By Ben Deatherage
BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 12, 2026) — Seventeen-year-old Will Smith regained the lead following a late restart and drove away to his first career Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s championship Saturday at Boone Speedway.
The Lake City, Iowa, driver collected $3,000 for winning the 30-lap Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock Big Dance, while Joren Fisher from Garrison added his first Stephenville Starter Race of Champions victory later in the program.
The three-wide start saw Jason Kohl, Smith, and Tristan Grape immediately battle for control, with Kohl winning the race to the line on the opening circuit.
The two-time Shelby County Speedway track champion, Kohl, secured the top spot and began to pull away before Smith tracked him down. Smith completed the pass for the lead on lap five, just before the first caution of the race.
Another yellow followed on lap six, and three-time defending U.S. 30 Speedway track champion Grape went to work on the top shelf when racing resumed. The Nebraska driver powered into the lead before another caution on lap eight.
Grape maintained command on the restart, but Smith refused to let him get away.
Smith closed back in and began challenging for the lead before a caution on lap 15 interrupted the battle. Another yellow followed on lap 16.
A longer green-flag run allowed Grape and Smith to separate themselves from the rest of the field. Smith continued applying pressure, but Grape kept him behind until a red flag halted the action on lap 19.
Smith made his move when racing resumed, reclaiming the lead on the restart.
Once back in command, Smith checked out from the field and dominated the remaining distance to capture the win. Grape finished second, with Kohl crossing the line third.
The 2026 Hawkeye Challenge winner Eric Knutson finished fourth, while Minnesota’s Austin Jahnz, winner of the Sgt. Brent Koch Memorial at Redwood Speedway, charged from 12th to complete the top five.
Tyson Overton advanced from 18th to sixth, followed by Joey Young and Joe Wollenhaupt. Defending Iowa State champion Corey Van Der Wilt charged from 27th to ninth, while hard charger Evan Schettler raced from 20th to complete the top 10.
Earlier in the NAPA Fan Zone, locked-in drivers from Monday’s qualifying tossed bags to determine their starting positions in the inside lane of the Big Dance.
Kohl defeated Grape to secure the inside of the front row and earn the Eibach Springs Pole Award, with Grape starting in the inside position of row two. Ryan Fajman defeated Young for the inside of row three, putting Young in the inside position of row four.
Nathan Ballard defeated Andrew Burg for the inside of row five, with Burg starting in the inside position of row six. Seth Butler defeated Alex Yoerger for the inside of row seven, putting Yoerger in the inside position of row eight.
Fisher Cruises to First Race of Champions Victory
The Stephenville Starter Race of Champions, originally scheduled for Tuesday before being postponed due to weather, was also contested Saturday.
Tom Killen Jr., winner of this year’s Ron Little Memorial at Stuart Speedway, grabbed the early advantage and led the opening circuit.
His stay at the front was short-lived.
Four-time defending Benton County Speedway track champion Joren Fisher moved into the lead on lap two and quickly began to distance himself from the field.
Fisher never looked back, driving away to secure his first career Stephenville Starter Race of Champions victory.
Dalton Weepie finished second, with Van Der Wilt third. Killen crossed the line fourth, and Colby Christensen completed the top five.
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.