Sport Compact Archives

Lee County Speedway Under New Leadership; To Crown Five IMCA Champions in ’26

By Ben Deatherage DONNELLSON, Iowa (Jan. 20, 2026) — Lee County Speedway will return to Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing on Friday nights in 2026 under new promoter Darin Weisinger, featuring five sanctioned divisions that will crown track champions. The weekly lineup will include IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Late Models, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. A 15-race schedule is currently planned at the historic 3/8-mile oval beginning April 24, with the first point-paying event set for May 1 and the final night for points on August 21. Drivers will earn track, Iowa State, and national points in all divisions. In addition, Razor Chassis North Central Region points will be awarded to IMCA Modifieds, while EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region points will be on the line for Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. Weisinger enters his first season promoting Lee County Speedway after spending several years in Illinois as a track manager. “This is a new venture for me at Lee County, and I’m excited,” said Weisinger. “I’ve been around [Read More]

32nd Annual Ice Breaker Launches 2026 Season at Abilene Speedway on Feb. 20-21

By Ben Deatherage ABILENE, Texas (Jan. 15, 2026) — Abilene Speedway will usher in their 2026 racing season in a big way with the 32nd Annual Ice Breaker, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 20–21, featuring four Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly divisions, including IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. The Ice Breaker weekend will begin with an open practice session on Thursday, February 19, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Nightly race procedures for both Friday and Saturday will have the pill draw open at 3:00 p.m. and close at 5:45, followed immediately by the pit meeting. Each night of competition will award track, Texas State, and National points. Additionally, GRT Race Cars South Central Region points and EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region points will be on the line for both IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Stock Cars. IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Stock Cars will each race for $1,000 to win per night. IMCA Southern SportMods will compete for $650 to win, while IMCA Sport Compacts [Read More]

IMCA Outlines Contingency Form Requirement Ahead of 2026 Season

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Jan. 6, 2026) — With the 2026 racing season approaching, the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) is reminding competitors that completion of the official Contingency Form is required to qualify for contingency awards and manufacturer-supported benefits. IMCA’s contingency programs are built around long-standing partnerships with manufacturers and sponsors who support drivers throughout the season. Completing the Contingency Form ensures that this support is properly directed to eligible competitors based on their on-track performance. Available at www.imca.com/contingencies, the form allows IMCA to properly link drivers with participating sponsors and register competitors for reward programs offered throughout the season. Drivers who complete the form are eligible for contingency awards tied to on-track performance across all Speedway Motors IMCA-sanctioned divisions. Completing the Contingency Form is a simple process: IMCA’s contingency structure plays an important role in recognizing driver performance while reinforcing long-standing relationships with industry partners. Participation by competitors helps maintain and grow programs that provide meaningful benefits both during and beyond race night. Drivers with questions or needing assistance can contact Carson Becker-Gramm at contingencies@imca.com.

IMCA TV Revenue Share Program Pays Back Big to Racers in 2025

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Dec. 17, 2025) — The IMCA TV revenue sharing program continued to put money back into racers’ pockets in 2025, matching last season’s payout levels while expanding to more tracks and rewarding strong weekly support across the country. Fueled by IMCA TV Replay Subscription viewership of weekly and special events, the program once again turned digital exposure into direct financial benefits for drivers. More than 600 drivers qualified for IMCA TV bonus checks during the 2025 season. Revenue was generated from replays of weekly and special events at 54 tracks broadcast by IMCA TV or its affiliates, then distributed to drivers finishing in the top three in point standings in each sanctioned division at qualifying facilities. Drivers in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, Sunoco IMCA Late Model, RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car and Sunoco IMCA Stock Car divisions receive checks of $255, $205 and $150. Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod competitors earn $155, $120 and $115, while Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock, Stealth Racing IMCA STARS [Read More]

IMCA Champions Take Center Stage at 2025 National Awards Banquet

By Ben Deatherage LINCOLN, Neb. (Dec. 10, 2025) — The best of the best in IMCA were honored Saturday night as national champions, rookies, track and state crown winners, special series titlists, and crew chiefs shared the spotlight at the 2025 IMCA national awards banquet. More than 600 drivers, crew members, sponsors, track officials, and family packed the ballroom at the Cornhusker Marriott. Despite blizzard-like conditions in the area, a near-capacity crowd was on hand to celebrate the accomplishments of IMCA’s 2025 champions. National champions recognized during the evening were Jeff Reay, Friesen Performance IMCA Modified; Zach Zeitner, Sunoco IMCA Late Model; Lee Goos Jr., RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car; Kelly Shryock, Sunoco IMCA Stock Car; Cory Probst, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock; Landon Capps, Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod; Brayton Carter, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod; Dillon Raffurty, Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite; and John Martinez, Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact. The Junior National Champion was Hunter Ferrell, and the Lady Eagle champion was Mylee JoAnn Goldwich-Rhames. Modified Regional championships went to Kevin Williamson in the [Read More]

