By Ben Deatherage
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 21, 2026) — Dylan Thornton turned in a commanding performance Wednesday night at Central Arizona Raceway in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds during the opening night of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Pitt Stop Motorsports and Dynamic Drivelines.
Zane DeVilbiss, a two-time IMCA Modified National champion, grabbed the lead on the opening lap before an early caution slowed the pace. On the restart, multi-division Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner Dylan Thornton mounted a strong challenge, but a yellow flew before the pass could be completed.
Thornton officially took control during the ensuing restart on lap six and began to stretch his advantage, navigating traffic efficiently. Behind him, two-time IMCA Modified National champion Chaz Baca Jr. and Brandon Beckendorf waged a hard-fought battle for fourth around the halfway mark.
Thornton, who started third, checked out during the long green-flag run and never looked back on his way to his third career Winter Nationals victory in the Modified division and his first of the year in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region.
Troy Morris III, the 2024 Arizona Tour champion, worked past DeVilbiss for second on lap 13, while Baca earned hard charger honors after advancing from 16th to finish third. DeVilbiss settled for fourth, and Minnesota’s Brandon Beckendorf, the 2018 Razor Chassis North Central Region champion, rounded out the top five.
A total of 89 IMCA Modifieds were on hand for the event.
Lund Rallies to Stock Car Victory
Curt Lund added another Central Arizona Raceway victory to his week after winning Sunday’s Prelude to the IMCA TV Winter Nationals, then earned his first career Winter Nationals triumph in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars.
2015 National Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock Rookie of the Year Justin Luinenburg jumped to the early lead before Chaz Baca Jr. powered around the outside to seize control exiting turn four on the opening lap in the Rob Gallaher-owned X entry. As the green-flag run developed, Baca began to pull away while reigning Winter Nationals Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock champion Dillon Richards and Curt Lund battled fiercely for third. A caution on lap four regrouped the field, and on the restart Lund slipped past Luinenburg and set his sights on Baca.
Lund made his move on the backstretch and beat Baca to the line on lap seven before another caution slowed the pace. From there, the Redwood Falls, Minnesota driver pulled away from the field, surviving pressure from Luinenburg and Richards to secure his first career Winter Nationals series win and his second EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region victory of the season.
Luinenburg finished second, while Texan Cameron Starry advanced from 10th to finish third. Iowan Mike Vondrak edged Richards for fourth, and Richards completed the top five.
17-year-old Payce Herrera of Utah earned hard charger honors, advancing the Jerry Schipper-owned No. 711 from 21st to 12th.
Forty-seven IMCA Stock Cars signed in for the night.
Johnson Goes Wire-to-Wire for SportMod Win
Tyler Johnson captured his first career Winter Nationals series victory with a wire-to-wire run in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods.
The 2024 National IMCA Northern SportMod Rookie of the Year and Arizona State champion, Johnson, took the lead from the outside front row on lap one before an early caution bunched the field. Once back under green, the Laveen 16-year-old checked out as 2024 Junior National champion Payce Herrera and defending state champion Braydon Whitfield battled for second. Herrera eventually secured the runner-up position and began methodically closing the gap, but Johnson’s advantage proved too much.
Late traffic failed to slow Johnson, who maintained control to earn the win. Herrera finished second, while Whitfield held off 2024 Independence Motor Speedway track champion Cole Suckow for third. The defending California State champion, Danny Wagner, rounded out the top five.
Eric Winemiller, the 2024 track champion, and last year’s Barona Speedway track titlist Steven Luecht recorded the most passes of the race with nine apiece.
Forty Northern SportMods were in attendance.
Olmstead Fends Off Late Challenge for Hobby Stock Win
Overton, Nebraska’s Zach Olmstead scored his first career Winter Nationals series victory with a strong run in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks.
Olmstead, the 2022 IMCA Super Nationals Hobby Stock winner and 2023 B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region champion, led early as the field settled in, but pressure mounted from Austin Jahnz and 2024 Tougher Than Dirt Tour champion Morgan Olmstead as the race progressed. A caution on lap eight reset the field, and the battle for second intensified before Morgan Olmstead moved into the position on lap 16.
A late yellow with three laps remaining set up a brother-versus-brother showdown, but Zach held firm on the restart and crossed the line first to claim his first win of the year in the B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region. Morgan finished second after starting 12th, with Jahnz third. Iowan Eric Knutson and defending South Dakota State champion Joel Magee rounded out the top five.
Drew Barry earned hard charger honors after advancing from 22nd to ninth.
Twenty-seven Hobby Stocks competed.
Raffurty Charges Late to Capture Mod Lite Victory
Dillon Raffurty capped the night with a thrilling Winter Nationals series win in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature.
A.J. Whisler led early before a caution on lap five slowed the pace. Five-time and reigning IMCA STARS Mod Lite National champion Dillon Raffurty worked his way forward while getting caught up in battles with reigning Winter Nationals champion Josh May and 2024 IMCA Super Nationals winner Riley Clem. Whisler took advantage to stretch the lead on the restart, but Raffurty regrouped and methodically closed the gap.
Raffurty made the winning move under Whisler, entering turn three on lap 12, before a caution bunched the field once more. The Kansas City, Missouri driver was flawless on the restart and dominated the closing laps to earn his third career Winter Nationals series victory. Whisler finished second, with May third. Michael Raffurty was fourth, and Clem completed the top five.
Jacob Phay, Brandi Bender, and Shane DeVilbiss tied for hard charger honors with six successful overtakes each.
Twenty-seven Mod Lites made the trip.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Done Right 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.
