Modified Archives

Christina and Matt Ratzlaff: From Separate Paths to the Same Track

By Ben Deatherage MONTE VISTA, Colo. (Apr. 21, 2026) — Out in southern Colorado, where the land stretches wide beneath towering mountain ranges and the air sits thin at more than 7,500 feet above sea level, racing isn’t just something you do—it’s something you carry with you. The San Luis Valley is one of the most unique places in the country—an expansive, high-altitude basin carved by the Rio Grande and surrounded by peaks. Agriculture drives life here, from cattle to potatoes to barley fields, and the distances between towns are measured in miles, not minutes. Monte Vista sits at the heart of it all, a town established in 1884 along the railroad, its Spanish name meaning simply “mountain view.” It’s here where Christina and Matt Ratzlaff have built both a life—and a race team. Two Drivers, One Team On any given night, the Ratzlaffs roll into the pit area as a two-car operation in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds with Christina in the No. 15 and Matt in the No. 16. Their journeys to this point [Read More]

Merchant Storms from 16th to Capture Park Jefferson Modified Feature

By Chance Riley JEFFERSON, S.D. (Apr. 16, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds were the stars of the show Thursday night at Park Jefferson Speedway with a thrilling 20-lap main event. For most of the race, it was a two-car battle for the lead between Shane DeMey and Brian Mahlstedt. But on the white flag lap, charging down the front stretch, R.J. Merchant of South Sioux City, Nebraska stormed from his 16th starting position to steal the win—despite a bent suspension. It was Merchant’s first victory of the year in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. DeMey finished second ahead of Duke Erickson, while Mahlstedt and Ricky Stephan completed the top five. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods also delivered an exciting 18-lap feature. Braydon Ahlers controlled much of the race, but Willy Kirk, who restarted at the back following an early caution, made a last-lap pass on the front stretch during a green, white, checkered finish to take the win. The Salix, Iowa driver earned his first victory of the season. Ahlers settled for [Read More]

Modifieds and SportMods Set to Get Rolling at Santa Maria

By Stephanie Odom SANTA MARIA, Calif. (Apr. 20, 2026) — Santa Maria Speedway is set to host an action-packed night of racing this Saturday, April 25, on the famed third-mile clay oval. The evening marks the season championship opener for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods. IMCA Modifieds competed six times at Santa Maria Speedway in 2025 and produced six different winners, proving just how deep and competitive the division was all season long. Cody Burke opened the year in victory lane, and the Salinas native will look to repeat that performance as he heads south on US 101 for this season’s opener. Josh Combs, Larry Wise, Gavyn Manning, Rob Sanders, and Logan Drake also found victory lane last season, and several are expected back this weekend in pursuit of the first win at SMS in 2026. IMCA Northern SportMods were just as competitive in 2025, producing six different winners over seven nights of racing. The only two-time winner, Tyler Bannister, has moved to the IMCA Modified ranks and will make [Read More]

Bannister Blasts from Eighth to Bakersfield Modified Victory

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (April 18, 2026) — Tyler Bannister earned his first Bakersfield Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified victory Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway. It marked his second DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region win of the season. Markus Frazier seized the lead early from his third starting position while Bannister stormed from eighth on the grid to second by lap seven. Bannister then knifed underneath Frazier exiting turn two to take the lead on lap ten and drove away to a straightaway advantage for the win. Pounds won an exciting battle with Rob Sanders and Gavyn Manning for second, while Frazier settled for fifth. In Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod action, a strong 15-car field was split across two heat races, with Ethan Johnson and Tyler Irwin winning the eight-lap preliminaries. Alyssa Smith led early in the 25-lap feature ahead of Johnson before Matthew Frazier methodically advanced from sixth starting position. Frazier took over the lead on lap 13 and withstood a restart to secure his first win of [Read More]

Laney Charges Late to $2,000 Eagle Icebreaker Modified Victory

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Apr. 18, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds closed out the final night of the Icebreaker Challenge at Eagle Raceway on Saturday with $2,000 on the line. Josh Most led early, followed by Jared Eckrich and Jace Whitt, while Cody Laney quickly moved into contention and climbed to second by lap four. A series of restarts shuffled the running order as Jaxon Saathoff and Jordan Grabouski entered the mix. Laney and Saathoff traded the runner-up position before Laney powered to the lead with eight laps remaining. Behind him, Grabouski and Shawn Harker battled for position as the laps wound down. Laney held strong over the closing circuits to secure the win, followed by Most, Saathoff, Grabouski, and Harker. It was Laney’s second victory of the season and his first in the Jet Racing Central Region. The race served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier to be ran at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The Torrance, California native is already on the eligibility list to [Read More]

