Late Model Archives

Freedom Race Lifts Named Official Race Car Lift of IMCA

By Ben Deatherage LAKE CITY, Minn. (June 3, 2026) — Freedom Race Lifts is proud to announce its designation as the Official Race Car Lift of IMCA, bringing its award winning battery-operated lift technology to the nation’s oldest active racing sanctioning body in the country. “It is a great honor to be affiliated with a series who put racers first,” said owner Josh Rodewald. “It’s the heart of what we do at Freedom Race Lifts, and we are thrilled to be able to contribute to the future of the sport.” Owned by engineer and former racer Josh Rodewald, Freedom Race Lifts has fast become nationally recognized for establishing the first truly portable wireless-operated vehicle lifts and jacks designed specifically for race teams. That success was fueled by first hand experience; facing the everyday risk of working under vehicles— whether in the shop or at the track. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports more than 4,800 people are injured each year in the U.S. while working on vehicles, due to automotive jack failures. Rodewald believes those numbers [Read More]

Olsen Charges Late for Shelby County SportMod Victory

By Don Hawkins HARLAN, Iowa (May 30, 2026) — Thirty-three Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods signed in at Shelby County Speedway and the feature lived up to expectations. Josalyn Elmquist jumped out to the early lead before defending track champion Hayden Hillgartner worked his way to the front. As the laps wound down, Red Oak’s Cody Olsen charged through the field from the eighth starting position and made a late-race move to steal the victory. The win was Olsen’s second of the season and came at his second different track in 2026. Hillgartner settled for second while Corey Madden completed the podium in third. Elmquist finished fourth and Brayden Shepherd rounded out the top five. Meiners Scores First Stock Car Win of Season The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars closed out the evening with Austin Meiners putting together an impressive drive from the eighth starting position. The Polk City driver worked his way through traffic and eventually overtook Larry Robinson Jr. to score his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season. Robinson finished second [Read More]

Sunoco Bonus Bucks Program Rewards IMCA Late Model Racers During Busy Month of May

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (June 2, 2026) — The 2026 Sunoco Bonus Bucks program for Sunoco IMCA Late Models got underway in May, recognizing feature winners and contingency award recipients at four events across Iowa and Illinois. The month began May 8 at Highway 39 Speedway, where Omaha, Nebraska’s Corey Zeitner scored the feature victory and collected the Sunoco Bonus Bucks award. Defending Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National champion Zach Zeitner finished second, while Drew Baker advanced from eighth to third. Mike Collins and Robbie Jorgensen completed the top five. Baker’s charge through the field earned him the Justice Brothers Hard Charger Award, while Charlie Peck collected the PEM Racing award as the 10th-place finisher. One night later at Shelby County Speedway, Zach Zeitner put together an impressive drive from 10th starting position to capture both the feature win and Sunoco Bonus Bucks honors. Aidan Mohr finished second, followed by Allan Hopp, Sterling Perkins, and Cooper Tilley. Zeitner’s drive through the field also earned him the Justice Brothers Hard Charger Award. The May 15 [Read More]

Morris Holds Off Birkhofer for Davenport Late Model Victory

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 29, 2026) — Mitch Morris captured his first Davenport Speedway victory of the season Friday night in the Sunoco IMCA Late Models, but it didn’t come easy. Morris found himself in an early battle with Blaise Lewis before Lewis became tangled with a lapped car, bringing out a caution and sending him to the rear of the field. Morris then had to fend off challenges from Andy Nezworski during the middle stages of the race and Cruz Birkhofer over the closing laps. The McCausland driver held strong to earn his second victory of the season. Birkhofer charged from 10th to finish second while Nezworski advanced from eighth to third. Jesse Bodin crossed the stripe fourth and Matt Ryan rallied from 12th to fifth. Dustin Smith posted one of the night’s most impressive drives, advancing from 21st to sixth. Morris, Lewis and Logan Veloz claimed heat race victories. Diercks Charges from 12th for Modified Triumph Spencer Diercks finally broke through for a victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified division. Jason [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through May 28, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 857; 2. Jason Barnhill, Milton, Florida, 658; 3. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Florida, 619; 4. Chris Smith, Brewton, Alabama, 610; 5. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 605; 6. Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, 585; 7. Trevor Fitz, Bondurant, Iowa, 575; 8. Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, 555; 9. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 510; 10. Greg Hopkins, Repton, Alabama, 508; 11. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 502; 12. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 485; 13. Zachariah Howard, Defuniak Springs, Florida, 483; 14. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 466; 15. Izac Mallicoat, Boone, Iowa, and Markus Frazier, Santa Maria, Calif., both 461; 17. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 450; 18. Ethan Stevens, Mesa, Ariz., 448; 19. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 447; 20. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, 435. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 864; 2. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 770; 3. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 674; 4. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 616; 5. Larry Brigner, Apache Junction, Ariz., 570; 6. Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, 568; [Read More]

