Modified News

By Ben Deatherage WAKEENEY, Kan. (Sept. 21, 2026) — Two nights of racing and a pair of All-Star Invitational qualifying opportunities headline the Battle for the Belt at WaKeeney Speedway on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16-17. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts will compete in complete shows both nights following an open practice Thursday, Oct. 15. Saturday’s program will carry additional significance for the Modifieds and Stock Cars. The $3,000-to-win Modified feature will serve as a qualifying event for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, while the $3,000-to-win Stock Car feature will be a qualifier for the 2027 B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational. The respective winners will earn eligibility to attempt to qualify for their All-Star Invitationals at the 2027 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway. Modifieds and Stock Cars race for $750 to win Friday, with $175 paid to start the 24-car features. Saturday brings a three-wide start and an increased [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Sept. 21, 2026) — Two complete nights of racing, a pair of Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying events, and a 103-lap Saturday Modified main event highlight the 16th annual Pettit Shootout at Watsonville Speedway on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2-3. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods will compete both nights, with each program serving as a separate show. There will be no lock-ins from Friday to Saturday, putting every competitor back on equal footing for the second night. The Pettit Shootout is run in memory of Jim Pettit and Pat Pettit, the parents of event promoter Jim Pettit II. The number three carries special significance in the event because Pat’s birthday was Jan. 3, and that connection is reflected throughout the weekend’s format. Both main events will start 23 cars each night. Friday’s Modified main event will cover 33 laps and pay $1,003 to win and $103 to start. Saturday’s Modified finale goes 103 laps and increases the payday to $3,006 to win and $206 to start. [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Sept. 21, 2026) — Racing returns to the Yuma area this fall as Cocopah Speedway begins a new chapter with a busy 2026-27 schedule featuring several major Speedway Motors IMCA events. The three-eighths-mile oval opens its 2026 season in October before hosting the Diamond in the Desert, Turkey Bowl, and Copper State Nationals. The schedule then carries into February with two weeks of Southwest Cactus Nationals competition. “We are so excited to get things up and running, and the whole community around here is super excited to have racing come back to the Yuma area,” promoter Travis Peery said. The season-opening weekend is Oct. 15-17, with practice Thursday followed by racing Friday and Saturday. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lites, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts are scheduled to compete both nights. Attention then turns to the Diamond in the Desert Nov. 4-7. Practice is scheduled Wednesday, Nov. 4, before three consecutive nights of racing Nov. [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 16, 2026) — After the final championship features were decided at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, the annual auction in the NAPA Auto Parts Fan Zone added another chapter to Championship Saturday at Boone Speedway. Engines and chassis went across the auction block, generating additional money for competitors following America’s Racin’ Vacation. For two of the week’s champions, the auction added considerably to what they had already earned on the racetrack. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified champion Kollin Hibdon earned $10,000 for his Big Dance victory and received a new Harris Auto Racing Modified chassis. Hibdon elected to put the chassis up for auction, where it brought $13,500, giving him $23,500 between his championship purse and chassis proceeds before contingency awards and other prizes were figured in. Sunoco IMCA Stock Car champion Jake McBirnie earned $8,000 for his championship victory and received a new Terminator Stock Car chassis. McBirnie also elected to auction his chassis, which brought $14,500, putting his championship purse and chassis proceeds at $22,500 [Read More]

