Hobby Stock Archives

Schwien Stuns Field with Last-Corner Pass in Sport Compact Thriller at RPM’s Sunflower Classic

By Sheldon Wickwar HAYS, Kan. (Mar. 28, 2026) — The Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts delivered one of the races of the night on the final night of the 14th Annual Sunflower Classic at RPM Speedway, with their 15-lap feature kicking off with Kiowa Higdon and Makennon Sanders on the front row. Early trouble for both drivers opened the door for Johnny Thomas and Connor Schwien to charge forward. A thrilling three-car battle developed between Schwien, J.D. Renfro, and Thomas, with the trio swapping positions in the closing laps. Schwien made a bold move in the final corner to steal the win and secure his first victory of 2026. Russell’s Schwien took the win, followed by Cheyenne, Wyoming’s J.D. Renfro in second and Beatrice, Nebraska’s Johnny Thomas in third. Kyle Mortensen finished fourth, with Gage Porter rounding out the top five. Schwien also earned hard charger honors, gaining 14 spots on his way to victory lane. Kiowa Higdon, Johnny Thomas, and Kaishen Brack each picked up heat race wins. Friday night’s feature was won by Johnny Thomas, [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through March 26, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 399; 2. Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, 362; 3. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 319; 4. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 314; 5. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine, Iowa, 300; 6. Steven Whiteaker, Robstown, Texas, 287; 7. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 285; 8. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 280; 9. Dean Abbey, Boyd, Texas, 271; 10. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, and Gage McCaughan, Scottsdale, Ariz., both 270; 12. Troy III Morris, Waterloo, Iowa, 264; 13. Chaz Baca, Stanhope, Iowa, 260; 14. Cole Szlauko, Shell Beach, Calif., 256; 15. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 234; 16. Jake Pike, Pahrump, Nev., 218; 17. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 216; 18. Brian McCaughan, Scottsdale, Ariz., 214; 19. Jason Barnhill, Milton, Florida, and Justin Erickson, Glendale, Ariz., both 208. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 598; 2. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 561; 3. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn., 470; 4. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 413; 5. Dillon Richards, Wymore, Neb., 403; 6. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 400; 7. Kaden Woodie, [Read More]

14th Annual Sunflower Classic Returns to RPM Speedway March 26–28

By Ben Deatherage HAYS, Kan. (Mar. 24, 2026) — RPM Speedway will host the 14th Annual Sunflower Classic presented by Nutrien Ag Solutions on March 26–28 at the 3/8-mile Kansas oval, featuring a full slate of Speedway Motors IMCA competition. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds headline the program and will race for $1,000 to win each night. Each night’s feature will serve as a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational to be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars will compete for $750 to win nightly, while Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods will each race for $500 to win. Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts will battle for $200 top prizes. The three-day program opens Thursday, March 26 with a Test-N-Tune session. Grandstand admission will be free that evening and pit passes are $25. Racing begins Friday, March 27 and continues Saturday, March 28 with two complete draw-redraw programs that pay full purses each night. Gates open at 3:00 p.m., hot laps [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through March 19, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, 331; 2. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 326; 3. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 319; 4. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 314; 5. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine, Iowa, 300; 6. Steven Whiteaker, Robstown, Texas, 287; 7. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 285; 8. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 280; 9. Dean Abbey, Boyd, Texas, 271; 10. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 270; 11. Troy III Morris, Waterloo, Iowa, 264; 12. Chaz Baca, Stanhope, Iowa, 260; 13. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 234; 14. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 216; 15. Gage McCaughan, Scottsdale, Ariz., 210; 16. Justin Erickson, Glendale, Ariz., 208; 17. Spencer Hughes, Meridian, Mississippi, 193; 18. Cole Szlauko, Shell Beach, Calif., 190; 19. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 189; 20. Steve Askew, Valley View, Texas, 182. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 561; 2. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 558; 3. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn., 470; 4. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 413; 5. Dillon Richards, Wymore, Neb., 403; 6. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 400; 7. Kaden [Read More]

Bitting Charges from Rear to Win Saturday Hobby Stock Show at Central Arizona

By Rowdy Briggs CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Mar. 14, 2026) — A strong field of 24 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks answered the call for the $1000 to win feature at Central Arizona. Matt Rice and Joel Magee led the field to green, with Magee taking the early lead. Steve Bitting Jr. spun on lap two and was sent to the rear but mounted an impressive comeback. Up front, Magee and Anthony Madrid battled, for the lead until lap 18, when Bitting charged past both drivers to take over the top spot. Bitting went on to score the win over Magee, Madrid, Charles McDaniel Sr., and Hannah Miller. He stated in his post-race interview that he lost brakes early but kept his car on the bottom and worked his way through the field. Ty Warner and Steve Bitting Jr. led the 18-car field to the green for Friday’s 20-lap feature. Bitting led the opening six laps before Anthony Madrid took over in the Rick Thornton Sr. machine. Madrid pulled away while Bitting battled Joel Magee for second. Madrid [Read More]