Mills Masters Eagle Modified Main as Memorial Weekend Crowd Salutes Heroes

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (May 24, 2026) — Before Sunday evening’s racing program began at Eagle Raceway, fans and teams gathered under the glow of light sticks for an emotional Memorial Day weekend tribute honoring both fallen service members and loved ones lost too soon. Names submitted through donations were read aloud following a moment of silence in one of the night’s most touching moments. Jeremy Mills then delivered a memorable performance of his own in the $2,000-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature, racing from third to score his first Jet Racing Central Region victory of the season and his third overall win of 2026. The Memorial Madness finale was also a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, placing Mills on the eligibility list for the event to be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Chad Reid led the opening lap before Mills charged to the front on lap two. Several cautions throughout the event repeatedly tightened the field, including incidents involving Zack Olivia, Clint Homan, Josh Most, [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through May 21, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 857; 2. Jason Barnhill, Milton, Florida, 618; 3. Chris Smith, Brewton, Alabama, 610; 4. Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, 585; 5. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 510; 6. Greg Hopkins, Repton, Alabama, 508; 7. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Florida, 490; 8. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 453; 9. Zachariah Howard, Defuniak Springs, Florida, 447; 10. Izac Mallicoat, Boone, Iowa, 444; 11. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 437; 12. Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, 426; 13. Markus Frazier, Santa Maria, Calif., 425; 14. Steven Whiteaker, Robstown, Texas, 423; 15. James Nicholson, Gordonville, Texas, 419; 16. Trevor Egbert, Belton, Texas, 406; 17. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 405; 18. Trevor Fitz, Bondurant, Iowa, 404; 19. G. W. IV Egbert, Belton, Texas, 402; 20. Justin Erickson, Glendale, Ariz., 398. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 864; 2. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 770; 3. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 674; 4. Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, 568; 5. Jeramey Bradley, Odessa, Texas, 525; 6. Larry Brigner, Apache Junction, Ariz., 500; 7. Dillon [Read More]

Christensen Capitalizes Late for Shelby County Stock Car Victory

By Don Hawkins HARLAN, Iowa (May 16, 2026) — Once again with rain and storms in the forecast, the Shelby County Speedway staff met the challenge by completing a quick and efficient program. The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars once again put on one of the night’s best races. Mike Albertsen looked poised to capture the victory while being heavily pressured by Riley Christensen and Miciah Hidlebaugh. An incident in the closing laps involving Albertsen and Hidlebaugh opened the door for Christensen, who slipped into the lead and never looked back. The Audubon driver started seventh and picked up his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season. Dayton Ullrich finished second while Dusty Van Horn advanced from 10th to third. Braden Richards charged from 12th to fourth and Austin Meiners completed the top five. The Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts had a stout field of 24 entries battling for the $1,000-to-win feature. A special thank you went to Jim Cahill, who added $550 to the already impressive winner’s purse. After several incidents throughout the feature, [Read More]

Birkhofer Scores First Late Model Win of Season at Davenport

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 15, 2026) — Beautiful weather and fast racecars made for an enjoyable evening Friday at Davenport Speedway. Cruz Birkhofer dominated the Sunoco IMCA Late Models. The Muscatine driver started seventh in the feature and did not see the lead until lap 16. Once out front, Birkhofer drove away from the field to score his first win of the season by more than two seconds. Andy Nezworski charged from 10th to finish second. Early race leader Logan Veloz held on for third while Nathan Balensiefen and Chuck Hanna rounded out the top five. Nezworski and Veloz were Late Model heat winners. Veloz Victorious in Modifieds Logan Veloz was not to be denied in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds. Chris Zogg jumped out to the early lead in the Modified main, but a caution with five laps remaining changed the complexion of the race. After the restart, Veloz, from Colona, Illinois, used the low line to perfection while Zogg struggled to maintain momentum on the high side. Veloz, who started sixth, captured [Read More]

Birkhofer Scores Birthday Victory at Maquoketa

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (May 16, 2026) — The Sunoco IMCA Late Models saw a strong field of 19 drivers take the green for their main event Saturday night at Maquoketa Speedway. Muscatine’s Cruz Birkhofer celebrated his 24th birthday in style by scoring a hard-fought feature victory. Starting second, Birkhofer raced the topside of the smooth racing surface to perfection while holding off a hard-charging Ron Klein at the checkers. Klein, from Dubuque, advanced from seventh to finish second, while Davenport’s Matt Ryan charged from 10th to third. Mitch Morris and Dustin Smith rounded out the top five. The victory was Birkhofer’s second win of the season after also scoring a triumph the previous night at Davenport Speedway. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods put on an exhibition of slide jobs Saturday night as fans witnessed one of dirt racing’s most exciting moves lap after lap. Multiple drivers traded the lead throughout the feature before Maquoketa’s Jarrett Franzen made the winning move entering turn two on the white flag lap. Franzen then held off a [Read More]