Stock Car Archives

Johnson Avenges Opening Night Flip with Round Two SportMod Victory in Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 7, 2026) — Following a prolific 2025 season at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway across various Stock Car classes, Nicholas Johnson took on the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods in 2026. His season opener in February ended on his lid, but he quickly regained his form at the one-third-mile dirt track on Saturday during March Madness with a coveted comeback victory. Johnson dominated his heat race, then lined up third for the 25-lap feature alongside his brother Ethan. Ethan jumped ahead at the start with Nicholas sliding into second. Following a crash in turn one on the opening lap, Nicholas Johnson used the restart to take over the lead on the second lap. Johnson dominated the rest of the feature to score his first Bakersfield SportMod win. Tate Lofts drove from eighth to second, with Chris McKellar, 2024 champion Jason Bannister, and Alyssa Smith rounding out the top five. 2023 and 2024 Bakersfield Speedway Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified champion Gavyn Manning returned to the top step of the podium, winning the [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through March 5, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 314; 2. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine, Iowa, 300; 3. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 280; 4. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 270; 5. Troy III Morris, Waterloo, Iowa, 264; 6. Chaz Baca, Stanhope, Iowa, 260; 7. William Gould, Calera, Okla., and Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, both 253; 9. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 247; 10. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 241; 11. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 234; 12. Dean Abbey, Boyd, Texas, 232; 13. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 216; 14. Steven Whiteaker, Robstown, Texas, 212; 15. Spencer Hughes, Meridian, Mississippi, 193; 16. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 189; 17. Steve Askew, Valley View, Texas, 182; 18. Logan Drake, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 179; 19. Jesse Patterson, Marana, Ariz., 176; 20. Austin Kuehl, Cave Creek, Ariz., 174. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 561; 2. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 558; 3. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn., 470; 4. Dillon Richards, Wymore, Neb., 403; 5. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 400; 6. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 389; [Read More]

Frostbuster Week Set to Launch Iowa IMCA Season April 1–4

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Mar. 3, 2026) — The traditional opening swing of the Iowa IMCA season returns as Frostbuster Week brings four Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing divisions to four tracks in four consecutive nights of racing, April 1–4. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars will each compete for $1,000 to win nightly, while Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks race for $500 top prizes at every stop. The 2026 Frostbuster schedule opens Wednesday, April 1 at Stuart Speedway, followed by Thursday, April 2 at Independence Motor Speedway. Marshalltown Speedway hosts the third night on Friday, April 3, with the finale set for Saturday, April 4 at Boone Speedway. Series champions will receive the largest shares of a $1,000 point fund and earn eligibility for Race of Champions events at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Modified and Stock Car feature winners throughout the week will qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational, respectively. Stuart [Read More]

Heart O’ Texas Speedway Joins IMCA TV Broadcast Lineup in 2026

By Ben Deatherage WACO, Texas (Mar. 2, 2026) — Heart O’ Texas Speedway is headed to IMCA TV, joining a growing catalog of tracks that showcase weekly competition and marquee events from the Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing program. The 1/4-mile Waco oval will now stream its IMCA-sanctioned action to fans across the country, bringing the intensity of its weekly battles to a broader audience. The 2026 season opens March 6 with the Jack Bagby Memorial and concludes with championship night on August 28. A total of 27 nights of weekly racing are scheduled throughout the campaign. Heart O’ Texas Speedway sanctions weekly competition for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods — three divisions with deep roots at the facility. IMCA Modified competition at Heart O’ Texas dates back to 1995, when Paul White earned the first championship. Over the years, the division has featured several multi-time track champions, led by Keith White, who captured six championships between 2009 and 2015. Kevin Green has also been [Read More]

Braaksma, Vandermark Jr., Smith Rise to the Top at IMCA TV Clash On The Coast

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Mar. 2, 2026) — The 4th annual IMCA TV Clash On The Coast returned to the Gulf Coast with four nights of competition split between Blackwater Speedway in Baker, Florida, and Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Alabama. Blackwater, formerly Northwest Florida Speedway, has hosted the tour each year since its inception, while Deep South joined the rotation for the second straight season. All three divisions crowned champions after tightly contested four-race title battles, with a different winner in each class on every night of competition. A total of 74 drivers competed in Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified action during the week. Newton, Iowa’s Ethan Braaksma wrapped up the Modified title by 12 points in the Trent Guest and Danny Meier-owned no. 111. The two-time defending Dakota Classic Modified Tour champion, former IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion, and reigning Harris Clash winner never fell outside the top five all week, stacking one win, three podium finishes, and a perfect four-for-four mark inside the top five to seal the championship. His best night came [Read More]

