February 13, 2026

Babbitt Breaks Through at Ocala with Florida Winter Nationals Victory

ML Corey Babbitt VL PB Jimmy May — Corey Babbitt celebrates in victory lane at Ocala Speedway after winning the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature during Florida Winter Nationals competition, joined by crew members Jose Gomez (left) and Bobby Gunter (center). (Photo by Jimmy May)

By Ben Deatherage

OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2026) — Corey Babbitt put together a dominant performance Thursday night, capturing the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature during night six of the 2026 Florida Winter Nationals at Ocala Speedway. The New Caney, Texas, driver took command early and never relinquished it, mastering multiple restarts on the 3/8-mile oval to secure his first series victory of the season.

Ohio’s Carson Hubbard led the field to green and paced the early circuits, but Delaware’s Ryan McKinney quickly went to work on the high side in pursuit of the lead. A charge into the marbles cost McKinney momentum, allowing Corey Babbitt to slip into second. From there, the New Caney, Texas driver wasted little time tracking down Hubbard, executing a clean inside pass at the stripe on lap three to take command.

When the green-flag rhythm set in, Babbitt began stretching his advantage before cautions on laps six and seven reset the field. Behind him, a three-wide battle for second erupted between McKinney, Hubbard, and defending Florida Winter Nationals champion Ronnie Choate, with Choate eventually securing the position.

As the race wore on, 2024 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion Riley Clem methodically carved his way forward from deep in the field. The California chauffeur surged into second with three laps remaining and had a shot at the lead when a late caution set up a one-lap restart. Despite the pressure and navigating lapped traffic, Babbitt remained flawless, driving away in the closing sprint to secure his first Florida Winter Nationals victory of the year.

Clem finished second after an impressive charge from 27th, earning hard charger honors. 2023 Super Nationals winner, Choate, completed the podium in third, followed by 2025 National Mod Lite Rookie of the Year Robbie Throop in fourth. Fellow Texan Scott Jordan rounded out the top five.

A strong 28-car field representing more than half a dozen states and one Canadian province were on hand.

ocalaspeedway

Choate Conquers Ocala, Claims First ’26 Winter Nationals Triumph

By Ben Deatherage OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2026) — Ronnie Choate of Cookeville, Tennessee, delivered a dominant performance in the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature on night five of the 2026 Florida Winter Nationals, capturing the 20-lap main event at Ocala Speedway. The defending Florida Winter Nationals champion controlled the race on the 3/8-mile oval to secure his first series victory of the season. Choate jumped to the early lead on the opening start and immediately established command. Behind him, a spirited battle for second unfolded in the opening laps between Texan Corey Babbitt and Delaware’s Ryan McKinney, with McKinney initially holding the position. A caution on lap seven reset the field, allowing Babbitt to move into second on the restart, but Choate quickly stretched his advantage once green-flag racing resumed. Another slowdown on lap 11 again erased the leader’s margin, yet Choate remained flawless on the restart, driving away from Babbitt and the rest of the field. Brandon Dennis worked past McKinney for third on lap 13, while Babbitt attempted to chip into Choate’s [Read More]

Clem Makes Late Move to Win Ocala Speedway Mod Lite Thriller

By Ben Deatherage Ocala, Florida (February 4, 2025) — Bakersfield, California transplant Riley Clem brought the crowd to its feet with a thrilling late-race pass to win the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite $1,000-to-win feature at Ocala Speedway. The event, part of the second leg of the 2025 Florida Winter Nationals, drew an impressive field of 48 cars from across the United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Texas racer Corey Babbit jumped out to the early lead from the pole position, setting a quick pace before a lap-one caution halted his momentum. On the restart, Clem wasted no time charging into second, and the two frontrunners began to distance themselves from the rest of the field. A second caution on lap six reset the action, but Babbit and Clem again pulled away on the restart. Clem made his first serious challenge on the eighth circuit, but Babbit held his ground and kept the California driver in check. As the race stayed green, lapped traffic came into play in the final three [Read More]

