Braaksma Banks $10,000 in Survive the 55 at Skagit

Feature, Modified, News

Ethan Braaksma (center) celebrates his $10,000 Skagit Casino Resort Survive the 55 victory on Sept. 26, at Skagit Speedway. Joining Braaksma on the podium are runner-up Collen Winebarger (left) and third-place finisher Eston Whisler (right). (Courtesy Photo)

By Blake Anderson

ALGER, Wash. (Sept. 26, 2026) — Newton, Iowa’s Ethan Braaksma added another marquee victory to his résumé Saturday night, capturing the $10,000 Skagit Casino Resort Survive the 55 for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds at Skagit Speedway.

Braaksma, the 2026 IMCA TV Clash on the Coast champion, started third in the Campbell River, B.C.-based No. 90 provided by Tammy and Jason Beaulieu and survived a caution-filled 55-lapper to his first career Skagit Speedway victory.

The victory also gave Tammy and Jason Beaulieu their second Survive the 55 triumph as car owners. Tom Berry Jr. drove the Beaulieu-owned entry to victory in 2024.

Grey Ferrando, the 2023 Survive the 55 winner, took command from the pole on the opening lap before an early caution for Adam Holtrop and Cole Logan, who stopped in turn two.

Ferrando continued to lead after the restart, but Braaksma began applying pressure. The two were side-by-side for the top spot in turn four when a slowing Matt Sanders brought out the yellow in turn two on lap 10.

Tyson Blood had gotten around Braaksma for second on the previous lap, and the complexion of the race changed again on lap 11 when Ferrando slowed to a stop on the backstretch, handing the lead to Blood.

Another caution came on lap 20 when Devon Reed spun on the frontstretch. Contact while battling for third on the ensuing restart sent Bricen James around, collecting Blair Shoemaker, Ian Whisler, and Miles Beaulieu.

Following the midway break, trouble struck Ben Gunderson on the second attempt to restart from lap 20. Gunderson, who was running second, hit the wall exiting turn two, bringing out another caution and ending his night.

Debris produced another yellow on lap 23 before Holtrop stopped in turn three on lap 27. Another debris caution followed on lap 30.

Braaksma eventually took command and, once given an extended green-flag run, left little doubt about the outcome. The two-time Dakota Classic Modified Tour champion and 2025 Harris Clash winner pulled away to a 5.2-second advantage on his way to the $10,000 payday.

Collen Winebarger finished second in the John Gaynor-fielded No. 99S. Eston Whisler charged from 18th to third to earn hard charger honors. Blood settled for fourth after leading during the middle portion of the race, while Zane Miner completed the top five.

The victory was Braaksma’s sixth Speedway Motors IMCA Modified win of 2026, with those six checkers coming at six different tracks across three regions. Two have come in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region.

Braaksma became the fifth different Survive the 55 winner in as many years and the first driver not originally from Oregon to win the event.

The victory also earned Braaksma eligibility to attempt to qualify for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.

The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Dirt Oval TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $25.99/month. And don’t miss Season 3 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.

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