Northern SportMod Archives

Herrera Strikes Late while Olson Secures Benton County SportMod Crown

By Christine Rublack VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 23, 2026) — Kyle Olson, Ben Chapman and Tony Olson entered championship night at Benton County Speedway locked in a close battle for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod track title, but it was Price, Utah’s Payce Herrera who came away with the feature victory. Austin Kemp took the early lead with Brady Hilmer running second while Herrera began working the high groove. Behind them, Kyle and Tony Olson raced side-by-side as the championship battle continued to unfold. A late caution bunched the field and gave Herrera his opportunity. He took advantage of the high groove to move into the lead and stayed there through the checkered flag. The victory was Herrera’s 13th of the 2026 season and his first of the year at Benton County. Kemp finished second, Tony Olson was third, Kyle Olson took fourth, and Brady Hilmer completed the top five. Olson’s fourth-place finish was enough to secure the Benton County Speedway track championship. Wroten Breaks Points Tie With Benton County Championship Leah Wroten and Joren Fisher [Read More]

Ronnebaum Reaches 100 Wins at Goodland Raceway

By Sheldon Wickwar GOODLAND, Kan. (Aug. 23, 2026) — Nick Ronnebaum reached a career milestone Sunday at Goodland Raceway, scoring his 100th career Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock victory one night after Brayden Hilzer prevailed in a close Saturday night battle. Bingston Rogers led Sunday’s feature early while Ronnebaum quickly charged forward from his ninth starting position. Ronnebaum reached second by lap three and worked past Rogers for the lead on lap four. A caution later that circuit bunched the field, but Ronnebaum sailed away on the restart and never looked back, taking the checkered flag for his 15th B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of the season. Mitchell Fischer charged nine positions to finish second and earn hard charger honors. Nick Tubbs finished third in his return to racing after a four-year hiatus, Aiden Miller was fourth, and Ted Trumbo completed the top five. Saturday’s feature saw Hilzer and Levi Jones start from the front row, with Hilzer establishing the early advantage. Fischer and Trent Matson joined the battle during the second half of the race, [Read More]

Feature

Smith Charges From 30th to SportMod Victory at Boone

By Jane Burd BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 22, 2026) — Mike Smith turned a back-row challenge into a trip to victory lane Saturday night at Boone Speedway, charging from 30th starting to win the 20-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature. Smith, from Lake City, was originally scheduled to start on the pole but accepted a back-row challenge offered by Johnathon Logue and instead lined up last in the 30-car field. Randy Havlik appeared headed for victory lane before Smith completed his charge through the field and powered past him for the lead on lap 18. Smith stayed in front the rest of the way for his 14th victory of the season and fifth at Boone Speedway. Havlik settled for second, Dusty Masolini was third, and Will Wolf advanced 10 positions to finish fourth. Gage Hilgenberg rounded out the top five. Will Smith Wins Hobby Stock Battle Will Smith and Corey VanDerwilt battled throughout the 20-lap Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with lapped traffic adding another element to their fight for the lead. Smith, also from Lake [Read More]

Paris Secures Maquoketa Crown with Saturday Triumph; Huenefeld Scores Friday Feature Win

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (Aug. 22, 2026) — Shane Paris and Joe Huenefeld split the weekend’s Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature victories at Maquoketa Speedway, with Paris delivering when it mattered most in Saturday night’s season championship finale. Paris entered the night holding a slim two-point advantage over Spencer Diercks and Wes Digman in the track championship chase. Starting third in the 20-lapper, the Muscatine driver raced his Performer Chassis to the checkered flag, and secured the 2026 Maquoketa Speedway championship. The victory was Paris’ first of the season in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. Diercks finished second, Huenefeld was third, Cody Laney took fourth, and Jeff “Bone” Larson charged from 19th to complete the top five. Huenefeld, from Freeport, Ill., made his first trip to Maquoketa Speedway victory lane in Friday’s 20-lap feature. Starting from the pole, Huenefeld turned back a talented field for his third Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season, with each coming at a different track. Kollin Hibdon finished second, Chris Zogg was third, Diercks advanced from [Read More]

Danley Charges From 10th to Eagle Sprint Car Victory

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Aug. 22, 2026) — As Creedence Clearwater Revival once sang, and as Anthony Ainsle often says, “Nighttime is the Right Time,” and both rang true Saturday night as the Eagle Shootout took center stage at Eagle Raceway. Brad Schreiner led the opening lap of the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature before Tyler Hendrickson moved to the front on lap three. Hendrickson remained in command through a lap 11 caution, but former Eagle track champion Joey Danley was ready to strike. Danley, who started 10th, got a huge run on the restart and surged past Hendrickson for the lead. Cole Wayman worked his way into third, while Gaige Weldon charged from 19th to fourth. Danley stayed out front the rest of the way to earn his third victory of the season and first at Eagle in 2026. Hendrickson finished second, Wayman was third, Weldon fourth, and Tyler Drueke completed the top five. Thompson Masters the Slick for Modified Triumph Cameron Thompson jumped to the early lead in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified [Read More]

