By Ben Deatherage
LACEYVILLE, Pa. (Oct. 22, 2026) — Tyler Belcher’s 2026 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified campaign began with a difficult trip to Florida, but the 35-year-old from Laceyville, Pa., returned home and put together a season that ended with the Close Racing Supply Eastern Region championship.
Belcher became just the third Pennsylvania driver to capture the Eastern Region championship, marking the 10th time the title has gone to a Keystone State competitor. He joined eight-time champion Sean Lias and 2015 titleholder Keith Lamphere. Belcher also earned his first New York and Pennsylvania State championships, along with track titles at The Hill Speedway in Monroeton, Pa., and Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, N.Y.
Driving the Robinson Timber Harvesting/Latini Enterprise/Belcher Trucking-sponsored No. 7B Alpha Chassis, Belcher recorded five feature victories at three different facilities, along with 20 top-five finishes and 27 top-10 results in 32 feature starts across 35 events attended. He also reached the podium 16 times.
“We started out the year in Florida and didn’t do too hot down there, but we learned a lot, so when we came home we were pretty good right off the bat,” Belcher said. “We were top five every week and ended up running a couple of tracks up in New York and a couple of Pennsylvania tracks and traveling with the NY-Penn Series.”
The early trip to Florida came during the Clash on the Coast, where Belcher and his team faced competition far from their usual northeastern racing grounds.
Although the results weren’t what they had hoped for, the experience helped prepare the team for the remainder of the season. Once back in the Northeast, Belcher found success at several facilities while competing in weekly programs.
Belcher collected his first victory May 30 at Woodhull Raceway during the Sean Lias Memorial and added another July 3 at The Hill Speedway. He followed with consecutive wins July 31 at Penn Can Speedway in the KC Cole Memorial and Aug. 1 at Woodhull before earning his fifth victory Aug. 14 at The Hill.
His five victories included two each at Woodhull Raceway and The Hill Speedway and one at Penn Can Speedway. Three of those wins came during a four-race stretch between July 31 and Aug. 14.
Belcher also assembled a 19-race top-10 streak from June 13 through Aug. 14, a stretch that included four victories.
His success came during a period of renewed interest in IMCA Modified racing throughout Pennsylvania and New York, where car counts have continued to grow.
Belcher credited Eastern Region Director Jake Maynard for helping strengthen the division and provide additional opportunities for drivers.
“Jake has done a really good job,” Belcher said. “He’s brought a lot back to this area. There wasn’t a lot for a while.”
The increased competition provided Belcher with additional challenges throughout the season, particularly as he pursued championships on both sides of the Pennsylvania-New York border.
For Belcher, the opportunity to compete at different racetracks has become one of the most enjoyable aspects of racing in the division.
“I love that I’m able to travel,” Belcher said. “We went to Florida twice now for the Clash on the Coast and out to Iowa for the Super Nationals.”
His involvement in racing began shortly after graduating from high school.
“I started racing right out of high school running four cylinders and went to some other local divisions for a little bit,” Belcher recalled. “My buddy Aaron Benjamin had an IMCA Modified and let me try it, and that’s where it started. This is our fourth full year.”
That opportunity eventually led Belcher into Modified competition, where he developed his program while gaining experience against drivers throughout the region.
Feature Wins: 5
Total Top Fives: 20
Total Starts: 35
His Pit Crew: Robert Petrowski, wife Jenn, sons Levi, Jake, and Seth
His Sponsors: Robinson Timber Harvesting, Latini Enterprise, Belcher Trucking, Josh Vanderpool Construction, McElhoes Dream Builders, Houck Excavating