Modified Archives

Kniss Captures $3,069 SportMod Smackdown Crown at Southern Oregon

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (May 30, 2026) — Oakley, California’s Buddy Kniss held off a furious late-race challenge to win the 40-lap, $3,069-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod Smackdown feature at Southern Oregon Speedway, earning his first victory of the 2026 season and his first career triumph in the prestigious event. Kniss jumped to the early lead and remained at the point through a lap one caution. As the race settled into a lengthy green-flag run, the battle for the lead intensified when Cory Biggs, driving the Ethan Killingsworth-owned No. 7M, mounted a charge. Biggs took over the lead on lap 15, but Kniss answered one lap later to reclaim the top spot as the leaders entered lapped traffic. While Kniss maintained command, a fierce battle for second developed between Biggs, Bo Crebs, and Isaac Sanders. Crebs, who won Friday night’s preliminary feature in the Jerry Movrich-owned No. 168, emerged as a serious contender after cautions on laps 24 and 25 tightened the field. Biggs used the bottom groove to reel in Kniss during [Read More]

Ellithorpe Tops Tough Stock Car Field at Maquoketa

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (May 30, 2026) — Maquoketa Speedway hosted racing Saturday night as drivers contended with a slick and challenging racing surface that offered multiple racing grooves throughout the evening. The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars produced one of the night’s best races as Maquoketa native Jacob Ellithorpe scored his first hometown victory of the season. Ellithorpe started on the front row and found himself locked in a race-long duel with fifth-starting Gage Neal. The lead changed hands several times as the two accomplished drivers put on a show for the fans before Ellithorpe edged Neal by a narrow margin at the checkers. The victory was Ellithorpe’s third EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of 2026, his first at Maquoketa Speedway this season, and came one night after winning at Davenport Speedway. Neal finished second ahead of Casey Shelliam. Kodey Miles advanced from 10th to fourth while Joe Bonney rounded out the top five. The feature was red-flagged early following a hard rollover involving Mitch Current. Fortunately, Current was not injured. Jewell Breaks Through [Read More]

Belcher Captures Sean Lias Memorial Victory at Woodhull Raceway

By Michael Benjamin WOODHULL, N.Y. (May 30, 2026) — The Close Racing Supply NY/Penn IMCA Modified Series returned to Woodhull Raceway on Saturday night for the sixth annual Sean Lias Memorial presented by Chasin Dreams Transport and Lubic Sales and Marketing, with 18 drivers taking the green flag for the 25-lap feature. Tyler Belcher of Laceyville, Pennsylvania, started from the pole and led every lap on his way to victory. The win was Belcher’s first Close Racing Supply Eastern Region triumph of the season. The Sean Lias Memorial also served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, making Belcher eligible to attempt to qualify for the invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Jacob McConnell advanced two positions from his fourth-place starting spot to finish second. Jakub Ingham completed the podium in third. Keith Lamphere charged from seventh to fourth while Charlie Fulton rounded out the top five. One of the strongest drives of the night belonged to Mike Wilcox, who advanced from 18th to eighth to earn hard [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]

Baca Charges from Ninth for Marshalltown Modified Victory

By Mia Cox MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (May 29, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds closed out Friday night’s racing card with one of the evening’s most entertaining features as Chaz Baca Jr. charged from ninth to victory at Marshalltown Speedway. Chase Weimer and Kevin Sather led the field to green before an early caution slowed the pace. As the race developed, Joel Rust and Baca emerged as the primary contenders while Jake McBirnie joined the fight near the front. Following the final restart, Rust, Baca and McBirnie raced three-wide in a thrilling battle for the lead. Baca finally cleared Rust with four laps remaining and pulled away over the closing circuits. Originally from Mesa, Arizona and now residing in Jewell, Baca earned his fifth win of the season at four different tracks. The victory was his first of the year at Marshalltown Speedway and his second Razor Chassis North Central Region triumph of 2026. Rust advanced from seventh to finish second while Todd Shute charged from 10th to third. McBirnie finished fourth and Ronn Lauritzen completed [Read More]

Porter Earns First Career Hobby Stock Victory Friday Night at CJ Speedway

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (May 29, 2026) — Getting that first feature win is always special, and Garrett Porter accomplished exactly that Friday night in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature at CJ Speedway. The Libertyville racer started fifth and methodically worked his way forward before taking command just past the midway point of the race. Porter then had to withstand a furious late challenge from Zach McNeese as the pair raced side-by-side off the final corner. Porter prevailed by less than a car length to secure his place among the winners in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region in 2026. McNeese, who started seventh, finished second. Dalton Weepie crossed the stripe third while Brayden Wood advanced from ninth to fourth. Spencer Hopwood completed a strong drive from 10th to fifth. Wood Continues Columbus Junction Mastery in Stock Car Feature Nathan Wood once again proved to be the driver to beat in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. Starting 10th, the Sigourney driver steadily worked his way through the field while Dustin Griffiths followed his [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]

Brent Koch Memorial Headlines Military Night June 14 at Redwood Speedway

By Ben Deatherage REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. (May 29, 2026) — Redwood Speedway, “The Big House” half-mile oval, will honor the memory of fallen Minnesota National Guardsman Brent Koch during Military Night on Sunday, June 14, with a special memorial race program featuring Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing competition. The evening will celebrate the life and sacrifice of Koch, a Morton native and member of the Minnesota Army National Guard who was killed while serving in Iraq in 2006. This year marks the 20th anniversary of his passing. “This year is 20 years since he’s passed,” said event organizer, three-time reigning Redwood Speedway Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified track champion Dan Menk, whose pit crew Koch was a member of before deploying overseas. Friends of Brent will serve as the presenting sponsor of the memorial race, helping honor Koch’s legacy two decades after his passing. Military Night will feature discounted $5 general admission for all past and present members of the United States Armed Forces. On the track, Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars will [Read More]

Barnhill Wins as Blackwater Speedway Beats the Rain

By Cortni Potopowicz BAKER, Fla. (May 23, 2026) — Despite rain showers wiping out racing programs across the region, Blackwater Speedway stayed determined to race Saturday night and delivered an exciting Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature won by Jason Barnhill. William Bartlett led the opening lap before Barnhill charged forward from his fifth starting spot and took command on lap two. Once out front, the Milton, Florida driver maintained control to score his second Close Racing Supply Eastern Region victory of the season at two different tracks while continuing to strengthen his standing among the top IMCA Modified competitors in Florida and Alabama. Clayton Redding made a strong first appearance at Blackwater Speedway, advancing from seventh to finish second for the Newton, Alabama racer. Jimmy Dunnaway, from Panama City, Florida, completed the podium in third. Bartlett held on for fourth while defending track champion Zach Howard rounded out the top five. Heat race victories earlier in the evening went to Howard and Barnhill.

Busy May Schedule Produces New Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational Qualifiers

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 28, 2026) — May competition added more drivers to the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified eligibility list for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, while several already eligible drivers continued to build on their season win totals. With spring weather improving and tracks across the country opening their gates for the 2026 season, a busy May schedule produced qualifying events from coast to coast across all five IMCA Modified regions. Drivers become eligible by winning IMCA-sanctioned events paying $1,000 or more to win, earning the opportunity to attempt to qualify for the invitational, held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September at Boone Speedway. invitational. In the Jet Racing Central Region, Jordan Grabouski added another qualifying victory to his season total with a win on May 14 at Eagle Raceway during the High Bank Heist. Already eligible drivers in the Razor Chassis North Central Region continued to add to their totals in May. Cole Czarneski won May 9 at 141 Speedway, while Johnny Whitman scored another [Read More]