Thornton Wins Modified Thriller on Night Two of IMCA TV Winter Nationals

Feature, Hobby Stock, Mod Lite, Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Stock Car

Dylan Thornton (right) celebrates in victory lane with his chassis builder, Kyle Brown of Harris Auto Racing, after winning the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the IMCA TV Winter Nationals at Central Arizona Raceway, on Jan. 22. (Photo by AOM Creative)

By Ben Deatherage

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 22, 2026) — Dylan Thornton, calling Belle Plaine, Iowa home these days, continued his Winter Nationals dominance with a dramatic victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the second night of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Pitt Stop Motorsports and Dynamic Drivelines at Central Arizona Raceway. The former Santa Maria, California, resident scored his fourth career Modified Winter Nationals series win, his second straight of the 2026 event, and his second consecutive victory in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region.

Thornton, a three-division winner at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, took command on the opening start before an early caution regrouped the field. Two-time IMCA Modified National champion Chaz Baca Jr. quickly emerged as his primary challenger, stalking Thornton through multiple restarts and long green-flag stretches. After a caution on lap 10, Thornton briefly brushed the wall on lap 13, allowing Baca to close the gap and set up a fierce side-by-side battle that featured multiple slider exchanges as the two raced through traffic.

The duel came down to the final lap, where Thornton and Baca fought door-to-door in lapped traffic and crossed the finish line separated by just 0.021 seconds.

Brandon Beckendorf, the 2018 Razor Chassis North Central Region champion, charged from 17th to finish third, while 2025 Marshalltown Speedway track titlist Kollin Hibdon advanced from 18th to fourth. 2024 Arizona Tour champion Troy Morris III completed the top five after starting 16th.

Beckendorf, Hibdon, and defending Arizona State champion Luke Silber shared hard charger honors.

96 IMCA Modifieds competed.

Starry Surges Late for Stock Car Victory

20-year-old Cameron Starry of Corpus Christi, Texas, captured his second career Winter Nationals series win in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature, adding his second EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region victory of the 2026 season. The 2025 Sparkling City Classic winner and 2024 Dakota Classic Tour Stock Car champion started fourth and delivered a late-race charge to the front.

Kaden Woodie led early before 2024 Winter Nationals Hobby Stock champion Dillon Richards took over following a bobble in turns three and four. A late-race caution erased a Woodie slider for the lead, and a multi-car incident on the ensuing restart reshuffled the front of the field. Starry capitalized by ripping the top groove to seize control, while 2024 EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region champion Bo Partain mounted a late charge from the bottom lane.

Starry pulled away in the closing laps to secure the win, with Richards finishing second and Partain charging from 11th to third. Three-time IMCA Sprint Car Super Nationals winner Curt Lund, who won the night before, advanced from 12th to finish fourth, and Chaz Baca Jr. completed the top five.

Reigning Tiny Lund Memorial winner Braden Richards earned hard charger honors after advancing from 24th to ninth.

45 IMCA Stock Cars were entered.

Johnson Doubles Up in SportMod Feature

Tyler Johnson, from Laveen, delivered another big home-state performance, continuing his strong week with a convincing win in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature to earn his second straight victory of the event and his second career Winter Nationals series triumph. The 16-year-old 2024 National IMCA Northern SportMod Rookie of the Year and Arizona State champion started third and quickly powered to the front.

2015 National champion Tyler Frye led early before Johnson surged past both Frye and Kaden Woodie, opening a commanding advantage. After a mid-race caution, Johnson pulled away again as 2024 Nebraska State champion Trevor Noonan and Woodie battled behind him, allowing the leader to separate decisively.

Two-time and defending IMCA Super Nationals champion Jake Sachau stormed from 17th to finish second, earning hard charger honors after beating Woodie to the line. Noonan finished fourth, while Missouri’s Dakota Girard rounded out the top five.

46 IMCA Northern SportMods competed.

Olmstead Charges Late for Hobby Stock Win

Overton, Nebraska’s Zach Olmstead captured his second straight victory of the week and his second career Winter Nationals series win in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks and B&B Racing Chassis Southern Reigon after a powerful late-race charge from deep in the field.

Anthony Madrid led early before reigning South Dakota State champion Joel Magee took control following a spin while leading. Battles throughout the field allowed 2024 Tougher Than Dirt Tour champion Morgan Olmstead and reigning North Central Speedway track champion Nathan Kohl to close in, while 2023 B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region champion and 2022 Super Nationals winner Zach Olmstead methodically worked forward.

Zach Olmstead overtook Magee on lap 15 and pulled away to victory after starting 15th. Magee finished second, Morgan Olmstead placed third, Austin Jahnz was fourth, and Charles McDaniel III completed the top five.

2016 Super Nationals winner Andrew Burg earned hard charger honors after advancing from 27th to eighth.

28 IMCA Hobby Stocks were entered.

Raffurty Continues Winter Nationals Dominance

Dillon Raffurty of Kansas City, Missouri, earned his fourth career Winter Nationals series victory and second win of the 2026 event in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature. The five-time and reigning national champion started fourth and delivered another commanding performance.

Defending Winter Nationals champion Josh May led the opening lap before Raffurty took control, and after a caution on lap six, the reigning national champion dominated the remainder of the race. 2024 Arizona State champion Michael Phay stormed from 19th to third, while Michael Raffurty finished fourth, and defending Arizona State and track champion Chris Lomasney advanced from 14th to fifth.

28 IMCA STARS Mod Lites made the trip for the event.

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.

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