Northern SportMod Archives

Budweiser 150 Freedom Nationals Returns to Deuce of Clubs Thunder Raceway June 26-27

By Ben Deatherage SHOW LOW, Ariz. (June 18, 2026) — One of the Southwest’s premier summer specials returns to Deuce of Clubs Thunder Raceway on June 26-27 as the Budweiser 150 Freedom Nationals brings two nights of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing action to the high-banked Arizona oval. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks will headline the unique two-day format, with each division racing for a $1,500 top prize in Saturday night’s championship features. The Freedom Nationals will also serve as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, with the Modified winner earning eligibility to try and qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational held during the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Modifieds, Northern SportMods, and Hobby Stocks will compete for Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National and Arizona State points. Modified drivers will also race for DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region points, while Hobby Stock competitors will chase B&B Racing Chassis Western Region points. Track points will not be awarded in those [Read More]

Ferrando Capitalizes Late for Coos Bay Speedweek Triumph

By Ben Deatherage COOS BAY, Ore. (June 17, 2026) — Grey Ferrando used lapped traffic to his advantage late in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature to score his third Wild West Speedweek victory of the week during the fifth round of the 2026 IMCA Wild West Speedweek and the first of two nights at Coos Bay Speedway. Two-time defending Wild West Speedweek champion Bricen James paced the opening laps aboard the Schram Motorsports No. 13 before Matt Sanders, winner of the previous two IMCA Northern SportMod Speedweek championships, worked his way into contention. Sanders executed a move to the inside of turn four on lap four to take command and appeared poised to drive away. Cautions on laps seven and 11 kept the field tightly grouped, however, allowing James and Ferrando to remain within striking distance. While Sanders maintained the lead through the middle stages of the race, James and Ferrando engaged in a spirited battle for second. The trio remained closely packed as lapped traffic entered the equation on lap 24. Attempting to navigate [Read More]

Herrera and Raynard Capture 2026 Tougher Than Dirt Tour Titles

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (June 12, 2026) — Consistency proved just as valuable as race wins during the 2026 T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Performance, as Payce Herrera and Diezel Raynard emerged with championships after five nights of competition across North Dakota and Saskatchewan. Payce Herrera of Price, Utah, claimed the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod title by just four points. Herrera opened the tour with a runner-up finish at McLean County Speedway, scored his first career tour victory at Williston Basin Speedway, finished second at Estevan Motor Speedway, third at Thunder Mountain Speedway, and capped the week with another runner-up effort at Nodak Speedway. Minot’s Chad Strachen finished second in the standings. His tour included a fourth-place finish at McLean County Speedway, runner-up efforts at Williston Basin Speedway and Thunder Mountain Speedway, a third-place run at Estevan Motor Speedway, and another podium finish with third at Nodak Speedway. Estevan, Saskatchewan’s Keenan Glasser ended the week third in points despite winning four of the five features. Glasser charged from [Read More]

Ferrando Wins at Cottage Grove to Become Third Different Modified Winner of ’26 Speedweek

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 16, 2026) — Grey Ferrando drove to victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the fourth round of the 2026 Wild West Speedweek at Cottage Grove Speedway on Tuesday night, earning his second series victory of the week after winning Sunday’s event at River City Speedway and the fourth Speedweek triumph of his career. Defending DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region, Oregon State, and Cottage Grove Speedway champion Kevin Williamson paced the opening lap of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature before 2017 track champion Grey Ferrando charged to the lead on lap two. A caution on lap three briefly slowed Ferrando’s momentum, but the Scio driver quickly reestablished control on the restart and again after another yellow on lap seven. Ferrando remained untouchable through the middle stages of the race and worked lapped traffic beginning on lap 16. A caution on lap 21 erased his sizable advantage, and Matt Sanders, winner of the previous night’s feature and the last two Wild West Speedweek Northern SportMod championships, advanced [Read More]

Allstar Performance Continues Heat Race Winner Awards Program for IMCA Racers

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (June 16, 2026) — Winning heat races continues to pay dividends for IMCA competitors thanks to Allstar Performance and its popular Heat Race Winner Awards Program. Now in its 15th season as an IMCA sponsor, the Watervliet, Michigan-based company will once again reward drivers across the country for their success in preliminary competition throughout the 2026 season. Heat race winner decals were distributed to all IMCA-sanctioned tracks at the beginning of the 2026 season. Drivers who accumulate 10 or more heat race victories during the year become eligible for a drawing for a $100 Allstar Performance gift certificate. To be entered, drivers must submit a photo clearly showing the heat race winner decal displayed on their race car. Photos should be emailed to Carson Becker-Graham at cbgramm@imca.com no later than September 21, 2026. In addition to the heat race winner program, Allstar Performance will award a $200 product certificate to each champion crowned at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s and the RaceSaver Nationals. For more information about Allstar Performance [Read More]

