By Ben Deatherage
BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 10, 2026) — Brandon Beckendorf capitalized on late trouble for the leaders, while Kollin Hibdon took command near halfway and never looked back in Thursday’s Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified qualifying during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway.
Two 25-lap qualifiers determined eight starting spots in the middle lane of Saturday’s Big Dance, with the top four finishers in each locking themselves into the championship event.
Minnesota’s Jake Timm led the opening lap of the first qualifier before a caution slowed the field on lap two. Timm was strong on the restart and quickly began opening an advantage before another yellow on lap four.
Timm again got away well, while two-time IMCA TV Clash on the Coast champion Austen Becerra of Illinois rocketed into second.
Timm’s run at the front ended on lap six when a flat tire brought him to a halt, handing the lead to Ricky Stephan.
The defending Park Jefferson Speedway track champion, who has won track championships in five consecutive decades, battled Becerra on the ensuing restart before Becerra wrestled the top spot away on lap eight.
Jeremy Mills moved into second a circuit later and began trying to reel in Becerra. The two-time defending Razor Chassis North Central Region champion kept the leader within reach as the race continued under green.
Becerra, the 2021 Super Nationals Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod champion, encountered lapped traffic with nine circuits remaining.
His bid for another Super Nationals qualifying victory abruptly ended on lap 18 when mechanical trouble brought him to a halt, putting Mills at the front.
Another caution followed on lap 19, and Beckendorf made his move after the restart.
The 2018 Razor Chassis North Central Region champion from Danube, Minn., took command and began working toward the checkered flag after starting ninth.
Defending Sunoco IMCA Late Model Super Nationals champion Jesse Sobbing, who started seventh, began closing on Beckendorf on lap 23 and mounted one final challenge on the last circuit, but Beckendorf held him off to secure the victory.
Sobbing finished second, while Mills completed a charge from 18th to finish third. Two-time National champion Chaz Baca Jr. advanced from 21st to fourth and grabbed the final transfer position.
Minnesota’s Clint Hatlestad grabbed the lead on the opening lap of the second qualifier and quickly established a sizable advantage.
The 2023 Minnesota State champion and seven-time Arlington Raceway track champion remained comfortably out front until a red flag halted the action on lap 10.
Kollin Hibdon went after Hatlestad following the restart, throwing a slider at the leader but initially having to settle back into line. Hibdon wasn’t finished, taking command on lap 12.
The defending Marshalltown Speedway track champion began pulling away before cautions on laps 15 and 16 twice erased his advantage. Hibdon responded with strong restarts each time and again established control.
Another caution with five laps remaining gave the field one more opportunity, while Dylan Thornton continued an impressive march through the field after starting 22nd.
Hibdon, originally from Pahrump, Nev., and now residing in Waterloo, Iowa, was untouchable down the stretch. The ninth-place starter drove away to win and secure a spot in the middle lane of Saturday’s Big Dance.
Two-time and defending Harris Clash winner Joel Rust finished second.
Three-division Super Nationals winner and 2026 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion Thornton completed his charge from 22nd to third. Originally from California and now residing in Iowa, Thornton was in a locked-in position for the second consecutive night but elected to give up the spot and attempt to improve his starting position through Friday’s qualifier.
That decision moved 2012 National Rookie of the Year Kyle Brown, who charged from 23rd, into third among the locked-in drivers.
Jake Pike, the 2019 DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region Rookie of the Year, earned the fourth and final starting spot in the middle lane.
Wisconsin’s Cole Czarneski, the 2024 Wisconsin State champion and this year’s Clash at the Creek winner, charged from 30th to ninth.
Eligible drivers also timed in for attempting to qualify for the FastShafts All-Star Modified Invitational. Brandon Beckendorf turned the fastest lap of the round at 16.670 seconds, earning a custom pop-up canopy courtesy of P1 Promotions.
233 IMCA Modifieds were on hand for the night.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $25.99/month. And don’t miss Season 3 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
Kollin Hibdon, originally from Pahrump, Nev., and now residing in Waterloo, Iowa, celebrates in victory lane after winning a Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified qualifier during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway on Sept. 10. Hibdon started ninth and took the lead on lap 12 to earn a starting spot in the middle lane of Saturday’s Big Dance. (Photo by Byron Fichter Fotography)