By Jerry Mackey
MAQUOKETA, Iowa (Apr. 25, 2026) — The 2026 racing season got underway Saturday night in grand style at the quick quarter-mile dirt track located on the Jackson County Fairgrounds at Maquoketa Speedway, and the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars delivered a classic feature as drivers raced three- and four-wide throughout the entire main event.
Terry Neal came out of retirement to race one of Colton and Danielle Dirks’ Stock Cars, and the elder Neal showed he still has the ability to wheel a race car in fine fashion. Neal fought off constant challenges from Oshkosh, Wisconsin’s Pressley Harrington to score the win by less than a car length, his first of the year in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. David Brandies ran up front the entire race before settling for third ahead of Neal’s son, Gage Neal. Casey Shelliam was fifth after starting 12th.
The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature saw past Maquoketa and national champion Bone Larson wheel the P.J. Kostenbader-owned No. B1 to the win on opening night. Larson was fortunate to draw the front row, but the victory was hard fought as he held off defending track champion Jaden Fryer for his first win of 2026 in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. Charlie Mohr advanced seven positions to finish third. Jed Freiburger was fourth, followed by Matt Werner.
A large field of Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods put on an entertaining feature race as several drivers took turns at the point position. At the checkers it was Josh Starr making his way to victory lane for his first win of the new campaign. Starr held off 14-year-old rookie Bryson Eckrich, who showed experience beyond his years. Jarrett Franzen made a late-race charge to take third. Nathan Silaggi and Ty Webster were fourth and fifth.
The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature was another classic race, with drivers racing three- and four-wide several times. It is always special to see a driver earn his first win at the track, and that was the case for Jared Miles as he scored his first Maquoketa Speedway victory and first win of the year in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region after starting seventh.
Miles, one of the many family members who call Maquoketa Speedway home on Saturday nights, took the checkers after a hard-fought battle that saw the running order scrambled on the white flag lap. Sheldon Hunter finished second ahead of Carson Butt. Zach McNeese was fourth, while Richard Nelson completed the top five.
The final race of the night was the Sunoco IMCA Late Model feature, which saw defending track champion Mitch Morris drive to a convincing win in the 25-lap main event. The racetrack was nearly perfect all night, allowing drivers to race multiple lines. Morris found the top to his liking and sailed the cushion to the win ahead of Ron Klein, who nipped Don Pataska for second at the line. It was Morris’ first win of 2026 in the Late Model division. Jesse Bodin and Steve Johnson completed the top five.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Done Right TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $25.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
