IMCA TV Winter Nationals Explode to Life with Action-Packed Opening Week

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

Three-wide racing action as (48K) Kollin Hibdon, (1) Shawn Natenstedt, and (07X) Troy Morris III charge through the clay in Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified competition at Central Arizona Raceway during the IMCA TV Winter Nationals. (Photo by AOM Creative)

By Ben Deatherage

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 26, 2026) — The first week of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Dynamic Drivelines and Pitt Stop Motorsports at Central Arizona Raceway delivered an incredible start to the 2026 season in the Copper State, with more than 240 teams from across the United States and Canada making the journey to the 3/8-mile clay oval.

The three-division Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner from Belle Plaine, Iowa, Dylan Thornton, took care of business in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, winning the first three nights of competition. One of those victories came in dramatic fashion, as Thornton edged out Mesa native and two-time national champion Chaz Baca Jr. by just 0.021 seconds in the second night’s feature. Baca, the runner-up in that close finish and the 2024 Winter Nationals champion, rebounded to capture the final-night win of the opening week.

Three-time IMCA Sprint Car Super Nationals winner Curt Lund of Redwood Falls, Minnesota, claimed the opening Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature before 2024 Dakota Classic Tour champion Cameron Starry of Corpus Christi, Texas, went back-to-back in the next two rounds. Defending Winter Nationals champion Shelby Williams of Bonham, Texas, closed out the week in historic fashion, scoring his 100th career IMCA Stock Car victory on the final night of Week One.

In the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, 2024 National Rookie of the Year Tyler Johnson from Laveen, came out red hot, winning the first two nights of competition. The 16-year-old’s streak was snapped on Friday by 2015 National Rookie Bud Martini of Avon, Minnesota, before hometown racer and 2024 track champion Eric Winemiller capped the week with a Saturday night victory.

Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock action belonged to Overton, Nebraska’s Zach Olmstead early in the week. The 2022 Super Nationals winner and 2023 B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region champion captured the first two features before being dethroned on Friday by Austin Jahnz of Lewisville, Minnesota. Morgan Olmstead, Zach’s brother and the 2024 Tougher Than Dirt Tour champion, closed the week in style with a big Saturday night victory.

The Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lites competed during the opening week only, and Kansas City, Missouri’s Dillon Raffurty proved to be the class of the field. The five-time reigning National champion and two-time Super Nationals winner claimed victories in the first two nights and the 20-lap Saturday grand finale, securing the overall Winter Nationals championship for the division. Anthem’s A.J. Whisler prevented a clean sweep by capturing Friday night’s feature with a strong home-state performance.

Action resumes for Week Two on Wednesday, January 28, and continues through Saturday, January 30. Watch every lap live exclusively on IMCA TV.

Miss any of the action? 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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