Northern SportMod Archives

Feature

Tougher Than Dirt Tour Roars Back June 3-7 Across North Dakota and Saskatchewan

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 21, 2026) — The Tougher Than Dirt Tour is set to roar back to life this June with five straight nights of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing competition across North Dakota and Saskatchewan, featuring strong point funds, unique awards, and some of the top Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock drivers in the region. The 2026 tour schedule opens Wednesday, June 3 at McLean County Speedway in Underwood, North Dakota before heading west to Williston Basin Speedway on Thursday, June 4. The tour then crosses into Canada on Friday, June 5 for a stop at Estevan Motor Speedway in Estevan, Saskatchewan. Thunder Mountain Speedway in Bottineau hosts the Robbie Conway Memorial on Saturday, June 6 before the tour wraps up Sunday, June 7 at Nodak Speedway in Minot. Tour director Brandon Beeter expects another strong field of competitors from across the Upper Midwest and Canada. “We’ve had some outsiders already sign up like Payce Herrera and Nathan DeRagon,” Beeter said. “But we’ve got a really strong [Read More]

Frederick Wins Wild Wednesday Hobby Stock Thriller at Buena Vista Raceway Opener

By Ryan Duggan ALTA, Iowa (May 20, 2026) — Justin Frederick emerged victorious in a dramatic Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature Wednesday night at Buena Vista Raceway after a thrilling late-race duel during the season opener. Chaos erupted on the initial start, quickly bringing out a caution flag before a lengthy green-flag stretch allowed the race to settle in. Will Smith and Drew Barglof battled early before Brandon Nielsen worked his way to the lead and controlled much of the feature. As the laps wound down, Nielsen found himself under pressure from Smith while Frederick steadily closed in on the lead battle. A late caution bunched the field and set up a frantic finish. On the restart, Frederick made a bold double pass to briefly take the lead before Nielsen answered back. Frederick regained the top spot moments later as Smith re-entered the fight. The leaders drag-raced off the final corner with Frederick edging Smith at the line for the victory. The Cleghorn driver started 10th and earned his first B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region win [Read More]

Trenchard Charges from 10th for Southern Oregon Modified Triumph

By Jason Allen WHITE CITY, Ore. (May 16, 2026) — Brett Provost and Albert Gill Jr. led the field to green in the $1,000-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature Saturday night at Southern Oregon Speedway. Gill jumped out to the early lead and paced the opening five laps before Ethan Killingsworth took over the top spot with a slider in turn two. A caution one lap later for debris slowed the field, but Killingsworth quickly rebuilt his advantage on the restart. Behind him, an intense three-wide battle for second unfolded between Matt Sanders, Nick Trenchard, and Ryan Peery. Trenchard eventually worked past Sanders and Peery to move into the runner-up position. Killingsworth held a commanding lead until Hudson Shoemaker spun on the backstretch exiting turn two, bringing out another caution with 10 laps remaining. On the restart, Killingsworth drifted into the loose cushion in turn two, opening the door for Trenchard and Sanders to capitalize. Trenchard took over the lead while Sanders and Killingsworth traded sliders over the next several circuits. Out front, Trenchard pulled away [Read More]

Oathout Opens Santa Maria’s IMCA SportMod Season with Dominant Victory

By Stephanie Odom SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 16, 2026) — Santa Maria Speedway opened its gates Saturday night for another evening of racing action, including the first Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod event of the 2026 season at the facility. With strong family ties to Santa Maria Speedway, Bakersfield’s Sunnie Simkins picked up her first career SportMod heat race victory. Local favorite Matthew Frazier secured the second heat race win of the evening. With it being opening night for the division, the top 10 drivers after heat race competition redrew for the 20-lap feature event. Willy Oathout and Paul Brown led the field to green. Oathout, from San Luis Obispo, grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag and never looked back on his way to his first victory of the season. Frazier finished second while Alyssa Smith crossed the line in third. Orion Messina charged from 12th to finish fourth while Rich Denman advanced from 10th to round out the top five.

Cooper Holds Off Dowty in Cottage Grove Sport Compact Thriller

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (May 16, 2026) — Kerry Cooper survived a late-race challenge and a green-white-checkered restart to capture the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact feature at Cottage Grove Speedway, scoring his first victory of the season in the 20-lap finale. Lady Eagle racer Tiffany Towns paced the opening laps before Cooper worked his way around her on lap six. The Cottage Grove driver began to stretch his advantage as the race stayed green and encountered lapped traffic on lap 12. Teenager Shane Dowty started reeling Cooper in by lap 14 and edged ahead at the line just before a caution slowed the field. On the restart, Dowty established himself out front and built a comfortable advantage while Cooper regrouped and mounted another charge. Cooper caught Dowty on lap 17 and reclaimed the lead with two circuits remaining, but another caution on lap 18 set up a dramatic green-white-checkered finish. Dowty made one final bid on the last lap, but Cooper held strong at the stripe to secure the win after starting third. Dowty [Read More]

Memorial Weekend Rumble Set for May 24 at Benton County

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 15, 2026) — Benton County Speedway will celebrate Memorial Weekend in a big way on Sunday, May 24, with the inaugural Memorial Weekend Rumble featuring Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing action and special payouts for Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods. Modifieds will race for $2,047 to win and $247 to start in a draw/redraw format with no track points awarded. The feature will also serve as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. SportMods will compete for $1,021 to win and $121 to start, also utilizing a draw/redraw format with no track points awarded. Other divisions on the card include Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Track, Iowa State, regional, and national points will be awarded in those divisions. Stock Cars will compete for EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region points, while Hobby Stocks race for B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region points. Modifieds will also compete for Razor [Read More]

5th Annual Dave Riley Memorial Returns June 14 to Park Jefferson Speedway

By Ben Deatherage JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 19, 2026) — One of the most anticipated special events of the summer at Park Jefferson Speedway returns on Sunday, June 14, as the 5th Annual Dave Riley Memorial Race honors the longtime Siouxland racer with a loaded night of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing action. The event celebrates the legacy of Dave Riley, who spent most of his racing career competing in the IMCA Hobby Stock division before racing an IMCA Northern SportMod during his final season in 2017. Over the past four years, the memorial has grown into one of the marquee events at the high-banked South Dakota oval. “This race has been a huge success the last four years commemorating dad,” said Dave’s son, Chance Riley. “It brings the community together and everyone has a great night of celebration in honor of Dave.” A massive purse awaits competitors across all five IMCA divisions. Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks headline the event with a $3,056 winner’s share, while Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds race for $2,056 to win. Sunoco IMCA [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]

Feature

Fett Sweeps Stock Cars and Modifieds at Kossuth County

By Greg Grabinoski ALGONA, Iowa (May 14, 2026) — Colby Fett put together a dominant night Thursday at Kossuth County Speedway, sweeping both the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car and Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified features. In the 20-lap Stock Car feature, Fett grabbed the early lead before an early caution on lap two slowed the field. Another yellow on lap eight was the only thing delaying the Algona driver’s trip to victory lane as he collected his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the season. Ryan Roath finished second while Kelly Shryock advanced from ninth to third. Wayne Landheer took fourth and Chad Palmer completed the top five. Palmer and Fett captured the Stock Car heat race wins earlier in the evening. Fett returned later in the night to lead all 20 laps of the IMCA Modified feature, which went green-white-checkered, to complete the double victory. The triumph marked Fett’s first career IMCA Modified feature win and his first Razor Chassis North Central Region score. Jeremy Mills finished second while Chaz Baca was third. Mills [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]