Bitting Charges from Rear to Win Saturday Hobby Stock Show at Central Arizona

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

Anthony Madrid (53) races ahead of Steve Bitting Jr. (2ND) during Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock action on Mar. 14 at Central Arizona Raceway. Bitting went on to win the $1000 to win feature. (Photo by Ron Pelton Jr.)

By Rowdy Briggs

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Mar. 14, 2026) — A strong field of 24 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks answered the call for the $1000 to win feature at Central Arizona. Matt Rice and Joel Magee led the field to green, with Magee taking the early lead.

Steve Bitting Jr. spun on lap two and was sent to the rear but mounted an impressive comeback. Up front, Magee and Anthony Madrid battled, for the lead until lap 18, when Bitting charged past both drivers to take over the top spot.

Bitting went on to score the win over Magee, Madrid, Charles McDaniel Sr., and Hannah Miller. He stated in his post-race interview that he lost brakes early but kept his car on the bottom and worked his way through the field.

Ty Warner and Steve Bitting Jr. led the 18-car field to the green for Friday’s 20-lap feature. Bitting led the opening six laps before Anthony Madrid took over in the Rick Thornton Sr. machine. Madrid pulled away while Bitting battled Joel Magee for second.

Madrid went on to win, with Bitting finishing second ahead of Magee, Charles McDaniel Sr., and Warner.

The Karl Kustoms Modified feature got off to a rocky start when pole-sitter Bill Slocum spun in front of the field on the opening lap, triggering a multi-car pile-up that ended the night for several competitors.

Once the track was cleared, Cole Dick jumped into the early lead and paced the first three laps before Luke Silber took over on lap four. Dick later broke while battling Silber for the top spot.

Silber pulled away to a commanding advantage of more than four seconds to secure the victory. Mike and Kelsy Wedelstadt completed the podium, followed by Justin Erickson and C.R. Eisenzimer.

Grady Clements led the opening circuit of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature before Casey Murdoch took control on lap two. Clay Erickson worked his way into second late in the race, finishing ahead of Clements. Scott Bernards and Nelson Morrow completed the top five.

The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature was cut short due to time constraints after completing just eight laps in 25 minutes, slowed by numerous cautions. Ty Weidner led the first six laps before Bubba Stafford Jr. took over and went on to win. Eric Winemiller, Braydon Whitfield, James Meile, and Anthony Madrid followed.

Richard Kemp led the opening four circuits before A.J. Whisler took command in the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite main event. Whisler pulled away to a convincing victory of more than three seconds. Shane Hinsley finished second, followed by Chris Lomasney, Kemp, and Brian Rich.

Steve Carter and Jalen Rice battled for the lead through the first eight laps of the Friday Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature until Rice was forced to exit with a flat tire. Carter went on to win by more than half a lap over Jaxon Sanchez, Jalen Rice, and Savannah Rice.

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.

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