By Ben Deatherage
STUART, Iowa (May 25, 2025) — Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars headlined the Sunday night program at Stuart Speedway with the fifth running of the Whole Hog 50, and for the first time in event history, someone not named Dallon Murty was crowned king.
Cayden Carter, piloting the Michael Peterson-owned no. 1X, claimed the 50-lap feature after taking the lead on a lap seven restart and never giving it up. The Oskaloosa driver dealt with multiple cautions and navigated thick traffic to build a comfortable lead en route to his third EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the year, each coming at a different track in Iowa. Carter started fourth and sealed the deal by kissing a real live hog in victory lane.
Two-time defending track champion Buck Schafroth rallied into second and began to track down Carter during a long green-flag stretch around the race’s midpoint, but the lap 25 caution gave Carter clean air once again. Brad Derry, who led the first few laps before Carter took over, managed to hold off a hard-charging Dillon Sollum to claim third.
Though Murty’s four-year Whole Hog reign came to an end, the race still served as a B&B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifier. Carter had already locked in eligibility to attempt to qualify for the event at the 2025 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s with a May 10 win at 34 Raceway.
Hubbard Wins the Battle, Padilla Wins Cornbelt Clash Mod Lite War
Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites wrapped up the three-night Cornbelt Clash with a competitive finale that saw Ohio’s Carson Hubbard and Illinois’ Jon Padilla fight it out early. Hubbard, from Fredericktown, took command around lap three and maintained it despite lapped traffic and late pressure from Padilla.
Padilla, the three-time reigning East Moline Speedway track champion, nearly reeled in Hubbard when they caught slower cars on lap 12 but couldn’t complete the pass. Hubbard held on for his first sanctioned victory of the season, while four-time national champ Dillon Raffurty completed the podium.
Although Hubbard captured the night, Padilla secured the overall Cornbelt Clash title—his second after winning the 2023 edition—thanks to strong finishes throughout the weekend.
Carson Hubbard earned his first sanctioned win of the season by topping the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature, the final night of the Cornbelt Clash series at Stuart Speedway. The Fredericktown, Ohio driver held off Jon Padilla through lapped traffic to secure the victory. (Photo by Zipps Photos)
Cayden Carter Doubles Up with Modified Victory
Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds delivered 20 laps of action that saw Cayden Carter return to victory lane, this time behind the wheel of the Joe Ferguson-owned no. 10C.
Carter worked his way into second early and closed in on Nebraska’s Shawn Harker, who had led since the drop of the green. On lap 12, Carter made the move to the inside to take the lead just before a caution flew. The Oskaloosa native was flawless on the restart and paced the rest of the way for his second Razor Chassis North Central Region win of 2025 and first at Stuart this season.
Three-time defending track champion and 2007 Super Nationals winner Todd Shute claimed second, with Harker settling for third.
Cayden Carter collected the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win at Stuart Speedway. It was Carter’s second Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season and first at Stuart in 2025. (Photo by Zipps Photos)
Brayton Carter Navigates Perfectly Through Traffic for SportMod Win
Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods featured an early lead by Dayton Swatek before a lap four caution opened the door for Caleb Woodward. The Nebraskan grabbed the top spot on lap six with a bold move on the inside and began to pull away as Swatek battled with defending Iowa State champion Brayton Carter.
That battle allowed Woodward to stretch his lead, but lapped traffic became a factor in the final laps. Carter, a three-time Stuart track champion from Oskaloosa, used the high side to navigate around slower cars and steal the lead on lap 17. He held on through traffic to secure his 13th IMCA win of 2025 and third of the year at Stuart. Woodward was second, with Swatek crossing the line in third.
Brayton Carter was joined by family and crew in victory lane after winning the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature at Stuart Speedway. The three-time track champion from Oskaloosa earned his 13th IMCA victory of the year and third at Stuart in 2025. (Photo by Zipps Photos)
Solomon Bennett Holds Off Late Challenge for Hobby Stock Victory
Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks saw a thrilling back-and-forth battle between Solomon Bennett and Dylan Nelson. Bennett, the 2021 Iowa State champ from Minburn, worked the low side while Nelson challenged up high.
A caution on lap 11 restacked the field, and 2019 Super Nationals winner Nelson had to fight off 2016 champ Andrew Burg before taking another shot at the lead. He looked poised to make a move before suffering a flat right rear tire in the final laps, allowing Bennett to hang on for his first B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region win of 2025.
Nelson still held on for second, with Burg completing the top three.
Solomon Bennett scored the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock victory at Stuart Speedway. The 2021 Iowa State champion from Minburn held off Dylan Nelson and Andrew Burg to earn his first B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region win of the season. (Photo by Zipps Photos)
Colbin Funke Earns First Career Win in Sport Compact Main
Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts closed out the evening with a 15-lap shootout that saw Menlo’s Colbin Funke lead early and survive a challenge from John Martinez in the final circuits.
After a caution on lap eight, Martinez tracked down Funke by lap 11 and made several bids for the lead, but Funke stayed composed and won the drag race to the finish. The win was the first of Funke’s career. Martinez earned second while Michael Gardner took third.
Colbin Funke celebrated his first career Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature win at Stuart Speedway. The Menlo, Iowa native fended off late pressure from John Martinez to secure the milestone victory. (Photo by Zipps Photos)
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $24.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
