Northern SportMod Archives

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through June 4, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 914; 2. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 682; 3. Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, 675; 4. Jason Barnhill, Milton, Florida, 658; 5. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Florida, 655; 6. Trevor Fitz, Bondurant, Iowa, 634; 7. Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, 615; 8. Chris Smith, Brewton, Alabama, 610; 9. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 560; 10. Jace Whitt, Hamilton, Mo., 551; 11. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 549; 12. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 539; 13. Izac Mallicoat, Boone, Iowa, 528; 14. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 522; 15. Chase Weimer, Eldora, Iowa, 521; 16. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 510; 17. Greg Hopkins, Repton, Alabama, 508; 18. Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, 507; 19. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 506; 20. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 502. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 940; 2. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 848; 3. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 739; 4. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 712; 5. Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, 625; 6. Jordan Miles, Bernard, Iowa, 605; 7. Hunter Smith, Lynnville, [Read More]

Herrera Breaks Through for First Tougher Than Dirt Tour Victory

By Ben Deatherage WILLISTON, N.D. (June 4, 2026) — Seventeen-year-old Payce Herrera raced to his first career T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Storage victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods at Williston Basin Speedway. The Price, Utah driver led the opening lap before a caution immediately slowed the pace. On the restart, Herrera and reigning Nodak Speedway track champion Chad Stratchen separated themselves from the rest of the field as the 2024 Junior National champion established himself as the driver to beat. A pair of cautions just before the midway point kept the field close. Buffalo River Speedway’s defending track champion Jayden Pavlicek mounted several challenges on the high side, but Herrera remained composed while Stratchen and Pavlicek battled intensely for second. The leaders encountered lapped traffic on lap 18, but Herrera never wavered and drove away in the closing laps. The victory was his first career tour triumph and eighth win of the 2026 season at four different racetracks. Stratchen finished second. Pavlicek narrowly beat Tanner Conlin to [Read More]

Wilson Wins $5,000-to-Win IMCA Summer Nationals Stock Car Thriller at the Wire

By Christine Rublack INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (June 3, 2026) — Tyler Wilson emerged victorious in one of the closest finishes of the week, edging Brandon Schmitt by just .025 seconds to win the $5,000-to-win Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature on the final night of the 2026 IMCA Summer Nationals at Independence Motor Speedway on Wednesday night. Schmitt, aboard the Stephanie and Josh Sorce-owned No. 20 entry, established himself as the early leader and quickly pulled away from the field. Behind him, Wilson, Nick Buckarma, and Damon Murty engaged in a spirited battle for position while Kelly Shryock steadily worked his way forward. Shryock, in the Mike Hauan-owned Lake Mills Motorsports No. 3, cracked the top three as the laps wound down, but the battle for the lead belonged to Wilson and Schmitt. Wilson finally edged ahead in the closing laps and narrowly held off Schmitt at the checkered flag for the $5,000 payday. The Little Suamico, Wisconsin, driver earned his third EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season and automatically qualified for the 2026 B&B [Read More]

Glasser Captures Tougher Than Dirt Tour Opener with Late Pass

By Ben Deatherage UNDERWOOD, N.D. (June 3, 2026) — Keenan Glasser emerged victorious in a thrilling Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature on opening night of the T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Storage at McLean County Speedway, holding off Payce Herrera in a dramatic late-race duel to earn his first career tour victory. The 25-lap main event began with 2006 Sunoco IMCA Stock Car track champion Chad Stratchen taking command before a lap one caution slowed the pace. On the restart, 2024 Junior National champion Payce Herrera and 2024 North Dakota State champion Glasser immediately went to work on the leader. Glasser used the high side to wrestle away the lead on lap three and began setting the pace. The Utah native repeatedly challenged Glasser as the two teenage racers broke away from the rest of the field. The battle intensified when the leaders encountered lapped traffic on lap nine, and Herrera finally found a way around the leader on lap 12. The two frontrunners remained locked together for the [Read More]

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]