Reay Brings Modified Crown Back to Michigan; IMCA Names Six First Time National Champions

Jeff Reay races his No. 12 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified at Crystal Motor Speedway earlier this season. The Portland, Michigan driver went on to capture his first National Modified championship — the first by a Michigan racer since 1995. (Photo by Chris Johnston)

By Ben Deatherage

VINTON, Iowa (Oct. 9, 2025) — The 2025 Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing season was one for the record books, filled with razor-thin finishes, breakout performances, and enduring dynasties. Six of the nine National titles were decided by three points or fewer, two required tiebreakers, and six drivers celebrated first-time championships.

Portland, Michigan’s Jeff Reay earned his first National championship — and became the first Michigan driver since Rick Stout in 1995 to claim the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified crown — by just two points. He also won the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Eastern Region, the Michigan State Championship, and track titles at Crystal Motor Speedway, where he’s now a two-time champion, and at I-96 Speedway, where he earned his first. Reay closed the season with 14 wins in 42 starts.

Across the rest of the division, four additional Regional champions also added to the Modified season’s prestige. William Gould, of Oklahoma, topped the GRT Race Cars South Central Region for his eighth career Regional title, repeating his 2024 success. Jeremy Mills, from Iowa, secured his career second Razor Chassis North Central Region crown, while Shawn Harker, of Nebraska, claimed his first Jet Racing Central Region title. Out west, Kevin Williamson, from Oregon, earned his first Shaw Race Cars Western Region championship.

The rookie class of 2025 was equally impressive. Ethan Killingsworth, from California, was named the National and Western Region Rookie of the Year. Regional rookie honors went to Logan Anderson of Iowa in the North Central Region, Jaxon McGaha of Texas in the South Central, Cale Lagroon of Kansas in the Central, and Tylor Kay of Michigan in the Eastern Region — each helping underscore the strength and depth of the next generation of IMCA Modified talent.

Veteran Kelly Shryock, of Fertile, Iowa, captured his first Sunoco IMCA Stock Car National championship, edging the field by just two points in one of the tightest title battles of the season. The multi-division standout also earned his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region.

Shryock swept through Iowa with track championships at Kossuth County Speedway, where he now has four titles, at Hancock County Speedway, where he’s a two-time champion, and at Clay County Fair Speedway, where he collected his first. He finished the year with 21 wins in 44 starts, combining veteran experience with the consistency that defined his run to the top.

In additional Regional competition, Texan Dustin Mooney topped the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region for the first time in his career. The future also looks bright for the division, led by Mason Richards of Nebraska, who earned both National and Northern Region Rookie of the Year honors, while Casey Murdoch of Arizona claimed Southern Region Rookie of the Year recognition.

Brewster, Minnesota’s Cory Probst became a three-time Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock National champion after winning a tiebreaker over Dillon Richards with 40 forty-point victories. He also captured his third B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region title and continued his reign at home with track championships at Arlington Raceway, where he now holds nine career titles, and Redwood Speedway, where he’s claimed four. Probst’s 2025 campaign was one of remarkable dominance, earning 40 wins in 50 starts.

In additional Regional competition, Hunter Ferrell, from Colorado, secured his first B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region championship. Ferrell also topped the Junior National standings, becoming the first driver from the Centennial State to earn that honor and also won the track title at Desert Thunder Raceway in Utah. Kolby Sabin, of Iowa, was recognized as both National and Northern Region Rookie of the Year, while Kevin Reuter, from California, received Southern Region Rookie of the Year honors. Miley JoAnn Goldwich-Rhames, from New Mexico, was the top earner in the Lady Eagle award.

Anna, Texas, racer Landon Capps claimed his first Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods National crown in dramatic fashion, winning a tiebreaker over Trevor Cogburn with 11 forty-point victories to 10. Capps also earned his first track championship at Grayson County Speedway and became the 17th Texan to win this division’s title since 2005. He logged 11 wins in 32 starts to complete a breakout year. Christian Gaston, also from Texas, was the National Rookie of the Year award winner.

Oskaloosa, Iowa’s Brayton Carter secured his first Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod National title by three points and repeated as Iowa State Champion. He also claimed track championships at Stuart Speedway, where he’s now a four-time champion, and at Marshalltown Speedway, where he earned his second. Carter’s 2025 record included 30 wins in 49 starts. Mike Smith, also from Iowa, topped the National Rookie of the Year contenders.

Hartford, South Dakota’s Lee Goos Jr. backed up his 2024 crown to capture a second straight RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car National championship. Goos also earned the I-90 Speedway track championship, his third career title at the Hartford oval, and scored seven wins in 32 starts across a demanding Midwest slate. Laney Moore, of Iowa, was the National Rookie of the Year award winner.

Kansas City, Missouri’s Dillon Raffurty continued his dominance with a fifth consecutive Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite National title, remaining undefeated since the class joined IMCA in 2021. He also earned his fifth straight Missouri State Championship and track championships at Valley Speedway, marking his fifth in a row there, and at Electric City Speedway, where he captured his second. Raffurty won the title by three points. Florida native Robbie Throop was the National Rookie of the Year winner.

Zach Zeitner, of Bellevue, Nebraska, captured his first Sunoco IMCA Late Model National championship and became only the fourth Nebraskan since 1949 to do so. Zeitner posted 16 wins in 38 starts and earned track championships at Park Jefferson, Crawford County, and Shelby County Speedways, the latter marking his third career Shelby County title. Logan Veloz, from Illinois, was the National Rookie of the Year award winner.

Beatrice, Nebraska’s John Martinez became the eighth Nebraskan since 2007 to win the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact National championship. He added track titles at Concordia Raceway and Salina Speedway, both the first of his career, and tallied 23 wins in 46 starts. Kiegan Werner, also from Nebraska, was the National Rookie of the Year winner.

The 2025 IMCA National Awards Banquet will honor the year’s champions and top performers on Saturday, November 29, at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska. The evening will include cocktails at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., and the awards ceremony at 8 p.m. Formal attire is required, and no refunds will be issued.

Preceding the banquet, the Champions Reception will take place on Friday, November 28, from 6–9 p.m. at the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed, located at 599 Oak Creek Drive, Lincoln, NE. The reception will feature casual attire and provide honorees and guests the opportunity to tour one of the nation’s premier racing museums.

Banquet tickets are available for purchase at www.imca.com/banquet.