September 16, 2026

$10,000 Awaits Stock Car Winner at Batesville’s Mid-America Championship

By Ben Deatherage

LOCUST GROVE, Ark. (Sept. 16, 2026) — A $10,000 payday and an automatic berth in the 2027 B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational are on the line when Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars headline the 31st annual Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Stock Car Championship at Batesville Motor Speedway.

The three-day event runs Sept. 17-19 at the Locust Grove oval, with Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds also on the program all three nights.

The Mid-America Championship culminates with a 50-lap Stock Car finale Saturday night, paying $10,000 to win and $800 to start the 25-car field. The runner-up earns $5,000, third pays $2,500, fourth $1,250 and fifth $1,000.

In addition to the winner’s share of the purse, Saturday night’s Stock Car champion will automatically qualify for the 2027 B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway.

The entry fee is $150 per class.

Fans unable to attend can watch all three nights live on IMCA TV, where America comes to watch racing.

Additional event information is available at BatesvilleMotorSpeedway.com and on the track’s Facebook page.

BatesvilleMotorSpeedway

Dotson tops Race For Hope 71 opening night qualifier

BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 22) – Night one of Batesville Motor Speedway’s Race For Hope 71 belonged to Ethan Dotson. The IMCA Modified clipper from Bakersfield, Calif., started seventh and finished first on Wednesday, opening night of qualifying for Saturday’s $50,000 to win main event. “We were pretty good and hopefully we can keep that speed for 75 laps on Saturday. Starting on the pole will definitely help,” Dotson said. “The track had some character (tonight) and it was fun moving around. We had to get past some pretty good cars to get to the front.” Dotson made his way into the lead on lap 10 of the 25-lapper. He’d finished 14th in the 2019 event and seventh last year. Lining up behind him in the main event will be Jacob Hobscheidt, hard charger Cody Laney, Kollin Hibdon, Jesse Sobbing, Sawyer Crigler, D.J. Shannon, Scott Bloomquist and Mike Mullen. Laney motored to third from 21st starting. Qualifying for Race For Hope 71 continues Thursday night. One hundred Modifieds vied on opening night at Batesville. Feature results – 1. Ethan [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds chasing $4,000 top checks each night of Batesville’s Sept. 22-24 Race For Hope 71

BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 14, 2022) – A lot of talent and a little luck could send one lucky driver home with as much as $13,000 from Batesville Motor Speedway’s September 22-24 Race For Hope 71. The new format for the sixth annual special, presented by IMCA.TV, sees Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds racing for $4,000 to win along with Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational eligibility each night Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the top driver in points for the three shows earning a $1,000 bonus. Runners-up each night get $2,000 with $1,250 for third and $1,000 for fifth. Qualifying for the feature pays a minimum of $400 and non-qualifier pay is $100. Drivers can enter at www.batesvillemotorspeedway.com or by calling 870 613-1337. Entry fee is $150 if paid by Sept. 18 or $200 after that date. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Jet Racing Central Region and Arkansas State points will be awarded each night. Pit passes are $35 and spectator admission is $20 for adults, $5 for youth ages 13-15 and free for kids 12 and under. All [Read More]

IMCA Stock Cars chase $10,000 top prize at Batesville’s Mid-America Championship

BATESVILLE, Ark. (Aug. 29, 2022) – The richest race of the season for The Class Too Tough to Tame in Arkansas is on tap Sept. 2-3, when Batesville Motor Speedway rolls out the red carpet for the Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Stock Car Championship. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars race for $10,000 to win at the 27th annual event, along with an automatic starting spot in the upcoming B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. The runner-up earns $5,000 with $2,500 paid for third, $1,250 for fourth and $1,000 for fifth. Minimum start money is $800 with 25 cars set to take the initial green flag in the 50-lap main event. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. both nights with a full show for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, hobby stocks and cruisers on the opening night card. Last-chance races fill the field for the Stock Car main event with the hobbies, cruisers and legend late models on Saturday. Entry fee of $150 can be paid at the gate. Pit passes are $35. Adult [Read More]

News

Water Restrictions Bring Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway Season to Early End

By Suzan McCoy CORTEZ, Colo. (Sept. 16, 2026) — The remainder of the 2026 racing season at Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway has been canceled due to ongoing water restrictions affecting Montezuma County and surrounding areas. Track officials said the decision was made after irrigation restrictions and the shutdown of area wellheads left the facility without enough available water to properly prepare and maintain the racing surface. Continuing to race under those conditions would not allow the speedway to provide a properly prepared or safe racing surface. “We are very disappointed that we had to make this decision, but we have to comply with the water restrictions that are in place throughout the county and surrounding areas,” co-promoter Joe Bellm said. “We sincerely apologize to our racers, crews and fans, and we are extremely grateful and thankful that we were able to complete six of our scheduled eight races this season.” The six completed events will stand as the official 2026 racing season at Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway. Points accumulated during those events will determine the track and IMCA [Read More]

Feature

$10,000 Awaits Stock Car Winner at Batesville’s Mid-America Championship

By Ben Deatherage LOCUST GROVE, Ark. (Sept. 16, 2026) — A $10,000 payday and an automatic berth in the 2027 B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational are on the line when Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars headline the 31st annual Schoenfeld Headers Mid-America IMCA Stock Car Championship at Batesville Motor Speedway. The three-day event runs Sept. 17-19 at the Locust Grove oval, with Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds also on the program all three nights. The Mid-America Championship culminates with a 50-lap Stock Car finale Saturday night, paying $10,000 to win and $800 to start the 25-car field. The runner-up earns $5,000, third pays $2,500, fourth $1,250 and fifth $1,000. In addition to the winner’s share of the purse, Saturday night’s Stock Car champion will automatically qualify for the 2027 B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway. The entry fee is $150 per class. Fans unable to attend can watch all three nights live on IMCA TV, where America comes to watch racing. Additional [Read More]

Feature

Keslie Richards: Four Generations of Racers and One Historic First

By Ben Deatherage MONTELLO, Wis. (Sept. 16, 2026) — By the time the lights came on at Eagle River Speedway, 14-year-old Keslie Richards had already spent most of her life preparing for a moment she didn’t know was coming. She had grown up in race shops and race cars. At six, she learned to drive on a makeshift track built from tires at home while her father raced with her on a four-wheeler. At eight came Junior Sprints. At 12, she climbed into a full-sized race car. Now, in her first season behind the wheel of a Sunoco IMCA Stock Car, Richards found herself competing regularly against some of Wisconsin’s toughest Stock Car drivers. On July 28, everything came together. Richards finished second in her heat race and knew she had a fast car. In the feature, she saw the leader make a mistake. When another opportunity presented itself, the 14-year-old was ready. She capitalized, drove to her first career IMCA Stock Car feature victory and became the first female driver to win an IMCA Stock [Read More]

Related Articles