Stock Car Archives

Wood Family Makes History as CJ Speedway Opens the 2026 Racing Season

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (Apr. 24, 2026) — The 2026 racing season got underway Friday night at CJ Speedway, and the Wood family from Sigourney made racing history as the father-son duo of Nathan and Brayden each scored feature victories. Nathan captured the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event, while Brayden topped the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, making for a memorable opening night. The first main event of the evening was the IMCA Hobby Stock feature. Brayden Wood, in only his second full year of racing, started from the outside front row and immediately took command, with accomplished racer Daniel Wauters in hot pursuit. The two put on an entertaining battle, as Wauters pulled alongside Wood several times late in the race. The younger Wood showed that racing runs deep in his blood, holding strong to score his first win of the year in the B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region. Wauters finished second, while another talented youngster, Kyler Burmeister, ran a strong race to take third. Dalton Weepie and Austin Stadler completed the [Read More]

Smith Strikes Late to Win Baby Blue Harcrow Memorial Stock Car Feature at HOT

By Ben Deatherage WACO, Texas (Apr. 24, 2026) — Kaufman’s Cody Smith delivered a thrilling late-race pass to win the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at the 7th annual Baby Blue Harcrow Memorial at Heart O’ Texas Speedway. The 30-lap, $3,015-to-win main event served as a qualifier for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational to be run at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, placing Smith on the eligibility list. The victory also marked Smith’s first EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region win of the season. Three-time EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region champion Westin Abbey set the early pace, fending off heavy pressure from two-time region titlist Blake Clark. Clark briefly worked his way past Abbey before a stoppage negated the move, forcing him to regroup for another charge. Through multiple restarts and challenges, Abbey continued to control the point while a tight battle for second unfolded behind him. As the race wore on, 2023 Baby Blue winner Cody Smith emerged as a contender, climbing into second on lap 17 after methodically working [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through April 23, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 621; 2. Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, 481; 3. Jason Barnhill, Milton, Florida, 467; 4. Chris Smith, Brewton, Alabama, 456; 5. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 430; 6. G. W. IV Egbert, Belton, Texas, 374; 7. Greg Hopkins, Repton, Alabama, 360; 8. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 357; 9. Steven Whiteaker, Robstown, Texas, 343; 10. Trevor Egbert, Belton, Texas, 333; 11. Justin Erickson, Glendale, Ariz., 321; 12. Markus Frazier, Santa Maria, Calif., 316; 13. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 314; 14. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 313; 15. Zachariah Howard, Defuniak Springs, Florida, 310; 16. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine, Iowa, 300; 17. Jake Pike, Pahrump, Nev., 298; 18. Tyler Bannister, Bakersfield, Calif., 297; 19. Gavyn Manning, Bakersfield, Calif., 292; 20. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 280. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 714; 2. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 628; 3. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 561; 4. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn., 470; 5. Dillon Richards, Wymore, Neb., 403; 6. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 400; 7. [Read More]

Oliver Wins Thrilling Stock Car Race at Independence

By Christine Rublack INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (Apr. 21, 2026) — A Tuesday night full of exciting racing at Independence Motor Speedway saw John Oliver Jr. take home the victory by the smallest margin of the night in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, edging Kodey Miles by just 0.051 seconds. Kodey Miles took the lead early, with Tanner Allen and Tom Schmitt in pursuit. Oliver began working the low groove as the duo in front of him battled for second. Schmitt moved into second while Oliver continued to work underneath him. With a couple laps to go, Oliver closed in on Miles for the top position and, as the checkers waved, took the win. It was the first win of 2026 for the West Burlington veteran in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region after starting fourth. Miles and Schmitt finished second and third, while Gage Neal and Tanner Allen completed the top five. Kolin Hibdon dominated the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds. Hibdon quickly pulled away as Joel Rust moved into second, and the pair began to distance themselves [Read More]

Merchant Storms from 16th to Capture Park Jefferson Modified Feature

By Chance Riley JEFFERSON, S.D. (Apr. 16, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds were the stars of the show Thursday night at Park Jefferson Speedway with a thrilling 20-lap main event. For most of the race, it was a two-car battle for the lead between Shane DeMey and Brian Mahlstedt. But on the white flag lap, charging down the front stretch, R.J. Merchant of South Sioux City, Nebraska stormed from his 16th starting position to steal the win—despite a bent suspension. It was Merchant’s first victory of the year in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. DeMey finished second ahead of Duke Erickson, while Mahlstedt and Ricky Stephan completed the top five. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods also delivered an exciting 18-lap feature. Braydon Ahlers controlled much of the race, but Willy Kirk, who restarted at the back following an early caution, made a last-lap pass on the front stretch during a green, white, checkered finish to take the win. The Salix, Iowa driver earned his first victory of the season. Ahlers settled for [Read More]

