By Suzan McCoy
CORTEZ, Colo. (Aug. 29, 2026) — Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway came alive Saturday night with a full slate of racing action as drivers from across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona battled for feature victories.
Jeramy Hughes of Carlsbad, N.M., raced from fourth starting to capture the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature.
The victory was Hughes’ fourth EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region win of the 2026 season and his first outside his native New Mexico. Race Fisher of Dove Creek was second, followed by Allen Bradley of Farmington, N.M., Sid Tenney, and Traci Bradley.
Dove Creek’s Brody Spangler continued a strong season by racing the No. 91B to victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature.
The win was Spangler’s 12th of the 2026 campaign and fifth at Cortez. Bubba Jr. Stafford of Wittmann, Ariz., finished second, with Keelan Matthews of Camp Verde, Ariz., third. Cortez’s Jimmy Wilson and Grand Junction’s Rick Spangler completed the top five.
Waylon Hale of Mancos put together a winning performance in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature, taking the checkered flag after starting third.
It was Hale’s second DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season, with the two wins coming at different tracks. Aaron Spangler of Dove Creek finished second, followed by Tyrone Yazzie of Farmington, N.M., Camron Spangler, and Troy Seidl.
Steve Bitting Jr. of Phoenix, Ariz., drove the No. 013 from fourth starting to victory in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature.
Bitting earned his fourth B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region victory of 2026 and first at Cortez this season. Hunter Ferrell of Bayfield finished second, with Cañon City’s Chad Nelson third, Jason Duggins fourth, and Hayden Barney fifth.
Katie Barthel of Ignacio drove from fourth starting to capture the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature.
The victory was Barthel’s second of the season, with both coming at Cortez. Clay Tillia of Dolores finished second, followed by Dewy Bowden of Roosevelt, Utah, Ted Neergaard of Mancos, and Orlan Anderson of Roosevelt.
Leon Shim of Kirtland, N.M., worked his way forward from seventh starting to capture the 15-lap Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature aboard the No. 493.
The victory was Shim’s fourth of the season and third at Cortez. Gabe Shim, also of Kirtland, finished second to give the family a one-two finish. Dillyun Bowden of Roosevelt, Utah, was third, followed by Derrick Pyeatt of Dolores and James Goben of Cortez.
