By Ben Deatherage
CLAFLIN, Kan. (Oct. 22, 2026) — Paxton Dody entered the 2026 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified season hoping to gain experience and collect a few respectable finishes. By the end of September, the 19-year-old from Claflin, Kan., had earned the Jet Racing Central Region Rookie of the Year honors and the Kansas State championship.
Dody became the ninth driver from Kansas since 1995 to earn the Central Region rookie award and the second consecutive Kansan to claim the honor.
Driving the Cates Parts City/Janousek Transportation/Abrams Trucking-sponsored No. 09 for Janousek Racing, Dody recorded five podium finishes, 14 top fives, and 24 top-10 finishes in 34 feature starts across 38 events at 13 different facilities.
“This year we started like most rookies do and started with low expectations and just be really happy if we got any top tens or top fives,” Dody said. “We went out and our first race was the Sunflower Classic at RPM Speedway in Hays and ended up making the show there and being pretty decent.”
After several encouraging performances, Dody and his team realized they were within reach of the regional rookie points leaders.
“We did pretty good at some races after that, and then we started to say, ‘Man, we aren’t far out of the picture for rookie points,’ so we decided to race a little more and chase points, and the results started to improve with it,” Dody explained.
The decision also prompted an equipment change midway through the season.
“Towards the middle of the season, I was in a 14-year-old Razor Chassis, and I said if we are going to do this thing, it might be time to update,” Dody said. “So we hopped into a 1st Class Chassis, and I felt like we were right there in contention for wins all season. I was pretty happy with everything.”
Dody’s rookie season began with a pair of respectable finishes at the Sunflower Classic before his results steadily improved. He earned his first podium June 19 at Dodge City Raceway Park, finishing third.
His strongest stretch came in July, when he recorded four consecutive podium finishes in six days at Salina Speedway, Goodland Raceway, and Osborne Speedway, including two runner-up results. Although a feature victory eluded him, Dody’s progression from hoping to qualify for races to regularly competing near the front helped carry him to the regional rookie championship.
The unexpected points chase reminded Dody of a conversation with 2015 Central Region Rookie of the Year Tanner Black.
“Tanner told me earlier this year, ‘I think that’s how all of us Kansas guys are at the start of the season, not planning on it, and then all of a sudden you’re racing every weekend for points,’” Dody recalled with a laugh.
Dody’s connection with Janousek Racing began during his go-kart years, when T.J. Janousek and Ryan Richmeier helped him with tire preparation and offered racing advice. He eventually began helping their Modified program, which led to an opportunity to get behind the wheel himself.
Although 2026 marked his first full Modified season, Dody had made a handful of starts in 2025 while sharing a car with Richmeier. His father, Jason Dody, eventually purchased the car, allowing Paxton to begin his rookie campaign with familiar equipment.
“From there on out we started talking, and one thing led to another,” Dody recalled. “T.J. got Ryan right into a Modified, and I started helping pit for them. Then T.J. let me hot lap his Modified two years ago, and after that I knew I had to get one.”
Jason and Paxton’s maternal uncle, Trevor Cates, initially shared a Stock Car before Jason moved into Modified competition. Chassis builder Mike Petersilie, whose shop was located behind Cates Parts City in Hoisington, helped introduce the family to racing.
Paxton’s maternal grandfather, Bob Cates, was also involved in the sport as a mechanic and helped Jason and Trevor put together their first Stock Car. Paxton’s mother, Tamara, grew up around that racing environment.
Trevor died in an automobile accident five years ago, but his involvement in racing remains part of the family’s history as Paxton continues building his own career in the sport.
Feature Wins: 0
Total Top Fives: 14
Total Starts: 38
His Pit Crew: T.J. Janousek, father Jason Dody, brother Prycen Dody, Ryan Richmeier, Leon Richmeier
His Sponsors: Cates Parts City, Janousek Transportation, Abrams Trucking, Bob’s Service Center, 1st Class Chassis, Taylon Center Racing, 1st Class Auto Designs, LHK Sales, Pitt Stop Motorsports, Schmidt Machine, CZ Designs, Black Sheep Industries Racing Shocks, Double H Lodge, Rogers Family Farms, Stinger, The Barn.