By Ben Deatherage
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 4, 2026) — More than 300 drivers representing five Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing divisions converged on Central Arizona Raceway for the 2026 DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals, competing across eight nights of racing at the 3/8-mile clay oval. Racers from over 20 states and multiple Canadian provinces made the journey to Casa Grande, highlighting the national and international reach of the Winter Nationals as first-time champions emerged across every division.
A total of 112 competitors contested Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified action. Dylan Thornton of Belle Plaine, Iowa, secured the Winter Nationals Modified championship after winning the opening three rounds and adding a fourth victory in round six. The Santa Maria, California, native claimed the title by a 20-point margin, recording four feature wins, six top-five finishes, and seven top-10s, while bringing his career Winter Nationals Modified win total to six.
Brandon Beckendorf finished second in the final point standings. The Danube, Minnesota, racer and 2018 Razor Chassis North Central Region champion earned his first Winter Nationals feature victory on the final night after posting three straight runner-up finishes and five podiums during the eight-race series.
Third in points was Kollin Hibdon, the 2025 Marshalltown Speedway track champion. Racing out of Waterloo, Iowa, by way of Pahrump, Nevada, Hibdon logged six top-five finishes, highlighted by a runner-up result on night four.
Ethan Braaksma ended the Winter Nationals fourth in the standings. The defending champion from Newton, Iowa, drove the Trent Guest and Danny Meier-owned no. 111 to one feature win, four top-five finishes, and five top-10s, closing the series with a runner-up performance on the final night.
Rounding out the top five was Troy Morris III. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, resident, originally from Bakersfield, California, recorded four top-five finishes over the eight-night stretch.
69 drivers competed in Sunoco IMCA Stock Car action over two weeks. Cameron Starry of Corpus Christi, Texas, won the Winter Nationals Stock Car championship after tying for the points lead and winning the tiebreaker on victories. Starry set a new Winter Nationals Stock Car record with five feature wins, adding six top-five finishes and seven top-10s, and moved into a tie with Shelby Williams and Andrew Altenburg atop the all-time Winter Nationals Stock Car win list.
Cameron Starry celebrates his Sunoco IMCA Stock Car Winter Nationals championship in victory lane with his father James (left), longtime sponsor Leslie Gill, and teammate Blake Clark. (Photo by AOM Creative)
Curt Lund finished second in the final standings. Driving the B&B Racing Chassis no. 87 house car, the Redwood Falls, Minnesota, veteran posted one feature win, six top-five finishes, and eight top-10s.
Beatrice, Nebraska’s Dillon Richards placed third in points, backing up his 2025 Winter Nationals Hobby Stock title with five top-five finishes and seven top-10s in Stock Car competition.
Last year’s Winter Nationals Stock Car champion, Shelby Williams, was fourth in the standings. The Bonham, Texas, racer recorded two feature wins, three top-five finishes, and five top-10s, including his 100th career IMCA Stock Car victory on January 24.
Completing the top five was “Wahoo” Mike Albertsen. The Audubon, Iowa driver, who won the track title at Shelby County Speedway last year, delivered six top-10 finishes and remained a steady presence inside the top 10 throughout the eight-night program.
82 drivers competed in Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod action. Trevor Noonan of Dorchester, Nebraska, captured the Winter Nationals championship, driving the Trevor Laher-owned no. 66 to two feature wins, six top-five finishes, and eight top-10s, securing the title by a 20-point margin.
Trevor Noonan celebrates his Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod Winter Nationals championship with car owner Trevor Laher (left), parents Debbie and Kevin Noonan (right), and family dog Caster in victory lane. (Photo by AOM Creative)
Second in the final standings was Cole Suckow. The Cresco, Iowa, driver and 2024 Independence Motor Speedway track champion earned one feature win, three top-five finishes, and six top-10s, breaking through with his first Winter Nationals main event victory on the final night.
Tyler Johnson placed third in points. The 2024 National Rookie of the Year from Laveen, Arizona, opened the event with back-to-back feature wins and added four top-five finishes and six top-10s.
Payce Herrera ended the series fourth in the standings. The Price, Utah, native and 2024 Junior National champion compiled four top-five finishes and six top-10s.
Danny Wagner rounded out the top five. Racing out of Bay Point, California, the 2025 California State champion overcame early adversity to post three top-five finishes and five top-10s.
38 drivers competed in Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock action. Joel Magee of Sioux City, Iowa, who also resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, earned the overall Winter Nationals championship by seven points. The reigning South Dakota State champion recorded one feature win, six podium finishes, and eight top-five finishes.
Joel Magee poses in victory lane after securing the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock Winter Nationals title alongside his wife Kimmie (left) and crewman Tanner Derochie. (Photo by AOM Creative)
Morgan Olmstead finished second in the standings. The Overton, Nebraska, racer and 2024 Tougher Than Dirt Tour champion captured his first career Winter Nationals feature victory, along with five top-five finishes.
Austin Jahnz placed third in points. The Lewisville, Minnesota, racer captured three feature wins and five top-five finishes, including back-to-back victories on the final two nights.
Charles McDaniel III ended the Winter Nationals fourth. The Phoenix, Arizona, driver logged five top-10 finishes to remain firmly inside the championship picture.
Zachary Bierman completed the top five. The Rushmore, Minnesota, driver earned one feature win and four top-five finishes, closing the event with consecutive top-five runs.
The Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lites were contested during the opening week only, drawing 30 drivers. Dillon Raffurty of Kansas City, Missouri, captured the Winter Nationals championship after recording three feature wins, four podiums, and four top-five finishes, winning the title by eight points. The five-time reigning national champion became the all-time Mod Lite Winter Nationals feature win leader with five career victories.
Dillon Raffurty stands in victory lane after claiming the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite Winter Nationals championship, joined by his brother Michael (left). (Photo by AOM Creative)
Josh May finished second in the final standings. The Des Moines, Iowa, racer and 2025 Winter Nationals champion recorded four top-five finishes and four top-10s, missing the podium just once.
2023 Electric City Speedway track title winner, Michael Raffurty, placed third in points. The Kansas City, Missouri, driver posted four top-five finishes, highlighted by three fourth-place results.
A.J. Whisler ended the series fourth. The Anthem, Arizona, racer recorded one feature win and three top-five finishes, becoming the only driver to defeat Dillon Raffurty in main event action.
Riley Clem, who won the 2024 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, rounded out the top five. The Wildersville, Tennessee, resident, originally from Bakersfield, California, posted three top-five finishes.
The events were all 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.
