn South Central Region Rookie of the Year honors since the award’s inception in 1993, extending the state’s streak to 15 consecutive seasons. The Gordonville, Texas, driver spent much of his life racing motocross before climbing behind the wheel of the N2 Enterprise/Souder Appliance Repair/Cam’s Auto/Gould Race Cars entry for his first full season on four wheels. “I didn’t really know what I was getting into,” Souder admitted. “I raced motocross my whole life. I slowed down on the dirt bikes and just rode for fun.” His introduction to dirt track racing came through friend James Nicholson, who began competing in 2025. After attending several races with Nicholson, Souder considered purchasing a race car rather than another motorcycle. A connection with two-time IMCA Modified [Read More]

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