Divisions Archives

Sanders Secures Second Career Speedweek Modified Triumph at Coos Bay

By Ben Deatherage COOS BAY, Ore. (June 18, 2026) — Matt Sanders drove away from a stacked field in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature to capture the sixth round of the 2026 IMCA Wild West Speedweek on the final night of competition at Coos Bay Speedway. Defending Southern Oregon Speedway track champion and reigning National Rookie of the Year Ethan Killingsworth jumped to the early lead before Matt Sanders, winner of Monday’s Modified feature at Cottage Grove Speedway and the last two Wild West Speedweek IMCA Northern SportMod championships, closed in and took command on lap four. Two-time defending Wild West Speedweek champion Bricen James worked his way into second on lap nine aboard the Schram Motorsports No. 13 as he and Killingsworth battled for position. Lapped traffic began to enter the equation around lap 10, but a caution slowed the pace before it could become a major factor. The leaders again encountered slower traffic on lap 19, only for another caution to erase the challenge. On the ensuing restart, James pressured Sanders for the [Read More]

Budweiser 150 Freedom Nationals Returns to Deuce of Clubs Thunder Raceway June 26-27

By Ben Deatherage SHOW LOW, Ariz. (June 18, 2026) — One of the Southwest’s premier summer specials returns to Deuce of Clubs Thunder Raceway on June 26-27 as the Budweiser 150 Freedom Nationals brings two nights of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing action to the high-banked Arizona oval. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks will headline the unique two-day format, with each division racing for a $1,500 top prize in Saturday night’s championship features. The Freedom Nationals will also serve as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, with the Modified winner earning eligibility to try and qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational held during the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Modifieds, Northern SportMods, and Hobby Stocks will compete for Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National and Arizona State points. Modified drivers will also race for DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region points, while Hobby Stock competitors will chase B&B Racing Chassis Western Region points. Track points will not be awarded in those [Read More]

Ferrando Capitalizes Late for Coos Bay Speedweek Triumph

By Ben Deatherage COOS BAY, Ore. (June 17, 2026) — Grey Ferrando used lapped traffic to his advantage late in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature to score his third Wild West Speedweek victory of the week during the fifth round of the 2026 IMCA Wild West Speedweek and the first of two nights at Coos Bay Speedway. Two-time defending Wild West Speedweek champion Bricen James paced the opening laps aboard the Schram Motorsports No. 13 before Matt Sanders, winner of the previous two IMCA Northern SportMod Speedweek championships, worked his way into contention. Sanders executed a move to the inside of turn four on lap four to take command and appeared poised to drive away. Cautions on laps seven and 11 kept the field tightly grouped, however, allowing James and Ferrando to remain within striking distance. While Sanders maintained the lead through the middle stages of the race, James and Ferrando engaged in a spirited battle for second. The trio remained closely packed as lapped traffic entered the equation on lap 24. Attempting to navigate [Read More]

Eagle River Speedway to Host Pair of Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Qualifiers

By Joe Verdegan EAGLE RIVER, Wis. (June 17, 2026) — Eagle River Speedway will host a pair of Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifying events on Tuesday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 21, at the third-mile clay oval. Both Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified specials will pay $1,000 to win and $125 to start. A draw/redraw format will be used for both programs. The winner of each event will earn eligibility to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, which will be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway in September. “With all of the card-carrying IMCA Modified drivers just to the south of us, we’ve actually had a pretty good buzz about hosting two of these races,” said promoter Pat Zdroik. “We’re hoping for a decent turnout for both of those scheduled events.” There will be no draw fee for either event. Sponsors for the specials include Dustin White Construction, Mike Winter Seasonal Services, and Harry’s on the Lake. Racing begins at 7 p.m. on both [Read More]

Micah Lavrenz: Finding Home, Family, and Racing in Burt

By Ben Deatherage BURT, Iowa (June 12, 2026) — In a town the size of Burt, Iowa, people tend to know each other’s stories. They know who farms which ground. They know whose kids play ball together. And on warm summer evenings, they know which garage doors are open. One of those garage doors changed Micah Lavrenz’s life. Around 2000 or 2001, Lavrenz and his father Floyd were driving through town when they noticed activity at the shop of Del Reutzel, a family friend whose excavating business had long been part of the community. Inside, a go-kart was being prepared for a race for his son, Tad. Lavrenz was six or seven years old. “I vaguely remember that one summer night and seeing the garage door open and we stopped,” he said. The Reutzels showed him the kart, explained what they were doing, and not long afterward took him to a race. He was hooked. More than two decades later, the boy who stopped to look inside that garage has become one of the familiar faces [Read More]

