Sprint Car Archives

Gould Returns to Modified Throne; Five First-Time National Champions Crowned

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Oct. 14, 2026) — The 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing season crowned five first-time National champions while a collection of familiar names added to already impressive championship resumes across the nine divisions. William Gould returned to the top of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified ranks for the first time in 13 years, Zach Zeitner captured his second straight Sunoco IMCA Late Model National championship, Lee Goos Jr. earned his third consecutive RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car crown, and Dillon Raffurty continued his unprecedented run with a sixth straight Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite title. John Oliver Jr., Coy Vlies, Nicholas Ronnebaum, Trevor Cogburn, and Johnny Thomas completed the championship lineup, with each earning his first career National championship in 2026. Gould, of Calera, Okla., captured his second career Modified National championship and first since 2013, winning the title by 14 points aboard the Kenny Fryer Motorsports No. 60. The veteran also captured his ninth GRT Race Cars South Central Region championship and third consecutive Regional crown. Gould continued his run of [Read More]

Official 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings

Ties are broken by 40 point finishes, then 39 point finishes, 38, 37, etc. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 1,023; 2. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 1,009; 3. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 994; 4. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 991; 5. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Montana, 990; 6. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 987; 7. John Nord, Enderlin, N.D., 986; 8. Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, 984; 9. Tyler Bannister, Bakersfield, Calif., 974; 10. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 970; 11. Tyler Belcher, Laceyville, Pennsylvania, 968; 12. Jace Eckrich, Oxford, Iowa, 966; 13. Matthew Sanders, Brookings, Oregon, 961; 14. Travis Hagen, McGregor, N.D., 959; 15. Matthew Looft, Swea City, Iowa, 956; 16. Donald Proctor, Ionia, Michigan, 951; 17. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 949; 18. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wisconsin, 947; 19. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wisconsin, 944; 20. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 943. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 1,017; 2. Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, 1,012; 3. Kyle Vanover, Beatrice, Neb., 1,002; 4. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, Iowa, 999; 5. Rod [Read More]

Harris Outruns the Rain for Virginia Sprint Series Victory at Shenandoah

By Jim Haines SHENANDOAH, Va. (Oct. 10, 2026) — With threatening weather approaching, Jerald Harris proved quickest of all Saturday afternoon, racing to victory in the Virginia Sprint Series RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature at Shenandoah Speedway. Promoter Chris Lilly moved the entire program to an 11:30 a.m. start in an effort to complete the event before the weather arrived. Following a brief warmup for all divisions, features got underway, with the Virginia Sprint Series fourth on the program as raindrops began falling around the speedway. Aaron Leach and Caleb Harris paced the field to green, with Leach taking the early advantage. Behind him, Jerald Harris and Chris Humblet quickly worked their way forward in pursuit of the leader, while Matthew Leach advanced to fourth. Aaron Leach remained in command until lap 10, when a right rear tire puncture forced him to the infield and handed the lead to Harris. Harris remained smooth out front as Humblet kept him in sight. Matthew Leach ran third, with Caleb Harris and Matt Mullins also battling among the top [Read More]

Unofficial 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings

Points become official at 12 Noon CST on Monday, October 12. Ties are broken by 40 point finishes, then 39 point finishes, 38, 37, etc. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 1,023; 2. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 1,009; 3. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 994; 4. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 991; 5. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Montana, 990; 6. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 987; 7. John Nord, Enderlin, N.D., 986; 8. Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, 984; 9. Tyler Bannister, Bakersfield, Calif., 974; 10. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 970; 11. Tyler Belcher, Laceyville, Pennsylvania, 968; 12. Jace Eckrich, Oxford, Iowa, 966; 13. Matthew Sanders, Brookings, Oregon, 961; 14. Travis Hagen, McGregor, N.D., 959; 15. Matthew Looft, Swea City, Iowa, 956; 16. Donald Proctor, Ionia, Michigan, 951; 17. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 949; 18. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wisconsin, 947; 19. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wisconsin, 944; 20. Matt Werner, Geneseo, Ill., 943. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 1,017; 2. Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, 1,012; 3. Kyle Vanover, [Read More]

Weaver Brothers Go 1-2 in Dream Night at Thundering Rock

By Jim Haines CUMBERLAND, Md. (Oct. 3, 2026) — The Weaver brothers enjoyed a dream weekend at Thundering Rock Raceway, with Kolby Weaver leading Kasey Weaver across the finish line for a family 1-2 Saturday night’s co-sanctioned Virginia Sprint Series and Laurel Highlands Sprint Series RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature. Kasey started the evening by winning the first heat race, while Colton Hendershot took the second. Following the redraw, Kolby and Kasey shared the front row for the feature on the big, high-speed western Maryland oval at the Allegany County Fairgrounds. Kolby jumped to the early lead with Kasey right behind him. Ryan Lynn, Hendershot, and Chris Dolan were among the early front runners as the Weaver brothers set the pace. Kolby continued to show the way, but Kasey stayed close and gave his brother little room for error. Lynn remained in the hunt while Dolan and Ken Duke worked their way into the top five. A late caution for a stopped car set up a two-lap dash to the checkered flag and gave Kasey one [Read More]

