By Ben Deatherage
MADRID, Iowa — Madrid sits just northwest of Des Moines, a town with roots that run deep. First settled by Swedes in the 1840s and later shaped by coal mining and farming, it carries the grit of generations who worked the land and the mines. It’s the kind of place where hard work is expected, and pride comes from what you build with your own hands.
For Bryan Compart, that backdrop shaped his own story. Racing didn’t begin in the driver’s seat. It started with late nights in the shop, helping friends, and spotting opportunities others overlooked. What began as lending a hand soon grew into a passion — and eventually, a business that would change his life and leave its own mark on the Mod Lite world.
“I ended up getting started in racing by helping people out,” he said. “I was helping Jimmy and Josh May since 2014 when I first met them. I noticed things they needed that you couldn’t just buy at a race shop. You either had to fabricate it or wait forever for specialty work. That’s how I found my niche.”
From Machines to Motorsports
A machinist by trade, Compart studied tool and die at Des Moines Area Community College in the mid-2000s and spent more than a decade with Quality Manufacturing. In 2019, he left that position for Innovative Technologies in Huxley, where he started their machine shop. That experience gave him both the confidence and the know-how to finally pursue his own machining business — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he didn’t want to let pass.
By 2020, he had formed Stealth Racing LLC, specializing in parts for the IMCA STARS Mod Lite division. At first, he still had to rely on other machine shops for certain pieces, but that changed in 2021 when he purchased Zrubek Racing in Kansas. Once he hauled the operation back to Iowa and invested in his own equipment, he could finally bring all the work in-house. What began as a side venture quickly took off, shipping parts to more than 40 states, Canada, and even Australia.
The global reach brought him back to his roots. Growing up on the family farm, the Compart name was already known for raising purebred hogs sent all over the world. Now, Bryan was following a similar path — this time with race car parts instead of livestock.
“Most Mod Lite chassis builders work 40 hours a week and do this on the side,” Compart said. “For me, it’s about filling that gap so racers can get what they need without waiting.”
Inside Bryan Compart’s Stealth Racing shop, CNC machines and tooling fill the space where precision parts for Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites are built. (Courtesy photo)
A Class on the Rise
The Mod Lite class has exploded since IMCA added it to its sanctioned lineup. For Compart, the growth is proof that the division is stronger than ever.
“All areas have their fast guys,” he said. “Around Iowa, we’ve got 12 guys who can win on any night at Boone or Marshalltown. IMCA gave us exposure we never had before. Before that, we were just a support class. Now, we’re on the map.”
Compart still races when he can. After a short stint in a SportMod years ago, he moved to Mod Lites and competed regularly until business commitments began limiting his schedule.
“I had my car sitting in the garage for a year and a half,” he said. “A buddy finally dragged it to his place so I could get it ready. Once I did, I got to travel a bit — even race in Florida. These days, I don’t get out as much, but the fire’s still there.”
His no. 14 connects to his high school baseball days. “That was my number from 2000 to 2004,” he said. “Now my nephew runs it too with his travel ball team. It’s become a family thing.”
A Town with a Legacy
Compart’s story unfolds in Madrid, Iowa, a community with its own hard-working roots. First settled in 1846 by Swedish pioneers, the town was originally called Swede Point before becoming Madrid in 1883. Today, it remains the oldest continuously inhabited Swedish settlement west of the Mississippi River.
From 1910 to 1945, coal mining reshaped the area, producing more than 100,000 tons annually at its peak and drawing Italian and Croatian immigrants who helped build the community. Nearly a third of the town worked in or around the mines, and Madrid still honors those roots with a coal miner statue on Highway 17 and replicas at the Madrid Historical Museum.
That heritage even drew international attention: in 2017, Madrid was featured in Madrid de sol a sol, a program on Spain’s Telemadrid that explored communities around the world sharing the name “Madrid.” Even though the Iowa town is pronounced Mad-rid rather than the traditional Muh-drid, the story connected the two by their shared name and resilient spirit. From immigrant beginnings to coal camps to its 2,500 modern residents, Madrid has always reflected the perseverance of those who call it home.
It’s a fitting backdrop for Bryan, whose work blends old-school machine skills with modern racing needs — a craftsman turning raw material into opportunity.
A roadside sign welcomes visitors to Madrid, Iowa, proudly noting its heritage as “Coal Miner Country.” (Photo by RandomIowa.com)
More Than the Finish Line
Through it all, Compart is quick to credit others.
“Jimmy’s been a huge help,” he said. “Troy Norton has been a big advocate for Mod Lites — he even got Yoshimura on board for headers and mufflers. There are so many people who laid the groundwork.”
The work is demanding, but the mission is simple: keep racers on the track.
In the NAPA Auto Parts Fan Zone after his Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway win on Sept. 1, Jon Padilla celebrates with (left to right) Bryan Compart, Mod Lite Director Jimmy May, and IMCA President Brett Root. (Photo by Tom Macht)
“There are times when it gets overwhelming, but at the end of the day, it’s about getting racers back out there as quickly as possible,” he said. “That’s what makes it worth it.”
For Compart, Mod Lites aren’t just about winning on the weekend. They’re about building something sustainable, both for himself and the racers who depend on him.
“I can’t thank the racers enough,” he said. “They’re the reason Stealth Racing exists. I just want to make a difference.”
