By Christine Rublack
VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 23, 2026) — Kyle Olson, Ben Chapman and Tony Olson entered championship night at Benton County Speedway locked in a close battle for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod track title, but it was Price, Utah’s Payce Herrera who came away with the feature victory.
Austin Kemp took the early lead with Brady Hilmer running second while Herrera began working the high groove. Behind them, Kyle and Tony Olson raced side-by-side as the championship battle continued to unfold.
A late caution bunched the field and gave Herrera his opportunity. He took advantage of the high groove to move into the lead and stayed there through the checkered flag.
The victory was Herrera’s 13th of the 2026 season and his first of the year at Benton County.
Kemp finished second, Tony Olson was third, Kyle Olson took fourth, and Brady Hilmer completed the top five. Olson’s fourth-place finish was enough to secure the Benton County Speedway track championship.
Wroten Breaks Points Tie With Benton County Championship
Leah Wroten and Joren Fisher entered championship night tied atop the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock standings, putting all eyes on the pair as the final feature of the points season unfolded.
Justin Wacha of Vinton took command early while Alex Yoerger moved into second. Jaice Tuttle worked the higher groove and began challenging Yoerger as Wroten and Fisher raced side-by-side behind them.
Tuttle eventually moved forward to challenge Wacha for the lead while Wroten worked her way into third. Wacha held off Tuttle to take the checkered flag and add his name to the list of B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region winners this season.
Tuttle finished second, while Wroten’s third-place run was enough to secure the Benton County Speedway track championship. Yoerger finished fourth, and Dalton Weepie rounded out the top five.
Olson Outduels Oliver as Oliver Claims Stock Car Crown
Kyle Olson and John Oliver Jr. gave the crowd a thrilling show in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature, racing side-by-side for the lead during the closing stages.
Oliver quickly worked the bottom groove into the top spot while Tony Olson moved into second and Kyle Olson went to work on the high side.
A three-car battle developed before a caution regrouped the field. On the restart, Oliver stayed committed to the bottom while Kyle Olson worked the top, and the pair battled door-to-door as the laps clicked away.
Kyle Olson eventually prevailed for his fourth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season, with all four coming at Benton County.
Oliver finished second and secured the track championship, while Tony Olson was third, Dave McCalla finished fourth, and Brandon Tharp completed the top five.
Cordes Completes Championship Night Sweep
Troy Cordes of Dunkerton capped his championship season by winning both the IMCA Modified feature and the Benton County Speedway track title.
Cordes began challenging Jerry Dedrick for the top spot early before taking command. Jacob Snyder then went to work on Dedrick for second and eventually made the pass, while Rayce Mullen moved into fourth.
Cordes and Snyder distanced themselves from the field as the race continued, and Cordes crossed the finish line first for his fourth Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season. Two of those wins have come at Benton County.
Snyder finished second, Mullen was third, Jesse Belez took fourth, and Dedrick rounded out the top five.
Grady Pairs Sport Compact Victory With Track Championship
Cristian Grady of Cedar Rapids put an exclamation point on his championship season by winning the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature and securing the Benton County Speedway track title.
Grady took command early while Robert Rundle moved into second. Lukas Rick used the bottom groove to work his way past Rundle, and Grady and Rick began pulling away from the field as the laps wound down.
Grady took the checkered flag for his fifth victory of the season, with four of those coming at Benton County.
Rick finished second, Rundle was third, Michael Gardner took fourth, and Drew Stanek completed the top five.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $25.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
