Ryan Clark

Caleb Gardner: Carrying a Family Number and Answering a Call to Serve

By Ben Deatherage GLYNDON, Minn. (Oct. 23, 2026) — When Caleb Gardner climbed out of his No. 39 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock at Dacotah Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 3, another night of racing had come to an end. But this particular evening carried a little more significance for the Glyndon, Minn., driver, who was preparing to trade the familiar surroundings of dirt tracks and race shops for an overseas deployment with the Minnesota National Guard. The Oktoberfest program in Mandan, N.D., marked Gardner’s final race before departing overseas, where he will serve as a tracked-vehicle recovery operator. For Gardner, racing has always been more than a weekend pastime. His grandfather, Al, raced before his father, Randy, and brother, Doug, followed into the sport. The family competed in several different divisions, and the No. 39 on Caleb’s Hobby Stock is the same number carried by his grandfather and father. Yet for all that family history, it was one particular childhood experience at Buffalo River Speedway that convinced Gardner he wanted to move beyond go-karts and into a [Read More]

Whiteaker Wins Three-Wide Showdown while Torres Breaks Through in STIMS Texana Clash

By Nick Robbins EDNA, Texas (Oct. 17, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts took the green flag for its 2026 season finale at Texana Raceway Park during the Lance and Martha Toler Last Call Racing Texana Clash. Two separate $1,500-to-win shows produced two different winners, with one grabbing his first victory of the season. The first heat race went three-wide at the green flag, with Steven Whiteaker Jr. storming through the middle of the track to take the lead from fourth off turn two. Reigning series champion Jared Maupin got loose entering turn three, leaving Shawn Sandegren with nowhere to go as contact brought out the caution. The second attempt saw polesitter Brian Machicek hold off a charge from Logan Dinsmore to lead the opening lap. Dinsmore took command on lap two and led through lap seven, but Whiteaker grabbed the lead off turn four coming to the white flag. Whiteaker held on to win, with Dinsmore second. The second heat saw Cody Leonard walk away from the field [Read More]

Inaugural Wild River Diamond in the Desert Set for Cocopah Speedway Nov. 4-7

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Oct. 21, 2026) — Some of the biggest names in Speedway Motors IMCA racing will converge on Cocopah Speedway Nov. 4-7 for the inaugural Wild River Diamond in the Desert, featuring three nights of competition and an $8,000 payday awaiting the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified winner. Presented by Wild River Family Entertainment Center, the first-year event will bring five IMCA divisions to the Diamond in the Desert for a weekend of racing in southwestern Arizona. The four-day gathering begins Wednesday, Nov. 4, with an open practice session before racing gets underway Thursday, Nov. 5, and continues through Saturday, Nov. 7. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds will headline the event, with $8,000 awaiting the winner of the division’s main event. The Modifieds will be joined by the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, with both divisions competing for $4,000 top prizes. Saturday’s Modified and Stock Car features will serve as qualifying events for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational, [Read More]

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

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 [Read More]

Freiburger Holds Off Laney’s Late Charge for Modified Victory at Dirt on the Downs

By Christine Rublack CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Oct. 17, 2026) — Jed Freiburger of Dubuque collected his 11th Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season in the $2,000-to-win, 20-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature, holding off a late charge from Cody Laney. Freiburger started on the pole and established the early advantage while Jace Eckrich moved into second, followed by Jeff Bodendorfer and Laney. Following a restart, Bodendorfer advanced into the runner-up position as Laney worked the bottom groove to take over third. Laney, who started eighth, continued his charge and moved into second with only a few laps remaining. Despite the late pressure, Freiburger maintained his advantage and crossed the finish line first. Laney finished second after advancing six positions, with Bodendorfer third, Eckrich fourth, and Chris Zogg fifth. Gifford Makes Three-Wide Move Count in Hobby Stocks Bradyn Gustin of Marshalltown used the bottom groove to his advantage in the $1,000-to-win, 15-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature, taking control early and pulling away as Josh Banes and Jarett Franzen battled for second. Gifford, [Read More]

Rush County Speedway Closes Inaugural IMCA Season with Last Call Classic Oct. 23-24