Hartwick Dominates IMCA TV Clash On The Coast Finale at Deep South

By Ben Deatherage LOXLEY, Ala. (Feb. 28, 2026) — Spencer Hartwick captured the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified 25-lap, $1,000-to-win feature on championship night of the 2026 IMCA TV Clash On The Coast at Deep South Speedway. The race served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s later this September — placing Hartwick on the eligibility list to attempt qualification. After an opening-start caution, Hartwick surged to the lead and set the pace while two-time IMCA Modified National champion and Tuesday winner Chaz Baca Jr. applied early pressure. Bo Slay joined the mix as the top three separated themselves from the field. A pair of mid-race cautions threatened to tighten the battle, but the Quitman, Arkansas pilot was flawless on each restart and pulled away late to secure his first win of the season in the Close Racing Supply Eastern Region and his first career Clash On The Coast series triumph — making it four different Modified winners in four nights. Baca finished second, former Arizona [Read More]

Ward Breaks Through at Deep South for First IMCA TV Clash On The Coast Triumph

By Ben Deatherage LOXLEY, Ala. (Feb. 27, 2026) — Tim Ward, originally from Mesa, Arizona, and now residing in Harcourt, Iowa, added another milestone to his decorated résumé by capturing the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified 25-lap, $1,000-to-win feature on the third night of the 2026 IMCA TV Clash On The Coast at Deep South Speedway. The event served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s later this September — placing Ward on the eligibility list. After a caution halted the initial start, Ward — wheeling the Doug and Amy Eckrich-owned no. 151 Performer Chassis house car — surged to the lead and paced lap one. Another early caution reset the field before Mississippi’s Spencer Hughes, in the Chris Smith-owned no. 11, and two-time Benton County Speedway champion Joel Rust began battling for second. Hughes secured the runner-up position on lap five as Ward, the two-time reigning Super Nationals winner, began to stretch his advantage. Hughes kept Ward within sight and made a bid underneath on [Read More]

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

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 314; 2. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine, Iowa, 300; 3. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 280; 4. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 270; 5. Troy III Morris, Waterloo, Iowa, 264; 6. Chaz Baca, Stanhope, Iowa, 260; 7. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 247; 8. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 234; 9. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 216; 10. Steven Whiteaker, Robstown, Texas, 212; 11. Dean Abbey, Boyd, Texas, 204; 12. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 201; 13. Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, 191; 14. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 190; 15. Logan Drake, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 179; 16. Tate Johnson, Homestead, Montana, 170; 17. Bart Taylor, Sheridan, Wyoming, and Jeremy Richey, Gold Hill, Oregon, both 169; 19. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Washington, 163; 20. Cole Szlauko, Shell Beach, Calif., 155. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 558; 2. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 483; 3. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn., 399; 4. Dillon Richards, Wymore, Neb., 351; 5. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 343; 6. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 316; [Read More]

Mitchell Machine Marks 20 Years of IMCA Support, Built on Grassroots Innovation

By Ben Deatherage WEBSTER CITY, Iowa (Feb. 26, 2026) — Mitchell Machine reaches a significant milestone in 2026, celebrating 20 years as an official sponsor of IMCA Racing while continuing to supply dependable drivetrain components to racers across the country and beyond. Founded and operated by Ted Mitchell, the Webster City, Iowa-based company was born from hands-on necessity rather than business ambition. Mitchell’s journey into transmission manufacturing began in 1996 when his brother Jim entered the racing scene. “My brother Jim started racing in ’96 and I made his transmission for him,” Mitchell recalled. “It worked really good and other drivers noticed a difference in his car. They started asking what he was running and he told them, ‘I don’t know — my brother makes it.’ That’s how it all got started.” Early production centered around two-speed transmissions, but durability challenges — particularly cracked cases — pushed Mitchell to innovate. Around 2002, he began developing aluminum replacement cases, creating patterns based on the Saginaw stock three-speed transmission widely used in Stock Car competition at the time. [Read More]

Wehrs Machine Celebrates 15 Years of Innovation and Support with IMCA

By Ben Deatherage BANGOR, Wis. (Feb. 25, 2026) — Wehrs Machine & Racing Products continues its strong commitment to grassroots racing, entering its 15th year as a valued sponsor of IMCA competition. Led by founder Chad Wehrs, the Wisconsin-based company has become a familiar presence throughout Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing pit areas, supporting racers through product development, contingency programs, and event partnerships across the country. “It’s very cool to be a part of IMCA,” Wehrs said. “It’s probably one of the best decisions we’ve made as a company, coming onboard back in 2011. They’re a great group of people, a great group of racers, and it’s our core market.” Wehrs Machine continues to bolster that partnership through an extensive contingency awards program spanning multiple divisions and premier events. The company will award $50 gift certificates to top-five finishers at each of 80 designated special events for Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Late Models, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods. Wehrs [Read More]