Laney Charges Late to $2,000 Eagle Icebreaker Modified Victory

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Apr. 18, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds closed out the final night of the Icebreaker Challenge at Eagle Raceway on Saturday with $2,000 on the line. Josh Most led early, followed by Jared Eckrich and Jace Whitt, while Cody Laney quickly moved into contention and climbed to second by lap four. A series of restarts shuffled the running order as Jaxon Saathoff and Jordan Grabouski entered the mix. Laney and Saathoff traded the runner-up position before Laney powered to the lead with eight laps remaining. Behind him, Grabouski and Shawn Harker battled for position as the laps wound down. Laney held strong over the closing circuits to secure the win, followed by Most, Saathoff, Grabouski, and Harker. It was Laney’s second victory of the season and his first in the Jet Racing Central Region. The race served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier to be ran at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The Torrance, California native is already on the eligibility list to [Read More]

Grabouski Dominates Modified Icebreaker Challenge Opener at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Apr. 17, 2026) — Grabouski Dominates Icebreaker Modified Main at Eagle The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Modifieds capped opening night of the 2026 Icebreaker Challenge at Eagle Raceway on Apr. 17 with a $1,500-to-win main event. Josh Most led early, followed by Brandon Verbeek, Chevy Hadan, and Jordan Grabouski. Grabouski moved into second on lap two while Drew Janssen worked his way to third shortly after. The race’s turning point came on lap five when Most jumped the cushion in turns one and two, nearly flipping and surrendering the lead. On the restart, Grabouski took control as battles continued behind him, with Janssen, Cody Laney, and Izac Mallicoat all moving forward through traffic. From there, Grabouski pulled away to a straightaway victory. Janssen finished second, followed by Laney, Mallicoat, and Dustin Andersen. It was Grabouski’s third win of the season and his second in the Jet Racing Central Region in 2026. The race was a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, and the Beatrice driver is already on the eligibility list to [Read More]

Whitfield Scores Emotional First SportMod Win at CAR

By Rowdy Briggs CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Apr. 17, 2026) — Racing with a heavy heart, Braydon Whitfield captured his first career Speedway Motors IMCA-sanctioned Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature at Central Arizona Raceway on Friday night. Whitfield was racing in honor of his grandfather, Roy Tipton—known to him as “Papa Roy”—who passed away on Sunday, April 12. Rex Hasley and Jerry Elliott led the SportMod field to the green flag for their 20-lap feature. Hasley led lap one, but Whitfield scooted by on lap two. Whitfield set sail on the field and built a lead of over a second before a caution with two laps to go bunched the field. A very emotional Whitfield held off Ty Weidner, Bubba Stafford Jr., James Meile, and Hasley to secure the win. Speedy Madrid and Dennis Losing were on the pole for the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature. Madrid led lap one but wasn’t able to hold off Mitchell Ferguson. Ferguson took command on lap two and cruised to the win by more than six seconds for his [Read More]

Stone Scores Big in Stock Cars at Watsonville

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Apr. 17, 2026) — A total of 26 Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars packed the pit area for the inaugural American Giuliani Construction and Restoration Classic on Friday night at Watsonville Speedway, and when all was settled it was veteran driver Paul Stone who claimed the $2,500 grand prize. Stone began the evening by qualifying second overall and shot to the lead by way of the pole position in the feature. The Winton driver ended up leading every lap, but it was far from easy. A relentless Tyler Bannister ran the high scary side of the quarter-mile oval and gave it everything he had in an attempt to wrestle away the lead. Stone was smooth as glass on the bottom, however, and never gave Bannister an opportunity to pounce. A late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish that went into overtime. During the restart, Stone hit his marks to claim the Ed Entz checkered flag for victory over Bannister, 12th-starting Lance Hurst, Fred Ryland, and Terry DeCarlo Jr. It was Stone’s third [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through April 16, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 585; 2. Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, 481; 3. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 399; 4. Jason Barnhill, Milton, Florida, 392; 5. Chris Smith, Brewton, Alabama, 381; 6. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 357; 7. Steven Whiteaker, Robstown, Texas, 343; 8. G. W. IV Egbert, Belton, Texas, 336; 9. Trevor Egbert, Belton, Texas, 333; 10. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 314; 11. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine, Iowa, 300; 12. Jake Pike, Pahrump, Nev., 298; 13. Greg Hopkins, Repton, Alabama, 287; 14. Justin Erickson, Glendale, Ariz., 282; 15. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 280; 16. Dean Abbey, Boyd, Texas, 271; 17. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, and Gage McCaughan, Scottsdale, Ariz., both 270; 19. Troy III Morris, Waterloo, Iowa, 264; 20. Mark Carrell, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 263. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 714; 2. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 592; 3. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 561; 4. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn., 470; 5. Dillon Richards, Wymore, Neb., 403; 6. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 400; 7. [Read More]