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, and William Gould, Calera, Okla., both 993; 3. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 973; 4. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 972; 5. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Montana, 969; 6. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 963; 7. Matthew Sanders, Brookings, Oregon, and Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, both 961; 9. Tyler Bannister, Bakersfield, Calif., 959; 10. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 955; 11. Jace Eckrich, Oxford, Iowa, 953; 12. John Nord, Enderlin, N.D., 945; 13. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wisconsin, 944; 14. Tyler Belcher, Laceyville, Pennsylvania, 943; 15. Matthew Looft, Swea City, Iowa, 940; 16. Donald Proctor, Ionia, Michigan, 937; 17. Travis Hagen, McGregor, N.D., and Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., both 934; 19. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wisconsin, and Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Michigan, both 932. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 992; 2. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, and Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, both 982; 4. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 980; 5. Dan Mackenthun, Hamburg, Minn., 975; 6. Kyle Vanover, Beatrice, Neb., 974; 7. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage BATESVILLE, Ark. (Sept. 17, 2026) — One of the richest Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified events of the entire season returns to Batesville Motor Speedway Sept. 30-Oct. 3 with First Community Bank’s 10th annual Race for Hope 71 presented by IMCA TV. The four-day event culminates with a 71-lap championship feature paying $30,000 to win, while a deep purse will reward competitors throughout the field. The runner-up will earn $12,500, with $11,500 going to third, $11,250 to fourth, and $11,000 to fifth. Sixth through ninth pay $10,800, $10,600, $10,400, and $10,200, respectively, while the 10th-place finisher will still collect $10,000. The payout continues with $6,000 for 11th and $3,000 for 12th. Positions 13th through 17th pay $2,000, $1,900, $1,800, $1,700, and $1,600, respectively, with every starter finishing 18th through 30th earning $1,500. In addition to the $30,000 payday, the Race for Hope 71 will serve as a qualifying event for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, with the winner earning eligibility to attempt [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage ARDMORE, Okla. (Sept. 16, 2026) — Three IMCA divisions will converge on Southern Oklahoma Speedway Oct. 1-3 for the 22nd annual Jordan Page Memorial Winter Nationals. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods will be on tap during the three-day event, which begins with practice Thursday before two nights of racing Friday and Saturday. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified finale pays $2,500 to win and $250 to start, while Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods race for $1,500 to win and $200 to start. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars will compete for $1,000 to win and $150 to start. There will also be added incentives for the Modified and Stock Car winners. The Modified winner will be added to the eligibility list for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, earning eligibility to attempt to qualify for the event during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The Stock Car winner will likewise be added to the eligibility list for the 2027 B&B Racing [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 12, 2026) — Kollin Hibdon controlled the early stages, withstood a serious challenge from Cody Laney, and pulled away late to capture his first Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified championship during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway, collecting $10,000 for the victory. The 40-lap Big Dance began three-wide, with Hibdon jumping to the lead on the opening circuit. Last year’s Harris Clash winner and the 2026 IMCA TV Clash on the Coast champion Ethan Braaksma stayed close in second, but Hibdon, the defending Marshalltown Speedway track champion, kept him at bay before the first caution came out on lap five. Hibdon rocketed away on the restart as Izac Mallicoat began stalking the leader along the bottom. Hibdon was able to create some separation before another caution on lap eight. Mallicoat again found speed on the bottom following the restart, but Hibdon was just a little better up top and maintained control. Cody Laney moved into second on lap 12 aboard the Janssen Fabrication-owned No. 5L. [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 11, 2026) — Jeremy Mills saw a massive lead disappear with three laps remaining but held off a furious final-lap challenge to capture his first career Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway. Thirty-one Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds took the green for the 30-lap Invitational. Cole Czarneski outdueled Joel Rust for the lead on the opening circuit before Mills quickly entered the picture. The reigning Razor Chassis North Central Region champion beat Czarneski to the line on lap two and began to pull away. Behind him, 2024 Wisconsin State and 141 Speedway track champion Czarneski had his hands full with two-time Harris Clash winner Rust. The pair fought hard for second on lap five, with Czarneski initially keeping Rust behind him. Rust patiently waited for another opportunity and finally worked his way into second on lap 12. The battle behind Mills continued to intensify as 2021 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational winner Kyle Brown poured on the pressure. Czarneski joined [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 9, 2026) — Izac Mallicoat withstood repeated challenges from Dylan Thornton, while Cody Laney charged from 13th and made a late move to win as Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified qualifying got underway at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Two 25-lap qualifiers set the inside lane for Saturday’s Big Dance, with the top four finishers in each earning locked-in starting spots. Kansas’ Ryan Richeimer led the opening circuit of the first qualifier before a caution came out on lap two. Mallicoat took advantage when racing resumed, moving to the point on lap three and beginning to distance himself from the field. Thornton moved into second on lap seven. The three-division Super Nationals winner and 2026 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion began trying to erase Mallicoat’s advantage before a caution on lap 10. Mallicoat was strong on the restart, and another caution came on lap 14. Thornton stayed with the leader when racing resumed but was not quite in position to make a move. A lap 20 caution [Read More]

