November 12, 2026

Fettinger is fastest at Southern Oregon

Zach Fettinger bounced back from an early crash to win Saturday’s IMCA Modified feature at Southern Oregon Speedway. (Photo by Carole Bryan, Shadows of Light Photography)

By Don Martin II

WHITE CITY, Ore. (June 16) – Making a nice comeback from an early race crash, Zach Fettinger scored the 25-lap IMCA Modified main event victory Saturday night at Southern Oregon Speedway.

Fettinger held off C.J. Putnam down the stretch for what would be his first win of the season despite restarting at the back of the field following the lap eight fracas.

The frontrunners had come up on a slower car and while Andy Freeman got by, Mark Wauge and Fettinger both got caught up. Wauge suffered enough damage to end his race while Fettinger made a pit stop and was able to rejoin the back of the pack for the restart.

Fettinger quickly found the fastest line and charged to the lead, and eventual win ahead of Putnam and Albert Gill.

Braxton Possinger was flawless in leading start to finish of the 20-lap feature for Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods.

southernoregonspeedway

Braaten Banks $6,069 in SportMod Smackdown Win at Southern Oregon

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (May 31, 2025) — Central Point’s Jorddon Braaten showcased his prowess by leading all 69 laps of the rebranded SportMod Smackdown at Southern Oregon Speedway, securing a commanding victory and a $6,069 prize in one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier IMCA SportMod events. Formerly known as the Dwayne Melvin Clash, the 69-lap feature attracted top competitors, with Braaten — a four-time Oregon State and Southern Oregon Speedway track champion — asserting dominance from the outset. The race’s first half was marked by intermittent cautions, but as the event passed lap 31, Braaten encountered lapped traffic. Navigating through it masterfully, he extended his advantage and began to check out from the field. In the second half, 2022 Oregon State and 2021 track champion Matt Sanders tried to mount a high-side charge, but Braaten’s low-line rhythm and ability to work traffic kept him firmly in control. Around lap 50, Braaten sliced through another wave of traffic to create a sizable lead that he never surrendered. The race for second came down to the [Read More]

Kniss Captures $3,069 SportMod Smackdown Crown at Southern Oregon

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (May 30, 2026) — Oakley, California’s Buddy Kniss held off a furious late-race challenge to win the 40-lap, $3,069-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod Smackdown feature at Southern Oregon Speedway, earning his first victory of the 2026 season and his first career triumph in the prestigious event. Kniss jumped to the early lead and remained at the point through a lap one caution. As the race settled into a lengthy green-flag run, the battle for the lead intensified when Cory Biggs, driving the Ethan Killingsworth-owned No. 7M, mounted a charge. Biggs took over the lead on lap 15, but Kniss answered one lap later to reclaim the top spot as the leaders entered lapped traffic. While Kniss maintained command, a fierce battle for second developed between Biggs, Bo Crebs, and Isaac Sanders. Crebs, who won Friday night’s preliminary feature in the Jerry Movrich-owned No. 168, emerged as a serious contender after cautions on laps 24 and 25 tightened the field. Biggs used the bottom groove to reel in Kniss during [Read More]

Sanders Holds Off James in Legends of Dirt $10K Thriller at Southern Oregon

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (Aug. 15, 2026) — Matt Sanders of Brookings survived a furious last-lap challenge from Bricen James to win the $10,000-to-win Legends of Dirt Modified Shootout presented by Best Homes Storage for Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds Saturday night at Southern Oregon Speedway. The 40-lap main event, which paid $1,000 to start, came down to a drag race out of the final corner, with Sanders beating James to the checkered flag by just 0.051 seconds. Former California State and multi-time Central California Clash series champion Troy Foulger put the Bill Bowers-owned No. 49 out front on the opening lap before a caution slowed the field on lap two. Once racing resumed, Foulger began to build an advantage while defending Southern Oregon Speedway champion and 2025 National Rookie of the Year Ethan Killingsworth became locked in a fierce battle with Sanders for second. Killingsworth eventually secured the position and quickly erased Foulger’s advantage, reaching the leader by lap eight. He tried several times to find a way around Foulger, but each move was [Read More]

Feature

Room and Banquet Reservation Deadlines Approaching

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 10, 2026) — With the 2026 IMCA National Awards Banquet quickly approaching on Saturday, Nov. 28, attendees are reminded that the deadline to make hotel room reservations at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Neb., is Friday, Nov. 13. Rooms are filling quickly, and those planning to attend are encouraged to secure their accommodations before the deadline. Banquet tickets must also be purchased by noon CST on Friday, Nov. 20. Tickets are available through the National Banquet page at www.imca.com/banquet. The annual celebration will recognize IMCA National, Regional, State, track and Special Series champions, along with Rookie of the Year honorees from the 2026 racing season. The evening begins with cocktails at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 8 p.m. Formal attire is required. The Champions Reception will take place Friday, Nov. 27, from 6-9 p.m. at the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed in Lincoln.

Feature

Hibdon Banks $8,000 in Diamond in the Desert Modified Finale at Cocopah

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Nov. 7, 2026) — Kollin Hibdon capped the inaugural Wild River Family Entertainment Center Diamond in the Desert with an $8,000 victory in Saturday night’s 30-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified finale at Cocopah Speedway, holding off Cody Laney, who had won the first two nights of competition, to collect his 12th win of the season. Earlier in the evening, Hibdon set a new track record while winning the Taco John’s Modified Knockout time trial challenge to earn the pole starting position. The 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion battled 2021 winner Laney for the lead at the start, with Hibdon gaining the advantage over the Janssen Fabrication-owned No. 5L. A caution following the completion of the opening lap proved to be the race’s only stoppage. On the restart, Hibdon and Laney separated themselves from the rest of the field. Hibdon, this year’s Independence Motor Speedway track champion, maintained his advantage over Laney, who had won the previous two nights. Hibdon encountered lapped traffic on lap 11 but [Read More]

Feature

Souder Trades Two Wheels for Four on Way to GRT Race Cars South Central Rookie Honors

By Ben Deatherage GORDONVILLE, Texas (Oct. 30, 2026) — A decision between purchasing another dirt bike or trying something different led 24-year-old Austin Souder to the 2026 GRT Race Cars South Central Region Rookie of the Year award in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified division. Souder becomes the 32nd Texas driver to earn South Central Region Rookie of the Year honors since the award’s inception in 1993, extending the state’s streak to 15 consecutive seasons. The Gordonville, Texas, driver spent much of his life racing motocross before climbing behind the wheel of the N2 Enterprise/Souder Appliance Repair/Cam’s Auto/Gould Race Cars entry for his first full season on four wheels. “I didn’t really know what I was getting into,” Souder admitted. “I raced motocross my whole life. I slowed down on the dirt bikes and just rode for fun.” His introduction to dirt track racing came through friend James Nicholson, who began competing in 2025. After attending several races with Nicholson, Souder considered purchasing a race car rather than another motorcycle. A connection with two-time IMCA Modified [Read More]

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