By Ben Deatherage
BEATRICE, Neb. (Mar. 14, 2026) — Jaxon Saathoff delivered a thrilling hometown victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature on the final night of the 33rd annual Spring Nationals at Beatrice Speedway. The Beatrice driver charged from ninth to win the 25-lap, $2,000-to-win main event, which served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s and placed him on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify. The triumph marked Saathoff’s first Jet Racing Central Region win of the season and his first career Spring Nationals title — exactly 30 years after his father Johnny captured the event in 1996.
Shawn Harker, last year’s Jet Racing Central Region and Nebraska State champion as well as the reigning Eagle Raceway track titlist, initially shot to the lead on the opening start. Bryson Yeager, a two-time Sweetwater Speedway champion, wrestled the top spot away on the backstretch and led the opening lap.
A caution slowed the field on lap four, but Yeager executed the restart perfectly. Harker began closing in during the ensuing green-flag stretch and powered around the outside of Yeager on lap seven to assume command.
The race stayed green for an extended run as Yeager remained glued to Harker’s bumper while Saathoff steadily worked forward. The hometown driver soon reeled in the lead group while bringing five-time national champion and nine-time reigning Beatrice track champion Jordan Grabouski with him.
Saathoff surged past Yeager and then made the decisive move around the outside of Harker on lap 22 to claim the lead. A caution with two laps remaining set up a green-white-checkered finish, but Saathoff executed the restart flawlessly and drove away for the win.
Grabouski charged from 16th to finish second and earned hard charger honors. Harker held on for third in a tight finish over reigning Razor Chassis North Central Region champion Jeremy Mills, while Yeager completed the top five.
38 IMCA Modifieds were on hand.
Vanover Wins Wild Stock Car Main Event
Kyle Vanover capitalized on late-race chaos to capture the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature. The Beatrice driver started eighth and secured his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season in the 25-lap, $1,000-to-win main event, which served as a qualifier for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational and placed him on the eligibility list to try and qualify.
The race opened with a thrilling three-wide battle between double duty driver Jordan Grabouski, Jesse Sobbing, and 1994 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock National champion Doug Holzmeister. Sobbing, the reigning Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s Sunoco IMCA Late Model champion, emerged from the opening circuit with the lead. However, Grabouski worked underneath Sobbing to take control on lap three and began pulling away from the field.
Several cautions in the middle stages kept Sobbing within striking distance of the leader. With the laps winding down, Vanover — the six-time reigning Beatrice track champion — surged past Sobbing for second on lap 19.
A caution with a few laps remaining set up a green-white-checkered finish. On the restart, Jordan Grabouski and Jesse Sobbing made contact while battling for the lead, sending Grabouski sideways and ending Sobbing’s bid for the win. Vanover inherited the top spot and drove away on the final restart to seal the victory.
Damon Murty, the 2005 National champion and 2018 Super Nationals winner, finished second. Four-time Beatrice Stock Car champion Lance Borgman placed third, Holzmeister was fourth, and Zach Bohlmeyer advanced from 21st to fifth to earn hard charger honors.
37 IMCA Stock Cars competed.
Wayman Leads SportMod Field From Start to Finish
Cole Wayman dominated the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature to earn his first victory of the season in the $1,000-to-win, 25-lap finale.
The Lincoln driver and two-time defending Eagle Raceway champion grabbed the lead on the opening lap after working around Tyler Nerud, the two-time defending Beatrice track champion.
Wayman quickly established a strong pace as two-time Harris Clash winner Cam Reimers battled Nerud for second. As the race progressed into lapped traffic just past the halfway mark, Wayman maintained a comfortable advantage.
Cautions on laps 20 and 21 briefly halted the action, but Wayman remained composed on the restarts and drove away to secure the victory.
2019 track crown winner Adam Armstrong finished second, Reimers was third, defending National champion Brayton Carter placed fourth in the Bobby Six provided no. 6, and 2026 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion Trevor Noonan completed the top five in the Trevor Laher-owned no. 66.
Jessiah Taylor advanced from 23rd to sixth to earn hard charger honors.
47 IMCA Northern SportMods were signed in.
Stigge Sweeps Hobby Stock Spring Nationals
Brendon Stigge completed a weekend sweep of the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock division by winning the final-night feature and securing his first career Spring Nationals title. The victory also made it two wins in two starts this season in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region.
Trent Matson grabbed the lead on the opening lap after edging Austin Jahnz on the backstretch. Nick Ronnebaum, a former track champion at both Salina Speedway and Concordia Raceway, moved into second after passing Jahnz on lap two.
Two-time Beatrice track champion Taylor Huss ripped the cushion and stormed from fourth to the lead on lap four, quickly opening a sizable advantage.
A caution on lap 10 erased Huss’ lead, and on the restart Stigge executed a spectacular move to take command. The three-time Beatrice champion from Fairbury then pulled away from the field.
Ronnebaum reclaimed second on lap 14 and attempted to run down Stigge in the closing laps, drawing close on the final circuit before settling for the runner-up finish.
Huss finished third, Dan Nelson placed fourth, and Jahnz completed the top five.
Zach Ankrum earned hard charger honors after advancing from 21st to sixth.
42 IMCA Hobby Stocks attended.
Higdon Credited With Sport Compact Victory
Kiowa Higdon was credited with the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact victory after post-race technical inspection disqualified initial winner Kaden Murray.
Murray, the 2022 Nebraska State champion, had dominated the 15-lap feature after taking the lead early and pulling away from the field despite an early caution.
Higdon settled into second place during the race while Brandon Carmichael eventually secured third.
Following technical inspection, Murray was disqualified due to a limited slip differential infraction, handing the win to Higdon — a multi-time WaKeeney and RPM Speedway track champion — for his first victory of the season.
Carmichael was credited with second after starting 10th. 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion Gilbert Aldape finished third, Jackson Black placed fourth, and Tobey Van Laningham rounded out the top five.
Colten Halpain earned hard charger honors after advancing ten positions from 26th to 16th.
29 IMCA Sport Compacts made the trip to Beatrice Speedway.
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, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
