By Ben Deatherage
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 23, 2026) — Dylan Thornton of Belle Plaine, Iowa, continued his dominant run at Central Arizona Raceway with a commanding victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the third night of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Pitt Stop Motorsports and Dynamic Drivelines. The former Santa Maria, California native earned his fifth career Winter Nationals series victory, his third win of the 2026 event, and his third straight triumph in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region.
Thornton jumped to the lead immediately from the high side on the opening start and began pulling away as the green-flag run developed. Two-time defending Dakota Classic Modified Tour champion and reigning Winter Nationals champion Ethan Braaksma gave chase from the bottom groove in the Danny Meier and Trent Guest-owned no. 111, while a spirited mid-race battle for fourth between reigning Marshalltown Speedway track champion Kollin Hibdon and Tate Johnson provided the best fight inside the top five. A caution on lap 14 reset the field just before lapped traffic became a factor.
Two-time IMCA Modified National champion Chaz Baca Jr. emerged as Thornton’s primary challenger on the restart, battling Braaksma in an intense slider exchange for the runner-up spot. Thornton, a Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner in three divisions, quickly re-established control and pulled away again to secure the win.
Baca finished second, Hibdon advanced to third, Braaksma settled for fourth, and two-time Sweetwater Speedway champion Bryson Yeager of Wyoming completed the top five.
2020 IMCA Modified National champion and 2022 IMCA Super Nationals winner Tom Berry Jr. charged from 18th to finish sixth to earn hard charger honors in the Mike Wedelstadt-owned No. 77XX.
90 IMCA Modifieds were entered.
Starry Wins Second Straight Stock Car Feature
Cameron Starry of Corpus Christi, Texas, claimed his second consecutive victory of the event in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, earning his third career Winter Nationals series win and third EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region triumph of the 2026 season. The 2024 Dakota Classic Tour Stock Car champion and last year’s Sparkling City Classic winner controlled the feature from the high side.
Starry built an early advantage before a series of cautions regrouped the field, allowing reigning Winter Nationals champion Shelby Williams, Iowan Mike Vondrak, and 2024 EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region champion Bo Partain to challenge through multiple restarts. Despite the pressure, Starry kept control and pulled away in the closing laps to seal the victory.
Vondrak finished second with Partain third. Williams was fourth, and Chaz Baca Jr. completed the top five in the Rob Gallaher-owned no. X entry.
2024 Junior National champion Payce Herrera and reigning Winter Nationals Hobby Stock champion Dillon Richards earned hard charger honors after advancing 11 positions apiece.
50 IMCA Stock Cars competed.
Martini Goes Wire-to-Wire in SportMod Feature
Bud Martini delivered a dominant, caution-free performance to score his first career Winter Nationals series victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature. The 2015 National Rookie of the Year jumped to the lead on the opening lap and immediately began building a massive advantage.
As the field settled in, last year’s California State champion Danny Wagner and three-time Colorado State champion Danny Concelman battled late for podium positions, but Martini was never challenged, expertly navigating lapped traffic in the closing laps to secure the win.
Cole Suckow, the 2024 Independence Motor Speedway track champion, finished second, with Wagner third, Concelman fourth, and 2015 National champion Tyler Frye completing the top five in the Cody Williams-owned no. 55.
Defending Winter Nationals SportMod champion Nathan Speten earned hard charger honors after advancing from 22nd to 15th.
46 IMCA Northern SportMods were entered.
Jahnz Steals Late Hobby Stock Victory
Austin Jahnz of Lewistown, Minnesota, captured his first career Winter Nationals series victory and first win of the season in the B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region with a dramatic late-race move in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks.
Zach Olmstead, the 2022 IMCA Super Nationals winner and 2023 B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region champion, led early while trying to continue a dominant week and pursue a three-peat in the Winter Nationals competition. Defending South Dakota State champion Joel Magee and 2024 Lincoln County Raceway champion Tyler Thompson applied steady pressure through multiple cautions, while Jahnz steadily closed the gap from the top five.
With two laps remaining, Jahnz capitalized on a bobble by Olmstead to take the lead and pull away for the win. Olmstead settled for second, Magee finished third, Charles McDaniel III was fourth, and 2024 Tougher Than Dirt Tour champion Morgan Olmstead charged from 25th to fifth to earn hard charger honors.
32 Hobby Stocks competed.
Whisler Outduels Raffurty for Mod Lite Win
Anthem’s A.J. Whisler made a big home-state statement by earning his first career Winter Nationals series victory with a hard-fought win in the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature, one night after crashing out on the opening lap following a front-row start.
Whisler took control early and built a gap as five-time reigning national champion Dillon Raffurty and defending Winter Nationals champion Josh May battled for second, allowing the leader to separate. Raffurty eventually secured the runner-up position and began closing in as the race moved into lapped traffic.
Despite a late charge from Raffurty, Whisler maintained his composure and held on for the victory. Raffurty finished second, May was third, 2024 IMCA Super Nationals winner Riley Clem placed fourth, and Electric City Speedway track champion Michael Raffurty advanced from 16th to finish fifth.
Zack Forster earned hard charger honors after advancing from 23rd to 11th.
24 IMCA Mod Lites were entered.
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.