Sports Park Raceway Joins IMCA for 2026 Season, Moves Weekly Racing to Sunday Nights

By Sarah Stewart FORT DODGE, Iowa (Dec. 5, 2025) — Sports Park Raceway has announced a major step forward for the 2026 season, confirming that the facility will operate under Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing sanctioning beginning next year while shifting its weekly program to Sunday nights. The track’s 2026 IMCA lineup will feature Sunoco IMCA Late Models, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. Owner and promoter Jeff Frevert said the decision aligns with the track’s long-term goals for growth, stability, and consistency. “We believe it’s time to grow,” said Frevert, “and with IMCA’s strong consistent support and a move to Sunday nights, we’re confident this step will help Sports Park Raceway continue to thrive for years to come.” The track previously sanctioned IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Compacts, and IMCA Hobby Stocks in 2018–19. Operations manager Sarah Stewart echoed that excitement, noting both personal experience and the benefits for competitors and fans. “As someone [Read More]

Avila Outduels Carter in SportMods at Marshalltown’s Harvest Hustle

By Kaden Krebs MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (Oct. 25, 2025) — The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods produced another exciting showdown at the Fast Shafts Harvest Hustle on a seasonally chilly night at Marshalltown Speedway, highlighted by an early restart that changed everything. Matt Avila used the high side perfectly to surge around National champion Brayton Carter and take command of the race. Despite a late caution tightening the field, Avila stayed smooth and steady to the finish. Carter finished runner-up, followed by Brayden Shepherd, Dylan VanWyk, and Cam Reimers. Rookie Butt Steals Show in Hobby Stocks The Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks delivered the most dramatic finish of the night, where a packed grandstand braved the cool air to see a first-time winner steal the spotlight. Veteran Bradley Graham, no stranger to leading laps on the High Banks, paced the early circuits until 14-year-old rookie Carson Butt mounted a stunning late-race charge. Butt slipped past Graham in the closing laps to capture a thrilling, crowd-pleasing victory — a breakout moment to close his rookie campaign. Graham settled for [Read More]

Allstar Performance to Reward 2025 IMCA Heat Race Standouts; Submissions Due Nov. 18

VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 4, 2025) — IMCA drivers who piled up heat race wins this season can cash in with Allstar Performance gift cards — but they must submit proof by Nov. 18. Any driver who wins more than 10 heat races in 2025 is eligible for a $100 Allstar Performance gift card. The single driver with the most heat-race wins nationwide will receive a $250 Allstar Performance gift card. Gift cards will be presented during the IMCA National Banquet on Nov. 29. To be eligible, drivers must email a photo of their car showing the official heat-win decal in place, as distributed by tracks, to IMCA Marketing Integration & Sponsorship Director Carson Becker-Gramm at cbgramm@imca.com. Photos must be received no later than Nov. 18.

Laney Moore Caps Rookie Season with RaceSaver Rookie of the Year, Missouri State Crown

By Ben Deatherage DES MOINES, Iowa (Oct. 30, 2025) — Sixteen-year-old Laney Moore made the most of his first full season in a Sprint Car. Competing in the Mike Moore Motorsports/Chuck and Larry’s Transmission no. 9 Triple X, Moore claimed the 2025 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car Rookie of the Year, the Missouri State championship, and finished runner-up in the MO/KAN Sprint Series standings while placing sixth in the final national points. “We had an awesome year,” Moore said. “We started the year off in late April and early May, just trying to get some laps and progress each race. Before long, we were running top tens and top fives almost every weekend. We raced at 13 different tracks and even went up to South Dakota and Minnesota. Some weekends we’d be in Minnesota on Friday, then come down to Missouri for Saturday and Sunday shows — it was a lot of driving but totally worth it.” For the 16-year-old from Iowa, this was his first full year behind the wheel of a Sprint Car after previously [Read More]

Werner Keeps Nebraska’s Sport Compact Rookie Streak Alive with Six-Win Season

By Ben Deatherage PIERCE, Neb. (Oct. 29, 2025) — Fourteen-year-old Kiegan Werner wasted no time making a name for himself in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts in his Tom’s Service/Meyer Family/TC Agronomy no. 1K entry. The first-generation racer from Pierce turned his rookie season into a breakthrough year, winning six times, capturing both the South Dakota State championship and Park Jefferson Speedway track title, finishing seventh in the national points, and showing the poise of a veteran. He also became the sixth driver since 2008 from Nebraska to win the National Rookie of the Year award, and the second straight Nebraskan to achieve that honor. “We decided to go down to the Beatrice Spring Nationals,” Werner said. “The first night went well, but the second night I got taken out on the first lap in the main event and it junked the race car. After that, we decided to make another go at it at Redwood in Minnesota and ended up winning up there. We then made the decision in June to try and go for [Read More]