Manning Captures Fifth Western Region Victory at Santa Maria

By Stephanie Odom SANTA MARIA, Calif. (June 13, 2026) — Gavyn Manning charged from seventh on the grid and used the high side to take the lead on lap 13 en route to victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature at Santa Maria Speedway. Justin Crockett grabbed the early lead and paced the field through the opening half of the 25-lap contest after winning one of the evening’s heat races. Manning steadily worked forward before finding momentum on the cushion and racing into the lead. The Bakersfield driver held off a determined late challenge from Rob Sanders to score his fifth victory of the season in DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region competition. The win was also his second straight triumph and second overall victory of 2026 at Santa Maria Speedway. Sanders finished second, followed by Crockett, Markus Frazier and Cole Szlauko. Heat race victories went to Sanders and Crockett. Landon King earned his third Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod victory of the season after a spirited late-race battle in the 20-lap feature. Jon McKinley led [Read More]

Bannister Leads Every Lap for Bakersfield Modified Win

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (June 13, 2026) — Points leader Bannister dominated the 25-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway, leading all the way from the pole position after winning his heat race earlier in the evening. The Bakersfield driver scored his seventh victory of the season in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region and his second at Bakersfield in 2026. One of the night’s biggest storylines involved 2024 track champion Gavyn Manning, who was among four drivers attempting double-duty between Santa Maria Speedway and Bakersfield Speedway. After winning earlier in the evening at Santa Maria, Manning charged into second place before mechanical issues ended his bid for another victory. Race Liberante finished second, followed by Markus Frazier and Rob Sanders, who were also among the double-duty competitors. Pat Petrie completed the top five. Jason Bannister led all 25 laps of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature to secure his third victory of the season, with all three wins coming at Bakersfield Speedway. Dylan Wilson delivered [Read More]

Sweetwater Speedway Hosts Ken Hansen Memorial Modified Spectacular July 3-4

By Ben Deatherage ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. (June 16, 2026) — Sweetwater Speedway will host one of the biggest racing weekends in Wyoming on July 3-4 with the annual Ken Hansen Memorial Modified Spectacular. The two-day event will feature two complete draw/re-draw programs, with competitors racing each night for Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National, Wyoming State, and regional points. Modified competitors will race for DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region points, Stock Cars for EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region points, and Hobby Stocks for B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region points. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds headline the weekend with a $1,000 winner’s share each night. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods will each race for $400 to win, while Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts compete for $300 top prizes. The Ken Hansen Memorial Modified Spectacular will also serve as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier each night. Drivers who win either of the two Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified features will earn eligibility to try and qualify for the 2026 [Read More]

Sanders Breaks Through for First Modified Speedweek Win at Cottage Grove

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 15, 2026) — Matt Sanders earned the biggest Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified victory of his career, winning the third round of the 2026 IMCA Wild West Speedweek on Monday night at Cottage Grove Speedway. Reigning National Rookie of the Year and Southern Oregon Speedway track champion Ethan Killingsworth, from California, grabbed the lead at the start and established himself as the driver to beat. He encountered lapped traffic on lap seven but maintained command as Sanders gradually closed the gap. By lap 14, Sanders was within striking distance and began challenging for the lead. A trio of cautions around the halfway mark repeatedly interrupted the battle, with Sanders unable to complete a pass before each yellow flag flew. The Brookings driver finally broke through on lap 25, edging ahead by .067 seconds at the stripe. Killingsworth attempted to counterattack but made contact with the frontstretch wall, allowing 2017 Cottage Grove Speedway champion and River City Speedway winner Grey Ferrando to move into second. A final caution on lap 29 [Read More]

Reimers Captures SportMod Nationals at Hancock County Speedway

By Chad Meyer BRITT, Iowa (June 12, 2026) — Cam Reimers realized a longtime goal Friday night, dominating the annual Gold-Eagle Cooperative SportMod Nationals at Hancock County Speedway to earn one of the biggest victories of his season. The Kelley driver controlled the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature despite several cautions, including a late restart that brought the field to his rear bumper for a final sprint to the checkered flag. Reimers quickly pulled away once the race resumed and secured his seventh victory of the season, earned at five different tracks. Keegan Nordquist finished second, followed by Ben Reierson, Alec Fett and Josh Appel. Flippo Holds Off Fett in Modified Feature Jerry Flippo of Rockford, by way of Bakersfield, California, scored his second Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified main event. Flippo led throughout but faced intense pressure from Colby Fett during the second half of the race. Fett charged from seventh starting position and repeatedly challenged for the lead but could not find a [Read More]