By Ben Deatherage
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 30, 2026) — A dramatic late-race surge lifted Chaz Baca Jr. to victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the seventh night of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Pitt Stop Motorsports and Dynamic Drivelines at Central Arizona Raceway.
Three-division Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner Dylan Thornton jumped to the lead on the opening lap after overtaking two-time Sweetwater Speedway champ Bryson Yeager. Pressure mounted immediately as Baca moved into second on lap two and began challenging Thornton following an early caution. The two raced side-by-side for several circuits before Baca edged ahead at the stripe on lap six.
Brandon Beckendorf soon entered the battle, working past Thornton and setting his sights on the leader as the race settled into a long green-flag stretch. Beckendorf, the 2018 Razor Chassis North Central Region champion, seized the lead on the backstretch on lap 17 and started to pull away.
The closing laps delivered a stunning reversal. Baca, the two-time IMCA Modified National champion and 2024 Winter Nationals titleholder, found speed on the bottom and launched a last-ditch charge, slipping past Beckendorf at the line by just 0.144 seconds. The Mesa, Arizona, driver earned his ninth career Winter Nationals Modified feature win, tying Ethan Dotson for the most all-time, and notched his second victory of the 2026 season in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region.
Beckendorf settled for second, Thornton finished third, reigning Marshalltown Speedway track champion Kollin Hibdon placed fourth, and 2024 Arizona Tour champion Troy Morris III completed the top five one night after getting upside down.
Defending Winter Nationals champion Ethan Braaksma advanced from 27th to 12th in the Danny Meier and Trent Guest-owned no. 111 to earn hard charger honors.
A total of 70 IMCA Modifieds were signed in for the night.
Williams Reclaims Stock Car Supremacy
Shelby Williams added another milestone to his storied Winter Nationals résumé with a hard-fought victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature.
Early on, Bo Partain and Braden Richards traded the lead as cautions disrupted the opening laps. Partain, the 2024 EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region champion, bounced back from heat race damage sustained earlier in the night, while Richards repeatedly countered on the high side to keep the battle close.
Starting seventh, Williams methodically carved through traffic and reached second by lap eight. Following multiple restarts, the Bonham, Texas, driver made his move on lap 15, slipping underneath to take command. A late caution set up a final dash, but the defending Winter Nationals champion held off Richards to seal the victory.
The win was Williams’ sixth career Winter Nationals Stock Car triumph — the most all-time — and his second victory of the 2026 event. It also marked his fifth EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region win of the season.
Richards settled for second, while three-time IMCA Sprint Car Super Nationals winner Curt Lund recovered from an early spin to finish third in the B&B Racing Chassis provided no. 87 entry. Last year’s Hobby Stock Winter Nationals champion Dillon Richards placed fourth, and 2025 Dakota Classic Tour champion Angel Muñoz rounded out the top five in the B&B Racing Chassis-owned No. 99L.
Cody Humphrey earned hard charger honors after advancing from 22nd to ninth.
A total of 48 IMCA Stock Cars competed.
Noonan Snatches SportMod Victory in Final-Lap Thriller
Trevor Noonan delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of this year’s Winter Nationals, stealing the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature at the stripe.
Bud Martini controlled the early stages, mastering restarts while holding off persistent pressure from Tyler Johnson as the field worked through traffic. Martini, the 2015 National Rookie of the Year, kept the point as Johnson — the 2024 National Rookie of the Year and Arizona State champion — stayed firmly within striking distance.
A lap 13 caution bunched the field and set the stage for a heart-stopping finish. In the final lap, Martini and Johnson went side-by-side for the lead, slowing one another just enough for Noonan to rip the cushion and surge past both in the closing corners, edging ahead at the line by just 0.066 seconds. The Dorchester, Nebraska, driver earned his second career Winter Nationals series victory in dramatic fashion.
Martini settled for second, Johnson charged from deep in the field to finish third, 2024 Independence Motor Speedway champion Cole Suckow placed fourth, and Bubba Stafford Jr. rounded out the top five.
Blake Luinenburg, the Hobby Stock champion at both Worthington and Murray County Speedways over the last two years, earned hard charger honors after storming from 22nd to ninth.
A total of 53 IMCA Northern SportMods were on hand.
Jahnz Controls Hobby Stock Feature
Austin Jahnz was in command from start to finish in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock main event.
Jahnz grabbed the early lead and steadily pulled away, executing flawless restarts and maintaining control through multiple cautions. While he set the pace, reigning South Dakota State champion Joel Magee closed the gap in the closing laps, but despite mounting pressure, he was unable to position himself for a pass. Behind them, Magee and Morgan Olmstead engaged in a fierce battle as the laps wound down.
The Lewisville, Minnesota, racer secured his second victory of the 2026 season in the B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region and his second career Winter Nationals series win. Magee finished second, 2024 Lincoln County Raceway champion Tyler Thompson placed third, while Zachary Bierman edged 2024 Tougher Than Dirt Tour champion Morgan Olmstead at the line for fourth.
Charles McDaniel III earned hard charger honors after advancing from 21st to seventh.
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.