By William Nusser LA CROSSE, Kan. (Oct. 13, 2026) — Rush County Speedway will close its first full Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing season with the Last Call Classic, a two-night event scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, at The Bullring on the Rush County Fairgrounds. The event features United Rebel Sprint Series (URSS) competitors alongside Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods. The weekend offers $1,500 to win for both Modifieds and Stock Cars, $1,000 for the URSS, and $750 for Northern SportMods. The weekend will serve as qualifiers for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational. Winners of the main events will earn eligibility to attempt to qualify for their respective invitationals at next September’s Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “The season isn’t over yet,” promoter William Nusser said. “One more weekend. One last shot under the lights. This is last call at The Bullring for 2026 — and we see Last Call Classic becoming [Read More]

Gould Returns to Modified Throne; Five First-Time National Champions Crowned

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Oct. 14, 2026) — The 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing season crowned five first-time National champions while a collection of familiar names added to already impressive championship resumes across the nine divisions. William Gould returned to the top of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified ranks for the first time in 13 years, Zach Zeitner captured his second straight Sunoco IMCA Late Model National championship, Lee Goos Jr. earned his third consecutive RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car crown, and Dillon Raffurty continued his unprecedented run with a sixth straight Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite title. John Oliver Jr., Coy Vlies, Nicholas Ronnebaum, Trevor Cogburn, and Johnny Thomas completed the championship lineup, with each earning his first career National championship in 2026. Gould, of Calera, Okla., captured his second career Modified National championship and first since 2013, winning the title by 14 points aboard the Kerry Fryer Motorsports No. 60. The veteran also captured his ninth GRT Race Cars South Central Region championship and third consecutive Regional crown. Gould continued his run of [Read More]

Eckrich Earns Saturday Night Dirt Stars Modified Victory at Davenport

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (Oct. 10, 2026) — Jace Eckrich’s $1,000 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified victory highlighted the second and final night of the Davenport Dirt Stars at Davenport Speedway. The two-night program featured plenty of action after Friday morning showers left the racing surface fast and challenging for competitors. Eckrich wasted little time getting to the front in Saturday’s feature, charging from third to lead the opening circuit. Jason Schueller moved ahead on lap two, but Eckrich answered the following time around and regained command. He controlled the remainder of the feature and crossed the finish line with a two-second advantage. Jace Whitt finished second for the second consecutive night, while Friday winner Brandon Durbin was third. Matt Werner finished fourth, and Shane Paris rounded out the top five. The victory was also a qualifier for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, putting Eckrich on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify at next September’s Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Friday’s 20-lap Modified feature took a toll on both drivers [Read More]

Kiefer Caps Bud Nationals With Modified Victory at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Oct. 10, 2026) — Austin Kiefer of Corona, Calif., led the way in the 40th annual Budweiser Nationals on Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, winning the $1,500-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature to cap a weekend of dirt track action. Kiefer set fast time for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds before winning his heat race and the dash. Brad Pounds claimed the other heat race before joining Kiefer on the front row of the 25-lap feature. Kiefer controlled the main event from the pole and drove to the $1,500 victory, with Pounds finishing second. Robby Sawyer was third, followed by Friday night winner Gavyn Manning and Tyler Bannister. Kiefer also earned the commemorative trophy as the overall Bud Nationals Modified champion. Both nights served as qualifiers for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational. Manning’s $1,000 Friday victory and Kiefer’s Saturday triumph put both drivers on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify at next September’s Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Wilson Rules [Read More]

Official 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings

Ties are broken by 40 point finishes, then 39 point finishes, 38, 37, etc. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 1,023; 2. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 1,009; 3. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 994; 4. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 991; 5. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Montana, 990; 6. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 987; 7. John Nord, Enderlin, N.D., 986; 8. Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, 984; 9. Tyler Bannister, Bakersfield, Calif., 974; 10. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 970; 11. Tyler Belcher, Laceyville, Pennsylvania, 968; 12. Jace Eckrich, Oxford, Iowa, 966; 13. Matthew Sanders, Brookings, Oregon, 961; 14. Travis Hagen, McGregor, N.D., 959; 15. Matthew Looft, Swea City, Iowa, 956; 16. Donald Proctor, Ionia, Michigan, 951; 17. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 949; 18. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wisconsin, 947; 19. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wisconsin, 944; 20. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 943. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 1,017; 2. Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, 1,012; 3. Kyle Vanover, Beatrice, Neb., 1,002; 4. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, 999; 5. Rod [Read More]