May 13, 2026

Smith Scores $3,000 I-96 Modified Triumph

MOD Casey Smith VL PB Biography Photography — Casey Smith celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the $3,000-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature at I-96 Speedway on May 8. The Portland, Mich. driver earned his first Close Racing Supply Eastern Region victory of the season and secured Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational eligibility. (Photo by Biography Photography)

By Justin Sharp

LAKE ODESSA, Mich. (May 8, 2026) — Casey Smith captured a lucrative $3,000 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified victory Friday night at I-96 Speedway, earning Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility in the process.

The Portland driver started seventh and methodically worked his way into contention in a feature that quickly became a battle of survival and late-race positioning.

Mark Anderson and Bree Wonch led the field to the green flag, but Myron DeYoung soon raced into the lead and controlled much of the event. Disaster struck for DeYoung late in the race, however, when mechanical trouble knocked him from contention and handed the top spot to Smith, who had been applying steady pressure.

A late caution ultimately shortened the race due to time limitations, allowing Smith to secure his first victory of the season in the Close Racing Supply Eastern Region. The win also placed him on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational eligibility list for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.

Smith completed a sweep of the evening after winning his heat race earlier in the program.

Brenton DeYoung charged from 10th to finish second while Anderson completed the podium in third. Mitchell Hunt advanced from 13th to fourth, and Shannon Fisk rounded out the top five.

i96speedway

I-96 Speedway Hosts $3,000-to-Win IMCA Modified Special June 6

By Ben Deatherage LAKE ODESSA, Mich. (May 27, 2025) — A rich payday is on the line Friday, June 6, as I-96 Speedway welcomes the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds—presented locally by Hubbco Race Products—for one of Michigan’s highest-paying Modified events with $3,000 to win. The historic 4/10-mile dirt oval in Lake Odessa, which began IMCA sanctioning in 1988, has long been a cornerstone for Modified competition in the Great Lakes region. That legacy continues in 2025 as the event draws top regional and national talent. “I-96 Speedway is excited to bring a big-money event for the Modifieds,” said Larry Curtiss, owner of the facility. “Our goal is to keep building momentum for IMCA racing in Michigan and to give fans and drivers a standout show.” Along with the $3,000 winner’s share, Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National, DeVilbiss Racing Eastern Region, and Michigan State points will be awarded. The winner will also be added to the eligibility list for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds race for $1,200 to win, All-Star ballot berth May 21 at Michigan’s I-96

LAKE ODESSA, Mich. – A $1,200 top prize and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth are at stake Friday, May 21 at I-96 Speedway. The feature pays a minimum of $200 to start with IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Dirt Works Eastern Region, KMJ Performance State and track points to be awarded at the draw/redraw show. There is no entry fee. Pit gates open at 4 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 6:45 p.m. and racing starts at 8 p.m. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $5 for kids ages 6-11 and free for ages five and under. More information is available by calling the track at 616 642-0555. Another $1,200 to win, draw/redraw Fast Shafts race for the Modifieds is scheduled Aug. 20 during the Allstar Circuit of Champions program at Lake Odessa.

I-96 Friday the 13th special will be lucky for IMCA Modified winner

LAKE ODESSA, Mich. – The lucky winner of I-96 Speedway’s Friday the 13th July special goes home with $1,500. The Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying event pays $1,000 to the runner-up and a minimum of $165 to start. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Dirt Works Eastern Region and Michigan State, but not track points will be awarded. Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m., the front gate opens at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 8 p.m. on July 13. Spectator admission is $25 for adults, $ for kids ages 6-12 and free for five and under. Pit passes are $35. The track website is www.I96speedway.com. More information is also available by calling 616 642-0555.

Feature

Matt Rezac: The Charging Czech from Tabor

By Ben Deatherage TABOR, S.D. (May 12, 2026) — In southeastern South Dakota, towns like Tabor don’t try to stand out. They don’t have to. They sit along open stretches of prairie and farmland, where the pace of life is steady and familiar, and where most people know exactly where they’re headed long before they leave the driveway. On summer evenings, that direction often points toward a racetrack. Not because it’s something new. But because it’s always been there. For Matt Rezac, it started the same way it does for a lot of people in places like this. With a ride. “I always kind of heard about it growing up,” he said. “Wagner Speedway was only about 45 minutes from me, but I never really thought anything of it.” That changed the first time he went. “One of my buddies I went to school with asked if I wanted to go with him and his grandpa,” he said. “We went to that, and that’s where I fell in love with it.” He was around 10 or [Read More]

Feature

Bannister Leads Every Lap in Santa Maria Modified Opener

By Stephanie Odom SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 9, 2026) — Tyler Bannister dominated the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified points season opener Saturday night at Santa Maria Speedway, leading all 30 laps for his third DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season at three different tracks. Sixteen IMCA Modifieds filled the pit area after the previous event was lost to rain. Doug Hagio and Bannister each earned heat race victories earlier in the evening. Bannister then drew the pole for the feature and brought the field to the green alongside Justin Crockett. The Bakersfield driver wasted little time taking command, charging into the lead entering turn one and never surrendering the top spot the rest of the distance. Behind him, Crockett and Markus Frazier battled fiercely for the runner-up position throughout the race before Frazier secured second at the finish. Crockett crossed the line third while Dalton Houghton advanced from ninth to fourth. Race Liberante passed the most cars in the feature, charging from 13th to round out the top five.

Feature

Smith Scores $3,000 I-96 Modified Triumph

By Justin Sharp LAKE ODESSA, Mich. (May 8, 2026) — Casey Smith captured a lucrative $3,000 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified victory Friday night at I-96 Speedway, earning Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility in the process. The Portland driver started seventh and methodically worked his way into contention in a feature that quickly became a battle of survival and late-race positioning. Mark Anderson and Bree Wonch led the field to the green flag, but Myron DeYoung soon raced into the lead and controlled much of the event. Disaster struck for DeYoung late in the race, however, when mechanical trouble knocked him from contention and handed the top spot to Smith, who had been applying steady pressure. A late caution ultimately shortened the race due to time limitations, allowing Smith to secure his first victory of the season in the Close Racing Supply Eastern Region. The win also placed him on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational eligibility list for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Smith completed a sweep of the evening after [Read More]

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