By Ben Deatherage
FORT MORGAN, Colo. (May 19, 2025) — Nestled in the plains of northeastern Colorado, Fort Morgan has long been a place where resilience and reinvention go hand in hand. The fort was established in 1864, and at one point it was manned by Confederate prisoners of war, known as “galvanized rebels,” who chose to enlist in the Union Army rather than remain as POWs. Today, that spirit of grit and determination lives on in the town’s racing community—especially in 14-year-old Noah Speicher.
Born into a racing family, Speicher was practically raised on the dirt of I-76. His family owns and operates the track, an elbows-up bullring where cars jostle for every inch of real estate. It’s a place where Speicher has spent countless hours—first as a fan watching his father, Beau Speicher, wheel an IMCA Modified, and now as a racer himself. And Beau still occasionally straps in for a race, reminding Noah that he’s not the only Speicher looking to make some noise.
On May 3rd, Speicher added a new chapter to his story, notching his first career feature win in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods. It was a last-lap thriller, one that kept the crowd on their feet until the checkered flag dropped.
“That was pretty cool,” Speicher said. “I-76 is one of the hardest tracks to run at. There’s a lot of good cars, and with how small it is, it’s not like a 3/8ths where you’re getting out-motored. Everyone is close, and it’s just tight, competitive racing.”
The path to victory lane was far from easy. Speicher had been running up front all night, briefly taking the lead on multiple occasions. But with a couple of cautions erasing laps, he found himself shuffled back to third. On the final corner of the final lap, he made his move.
“I just bided my time and didn’t let myself get frustrated,” he said. “Sometimes that’s what you’ve got to do.”
Noah Speicher celebrates his first career Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature win at I-76 Speedway, capturing the checkered flag in a thrilling last-lap finish on May 3rd. (Photo by Mark Bolles)
A Racing Family
Speicher’s racing roots run deep. His grandfather Butch raced, his father still competes occasionally in IMCA Modifieds across Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas, and now Noah is carrying on the family tradition in the SportMods.
“I watched my dad race all over,” he said. “It was only natural that I wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
Noah’s first experience behind the wheel came in the Mini Mods, a local entry-level division where he learned the basics of throttle control and race craft. Last year, he stepped up to the SportMods, running primarily at I-76 to gain experience. But when the opportunity arose to venture out, he jumped at it.
“We had an older car last year,” Speicher said. “We found a good deal and bought some newer equipment. We ran once at I-76 and then went down to Hays for the Fall Nationals. That was an eye-opener. Our goal this year is to get away more and learn some new stuff at other tracks.”
Noah Speicher preps a set of tires for an upcoming race, putting in the work behind the scenes to keep his No. 73N Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod dialed in. (Photo by Tanner Dillion)
On the Road, Expanding Horizons
The Speicher team wasted no time broadening their racing schedule in 2025. They kicked off the season in January with a trip to Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande, a far cry from the confines of I-76 Speedway.
“Going to Arizona definitely helped us get fast,” Speicher said. “I’ve never raced with that level of drivers and equipment. There were some big names down there, and I got to race against some of my idols and met a lot of new people. It was a blast.”
Since then, he’s been on the move, racing at RPM Speedway in Hays, Kansas, for the Sunflower Classic and making his debut at Thomas County Speedway in Colby. Each new track brings its own set of challenges, but Speicher is soaking it all in.
“The more we get out, the better we get,” he said. “That’s the plan this year—hit some new tracks, learn some stuff, and get better every week.”
Noah Speicher (73N) races with the likes of Ryan Peery (21P), Jake Smith (19), and Jake Kierstead (30K) during the Ernie Mincy Early Thaw Series at Central Arizona Raceway, where Speicher gained crucial seat time in January. (Photo by AOM Creative)
Looking ahead, Speicher has his sights set on even more seat time—and more victories. The plan includes more stops at RPM Speedway, Colby, and a potential run in Nebraska, with a stint in Iowa if the budget allows.
“It’s all about getting faster,” he said. “We’re not just staying at I-76 this year. We’re going to branch out and see how we stack up against some other guys.”
For Noah Speicher, the racetrack isn’t just a place to win races—it’s where he’s learning the value of hard work, family, and patience. And at just 14 years old, he’s only begun to scratch the surface.
Balancing Racing and Life
Balancing a budding racing career with school isn’t easy. Speicher is currently finishing up eighth grade at Fort Morgan Middle School, but he’s exploring the possibility of transitioning to online courses to accommodate more travel.
“I want to race more,” he said. “Online classes might help us do that.”
When he’s not racing or working in the shop, Speicher is busy earning money to keep the racing operation afloat. He also lends a hand prepping I-76 Speedway for the next event.
“I try to enjoy my summers as much as I can,” he said. “Racing is fun, but I also try and enjoy a little bit of my childhood.”
Away from the track, Speicher is just a kid trying to enjoy life. He has spent a few years on the basketball court. Fishing with family is another favorite pastime, a way to relax and hit reset before the next race weekend.
