By Mia Cox
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (May 29, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds closed out Friday night’s racing card with one of the evening’s most entertaining features as Chaz Baca Jr. charged from ninth to victory at Marshalltown Speedway.
Chase Weimer and Kevin Sather led the field to green before an early caution slowed the pace. As the race developed, Joel Rust and Baca emerged as the primary contenders while Jake McBirnie joined the fight near the front.
Following the final restart, Rust, Baca and McBirnie raced three-wide in a thrilling battle for the lead. Baca finally cleared Rust with four laps remaining and pulled away over the closing circuits.
Originally from Mesa, Arizona and now residing in Jewell, Baca earned his fifth win of the season at four different tracks. The victory was his first of the year at Marshalltown Speedway and his second Razor Chassis North Central Region triumph of 2026.
Rust advanced from seventh to finish second while Todd Shute charged from 10th to third. McBirnie finished fourth and Ronn Lauritzen completed the top five.
Reitzler Survives Wild Finish for First Stock Car Victory of Season
The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars produced an exciting main event as well.
Texan Tommy Fain and Todd Reitzler brought the field to green for the 20-lap feature. Several cautions kept the field tightly packed. As the laps wound down, Reitzler and Jimmy Gustin battled fiercely for the lead before a late caution set up a dramatic finish. On the final restart, Austin Kaplan joined the fight while Fain and Reitzler raced door-to-door.
Contact exiting turn four couldn’t stop Reitzler, who held on for his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season.
The Grinnell driver topped Fain, Kaplan and Sam West. Luke Veren completed a strong run from 10th to fifth.
Stanton Captures $1,000 Hobby Stock Prize
The $1,000-to-win Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature saw Eric Stanton withstand heavy pressure throughout the race to secure the victory.
Stanton quickly moved to the front after the green flag while Brett Maasdam and Kolby Sabin remained within striking distance. A caution with 13 laps remaining tightened the field and set up a tense finish.
Sabin used the cushion to move into second and challenge for the lead in the closing laps, but a slight bobble exiting turn four on the final lap allowed Stanton to maintain the advantage.
The Carlisle driver earned his first B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of the season.
Sabin stormed from 11th to second while Maasdam finished third. Eric Knutson advanced from ninth to fourth and Nathan DeRagon rounded out the top five. Tucker Richardson claimed B Main honors.
Gardner Charges From 15th to Sport Compact Victory
Dennis Hoover paced the early stages of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature while several drivers battled three- and four-wide behind him.
Michael Gardner steadily worked his way through traffic after starting 15th and found himself in contention by the closing laps. Gardner took over the lead with four laps remaining and quickly drove away from the field.
The Des Moines driver scored his first victory of the season.
David Kimmel advanced from eighth to finish second while Jeremy Williams climbed from ninth to third. Joseph Carolus drove from 11th to fourth and Curtis Masterson completed the top five.
Livezey Leads the Way in SportMod Main Event
Ryan King led the opening laps of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature before Colten Livezey surged to the front on lap two.
Livezey maintained a comfortable lead while Will Wolf and Hunter Longnecker battled for position behind him. A caution with seven laps remaining briefly slowed the race, but Livezey was flawless on the restart and cruised to victory.
The New Sharon driver earned his first win of the season at Marshalltown Speedway after starting fourth.
Wolf rallied from seventh to finish second while Dylan Cherry advanced from eighth to third. Longnecker was fourth and Tony Johnson finished fifth.
Clem Dominates Mod Lite Feature
The Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature opened the night’s feature racing with Riley Clem putting together a dominant performance.
Starting third, the Bakersfield, California driver quickly moved to the front and built a commanding advantage over the field. The race’s only caution came with seven laps remaining, but Clem was untouchable on the restart.
Clem recorded his seventh victory of the season and second at Marshalltown Speedway in 2026.
Joel Huggins charged from eighth to second while Collin Anderson finished third. Josh May advanced from 11th to fourth and Randy Bryan completed the top five.
