Stock Car Archives

Frank Overcomes Difficult Start to Earn EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region Rookie Honors

By Ben Deatherage LORENA, Texas (Oct. 22, 2026) — Cody Frank’s pursuit of a national rookie championship nearly ended before it began, but the 38-year-old Lorena, Texas, driver overcame a difficult start to capture the 2026 EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region Rookie of the Year award in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car division. Frank became the 21st Texas driver to earn the Southern Region rookie honor since 2001 and the first since 2024, completing a comeback season that included two feature victories in 34 starts. “The year started off we were going to try for the national rookie but our first seven races we had six DNFs so that put a hurtin’ on things and ended up tearing some stuff up and that put a halt on that,” Frank said. “We kept pushing at it and started reeling off some top fives and had a couple of wins here and there and string some good runs and finished on a high note.” Frank finished the season with six podium finishes, 17 top fives, and 26 top-10 [Read More]

Up to Stock Car Challenge, Miles Races to National and Northern Region Rookie of the Year Titles

By Bill Martin BERNARD, Iowa (Oct. 26, 2026) – Overcome by the emotions of the occasion, Jordan Miles had to search for the right words after his career-first Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature victory. He’s had plenty of opportunities to hone his interview skills since, following a season that saw him earn national and EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region honors, as well as the Maquoketa Speedway track championship. The 20-year-old from Bernard, Iowa, was also seventh in national points and 10th in regional standings, racing out of the family shop with father Jerry and brothers Jared, Kodey and Karter. “I wanted a challenge, I wanted to try something different and that’s what led us to our new adventures in a Stock Car,” said Miles, who moved up following two very different campaigns running a Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock. “The stars kind of aligned, I picked up some wins early in the season and I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish this year.” “In my opinion, Stock Cars are the toughest division in IMCA. There’s stout [Read More]

Opening Night Rainout Proves Key to Batt’s Reign in Southern Stock Car Region

By Bill Martin HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas (Oct. 25, 2026) – Most race car drivers are chomping at the bit to get their new season started. Jason Batt didn’t even have a ride at the start of the 2026 Sunoco IMCA Stock Car point season, so he didn’t mind waiting another week. The veteran wheelman motored to his career first EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region crown and fifth Texas State prize, propelled to a runner-up finish in the national points race by bonus points earned along with Heart O’ Texas Speedway and Cotton Bowl Speedway track titles. “What I’m really on cloud nine about was finishing second in the nation. That’s where we’re really pumped,” Batt said, following his 26th season in the class. “It’s pretty exciting. I’m humbled. We had great seasons in 2017, 2018, 2019 and even further back to 2010 when we finished eighth in the nation. But the last couple seasons have been down and I was kind of thinking my not doing good was my age.” “Then we got a new car this [Read More]

IMCA Releases 2027 Rules with Minor Changes

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 2, 2026) — IMCA has released its 2027 rules package, featuring minor updates and clarifications across several divisions, along with changes to helmet requirements and head and neck restraint regulations for minor drivers. In the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock divisions, frame ground clearance must measure a minimum of 6.5 inches and a maximum of nine inches beneath the oval frame holes, identified as letters D and K in the 1978-88 Monte Carlo frame drawing. Floating or removable bars are not permitted in either division. Stock Cars will no longer be permitted to use Camaro nosepieces on anything other than the Camaro MD3 body, while Hobby Stocks will not be allowed to use lightweight pressure plate. For Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Speedway Motors fabricated lower A-frames, part numbers 91035297-L and 91035297-R, have been added to the rules. The interior deck must also be level from left to right within a one-inch tolerance. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod division will have the same interior deck requirement, [Read More]

Oliver Claims First Stock Car National Championship After 20-Win Season

By Ben Deatherage WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (Oct. 20, 2026) — After years of competing in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car division, John Oliver Jr. finally reached the top of the national standings in 2026, capturing his first national championship by five points following a season that produced 20 feature victories in 54 starts. The 51-year-old West Burlington driver became the 11th different Iowa racer to win the Stock Car national championship and extended the state’s streak of consecutive titles to seven, dating back to 2020. Iowa drivers have now accounted for 29 of the 39 national championships awarded since the division began crowning champions in 1988. “Finally,” Oliver said with a laugh. “We went to a lot of new tracks and won at some of them. It was really nice. Everything I accomplished this year was fun.” Driving the Oliver Heating and Air/Dustys Extractions/A & B Roofing No. 05JR B&B Racing Chassis, Oliver recorded 35 podium finishes, 38 top fives, and 44 top-10 finishes while collecting victories at seven different tracks. He also earned his first [Read More]

