By Bill Martin
GILLETTE, Wy. (Oct. 30, 2026) – Robert Donmyer asked a lot of questions about how to make his car faster this season.
He got to answer a lot of questions about the number on his Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact, too.
The first Wyoming driver to win national rookie of the year honors in any IMCA division, Donmyer was a 25-time winner, reigning as track champion at hometown Gillette Thunder Speedway, Casper Speedway and Sheridan Speedway as well.
“It means a lot to me. This was a family thing and I was able to show my son that when you set goals, you can accomplish them if you’re willing to put in the work and the time and the effort,” said Donmyer, fifth in national point standings and also the Wyoming State champ.
“The reason I run the 2% number on my car is what it represents,” he explained. “I’m a recovering drug addict and I have built a beautiful life for myself and my family. That 2% stands for the two percent of addicts who recover and stay recovered.”
“On the side of my race trailer it says We Do Recover, and I get a lot of questions about why I run the 2% number. You would not believe how many recovering addicts, drugs, alcohol, gambling, you name it, who are part of the racing community,” he continued. “This whole thing blew up on my social media and that was one of the coolest things about this season. People would come up to me and ask, “Does that mean what I think it means?’ and I’d tell them ‘Yes sir.’”
Donmyer’s previous racing experience was all of five or six starts in a local mini bomber series, making his 2026 accomplishments even more impressive.
“After they announced the transition over to the IMCA Sport Compacts, I hit the ground running and built a car. I own a salvage yard and financially it made sense to start in that class because I have an abundance of those cars,” he said. “I just wanted to get my feet wet and didn’t start my season out trying to win national rookie. I figured it would be cool if I could win the track championship at Gillette and maybe Casper and maybe try for state.”
His first night ended with a blown motor in hot laps. Not a bit discouraged, Donmyer towed home from Calhan, Colo., more determined than before, given what he’d already invested in the car.
The winner at Sheridan in just his third main event start, he’d become a regular visitor to victory lane by the end of May.
“As I got into it, I realized I was a contender for national rookie and that’s when I started putting the time and money into it. I had to be everywhere and I couldn’t miss anything,” Donmyer said. “Bentley Freeman out of Norfolk, Neb., gave me a real run for my money. He was fast and I knew if I missed one race that could be it for points.”
Ten of his feature wins came at Gillette, seven at Casper and three at Sheridan. Donmyer also traveled to South Dakota’s Black Hills Speedway for three wins, while taking single victories at Montana venues Gallatin Speedway and Big Sky Speedway.
“We traveled quite a bit and I asked a lot of questions. When we went to Colorado and Nebraska and Iowa is when I learned the most,” he said. “My car was fast, but when you get down there, those guys were on a whole new level. The IMCA Sport Compacts down there are crazy fast.”
A nine-time winner in June, Donmyer went on a tear with seven straight wins beginning on Aug. 21, then added four more W’s before the end of the Speedway Motors IMCA point season in late September.
“I figured the car out and suspension was the biggest thing. When I went down to Iowa and Nebraska and saw what guys were doing with motors, it was like bringing a knife to a gunfight,” he said. “The advantage I could get was in the setup of the car. I figured out spring rubbers and I figured out tire sizes. That’s where I was able to stay consistent through the center of the corner and the exit of the corner.”
“People have told me I was one hell of a wheelman, that I learned extremely fast how to set the cars up and run.”
Donmyer was also one of just 11 IMCA drivers winning three or more local track titles this season.
Wins – 25
Top Five Finishes – 35
Starts – 46
HIS CREW: Wife Shanna, son Hunter and crew chief Donnie Molner.
HIS SPONSORS: Redline Design, K4K Truck Repair, Octane Garage, Energy Chain and Sling, Rocco’s Repair and Mad Mike’s Garage, all of Gillette.