Central Arizona Raceway Set for Three-Night Showdown Honoring Phil Hertel Nov. 27-29

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

By Ben Deatherage

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Oct. 21, 2026) — Central Arizona Raceway will close out the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with three nights of Speedway Motors IMCA racing during The Showdown: A Salute to Phil Hertel, scheduled for Friday through Sunday, Nov. 27-29.

The three-day event will feature Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks also competing Friday and Saturday.

More than just a weekend of racing, The Showdown will pay tribute to Phil Hertel while offering competitors three opportunities to race for substantial payouts at the Casa Grande facility.

The IMCA Modifieds will headline the weekend, with Friday and Saturday’s features each paying $1,000 to win before Sunday’s $3,000-to-win finale.

All three Modified features will serve as qualifying events for the 2027 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s All-Star Invitational, with each winner earning eligibility to attempt to qualify for the prestigious race at Boone Speedway.

Modified competitors will receive $100 to start Friday and Saturday’s features, while Sunday’s finale will pay $125 to start.

The IMCA Northern SportMods will also have a significant payday awaiting them Sunday, with $1,000 going to the winner of the weekend finale.

SportMods will compete for $700 to win Friday and Saturday, with $50 to start each night. Sunday’s feature will pay $75 to start.

IMCA Stock Cars will race for $500 to win Friday and Saturday before Sunday’s stakes increase to $750. Both Friday and Saturday will pay $50 to start, increasing to $75 Sunday.

IMCA Hobby Stocks will compete for $400 to win Friday and Saturday, with Sunday’s finale paying $700 to the winner. Friday and Saturday features will pay $50 to start, while Sunday’s main event will offer $65 to start.

Pre-registration for The Showdown opens Wednesday, Oct. 28, through MyRacePass.

Weekend entry fees for drivers registering in advance are $150 for Modifieds and $100 each for Northern SportMods, Stock Cars, and Hobby Stocks.

Drivers who do not pre-enter will pay $175 for Modifieds and $125 for the other three IMCA divisions.

Friday and Saturday will follow identical schedules, with the pits opening at 2 p.m., grandstands opening at 4 p.m., and racing beginning at 6 p.m.

Sunday’s finale will feature an earlier schedule, with pits opening at 10 a.m., grandstands opening at noon, and racing getting underway at 2 p.m.

General admission each night is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and military personnel, and $10 for ages 13-17. Children 12 and younger will be admitted free.

Pit passes are $45 for adults and $30 for children younger than 6.

Additional information is available by calling 520-754-0407 or visiting www.centralazraceway.com.

All three nights of The Showdown: A Salute to Phil Hertel will be broadcast live exclusively on IMCA TV, where America comes to watch racing.

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