Rookie National Points

August 26, 2026

IMCA Southern SportMod

(points through 8/15)

Rank	Driver	Points
1	Brady Sexton	722
2	Gavin Mullins	607
3	David Jr "D. J." Starr	565
4	Cody Osborne	483
5	Heath Zucha	474
6	Langston Fetty	449
7	Joshua Mueller	430
8	Briana Sveom	429
9	Larry Boumans	410
10	Jessica Garza	395
11	Garison Faulks	365
12	Wyatt Waggoner	315
13	Hunter Cleveland	314
14	Bret South	260
15	Cameron Buckaloo	229
15	Alex Young	229
17	Kyle Davis	224
18	Justin Randol	214
19	Brandon Johnson	186
20	Justin Ross	184
21	Emons Morris	179
21	Colton Pardue	179
23	Brodie Smith	154
24	Matthew Brandes	147
25	Caden Morosky	142
26	Cary Cook	129
27	Glenn Mcgowen	102
28	Brian Johnson	100
29	Sasha Hoppe	92
30	Cody Higdon	85
31	Hunter Bowen	84
32	Foxx Watson	58
33	Colt Miller	54
34	Chris Turner	52
35	Billy Seth Sadler	47
36	Brendon Harrison	38
37	Zach Crawford	34
38	Mason Peterson	30
39	Vance Starr	29
40	Robbie Harris	28
41	Thomas Brister	26
41	Cody Cline	26
43	Christopher Crowston	24
44	Tyler Perry	18

Past National Rookies of the Year
2025 – Christian Gaston, Weatherford, TX
2024 – Camo Gaston, Weatherford, TX
2023 – Cutter Spalding, Andrews, TX
2022 – Trevor Cogburn, Robinson, TX
2021 – Kaleb Emerson, Millsap, TX
2020 – Matthew Day, Farmersville, TX
2019 – Larry Underwood, Temple, TX
2018 – Kyle Wilkins, Italy, TX
2017 – Nathan Buchanan, Kemp, TX
2016 – Kamera McDonald, Keller, TX
2015 – Taylor Florio, Copperas Cove, TX
2014 – Garett Rawls, China Spring, TX
2013 – Alexander Hickham, Conroe, TX
2012 – Kyle Lovejoy, Burleson, TX
2011 – Cory Williams, Slaton, TX
2010 – Jared Rady, Bertram, TX
2009 – Steven Abbey, Comanche, TX
2008 – Kris Rye, Corpus Christi, TX
2007 – Zach Hamilton, Farmington, NM

2026 Super Nationals

Seventeen More Drivers Earn Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational Eligibility in August

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 26, 2026) — Seventeen more drivers became eligible to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational with qualifying victories during August, while already eligible competitors continued to add wins at special events, touring races, and weekly programs across all five IMCA Modified regions. Drivers become eligible by winning IMCA-sanctioned events paying $1,000 or more to win, earning a place on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September at Boone Speedway.” Do this but for August please Already eligible drivers continued to collect qualifying victories throughout August. Chaz Baca Jr. won the Harken Memorial at Kossuth County Speedway on Aug. 6. Brandon Beckendorf won Aug. 15 at Worthington Speedway, while Zane DeVilbiss won Aug. 1 at Aztec Speedway. Spencer Diercks captured the John Dubuque Classic at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway on Aug. 2. Charlie Fulton won Aug. 7 at The Hill Speedway, while Tripp Gaylord captured the Cowboy Challenge at [Read More]

Events

$10,000-to-Win Survive the 55 Returns to Skagit Speedway Sept. 25-26

By Ben Deatherage ALGER, Wash. (Aug. 26, 2026) — One of the biggest Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified events in the Pacific Northwest returns to Skagit Speedway Sept. 25-26 when Survive the 55 puts $10,000 on the line for the winner of its signature 55-lap main event. The two-day event will bring Modified competitors back to the Washington speedplant for the fifth running of Survive the 55, with Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National, DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region, and Washington State points on the line. The winner will also earn eligibility to attempt to qualify for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Four different drivers have visited victory lane in the event’s first four runnings. Jon DeBenedetti captured the inaugural Survive the 55 in 2022 before Grey Ferrando added his name to the winner’s list in 2023. Tom Berry Jr. took the victory in 2024, while Bricen James became the fourth different winner in 2025. The 2026 edition will once again culminate with 55 laps [Read More]

Feature

Brendon LaBatte: From the Gridiron to the Dirt

By Ben Deatherage WEYBURN, Sask. (Aug. 12, 2026) — The airplane lifts away, its engine growing quieter until eventually there is nothing left but the water, the wilderness and silence. Brendon LaBatte stands on a dock hundreds of miles into northern Saskatchewan. There are no roads leading back to civilization. No help waiting around the corner. For someone who spent 14 seasons battling 300-pound linemen in the Canadian Football League and now wrestles a homebuilt Sunoco IMCA Stock Car around dirt tracks on both sides of the border, even this can get the adrenaline flowing. “It’s such a different feeling when that plane takes off and you’re left standing there on the dock,” LaBatte said. “I’ve been out there all alone and you think, ‘Oh man, I’m really doing this.’ It’s always a rush and an adventure.” Competition and adventure have been constants throughout LaBatte’s life. The Weyburn native went from racing as a teenager to becoming the sixth overall selection in the 2008 CFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before [Read More]