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Feature

Caleb Gardner: Carrying a Family Number and Answering a Call to Serve

By Ben Deatherage GLYNDON, Minn. (Oct. 23, 2026) — When Caleb Gardner climbed out of his No. 39 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock at Dacotah Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 3, another night of racing had come to an end. But this particular evening carried a little more significance for the Glyndon, Minn., driver, who was preparing to trade the familiar surroundings of dirt tracks and race shops for an overseas deployment with the Minnesota National Guard. The Oktoberfest program in Mandan, N.D., marked Gardner’s final race before departing overseas, where he will serve as a tracked-vehicle recovery operator. For Gardner, racing has always been more than a weekend pastime. His grandfather, Al, raced before his father, Randy, and brother, Doug, followed into the sport. The family competed in several different divisions, and the No. 39 on Caleb’s Hobby Stock is the same number carried by his grandfather and father. Yet for all that family history, it was one particular childhood experience at Buffalo River Speedway that convinced Gardner he wanted to move beyond go-karts and into a [Read More]

Feature

Whiteaker Wins Three-Wide Showdown while Torres Breaks Through in STIMS Texana Clash

By Nick Robbins EDNA, Texas (Oct. 17, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts took the green flag for its 2026 season finale at Texana Raceway Park during the Lance and Martha Toler Last Call Racing Texana Clash. Two separate $1,500-to-win shows produced two different winners, with one grabbing his first victory of the season. The first heat race went three-wide at the green flag, with Steven Whiteaker Jr. storming through the middle of the track to take the lead from fourth off turn two. Reigning series champion Jared Maupin got loose entering turn three, leaving Shawn Sandegren with nowhere to go as contact brought out the caution. The second attempt saw polesitter Brian Machicek hold off a charge from Logan Dinsmore to lead the opening lap. Dinsmore took command on lap two and led through lap seven, but Whiteaker grabbed the lead off turn four coming to the white flag. Whiteaker held on to win, with Dinsmore second. The second heat saw Cody Leonard walk away from the field [Read More]

Events

Inaugural Wild River Diamond in the Desert Set for Cocopah Speedway Nov. 4-7

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Oct. 21, 2026) — Some of the biggest names in Speedway Motors IMCA racing will converge on Cocopah Speedway Nov. 4-7 for the inaugural Wild River Diamond in the Desert, featuring three nights of competition and an $8,000 payday awaiting the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified winner. Presented by Wild River Family Entertainment Center, the first-year event will bring five IMCA divisions to the Diamond in the Desert for a weekend of racing in southwestern Arizona. The four-day gathering begins Wednesday, Nov. 4, with an open practice session before racing gets underway Thursday, Nov. 5, and continues through Saturday, Nov. 7. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds will headline the event, with $8,000 awaiting the winner of the division’s main event. The Modifieds will be joined by the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, with both divisions competing for $4,000 top prizes. Saturday’s Modified and Stock Car features will serve as qualifying events for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational, [Read More]