Super Nationals Registration Due Aug. 28 to Race in Prelude

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 21, 2026) — Drivers planning to compete in the NAPA Auto Parts Double Down Prelude must be registered for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s by noon Central time Friday, Aug. 28. Competitors who register for Super Nationals after the deadline will not be eligible to compete in the Sept. 5-6 Prelude at Boone Speedway. Before registering, competitors must first purchase an IMCA license for every division in which they intend to compete. Drivers should then register for Super Nationals on MyRacePass. Entries will be confirmed in the order they are received, with car numbers assigned based on confirmation order. The 12th annual Prelude features two full days of racing, giving competitors one final opportunity to compete at Boone before Super Nationals officially gets underway. The unique Double Down format has become a staple of Prelude weekend, rewarding more drivers while helping accommodate the tremendous car counts that continue to define the event. Should any division exceed 100 entries, competitors will once again be split into twin [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Aug. 20, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, and William Gould, Calera, Okla., both 990; 3. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 971; 4. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 962; 5. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, and Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, both 958; 7. Matthew Sanders, Brookings, Oregon, 947; 8. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Montana, 944; 9. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 939; 10. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wisconsin, 934; 11. Jace Eckrich, Oxford, Iowa, and Matthew Looft, Swea City, Iowa, both 933; 13. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wisconsin, 932; 14. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, 926; 15. Trevor Fitz, Bondurant, Iowa, 921; 16. Tyler Bannister, Bakersfield, Calif., 915; 17. Tyler Belcher, Laceyville, Pennsylvania, 913; 18. Marcus Tomlinson, Turtle Lake, N.D., 912; 19. Donald Proctor, Ionia, Michigan, 904; 20. Colby Fett, Algona, Iowa, 900. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 988; 2. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 981; 3. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 976; 4. Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, 975; 5. Kyle Vanover, Beatrice, Neb., 970; 6. Dan Mackenthun, Hamburg, Minn., 969; 7. Kelly Shryock, [Read More]

Every Lap Pays in Super Nationals Race of Champions Events

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 20, 2026) — Getting to the front will pay in more ways than one during the Race of Champions events at the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Lap sponsorships will be up for grabs across the five Race of Champions events during America’s Racin’ Vacation at Boone Speedway, with the driver leading each lap earning the bonus posted for that circuit. The 12-lap Rage Chassis Modified Race of Champions will feature $100 on every lap, putting $1,200 in lap-leader bonuses on the line. Weather or Naught Food Services sponsors five of those circuits, with additional lap support coming from MyRacePass, Harris Auto Racing, Toby K’s Hideaway, and Moffitt’s Ford. Another $900 will be available during the 12-lap Sunoco Stock Car Race of Champions, with each lap worth $75 to its leader. Weather or Naught Food Services again sponsors five laps, joined by MyRacePass, Harris Auto Racing, Toby K’s Hideaway, Baymont Inn, Push Master, and Total Seal. The Dirt Defender/Pulse Racing Innovations SportMod Race of Champions and [Read More]

Freedom Race Lifts Offers Special Discount for IMCA Racers

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 20, 2026) — IMCA racers looking to upgrade their shop or pit equipment can save on products from Freedom Race Lifts through a special discount available to the IMCA community. Freedom Race Lifts, the Official Race Car Lift of IMCA, is offering 5% off purchases when customers use the promo code IMCA. Owned by engineer and former racer Josh Rodewald, Freedom Race Lifts has developed a line of portable, battery-operated vehicle lifts and jacks designed with racers and mechanics in mind. Its products utilize the company’s proprietary automatic safety locking systems and are designed to provide teams with portable lifting options both at the shop and at the race track. Freedom Race Lifts became the Official Race Car Lift of IMCA earlier this year as the company continued to expand its involvement in grassroots motorsports. Race teams will also have an opportunity to see the company’s products firsthand during the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Freedom Race Lifts will be on site during America’s Racin’ Vacation with [Read More]

$1,000-To-Win Modified Championship Highlights Increased-Purse Weekend at Douglas County

By Ben Deatherage ROSEBURG, Ore. (Aug. 19, 2026) — The Douglas County Dirtrack championship will be decided for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds this weekend, with two nights of competition on tap Friday and Saturday, Aug. 21-22, while the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods will also be in action both nights. Both divisions will compete for their regular purses Friday before the stakes increase Saturday. Modifieds will race for $1,000 to win Saturday night, with $600 going to the runner-up and $450 for third. The 24-car starting field will pay $100 to start. Saturday’s Modified winner will also earn eligibility to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The Douglas County Doubledown will increase the payday for the SportMods on Saturday, with the regular purse doubled. The winner will collect $800, while second pays $400 and third $350. While the Modified track championship will be decided this weekend, the SportMod championship chase will have their championship night on Friday, Aug. 28. In addition [Read More]