By Ben Deatherage
BEATRICE, Neb. (Mar. 13, 2026) — Jesse Sobbing powered to victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature on opening night of the 33rd annual Spring Nationals at Beatrice Speedway, earning a spot on the eligibility list for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational to be held during the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
The Malvern, Iowa driver and reigning Super Nationals Sunoco IMCA Late Model winner grabbed the lead on the opening lap of the 20-lap, $1,000-to-win main event, but immediately had his hands full with Damon Murty. The 2005 National Stock Car champion and six-time Iowa State titlist repeatedly worked the bottom of the track trying to unseat Sobbing while 2019 National champion Jordan Grabouski soon entered the battle.
Grabouski powered into second on lap seven as Sobbing stretched his advantage until a lap nine caution erased the gap. On the restart, Grabouski seized the lead on lap 10 and briefly appeared in command before another pair of cautions slowed the pace.
Grabouski mastered the bottom line on the ensuing restarts, but Sobbing discovered speed up top. Slipping underneath Grabouski down the stretch, Sobbing surged back to the lead on lap 16 with a distinctive line through the corners. Mechanical trouble forced Grabouski to pull off shortly afterward while chasing the leader.
A caution on lap 18 set up a green-white-checkered finish, but Sobbing held off a late charge from the field to secure his first victory of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region.
Five-time and defending Stock Car track champion Kyle Vanover finished second. Murty rebounded to place third, while reigning RPM Speedway champion Johnny Yutterman of Colorado charged from 18th to fourth. Veteran racer and 1994 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock National champion Doug Holzmeister completed the top five.
Yutterman and Dylan Lauenstein were credited with the most passes in the feature, with Lauenstein advancing from 24th to 10th.
A total of 41 IMCA Stock Cars competed.
Grabouski Reclaims Modified Glory at Home Track
Five-time IMCA Modified National champion Jordan Grabouski returned to victory lane at his home track in the $2,000-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature.
Grabouski initially led the opening lap before California transplant Kaylin Lopez, now residing in Iowa, surged past the nine-time Beatrice Modified track champion to take command on lap two. Lopez quickly opened a gap while the race remained green, but Grabouski began closing the distance as the leaders approached lapped traffic.
The Beatrice driver reclaimed the lead at the stripe on lap 12 and was the first to slice through the back of the field a lap later. Navigating traffic with surgical precision, Grabouski gradually pulled away from Lopez.
Lopez mounted a late rally and closed rapidly on the final circuit but ran out of time as Grabouski captured his second victory of the season and first of the year in his own equipment and in the Jet Racing Central Region.
The win also served as a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational to be held during the 2026 IMCA Super Nationals. Grabouski had already secured eligibility earlier this season with a qualifying victory at I-37 Speedway in January.
Lopez finished second, while 2019 Stuart Speedway Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod track champion Tyler Inman was third. Reigning Razor Chassis North Central Region champion Jeremy Mills placed fourth and defending Jet Racing Central Region and Nebraska champion Shawn Harker rounded out the top five.
Multi-time Outagamie Speedway and Luxemburg Speedway track champion Brian Mullen and two-time Lincoln County Raceway champion Brandon Clough were credited with the most passes during the feature.
40 IMCA Modifieds were signed in.
Nerud Dominates SportMods
Tyler Nerud delivered a commanding performance in the $1,000-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature.
The two-time defending Beatrice track champion ripped the high side to lead lap one ahead of Taylor Metz and soon opened a healthy advantage as the race stayed green.
Brayton Carter, the reigning national champion driving the Bobby Six-owned no. 6, climbed to second on lap five, while two-time Harris Clash winner Cam Reimers moved into third one lap later.
Carter began reeling in Nerud before a lap nine caution reset the field. On the restart, Reimers slipped into second and threw a slider for the lead, but Nerud beat him back to the line. Reimers attempted another slider the following lap, yet Nerud held firm and maintained control.
Pulling away in the closing laps, the Dorchester driver cruised to his first victory of the 2026 season in dominant fashion after starting fourth.
Reimers finished second, two-time defending Eagle Raceway champion Cole Wayman was third, Carter placed fourth, and multi-division track champion Adam Armstrong made a last-lap pass to secure fifth after starting 14th.
This year’s IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion Trevor Noonan advanced from 22nd to ninth in the Trevor Laher-owned no. 66 to earn hard charger honors.
A field of 48 IMCA Northern SportMods was on hand.
Stigge Holds Off Late Charge in Hobby Stock Feature
Brendon Stigge survived heavy pressure to win the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature.
The three-time Beatrice track champion from Fairbury battled Anthony Davis on the initial start before edging ahead on the opening lap. After early cautions slowed the pace, Stigge repeatedly executed strong restarts to maintain control.
Behind him, Nick Ronnebaum — a multi-time Salina Speedway and Concordia Raceway champion — battled Austin Jahnz for second before finally clearing the position and setting his sights on the leader.
Ronnebaum closed rapidly during the final laps and reached Stigge’s bumper, but the leader maintained his composure and held on to score his first victory of 2026 in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region.
Ronnebaum finished second, Dan Nelson placed third, two-time Beatrice champion Taylor Huss was fourth, and Jahnz completed the top five.
Trent Matson advanced from 22nd to seventh to earn hard charger honors.
40 IMCA Hobby Stocks competed.
Black Claims First Career Sport Compact Victory
Carson Black captured his first career win in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature in dramatic fashion.
Brooke Osler, the two-time defending Kossuth County Speedway champion, led early while battling Brandon Carmichael and Carson Black in a tight three-car contest through multiple cautions.
Jackson Black briefly took the lead on lap 10 before Carson Black reclaimed the top spot on the final restart with three laps remaining. A red flag on the final lap ended the race early, sealing the victory for the 16-year-old Beatrice driver.
Jackson Black, who started ninth, finished second, Tobey Van Laningham was third, two-time defending Beatrice track champion and 2024 National Rookie of the Year Johnny Thomas placed fourth after beginning the race 11th, and reigning Clay County Fair Speedway champion Levi Volkert completed the top five.
Tyler Thompson advanced from 23rd to seventh to earn hard charger honors.
28 IMCA Sport Compacts made the trip to Beatrice Speedway.
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, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
