Hibdon Wins Yankee Dirt Classic Modified Finale by .039 Seconds

Feature, Hobby Stock, Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Stock Car

Kollin Hibdon celebrates his Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified victory during the 49th annual Yankee Dirt Track Classic at 300 Raceway on Aug. 29. The Waterloo driver, by way of Pahrump, Nev., charged from 20th starting and made a last-lap move to win by just .039 of a second for his 10th victory of the season. (Photo by Black Hat Photography)

By Jerry Mackey

FARLEY, Iowa (Aug. 29, 2026) — The 49th annual Yankee Dirt Track Classic was completed Saturday night despite Mother Nature throwing a couple of curveballs at the 300 Raceway crew.

Thanks to the relentless efforts of R.J. Simon and the entire crew, the entire race program was completed. A two-day total of 322 race teams took part in the Yankee, presented by GTG Peterbilt.

The closest finish of the weekend was witnessed Saturday night in the Trading Paints Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified championship race. Waterloo driver Kollin Hibdon, by way of Pahrump, Nev., charged from 20th starting and made a last-lap move to nip Jed Freiburger at the stripe by just .039 of a second.

Freiburger had led the entire race, but in the late going the lead pack swelled to five very talented drivers. Hibdon’s last-lap heroics earned him his 10th IMCA Modified victory of the season, with nine coming in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. Freiburger settled for second, while 2021 IMCA national champion Jeff “Bone” Larson was third and Spencer Diercks fourth after both advanced from mid-pack starting positions.

Opening-night Modified action saw Ethan Braaksma of Newton top a star-studded field of 25 drivers. It was Braaksma’s fourth win of the season, with two earned in the Razor Chassis North Central Region.

Murty Charges to Saturday Stock Car Championship

The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars have earned the nickname “the class too tough to tame,” and for very good reason as the Stock Cars put on two fantastic nights of racing.

Saturday night’s championship win went to the “Chelsea Charger,” Damon Murty, who raced to the front from sixth starting. The Chelsea driver scored his second EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season. David Brandies was the real mover and shaker of the race, charging from the ninth row to finish second, with Gage Neal third.

Friday night’s Stock Car feature win went to another one of the best in the business, Cayden “The Gas Man” Carter. The Oskaloosa driver scored his fourth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season, with all four coming at different tracks.

Carter and VanWyk Split SportMod Wins

The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods provided two great nights of racing with full fields of competitors in action both nights.

Saturday night’s championship run saw Brayton “Speedy Bray” Carter take the win over his cousin and fellow Oskaloosa driver Dylan VanWyk. The victory was Carter’s 13th IMCA Northern SportMod win of the season. Local driver Mark Maas had a great run to finish third.

Friday night’s Northern SportMod feature was dominated by VanWyk. The Oskaloosa driver raced to his 13th win of the 2026 season, with 16-year-old Bryson Eckrich finishing second.

Birthday Boy Butt Captures Yankee Hobby Stock Crown

The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks also had a stacked field of great drivers both nights, with Saturday night’s championship going to one of the sport’s young guns.

Carson Butt celebrated his 16th birthday in memorable fashion as the Preston driver raced to the Yankee championship. The victory was Butt’s seventh B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region win of the season. Jared Miller finished second.

Friday night’s Hobby Stock win went to Mineral Point, Wis., driver Blaise Watters, who raced to his sixth B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of 2026. Nathan Ballard finished second.

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