Herrera and Raynard Capture 2026 Tougher Than Dirt Tour Titles

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (June 12, 2026) — Consistency proved just as valuable as race wins during the 2026 T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Performance, as Payce Herrera and Diezel Raynard emerged with championships after five nights of competition across North Dakota and Saskatchewan. Payce Herrera of Price, Utah, claimed the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod title by just four points. Herrera opened the tour with a runner-up finish at McLean County Speedway, scored his first career tour victory at Williston Basin Speedway, finished second at Estevan Motor Speedway, third at Thunder Mountain Speedway, and capped the week with another runner-up effort at Nodak Speedway. Minot’s Chad Strachen finished second in the standings. His tour included a fourth-place finish at McLean County Speedway, runner-up efforts at Williston Basin Speedway and Thunder Mountain Speedway, a third-place run at Estevan Motor Speedway, and another podium finish with third at Nodak Speedway. Estevan, Saskatchewan’s Keenan Glasser ended the week third in points despite winning four of the five features. Glasser charged from [Read More]

Ulmer Wins Photo Finish in Dacotah Stock Car Feature

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (June 12, 2026) — Travis Ulmer charged from ninth starting position and edged Jason Berg by inches at the checkered flag to win the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature Friday night at Dacotah Speedway. Bismarck’s Brandon Honrud led the field to green before outside front-row starter Berg quickly assumed command. Berg and Matt Dosch spent much of the race battling for the lead while Ulmer steadily worked his way through traffic. A caution with four laps remaining erased Berg’s advantage and set up a dramatic finish. Ulmer moved past Dosch on the restart and immediately challenged Berg. Berg excelled in turns one and two while Ulmer found speed in turns three and four, setting the stage for a thrilling final lap. At the stripe, Ulmer narrowly defeated Berg to score his first Dacotah Speedway victory since June of 2013 and his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the season. Berg settled for second, followed by Dosch, Jason Meidinger and Casey Binstock. Kinzley Captures First Modified Win of Season Quentin [Read More]

Ferrando Wins at Cottage Grove to Become Third Different Modified Winner of ’26 Speedweek

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 16, 2026) — Grey Ferrando drove to victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the fourth round of the 2026 Wild West Speedweek at Cottage Grove Speedway on Tuesday night, earning his second series victory of the week after winning Sunday’s event at River City Speedway and the fourth Speedweek triumph of his career. Defending DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region, Oregon State, and Cottage Grove Speedway champion Kevin Williamson paced the opening lap of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature before 2017 track champion Grey Ferrando charged to the lead on lap two. A caution on lap three briefly slowed Ferrando’s momentum, but the Scio driver quickly reestablished control on the restart and again after another yellow on lap seven. Ferrando remained untouchable through the middle stages of the race and worked lapped traffic beginning on lap 16. A caution on lap 21 erased his sizable advantage, and Matt Sanders, winner of the previous night’s feature and the last two Wild West Speedweek Northern SportMod championships, advanced [Read More]

Tyler Scores First Career Virginia Sprint Series Victory at Dixieland Speedway

By Jim Haines ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (June 12, 2026) — Robert Tyler raced to his first career RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car victory Friday night at Dixieland Speedway with the Virginia Sprint Series. On one of the hottest and most humid nights of the season, Tyler stayed cool under pressure as he worked his way into the lead and never looked back despite threatening weather around the coastal clay oval. Fifteen RaceSaver Sprint Cars signed in for the event, which was sponsored by Great Bridge Muffler and Brake and Bay Concrete. Tyler and Billy Hubbard earned heat race victories. Matt Mullins and Tyler led the field to green for the feature, with Mullins pacing the opening laps while Tyler, Ben McCall, Dylan Shatzer, and Hubbard settled into line behind him. Mullins held the bottom groove effectively until he drifted slightly off the preferred line, opening the door for Tyler to slip underneath and seize the lead. As Tyler stretched his advantage, McCall worked his way into second while Mullins began battling brake issues. Shatzer and Hubbard also [Read More]

Allstar Performance Continues Heat Race Winner Awards Program for IMCA Racers

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (June 16, 2026) — Winning heat races continues to pay dividends for IMCA competitors thanks to Allstar Performance and its popular Heat Race Winner Awards Program. Now in its 15th season as an IMCA sponsor, the Watervliet, Michigan-based company will once again reward drivers across the country for their success in preliminary competition throughout the 2026 season. Heat race winner decals were distributed to all IMCA-sanctioned tracks at the beginning of the 2026 season. Drivers who accumulate 10 or more heat race victories during the year become eligible for a drawing for a $100 Allstar Performance gift certificate. To be entered, drivers must submit a photo clearly showing the heat race winner decal displayed on their race car. Photos should be emailed to Carson Becker-Graham at cbgramm@imca.com no later than September 21, 2026. In addition to the heat race winner program, Allstar Performance will award a $200 product certificate to each champion crowned at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s and the RaceSaver Nationals. For more information about Allstar Performance [Read More]