By Bill Martin
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Oct. 21, 2026) – On the track or in the record book, Tyler Bannister found himself in some pretty good company in 2026.
A 12-time feature winner, the Bakersfield speed merchant raced to Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified national and DeVilbiss Racing Western Region rookie of the year honors.
He’s just the fourth IMCA driver to earn both SportMod and then Modified national rookie awards in their respective careers, and the third California driver to accomplish the national and regional ROY feat in as many years.
Equally as impressive, Bannister returned to Boone Speedway and the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, qualifying for the main event as well as the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational and Rage Chassis Race of Champions, before wrapping up the track championship at hometown Bakersfield Speedway at Kern Raceway.
“Running for national rookie wasn’t our initial goal. It was like when we won the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod rookie award in 2021, we just started out the season racing and trying to squeak out a win or two,” he said. “We came out of the gate pretty strong and surprised ourselves.”
Bannister, 24, had had some long conversations with his father Jason – the Bakersfield SportMod track champ this season – and the rest of his team first about moving up to the Modified, then about winning a feature in IMCA’s premier division.
“It’s something we’ve been talking about for a few years but never pulled the trigger on it. This year, everything lined up to do it. Obviously, there was a huge learning curve moving up to the Modified,” he explained. “We were talking early in the season about how long it might take to get my first win, and it came in our third night out, at Merced. I was thinking it would take way more races than three but once we got the first one, they came naturally after that.”
“It was special for sure to get that win. I’d won a lot in the SportMod but to get that first Modified win was special.”
In a 2026 Victory Circle car, Bannister was second in the regional standings and ninth in the national points race. He won at least once at every California track he raced at, three times each at Bakersfield, Merced Speedway and Watsonville Speedway, twice at Santa Maria Speedway and once at Thunderbowl Raceway.
“The biggest difference, initially, was the power. It felt like I was in a rocket ship the first two races,” he said. “After I got used to that, the biggest difference was the competition. It’s way more stout than the SportMods.”
Bannister proved he was up to the test when the competition got even tougher at Super Nationals in September.
“Boone went as good as it possibly could for me this year. Our goal was to make one of the qualifying features, we ended up doing that on the first night and I was able to lock into the Big Dance,” he said. “Then I was able to qualify for the RoC race, which was another awesome experience, and I was able to get into the All-Star race as well.
“The thing that’s most special about Boone is rolling down the front straightaway on Saturday night. It’s something I look forward to every year. I think that’s why everyone goes to Super Nationals, it’s to get to Saturday night and live that moment,” Bannister continued. “You work your butt off all year and especially all week while you’re there to have a shot at that. There are a lot of cars that don’t make it. To be one of the 33 drivers in there and just run laps against those guys is an honor.”
Running and winning back home was equally special.
“Boone was definitely a highlight but winning a championship at home, and winning national and regional rookie were special, too,” Bannister stated. “With all the fast guys we have here in California, to be able to win the championship at Bakersfield is something to be proud of.”
Wins – 12
Top Five Finishes – 24
Starts – 28
HIS CREW: Parents Jason and Amy, girlfriend Laney Broder and Scooter Black.
HIS SPONSORS: Victory Circle Race Cars, Sivesind Suspension and Skinny’s Automotive, all of Bakersfield; Steitz & Double D Towing of Los Banos; Performance Muffler and Brake of Galt; Wehrs Machine and Racing Products, Bangor, Wis.; Dynamic Drivelines of Des Moines, Iowa; Hyperco of Pontotoc, Miss.; Tomcat Performance of Mooresville, N.C.; and Noonan Industries of Dorchester, Neb.