Allstar Performance Heat Race Winner Program Deadline Set for Oct. 30

BOONE, Iowa — Drivers participating in the Allstar Performance Heat Race Winner Program are reminded to submit photo verification of their heat race win decals by Oct. 30 to be eligible for awards. Drivers must submit a clear photo showing their heat race win decals displayed on their race car. Any driver who records 10 or more heat race wins and submits the required photo verification will receive a $100 certificate from Allstar Performance. The driver with the most verified heat race wins will receive a $250 Allstar Performance certificate. Photo submissions must be received by Oct. 30 and can be emailed to cbgramm@imca.com.

French Grimes: A Life Remembered

By Ben Deatherage MADISON, Va. (Sept. 28, 2026) — French Grimes once compared himself to Johnny Appleseed. Instead of carrying a sack filled with apple seeds, Grimes believed his contained something else. RaceSaver. “I said I’m Johnny Appleseed,” Grimes explained during a 2013 interview. “I’ve got a sack of seeds for RaceSaver, and I go around the country. I poke them in a hole where I think it’ll grow, and then we find somebody who’s dedicated to make sure we water it and make it grow.” For nearly three decades, that is essentially what he did. Grimes helped plant those seeds in Virginia. They took root in Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, the Carolinas and eventually across much of the country. What began as an effort to make Sprint Car racing affordable enough for ordinary working racers grew into a national movement and eventually became intertwined with IMCA racing across the country. Grimes, the founder and driving force behind RaceSaver, died Sept. 13 at the University of Virginia Hospital surrounded by his family. He was 83. He [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Sept. 24, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, and William Gould, Calera, Okla., both 993; 3. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 973; 4. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 972; 5. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Montana, 969; 6. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 965; 7. Tyler Bannister, Bakersfield, Calif., 964; 8. Matthew Sanders, Brookings, Oregon, and Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, both 961; 10. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 955; 11. Jace Eckrich, Oxford, Iowa, 953; 12. John Nord, Enderlin, N.D., 951; 13. Travis Hagen, McGregor, N.D., 946; 14. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wisconsin, 944; 15. Tyler Belcher, Laceyville, Pennsylvania, 943; 16. Matthew Looft, Swea City, Iowa, 940; 17. Donald Proctor, Ionia, Michigan, 937; 18. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 934; 19. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wisconsin, and Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Michigan, both 932. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 992; 2. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 984; 3. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, and Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, both 982; 5. Dan Mackenthun, Hamburg, Minn., 975; 6. Kyle Vanover, Beatrice, Neb., 974; 7. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, [Read More]

Shatzer Schools Virginia Sprint Series Field at Natural Bridge

By Jim Haines NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (Sept. 19, 2026) — Dylan Shatzer is a schoolteacher by day, but Saturday night he moved the classroom to Natural Bridge Speedway and taught the Virginia Sprint Series field a lesson with a clean sweep of the evening. Shatzer won his heat race before charging to the front of the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature and staying there through the checkered flag. Matthew Mullins was the other heat race winner. Mullins and Billy Hubbard led the feature field to green, with Mullins getting the early advantage while Hubbard settled into second. Shatzer and Daren Bolac followed close behind. Shatzer quickly worked his way around Hubbard for second and immediately began applying pressure to Mullins for the top spot. The eventual winner swept into the lead, with Hubbard moving into second. Behind them, Bolac and Mullins battled for third while Jerald Harris began working his way forward from fifth. Bolac eventually secured third, dropping Mullins to fourth, but his night came to an early end when front-end damage forced him to [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Sept. 17, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, and William Gould, Calera, Okla., both 993; 3. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 973; 4. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 972; 5. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Montana, 969; 6. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 963; 7. Matthew Sanders, Brookings, Oregon, and Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, both 961; 9. Tyler Bannister, Bakersfield, Calif., 959; 10. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 955; 11. Jace Eckrich, Oxford, Iowa, 953; 12. John Nord, Enderlin, N.D., 945; 13. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wisconsin, 944; 14. Tyler Belcher, Laceyville, Pennsylvania, 943; 15. Matthew Looft, Swea City, Iowa, 940; 16. Donald Proctor, Ionia, Michigan, 937; 17. Travis Hagen, McGregor, N.D., and Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., both 934; 19. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wisconsin, and Myron DeYoung, Stanton, Michigan, both 932. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 992; 2. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, and Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, both 982; 4. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 980; 5. Dan Mackenthun, Hamburg, Minn., 975; 6. Kyle Vanover, Beatrice, Neb., 974; 7. Kelly Shryock, Fertile, [Read More]