Saathoff Delivers Hometown Victory on Final Night of Beatrice Spring Nationals

By Ben Deatherage BEATRICE, Neb. (Mar. 14, 2026) — Jaxon Saathoff delivered a thrilling hometown victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature on the final night of the 33rd annual Spring Nationals at Beatrice Speedway. The Beatrice driver charged from ninth to win the 25-lap, $2,000-to-win main event, which served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s and placed him on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify. The triumph marked Saathoff’s first Jet Racing Central Region win of the season and his first career Spring Nationals title — exactly 30 years after his father Johnny captured the event in 1996. Shawn Harker, last year’s Jet Racing Central Region and Nebraska State champion as well as the reigning Eagle Raceway track titlist, initially shot to the lead on the opening start. Bryson Yeager, a two-time Sweetwater Speedway champion, wrestled the top spot away on the backstretch and led the opening lap. A caution slowed the field on lap four, but Yeager executed the [Read More]

Sobbing Surges Late to Capture Spring Nationals Stock Car Opener at Beatrice

By Ben Deatherage BEATRICE, Neb. (Mar. 13, 2026) — Jesse Sobbing powered to victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature on opening night of the 33rd annual Spring Nationals at Beatrice Speedway, earning a spot on the eligibility list for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational to be held during the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The Malvern, Iowa driver and reigning Super Nationals Sunoco IMCA Late Model winner grabbed the lead on the opening lap of the 20-lap, $1,000-to-win main event, but immediately had his hands full with Damon Murty. The 2005 National Stock Car champion and six-time Iowa State titlist repeatedly worked the bottom of the track trying to unseat Sobbing while 2019 National champion Jordan Grabouski soon entered the battle. Grabouski powered into second on lap seven as Sobbing stretched his advantage until a lap nine caution erased the gap. On the restart, Grabouski seized the lead on lap 10 and briefly appeared in command before another pair of cautions slowed the pace. Grabouski mastered the [Read More]

Justice Brothers Marks 30 Years of Support for IMCA Weekly Racing

By Ben Deatherage EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (Mar. 13, 2026) — Justice Brothers continues its long-standing commitment to grassroots motorsports in 2026, celebrating three decades as a proud sponsor of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing. The company, known for its extensive line of automotive performance and maintenance products, traces its roots directly to the racing world. Founded by the Justice Brothers, who began building race cars as teenagers in Paola, Kansas, the company’s history has always been closely tied to the automotive and racing industries. From those early days in the Midwest, the Justice family eventually moved to Southern California, where they became involved in constructing some of the most legendary vehicles and race cars of the era. Many of those machines are now prized collector pieces worth millions of dollars. Today, Justice Brothers remains a family-owned and operated company, continuing to manufacture its products in the United States while maintaining its deep connection to racing. Over the decades, the company has developed an extensive catalog of automotive products, offering hundreds of solutions designed for passenger vehicles, [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through March 12, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 314; 2. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine, Iowa, 300; 3. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 280; 4. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 279; 5. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 270; 6. Troy III Morris, Waterloo, Iowa, 264; 7. Chaz Baca, Stanhope, Iowa, 260; 8. William Gould, Calera, Okla., and Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, both 253; 10. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 247; 11. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 234; 12. Dean Abbey, Boyd, Texas, 232; 13. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 216; 14. Steven Whiteaker, Robstown, Texas, 212; 15. Spencer Hughes, Meridian, Mississippi, 193; 16. Cole Szlauko, Shell Beach, Calif., 190; 17. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 189; 18. Gage McCaughan, Scottsdale, Ariz., 188; 19. Steve Askew, Valley View, Texas, 182; 20. Logan Drake, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 179. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 561; 2. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 558; 3. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn., 470; 4. Dillon Richards, Wymore, Neb., 403; 5. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 400; 6. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 389; [Read More]

Joel Magee: Collecting Toys and Checkered Flags

By Ben Deatherage PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (Mar. 9, 2026) — Inside hotel ballrooms and convention halls across America, Joel Magee can often be found leaning over a folding table with a magnifying glass in hand, carefully studying a toy that might be decades old. A faded lunchbox, a worn toy car, or a well-loved action figure could all hold stories — and sometimes surprising value. For the past several decades, collectors have brought their treasures to Magee hoping to learn what they’re worth. To many in the collecting world, he’s known simply as “The Toy Scout.” But when the appraisal tables close and the lights go down, Magee trades vintage toys for something much louder — the rumble of a race car engine. The Sioux City, Iowa native is also the driver of a Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock, and at 64 years old, he’s chasing checkered flags with the same enthusiasm he brings to tracking down rare collectibles. And in 2026, he’s already off to a strong start. Winter Champion, Summer Contender Magee opened the [Read More]