Inaugural Wild River Diamond in the Desert Set for Cocopah Speedway Nov. 4-7

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Oct. 21, 2026) — Some of the biggest names in Speedway Motors IMCA racing will converge on Cocopah Speedway Nov. 4-7 for the inaugural Wild River Diamond in the Desert, featuring three nights of competition and an $8,000 payday awaiting the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified winner. Presented by Wild River Family Entertainment Center, the first-year event will bring five IMCA divisions to the Diamond in the Desert for a weekend of racing in southwestern Arizona. The four-day gathering begins Wednesday, Nov. 4, with an open practice session before racing gets underway Thursday, Nov. 5, and continues through Saturday, Nov. 7. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds will headline the event, with $8,000 awaiting the winner of the division’s main event. The Modifieds will be joined by the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, with both divisions competing for $4,000 top prizes. Saturday’s Modified and Stock Car features will serve as qualifying events for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational, [Read More]

Central Arizona Raceway Set for Three-Night Showdown Honoring Phil Hertel Nov. 27-29

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Oct. 21, 2026) — Central Arizona Raceway will close out the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with three nights of Speedway Motors IMCA racing during The Showdown: A Salute to Phil Hertel, scheduled for Friday through Sunday, Nov. 27-29. The three-day event will feature Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks also competing Friday and Saturday. More than just a weekend of racing, The Showdown will pay tribute to Phil Hertel while offering competitors three opportunities to race for substantial payouts at the Casa Grande facility. The IMCA Modifieds will headline the weekend, with Friday and Saturday’s features each paying $1,000 to win before Sunday’s $3,000-to-win finale. All three Modified features will serve as qualifying events for the 2027 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s All-Star Invitational, with each winner earning eligibility to attempt to qualify for the prestigious race at Boone Speedway. Modified competitors will receive $100 to start Friday and Saturday’s features, while Sunday’s finale will pay [Read More]

Freiburger Holds Off Laney’s Late Charge for Modified Victory at Dirt on the Downs

By Christine Rublack CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Oct. 17, 2026) — Jed Freiburger of Dubuque collected his 11th Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season in the $2,000-to-win, 20-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature, holding off a late charge from Cody Laney. Freiburger started on the pole and established the early advantage while Jace Eckrich moved into second, followed by Jeff Bodendorfer and Laney. Following a restart, Bodendorfer advanced into the runner-up position as Laney worked the bottom groove to take over third. Laney, who started eighth, continued his charge and moved into second with only a few laps remaining. Despite the late pressure, Freiburger maintained his advantage and crossed the finish line first. Laney finished second after advancing six positions, with Bodendorfer third, Eckrich fourth, and Chris Zogg fifth. Gifford Makes Three-Wide Move Count in Hobby Stocks Bradyn Gustin of Marshalltown used the bottom groove to his advantage in the $1,000-to-win, 15-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature, taking control early and pulling away as Josh Banes and Jarett Franzen battled for second. Gifford, [Read More]

Rush County Speedway Closes Inaugural IMCA Season with Last Call Classic Oct. 23-24

By William Nusser LA CROSSE, Kan. (Oct. 13, 2026) — Rush County Speedway will close its first full Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing season with the Last Call Classic, a two-night event scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, at The Bullring on the Rush County Fairgrounds. The event features United Rebel Sprint Series (URSS) competitors alongside Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods. The weekend offers $1,500 to win for both Modifieds and Stock Cars, $1,000 for the URSS, and $750 for Northern SportMods. The weekend will serve as qualifiers for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational. Winners of the main events will earn eligibility to attempt to qualify for their respective invitationals at next September’s Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “The season isn’t over yet,” promoter William Nusser said. “One more weekend. One last shot under the lights. This is last call at The Bullring for 2026 — and we see Last Call Classic becoming [Read More]

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 Kerry 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]