Earven Triumphs in Wild Modified Feature at Casa Grande

By Rowdy Briggs CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Apr. 18, 2026) — Gerry Glenn got the jump at the start of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature at Central Arizona Raceway before a chaotic opening lap brought out a restart. Chad Ayers got loose in turn two, sending Jett Ayers up the track to avoid him. Jett’s move forced Terry Belcher Jr. into the wall, and in turn three, contact between Luke Silber and Ethan Stevens collected Bryan Gray, Todd Izzo, and Bill Slocum. On the restart, Glenn again jumped to the lead, but it was short-lived as Don Earven worked his way to the front. Earven settled in out front and held off Justin Erickson over the closing laps to secure the victory. Chad Ayers finished third, followed by Jesse Tellez and Sean Conyers to complete the top five. Silber had raced his way back into contention and up to third at one point before pulling in with two laps remaining. It was Earven’s first win in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region since 2024, when his [Read More]

Williamson Charges from 17th to Win Grays Harbor Opener

By Shaun Hulbert ELMA, Wash. (Apr. 18, 2026) — Grays Harbor Raceway opened its 2026 season with a strong showing in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds. Grey Ferrando led the opening 21 laps, setting a torrid pace and even putting cars a lap down. Rookie racer and first-time visitor Robert Lancaster, along with veteran Craig Moore, found speed and worked their way past Devon Reed. Lancaster began closing in on Ferrando and, on lap 21, took over the lead, appearing poised to score a win in his first appearance at the raceway. A caution with three laps remaining, involving Reed and Jason St. Paul, reset the field. On the restart, Lancaster led briefly before spinning in turn one, bringing out another yellow. That handed the lead to Kevin Williamson for the final restart. Williamson held off Moore over the closing laps to secure the win, with Austin Rognlin finishing third. Tyson Blood and St. Paul rounded out the top five after a strong late charge. It was Williamson’s first win of the season in the DeVilbiss [Read More]

Grabouski Dominates Modified Icebreaker Challenge Opener at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Apr. 17, 2026) — Grabouski Dominates Icebreaker Modified Main at Eagle The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Modifieds capped opening night of the 2026 Icebreaker Challenge at Eagle Raceway on Apr. 17 with a $1,500-to-win main event. Josh Most led early, followed by Brandon Verbeek, Chevy Hadan, and Jordan Grabouski. Grabouski moved into second on lap two while Drew Janssen worked his way to third shortly after. The race’s turning point came on lap five when Most jumped the cushion in turns one and two, nearly flipping and surrendering the lead. On the restart, Grabouski took control as battles continued behind him, with Janssen, Cody Laney, and Izac Mallicoat all moving forward through traffic. From there, Grabouski pulled away to a straightaway victory. Janssen finished second, followed by Laney, Mallicoat, and Dustin Andersen. It was Grabouski’s third win of the season and his second in the Jet Racing Central Region in 2026. The race was a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, and the Beatrice driver is already on the eligibility list to [Read More]

Stone Scores Big in Stock Cars at Watsonville

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Apr. 17, 2026) — A total of 26 Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars packed the pit area for the inaugural American Giuliani Construction and Restoration Classic on Friday night at Watsonville Speedway, and when all was settled it was veteran driver Paul Stone who claimed the $2,500 grand prize. Stone began the evening by qualifying second overall and shot to the lead by way of the pole position in the feature. The Winton driver ended up leading every lap, but it was far from easy. A relentless Tyler Bannister ran the high scary side of the quarter-mile oval and gave it everything he had in an attempt to wrestle away the lead. Stone was smooth as glass on the bottom, however, and never gave Bannister an opportunity to pounce. A late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish that went into overtime. During the restart, Stone hit his marks to claim the Ed Entz checkered flag for victory over Bannister, 12th-starting Lance Hurst, Fred Ryland, and Terry DeCarlo Jr. It was Stone’s third [Read More]

Feature

Jacob Snyder: Open Trailer, Bright Colors, and a Young Driver on the Rise

By Ben Deatherage DUNKERTON, Iowa (Apr. 17, 2026) — At the Boone Speedway season opener on April 11, Jacob Snyder found himself exactly where every driver wants to be—up front, with laps winding down and everything on the line. He was in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature, battling one of the toughest fields in the country. The adrenaline didn’t fade. If anything, it kept building—through the caution with three to go, through the restart, and into the final laps, with a seasoned veteran right behind him. At just 20 years old, Snyder was in the middle of one of the biggest moments of his young career. And at a place like Boone—known as Iowa’s Action Track and home of the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s—moments like that carry a little more weight. For Snyder, it was a moment years in the making. His hometown of Dunkerton sits just outside Waterloo in northeast Iowa, where small towns are connected by county roads and farmland, and life follows a steady rhythm—a tight-knit community built [Read More]