June 10, 2026

Manning Charges From Seventh for First Santa Maria Win of 2026

MOD Gavyn Manning OT PB Turbow Photography — Gavyn Manning powers his No. 51G Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified around Santa Maria Speedway en route to victory on June 6. The Bakersfield, Calif. driver charged from seventh to earn his fourth DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region win of the season and first Santa Maria triumph of 2026. (Photo by Turbow Photography)

By Stephanie Odom

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (June 6, 2026) — Tyler Bannister appeared poised to continue his dominance in Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified competition Saturday night at Santa Maria Speedway.

The Bakersfield driver entered the evening a perfect two-for-two at the Central Coast facility in 2026 and added another heat race victory to his résumé. Brandon Jennings also earned a heat race win earlier in the evening.

Jennings and Rob Sanders led the field to green for the 25-lap feature, with Jennings quickly establishing himself at the front while fending off intense pressure from Sanders during the opening circuits.

Starting seventh, fellow Bakersfield racer Gavyn Manning methodically worked his way through the field and into contention. As Jennings continued to pace the field, Manning steadily closed the gap before taking over the lead with five laps remaining.

Bannister also charged forward in the closing stages, but Manning proved untouchable over the final circuits, racing away to secure his first Santa Maria Speedway victory of the season. The win was Manning’s fourth of 2026 in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region.

Jennings held on for second, while Bannister completed the podium in third. Sanders crossed the stripe fourth and Cole Szlauko rounded out the top five.

santamariaspeedway

Combs Makes Late Race Pass to Win at Santa Maria

By Ben Deatherage SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 23, 2025) — The second leg of the 2025 Central California Clash brought the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds to Santa Maria Speedway for the tour’s first-ever race at the Central California coastal facility, featuring a 30-lap showdown. Roseville’s Josh Combs seized the opportunity to claim his first career series victory and first win of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Combs took the early lead and maintained it through multiple cautions, which prevented him from encountering heavy lapped traffic. Cody Burke, a four-time Ocean Speedway track champion, briefly overtook Combs before a red flag incident nullified the lap, returning Combs to the front. Burke reclaimed the lead on lap 26, but a left rear flat tire with a few circuits remaining allowed Combs to retake the top spot and secure the win. Katelynn Robertson, the 2023 Nevada State champion, charged into second late in the race, while reigning Arkansas State champion Keith Brown Jr. finished third. Bannister Battles to SportMod Victory In the 25-lap Karl Chevrolet [Read More]

Bannister Leads Every Lap in Santa Maria Modified Opener

By Stephanie Odom SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 9, 2026) — Tyler Bannister dominated the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified points season opener Saturday night at Santa Maria Speedway, leading all 30 laps for his third DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season at three different tracks. Sixteen IMCA Modifieds filled the pit area after the previous event was lost to rain. Doug Hagio and Bannister each earned heat race victories earlier in the evening. Bannister then drew the pole for the feature and brought the field to the green alongside Justin Crockett. The Bakersfield driver wasted little time taking command, charging into the lead entering turn one and never surrendering the top spot the rest of the distance. Behind him, Crockett and Markus Frazier battled fiercely for the runner-up position throughout the race before Frazier secured second at the finish. Crockett crossed the line third while Dalton Houghton advanced from ninth to fourth. Race Liberante passed the most cars in the feature, charging from 13th to round out the top five.

Oathout Opens Santa Maria’s IMCA SportMod Season with Dominant Victory

By Stephanie Odom SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 16, 2026) — Santa Maria Speedway opened its gates Saturday night for another evening of racing action, including the first Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod event of the 2026 season at the facility. With strong family ties to Santa Maria Speedway, Bakersfield’s Sunnie Simkins picked up her first career SportMod heat race victory. Local favorite Matthew Frazier secured the second heat race win of the evening. With it being opening night for the division, the top 10 drivers after heat race competition redrew for the 20-lap feature event. Willy Oathout and Paul Brown led the field to green. Oathout, from San Luis Obispo, grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag and never looked back on his way to his first victory of the season. Frazier finished second while Alyssa Smith crossed the line in third. Orion Messina charged from 12th to finish fourth while Rich Denman advanced from 10th to round out the top five.

Modified

Manning Charges From Seventh for First Santa Maria Win of 2026

By Stephanie Odom SANTA MARIA, Calif. (June 6, 2026) — Tyler Bannister appeared poised to continue his dominance in Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified competition Saturday night at Santa Maria Speedway. The Bakersfield driver entered the evening a perfect two-for-two at the Central Coast facility in 2026 and added another heat race victory to his résumé. Brandon Jennings also earned a heat race win earlier in the evening. Jennings and Rob Sanders led the field to green for the 25-lap feature, with Jennings quickly establishing himself at the front while fending off intense pressure from Sanders during the opening circuits. Starting seventh, fellow Bakersfield racer Gavyn Manning methodically worked his way through the field and into contention. As Jennings continued to pace the field, Manning steadily closed the gap before taking over the lead with five laps remaining. Bannister also charged forward in the closing stages, but Manning proved untouchable over the final circuits, racing away to secure his first Santa Maria Speedway victory of the season. The win was Manning’s fourth of 2026 in the DeVilbiss [Read More]

Divisions

Mark Martini: 100 Wins in Homebuilt Equipment

By Ben Deatherage AVON, Minn. (June 10, 2026) — The grandstands at North Central Speedway had seen a lot over the years. Championships. Heartbreak. Future stars. Veteran racers. And thousands upon thousands of laps turned around the Brainerd-area clay. On May 23, 2026, the Brainerd-area track witnessed something it had never seen before. Mark “Bud” Martini parked his No. 4Q2 IMCA Northern SportMod in Victory Lane for the 100th time in his career, becoming the first Minnesota driver to reach the century mark in the division and just the 13th member of the SportMod Century Club. The moment carried extra significance. The victory came on the final night of Cliff Sasker’s tenure as promoter before retirement, ending an era at a racetrack Martini had called home for decades. “That was pretty special,” Martini said. “I’m probably one of the longest racing guys there at Brainerd. Cliff is a super, super guy. I don’t know anyone in the racing industry better than him. He is a good man, and it was an honor to race at his [Read More]

Feature

Scott Cook Memorial One-Eye Nationals SportMod Special Set for June 11 at Kossuth County Speedway

By Ben Deatherage ALGONA, Iowa (June 9, 2026) — Kossuth County Speedway will honor the memory of Scott Cook with the Scott Cook Memorial One-Eye Nationals SportMod Special on Thursday, June 11. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods will headline the evening with a lucrative $1,000-to-win feature. An additional $100 bonus will be awarded to the winner if 24 SportMods are entered, pushing the top prize to $1,100. The special-event purse pays $800 for second, $700 for third, $500 for fourth, $400 for fifth, $300 for sixth, and $200 for seventh. Positions eighth through 24th will each receive $100. In addition to the featured SportMod special, Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks will also be in action as part of a full night of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing competition. Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6:50 p.m., with racing to follow. Fans unable to attend can watch every lap live on IMCA TV, where America comes to watch racing. For additional event information and updates, follow Kossuth [Read More]

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