By Ben Deatherage
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 29, 2026) — Belle Plaine, Iowa’s Dylan Thornton added another chapter to his dominant Winter Nationals run with a hard-fought victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the sixth night of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Pitt Stop Motorsports and Dynamic Drivelines at Central Arizona Raceway. The former Santa Maria, California, resident earned his fourth win of the 2026 event, his fourth victory of the year in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region, and his sixth career Winter Nationals Modified triumph.
Thornton, a three-division winner at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, jumped to the early lead from the bottom groove before 2018 Razor Chassis North Central Region champion Brandon Beckendorf began applying pressure. Beckendorf took control on lap five and briefly stretched the advantage as the leaders navigated lapped traffic. A caution on lap 18 reset the field, and Thornton went to work on the outside, pulling alongside Beckendorf and completing the winning pass on lap 22.
Beckendorf stayed close to the finish but had to settle for second. Defending Winter Nationals champion Ethan Braaksma finished third in the Danny Meier and Trent Guest-owned no. 111, while two-time Santa Maria Speedway champion Logan Drake placed fourth. Bryson Yeager, a two-time Sweetwater Speedway track champion, charged hard from 18th to finish fifth.
A total of 70 IMCA Modifieds were signed in for the night.
Starry Overpowers Field for Fourth Winter Nationals Stock Car Win
20-year-old Cameron Starry of Corpus Christi, Texas, continued his commanding Winter Nationals run with a dominant victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature, earning his fourth win of the 2026 Winter Nationals, his fifth career Winter Nationals series triumph, and his fifth EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region victory of the season. The 2024 Dakota Classic Tour Stock Car champion also moved into a tie with Andrew Altenburg and Shelby Williams for the most Winter Nationals Stock Car wins in series history.
Starry worked his way to the front through early battles with two-time National Modified champion Chaz Baca Jr. and three-time IMCA Sprint Car Super Nationals winner Curt Lund. After taking control on lap nine, Starry quickly separated himself from the field and controlled the remainder of the race to secure the victory.
Baca finished second in the Mitchell Ferguson-owned no. 21MF, Lund placed third, 2015 National Hobby Stock Rookie of the Year Justin Luinenburg was fourth, and 2025 Winter Nationals Hobby Stock champion Dillon Richards made a late move into fifth.
Two-time EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region champion Blake Clark earned hard charger honors after advancing from 19th to sixth.
44 IMCA Stock Cars were on hand for the event.
Speten Breaks Through With First Winter Nationals SportMod Victory
Nathan Speten captured his first career Winter Nationals series victory with a dominant performance in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature.
After early restarts and cautions, the Wilton, North Dakota driver, Speten, surged to the lead on lap eight and immediately began pulling away from the field. The 2024 Winter Nationals champion built a massive advantage and never looked back, cruising to a convincing victory.
17-year-old Payce Herrera, the 2024 Junior National champion, finished second over 16-year-old Tyler Johnson, the 2024 National SportMod Rookie of the Year and Arizona State champion, who charged from 18th to third. Last night’s winner and 2024 Nebraska State champion Trevor Noonan placed fourth in the Trevor Laher-owned no. 66 mount, while 2024 Independence Motor Speedway champion Cole Suckow completed the top five.
Braydon Whitfield earned hard charger honors after advancing from 26th to seventh.
A total of 45 IMCA Northern SportMods competed.
Bierman Battles to First Career Winter Nationals Hobby Stock Win
Zachary Bierman of Rushmore, Minnesota, scored his first career Winter Nationals series victory with a thrilling win in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, earning his first B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region victory of the 2026 season.
In a caution-free main event, reigning South Dakota State champion Joel Magee led early and maintained a strong pace on the high side as the top four ran nose-to-tail for much of the race. Bierman stayed in striking distance and mounted multiple late challenges, finally pulling alongside Magee coming to the white flag and edging ahead at the line for the victory.
Magee finished second, Austin Jahnz placed third, 2024 Tougher Than Dirt Tour champion Morgan Olmstead was fourth, and Tyler Thompson rounded out the top five.
Kansas native Aiden Miller earned hard charger honors.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $24.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
