By Ben Deatherage
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 24, 2026) — Chaz Baca Jr. scored his eighth career Winter Nationals series victory with a hard-fought win in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the fourth night of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Pitt Stop Motorsports and Dynamic Drivelines at Central Arizona Raceway. The two-time IMCA National champion also earned his first win of the 2026 campaign in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region.
The Mesa motorist jumped to the early lead and quickly separated himself as the top three checked out from the field. Kevin Williamson, the reigning Western Region champion in the Superior Fuel Cells-fielded no. 42, and Joey Price, the 2018 Montana State titlist in the Shawn Zelenka-provided no. 11*, battled for position behind the leader as Baca began working lapped traffic on lap 12. Pressure mounted in the closing laps when reigning Winter Nationals champion Ethan Braaksma reeled Baca in as traffic tightened the racing groove.
A caution on lap 18 set up a green-white-checkered finish, but Baca executed a clean restart and held strong at the front to secure the win. Kollin Hibdon, the reigning Marshalltown Speedway track champion, advanced to second on the restart and pressured the leader to the finish, while Braaksma, navigating the Danny Meier and Trent Guest no. 111 entry, settled for third.
Tom Berry Jr., the 2020 IMCA National champion and 2022 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner, finished fourth after charging forward in the Mike Wedelstadt-owned No. 77XX, with 2024 Arizona Tour champion Troy Morris rounding out the top five.
Berry and 2021 IMCA Modified National champion Jeff “Bone” Larson were tied for the most passes with 11, as Larson piloted the P.J. Kostenbader-owned no. B1.
A total of 91 IMCA Modifieds were signed in for the night.
Williams Joins Century Club With Stock Car Triumph
Shelby Williams reached a historic milestone in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature, scoring his 100th career victory and becoming the newest member of the Stock Car Century Club after starting seventh. The win marked his fifth Winter Nationals series triumph, tying Andrew Altenburg for the most all-time in the Stock Car division, and his fourth EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region victory of the 2026 season.
Three-time IMCA Sprint Car Super Nationals winner Curt Lund led early from the outside front row, but the race evolved through multiple lead changes as Cameron Starry and Dillon Richards applied pressure. Richards, last year’s Winter Nationals Hobby Stock champion, slipped under Lund on lap 10 to take the lead, but contact exiting turn four on lap 12 opened the door for Bonham, Texas native, Williams, to execute a decisive double overtake and seize control.
Late cautions tightened the field, but the defending Winter Nationals champion withstood challenges from Chaz Baca Jr. and Richards to secure the victory. Baca, in the Rob Gallaher no. X, finished second, Lund placed third, Richards took fourth, and two-time Iowa State and defending Shelby County Speedway track champion Mike “Wahoo” Albertsen rounded out the top five.
Braden Richards earned hard charger honors after advancing from 18th to seventh.
50 IMCA Stock Cars were in competition.
Winemiller Breaks Through for First Winter Nationals SportMod Win
Eric Winemiller earned his first career Winter Nationals series victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature, delivering a hometown triumph in the Matt Hickman-owned no. 44.
Matthew Frazier led the early laps before Winemiller used a strong backstretch run to take the lead on lap four. Multiple cautions kept the field tight as 2024 Nebraska State champion Trevor Noonan mounted repeated challenges, racing side-by-side with Winemiller for several circuits in a tense mid-race battle. Winemiller’s straightaway speed proved decisive as he maintained control while defending through the corners.
As the leaders settled into rhythm in the closing laps, Winemiller secured the win. Troy Speten edged Noonan at the line for second, Noonan finished third, 2024 Junior National champion Payce Herrera placed fourth, and 2024 Independence Motor Speedway track champion Cole Suckow charged from 18th to finish fifth.
Defending Cottage Grove Speedway track titlist Aaron Bloom earned hard charger honors after advancing from 22nd to eighth.
49 IMCA Northern SportMods were signed in.
Morgan Olmstead Dominates for Hobby Stock Victory
Overton, Nebraska’s Morgan Olmstead delivered a commanding performance in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, leading wire-to-wire to capture his first career Winter Nationals series victory and his first win of the season in the B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region.
The 2024 Tougher Than Dirt Tour champ, Olmstead, quickly built a comfortable lead as second through fourth remained tightly contested behind him. Friday night winner Austin Jahnz eventually secured second, while Joel Magee and Nathan Kohl battled intensely for podium positions. Kohl, the defending North Central Speedway track titlist, moved into third late, but Olmstead remained untouchable at the front.
Jahnz finished second, Kohl took third, reigning South Dakota State champion Joel Magee placed fourth, and Greg Kohl completed the top five. Joe Peterson earned hard charger honors after advancing from 24th to 16th.
27 IMCA Hobby Stocks competed.
Raffurty Clinches Winter Nationals Crown With Mod Lite Victory
Dillon Raffurty of Kansas City, Missouri, continued his dominant week in the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature, scoring his third win in four nights and his fifth career Winter Nationals series victory. The triumph also clinched the overall Winter Nationals championship for the two-time Super Nationals winner.
The five-time National champion, Raffurty, took control early and maintained command through multiple cautions and a red-flag stoppage. Friday night winner A.J. Whisler and 2024 Super Nationals champion Riley Clem both mounted challenges, but Raffurty consistently pulled away on restarts to maintain control.
Clem finished second, Whisler settled for third, Zack Forster charged from 22nd to fourth to earn hard charger honors, and defending Winter Nationals champion Josh May completed the top five.
25 IMCA Mod Lites were entered.
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.
