Northern SportMod Archives

Rust Races to IMCA Summer Nationals Opening Night Modified Victory at Independence

By Christine Rublack INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (June 2, 2026) — Joel Rust topped a stellar field of Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds Tuesday night at Independence Motor Speedway, scoring a $3,000 victory on opening night of the IMCA Summer Nationals and earning eligibility to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Jed Freiburger took command early while Brennen Chipp and Spencer Diercks battled for second. Rust, the Grundy Center driver, worked his way forward from the fourth starting position while engaged in a battle with Tripp Gaylord. A caution bunched the field and gave Rust an opportunity to attack. Utilizing the high groove, he surged to the lead and never looked back. The victory was Rust’s first Razor Chassis North Central Region win of the season. Gaylord finished second ahead of Freiburger. Tim Ward charged from 11th to fourth, while Cole Czarneski advanced from 14th to complete the top five. Kelsie Black turned in a notable run from 17th to eighth, while Brandon [Read More]

Rush County Speedway Launches 2026 Season with Myers Racing Engines Bullring Nationals

By William Nusser LA CROSSE, Kan. (June 3, 2026) — Rush County Speedway will open its 2026 season on Friday, June 5, with the Myers Racing Engines Bullring Nationals at the quarter-mile oval located on the Rush County Fairgrounds. The 2026 campaign marks a significant milestone for the speedway with the addition of five Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing sanctioned divisions. Rush County Speedway will sanction Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts during the 2026 season. Drivers competing in the IMCA Modified division will race for Jet Racing Central Region points, while IMCA Stock Car competitors will earn EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region points and IMCA Hobby Stock drivers will race for B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region points. Competitors in those divisions, along with IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Sport Compacts, will also earn Kansas State and IMCA National points throughout the 2026 season. “Adding full IMCA sanctioning is an important step for our speedway and our racers,” said promoter [Read More]

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]

Feature

Simpson Family Enjoys Memorable Night at Kossuth County Speedway

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (May 28, 2026) — It was a night the Simpson family won’t soon forget at Kossuth County Speedway. Thirteen-year-old Ryan Simpson celebrated his first career feature victory in one of the track’s local divisions, and later in the evening father Jake added a Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature win to complete a memorable family double. With Ryan already in victory lane, the spotlight shifted to Jake in the Northern SportMod feature. The Algona driver answered the challenge in impressive fashion. Drew Fett led the opening laps before cautions on consecutive circuits slowed the action. Following the second restart, Simpson powered past Fett and took command. Starting third, Simpson maintained the lead over the final eight laps to score his second victory of the season, with both wins coming at Kossuth County Speedway. Josh Appel finished second while Grant Kramer completed the podium in third. Charlie Stevens charged from ninth to fourth and Alec Fett rallied from 11th to fifth. Swearingen Wins Stock Car Thriller for Second Straight Week The Sunoco [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]

Mackenthun Capitalizes Late for Arlington Stock Car Victory

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (May 30, 2026) — Dan Mackenthun used a late restart to his advantage and charged from the 11th starting position to win the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Arlington Raceway. Ryan Bjerkeset led the majority of the race while drivers behind him battled two and three wide throughout the field. Dave Moriarty spent much of the event trying to track down the leader while Mackenthun steadily worked his way through traffic. A late caution changed everything when Garrett Uecker made contact with the retaining wall in turn three, ending his night and setting up a crucial restart. Mackenthun capitalized on the opportunity, taking over the lead and driving away for his fourth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season. The Hamburg veteran has now won at three different tracks in 2026 and scored his first Arlington Raceway triumph of the year. Matthew Looft advanced from ninth to finish second while Bjerkeset settled for third. Trent Loverude charged from 15th to fourth and Matt Speckman completed the top five. [Read More]

Harris Goes Back-to-Back in Park Jefferson Stock Cars

By Chance Riley JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 29, 2026) — Ryan Harris continued his winning ways Friday night at Park Jefferson Speedway, racing from the 10th starting position to capture the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature. The Homer, Nebraska driver earned his second EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season, with both wins coming at Park Jefferson Speedway. Lowell Roeber finished second while Dayton Mosher completed the podium in third. Jason Ward advanced from 14th to fourth. Wyatt Luke rounded out the top five, while Devin Tripp charged from 21st to sixth. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature belonged to South Sioux City’s R.J. Merchant. Starting third, Merchant worked his way to the front and held off a late challenge from Duke Erickson to secure his third Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season. All three wins have come at Park Jefferson Speedway. Erickson advanced from ninth to finish second while Bob Moore crossed the stripe third. Brian Mahlstedt rallied from eighth to fourth and Ricky Stephan completed the top five. Willy Kirk [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Avila Wins Third of Season While Taylor Notches First Career Victory at Boone

By Jane Burd BOONE, Iowa (May 30, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods produced a pair of memorable features Saturday night at Boone Speedway as Matt Avila collected his third win of the season while Jessiah Taylor celebrated the first victory of his racing career. The Boone driver advanced eight positions to secure his third victory of the season at three different tracks. Mike Smith also gained eight spots and finished second. Burke settled for third while Trevor Noonan and Dayton Swatek completed the top five. Colby Grady charged from 17th to finish sixth. Joe Doran led lap two while Jessiah Taylor paced laps one and three in the second SportMod feature of the evening. Jake Sachau worked his way to the front after starting ninth and took over the lead on lap four, but in the end Taylor would be claim the victory. The Boone driver was credited with the win ahead of Camden Vincent, who advanced six positions to finish second. Kyle Free crossed the stripe third, followed by Jonathan Jensen and [Read More]

Clash at the Creek XVIII Returns June 12-13 with $10,000-to-Win Modified Feature

By Ben Deatherage FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (June 1, 2026) — One of Wisconsin’s premier dirt track events returns to 141 Speedway on June 12-13 as Clash at the Creek XVIII brings two nights of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing action highlighted by a $10,000-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified finale, one of the richest payouts for the division anywhere in the country. The biggest change for 2026 is a move to a weekend format. Traditionally held during the middle of the week, event organizers shifted the Clash to Friday and Saturday to make it easier for teams and fans to attend without needing to take additional vacation time after spending much of the week at the racetrack. Activities begin Thursday, June 11, with an open test and tune session starting at 6:00 p.m. Racing follows on Friday and Saturday, June 12-13. Friday’s program will feature split qualifying features for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, with each qualifier capped at 24 starters. Heat race lineups will be determined by draw, and heat race results will set the qualifying [Read More]

Tafoya Captures Modified Victory at J.D. Minor Memorial in Cortez

By Suzan McCoy CORTEZ, Colo. (May 30, 2026) — The season-opening J.D. Minor Memorial at Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway featured six Speedway Motors IMCA divisions, and in the night’s premier division, the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Farmington, New Mexico’s Regan Tafoya drove to victory in the 20-lap feature. Tafoya started second and outran a strong field to secure his second DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season and first Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway win of 2026. Dove Creek’s Camron Spangler finished second while Ryder Green advanced from seventh to complete the podium in third. Brian Carey crossed the stripe fourth and Tyrone Yazzie charged from 11th to fifth. Fisher Scores First Stock Car Win of Season The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars saw Dove Creek’s Race Fisher work his way to the front from a fourth-place starting position to claim the feature victory. The win was Fisher’s first EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region triumph of the season. Jeramy Hughes advanced from sixth to finish second while Ron Brewer turned in one of the division’s strongest runs, charging [Read More]