By Ben Deatherage
DUNKERTON, Iowa (Apr. 17, 2026) — At the Boone Speedway season opener on April 11, Jacob Snyder found himself exactly where every driver wants to be—up front, with laps winding down and everything on the line.
He was in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature, battling one of the toughest fields in the country.
The adrenaline didn’t fade. If anything, it kept building—through the caution with three to go, through the restart, and into the final laps, with a seasoned veteran right behind him.
At just 20 years old, Snyder was in the middle of one of the biggest moments of his young career.
And at a place like Boone—known as Iowa’s Action Track and home of the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s—moments like that carry a little more weight.
For Snyder, it was a moment years in the making.
His hometown of Dunkerton sits just outside Waterloo in northeast Iowa, where small towns are connected by county roads and farmland, and life follows a steady rhythm—a tight-knit community built on hard work, family, and local sports.
For Snyder, that rhythm started early.
Because along the banks of the Wapsipinicon River, plenty of successful drivers have come through.
Long before the long hauls across the Midwest and beyond, before the blue and bright pink No. 98 became a familiar sight in the pit area—there was a family connection that pulled him in.
Built Through Family
Snyder’s path into racing didn’t happen by chance.
“My grandpa Dan raced at Tunis Speedway in Waterloo,” he said. “He had a shop there as a mechanic, so everything kind of lined up.”
That foundation carried into the next generation.
His father, Jason, got involved racing for another driver, and Jacob grew up watching from the sidelines—learning, observing, and waiting for his turn.
“When I turned 6, my dad got me a go-kart,” Snyder said. “I didn’t race it until I was 7, and I only raced a dozen times before stopping at 9.”
But the break didn’t last forever.
In 2020, at 14 years old, he made the jump into an IMCA Modified—a move that came with a steep learning curve, as he competed in the final five races of the season at Benton County Speedway.
“From the outside, racing looked pretty easy,” he said. “Then I backed it into the fence at Independence during a practice night, and it opened my eyes.”
Like many young racers, Snyder balanced multiple sports growing up.
Baseball became a major focus, along with football, often pulling him away from racing during key summer months.
“I played travel baseball forever,” he said. “That definitely got in the way of racing some.”
Still, the pull of the racetrack never went away.
By his senior year of high school, he found himself trying to balance both worlds in real time.
“I was at Super Nationals for the first time and had a football game on Friday,” he said. “I won my heat race, drew third for my qualifier, and then had to leave to go play in the game.”
What followed was a tough lesson.
“We had injuries and the ambulance had to be called—not once, but twice—and the game ran long. I didn’t make it back in time for the qualifier.”
A Breakthrough at Boone
Back at Boone Speedway on that special April night, Snyder turned that late-race moment into one of the biggest wins of his young career.
“It’s been a challenge for sure,” he said. “It had been a while since I last got a win. That one hit the heart a little harder.”
The night didn’t start as planned.
“We weren’t even going to race. My dad just wanted to relax at the shop,” Snyder said with a laugh. “But I told him I was going racing whether he was coming or not.”
After arriving late, he still managed to put together a strong night—working through his heat race and earning a spot in the redraw.
“I knew the track was going to be heavy and slimy, so I threw a ton of gear at it,” he said.
Drawing the pole for the feature set up a showdown with veteran Jay Noteboom—a driver with nearly 200 IMCA Modified wins and multiple touring championships.
“I knew that was going to be tough,” Snyder said.
The two battled as the laps clicked away before Snyder made his move with six laps to go.
A late caution only added to the intensity.
“When that caution came out, I didn’t like it at all,” he said. “Then the white flag came out, and the adrenaline just kept building.”
When it was over, the moment meant everything.
“My first win came on my dad and grandpa’s birthday,” he added. “And this one came a day after mine.”
That first career victory came on August 11, 2024, when he faced the tough task of holding off 10-time Benton County track champion Troy Cordes at the Vinton Bullring.
Jacob Snyder celebrates his Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature victory at Boone Speedway on Apr. 11 during the 2026 season opener. (Photo by Bruce Badgley-Motorsports Photography)
The Meaning Behind No. 98
Snyder’s car number carries family significance.
“It was the number my dad drove,” he said. “He asked if I wanted to change it, but I told him no—I wanted to keep it in the family.”
That same mindset shows up in the car’s appearance.
His bright pink color scheme isn’t just unique—it’s intentional.
“I really liked the color,” Snyder said. “I know it might be kind of weird, but it stands out and catches people’s eye.”
And it does.
Paired with their open trailer setup, the team has built a look that turns heads wherever they go—bringing an old-school feel to modern IMCA racing.
“You get a lot of looks and people giving you thumbs up,” he said. “It’s cool seeing kids and fans like it.”
Jacob Snyder’s No. 98 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified sits loaded on an open trailer, reflecting the grassroots approach that has defined his racing journey. (Courtesy Photo)
On the Road and Getting Better
In recent years, Snyder has expanded his racing schedule, traveling to new tracks and competing in events like the IMCA TV Clash On The Coast.
“Last year was our traveling year,” he said. “It was my first year without sports, and we got to go a lot of places.”
Those experiences have paid off.
“It makes you better seeing different tracks,” he said. “And it’s a great family deal—we all enjoy doing it.”
Even with the added travel, the roots of his program remain grounded in family and local support.
Away from the track, Snyder keeps things simple.
“We like to hang out with my little nephew and take him to new places,” he said. “Other than that, we just kind of chill or race.”
When time allows, he enjoys getting outdoors.
“I like to go fishing,” he said. “We’ve got a buddy with a pond we go to, but I like going other places too.”
It’s a balance that keeps him grounded.
The People Behind It All
Snyder is quick to credit those who make his racing possible.
“The sponsors are huge, and I love each and every one of them,” he said.
That support comes from a long list of partners, including Premier Auto Glass, Rage Chassis, Precision Performance, Andy Eckrich, Rob’s Residential Glass, Realtor Betty Wroe at Oakridge Real Estate, Performance Bodies, Travis Smock at People’s Company Land Real Estate, Pipho Family Dentistry, Snyder Automotive, OHB Racing Engines, Block Farms, Northland Oil, QuickCar, Wilwood, The Shop, Capital Signs Co., Rush RaceWear by Austin Witt, Thorne Auto, Portable Sandblasting & Autobody by Joey Snyder, and Arnold’s Motor Supply of Waterloo.
He also points to the people who go the extra mile at the track.
“Robby and Betty Wroe come with us and help on the car—they’re amazing people,” he said.
“I want to thank all the fans who support me by purchasing my apparel through the Jacob Snyder Racing Facebook page,” Snyder said. “The merchandise we sell on there really helps our team travel up and down the road to race at IMCA events.”
Snyder also works part-time at Arnold Motor Supply, which has supported his racing efforts by allowing flexibility in his schedule.
From a kid watching his dad race to a young driver carving out his own path at one of the toughest tracks in the country, Jacob Snyder is still building his story.
And in Iowa IMCA Modified country, where nothing comes easy and every win has to be earned—he’s proving he belongs.