By Nick Robbins PETTY, Texas (Sept. 5, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts closed out the summer with a bang, rolling into Rocket Raceway Park for the 12th Annual Bryan Mize Memorial. The two-night stop drew a season-high 38 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds on Friday, followed by a stout 33-car field on Saturday, as racers looked to bank valuable points with just three point races remaining. Friday’s program saw Bonham, Texas racer Mitchell Clement charge from fifth to win the DIY Equipment Sales and Rental Heat One over Trevor Egbert. Steven Whiteaker Jr. took the Sundowner Performance Diesel Heat Two, Jason Ingalls grabbed 3-D Landscaping and Irrigation Heat Three, and point leader Jared Maupin worked his way to the front of Heat Four for the win. Maupin carried that momentum into the 25-lap, 38-car feature, leading every lap from the pole for his sixth STIMS victory of the season and seventh GRT Race Cars South Central Region win of 2026. Johnny Torres shadowed him the whole way to finish [Read More]

By Shaun Hulbert ELMA, Wash. (Sept. 6, 2026) — Brenton Schnitzer charged through the field Sunday night at Grays Harbor Raceway, scoring his second Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified win of the season and creating a tie atop the standings heading into championship night. In the final IMCA Modified points race before the Sept. 19 championship finale, Mount Vernon’s Rick Smith paced the field early before Olympia’s Jeff Hunt took command on lap six. Schnitzer steadily worked his way through the field and climbed to fourth before setting his sights on the leaders. After several attempts to work around Hunt, Schnitzer made the move stick on lap 16 and took over the top spot. From there, Schnitzer raced to his second DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season, with both coming at Grays Harbor. His 11-position charge also earned him the Elma Lanes Hard Charger Award. Jake Sorenson used a late restart to get around Hunt and claim second. Hunt finished third, while Craig Moore was fourth after challenging for third prior to the late [Read More]

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 4, 2026) – Qualifying fields for five Race of Champions events have been set for the 44th annual Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. All track champions (or current point leaders if their respective points battles resume after Super Nationals), along with past national champions, regional champions, Super Nationals champions, Race of Champions champions and 2025 state champions who pre-registered for Super Nationals are eligible to attempt to qualify for their respective RoC in 2026. The 53 RAGE Chassis IMCA Modified Race of Champions drivers eligible to qualify are Chris Abelson, Jeff Aikey, Bubba Alvarado, Chaz Baca, Tyler Bannister, Curtis Barnes, Jason Barnhill, Austen Becerra, Brandon Beckendorf, Tyler Belcher, Cole Bents, Tom Berry Jr., Kelsie Black, Ethan Braaksma, Troy Cordes, Zane DeVilbiss, Jerry Flippo, William Gould, Richie Gustin, Shawn Harker, Clint Hatlestad, Kollin Hibdon, Mitchell Hunt, Trey Kline, Cody Laney, Jeff Larson, Matthew Looft, Jared Maupin, Dan Menk, R.J. Merchant, Nick Meyer, Jeremy Mills, Jay Noteboom, Jason Pike, Don Proctor, Jeff Reay, Cory Sample, Todd Shute, Jared Siefert, Luke Silber, Casey [Read More]

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 4, 2026) – For the fifth consecutive year, pre-entries for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s have reached quadruple digits and, like each of the four years before it, a new record-setting registration milestone was set in 2026.  As of 4 p.m. CST today, 1,193 drivers have pre-registered for America’s Racin’ Vacation, eclipsing the previous pre-entry mark of 1,156, which was established last year. The divisional breakdown includes 265 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, 329 Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, 195 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, 192 Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, 113 Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts and 76 Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lites. While they typically don’t pre-register, 23 Sunoco IMCA Late Models have already reserved their spots for the 44th annual event. Registration numbers for Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts are pre-entry records. The Sport Compact division eclipsed the 100 pre-entry mark for the first time in event history. The pre-entry number for Modifieds is the largest in 16 years.  Racers from a record-breaking 34 states have entered, including [Read More]

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (Sept. 4, 2026) — Arlington Raceway will host the Jeff Rucks Memorial for Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds on Saturday, Sept. 19, with $1,000 awaiting the winner. The event will also give the winner eligibility to attempt to qualify for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Clint Hatlestad captured the Rucks Memorial victory in 2025, while Brandon Beckendorf won each of the previous three editions. The Modifieds will use a draw/redraw format. Also in action will be Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars, and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. Pit gates open at 2 p.m., with the grandstands opening at 4 p.m. and racing beginning at 6 p.m. For additional information, contact Levi at 507-380-6998.