By Brad Harris
CENTRAL SQUARE, N.Y. (Aug. 16, 2026) — After a year away from Mod Lite competition, Kyle Demo made his return known in a big way, sweeping the first two nights of the third annual OneGroup Beast of the East Showdown for Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lites before Dillon Raffurty closed the three-race weekend with a victory Sunday at Weedsport Speedway.
The three-night swing brought IMCA Mod Lites to Brewerton Speedway, Fulton Speedway, and Weedsport, with each feature paying $1,000 to win. Thirty-nine entries were on hand for each of the first two nights before the field grew to 42 for Sunday’s finale.
Demo’s return to the division produced immediate results Friday at Brewerton.
Starting third in the 20-lap feature, Demo worked his way to the front and took command on his way to the $1,000 victory.
Hunter Lawton advanced from sixth to finish second, while Anthony Scott put together an impressive charge from 17th to third.
Zack Babcock, who had won his heat race over Demo earlier in the program, finished fourth, with Roger Olschewske Jr. completing the top five.
Demo faced a tougher road to victory Saturday at Fulton but produced the same result.
After winning his heat race, Demo started sixth in the 25-lap feature and worked his way through the field to secure his second $1,000 victory in as many nights.
Babcock finished second, while Raffurty, who started from the pole, took third. Doug Williams made the biggest charge among the leaders, racing from 23rd to fourth, and Ashton Anderson rounded out the top five.
Raffurty made the long trip from Missouri worthwhile Sunday night by capturing the 25-lap finale at Weedsport.
Starting seventh, Raffurty advanced to the front and secured the $1,000 victory after finishing third the previous night at Fulton.
Babcock completed a remarkably consistent weekend with his second consecutive runner-up finish. Brayden Benson was third, Williams finished fourth, and Alex Forcier charged from 25th to fifth.
Demo faced his toughest night of the weekend after starting 19th and worked his way forward to finish 13th.
The three-night Showdown concluded with Demo owning victories at Brewerton and Fulton, Raffurty taking the Weedsport finale, and Babcock recording top-four finishes each night, including consecutive runner-up efforts to close the weekend.