Babbit Redeems Himself With Ocala Mod Lite Victory

By Ben Deatherage OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 5, 2025) — Corey Babbit got his shot at redemption in race three of the 2025 Florida Winter Nationals at Ocala Speedway, claiming victory in the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite main event. After being overtaken late in lapped traffic the night before, the New Caney, Texas polesitter dominated the 25-lap finale to secure his first win of the season. The event drew an impressive 42 entries from across the United States, as well as the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Despite a red flag incident on the initial start, Babbit rocketed away once the race got underway. 2023 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner Ronnie Choate tried to keep pace, but the Tennessee driver soon found himself losing ground as Babbit stretched his lead. Navigating through lapped traffic, the former Texas Mod Lite Nationals winner efficiently maneuvered past slower cars without incident. However, a caution on lap 11 bunched the field back up, setting up a dramatic restart. When racing resumed, Iowa’s Josh May [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through February 12, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine, Iowa, 300; 2. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 280; 3. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 274; 4. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 270; 5. Troy III Morris, Waterloo, Iowa, 264; 6. Chaz Baca, Stanhope, Iowa, 260; 7. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 234; 8. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 225; 9. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 216; 10. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 201; 11. Logan Drake, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 179; 12. Tate Johnson, Homestead, Montana, 170; 13. Bart Taylor, Sheridan, Wyoming, and Jeremy Richey, Gold Hill, Oregon, both 169; 15. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Washington, 163; 16. Steven Whiteaker, Robstown, Texas, and Jesse Patterson, Marana, Ariz., both 153; 18. Cody Laney, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 152; 19. Jeff Taylor, Duncan, Okla., 151; 20. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 147. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 478; 2. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 418; 3. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn., 341; 4. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 285; 5. Dillon Richards, Wymore, Neb., 280; 6. Chaz Baca, Stanhope, Iowa, 262; [Read More]

Feature

Babbitt Breaks Through at Ocala with Florida Winter Nationals Victory

By Ben Deatherage OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2026) — Corey Babbitt put together a dominant performance Thursday night, capturing the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature during night six of the 2026 Florida Winter Nationals at Ocala Speedway. The New Caney, Texas, driver took command early and never relinquished it, mastering multiple restarts on the 3/8-mile oval to secure his first series victory of the season. Ohio’s Carson Hubbard led the field to green and paced the early circuits, but Delaware’s Ryan McKinney quickly went to work on the high side in pursuit of the lead. A charge into the marbles cost McKinney momentum, allowing Corey Babbitt to slip into second. From there, the New Caney, Texas driver wasted little time tracking down Hubbard, executing a clean inside pass at the stripe on lap three to take command. When the green-flag rhythm set in, Babbitt began stretching his advantage before cautions on laps six and seven reset the field. Behind him, a three-wide battle for second erupted between McKinney, Hubbard, and defending Florida Winter Nationals champion [Read More]

Feature

Racine Thompson Takes the Reins at Eagle Raceway

By Ben Deatherage EAGLE, Neb. (Feb. 12, 2026) — Eagle Raceway, long known as “America’s Home Track,” has officially been passed down to the next generation of the Hadan family, as Racine Thompson has been named the new promoter of the famed Nebraska 1/3-mile oval. Roger Hadan, who has owned Eagle Raceway since 2007 after leasing and promoting the facility in 2006, formally handed over day-to-day leadership to his daughter with the goal of continuing the track’s long-standing success and family legacy. Racetrack promotion runs deep in the Hadan family. Roger’s grandfather, Albert Hadan, built the historic Sunset Speedway in Omaha, embedding the sport into the family’s foundation. With a desire to ensure racing remains strong in Eagle for years to come, the transition to Racine represents both continuity and evolution. Thompson has spent her entire adult life at the raceway. Since her parents took over operations, she has worked in virtually every role imaginable at the facility. “When my parents purchased the track in 2007, I’ve worked there since then,” Thompson said. “I started off [Read More]

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