News Archives

Jim ‘Cowboy’ Kennedy: A Life Remembered

By Ben Deatherage EVERETT, Pa. (Apr. 21, 2026) — RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car racer Jim “Cowboy” Kennedy never needed much to go racing — just a car, a wrench, and a reason to keep going. For nearly seven decades, the Pennsylvania native carved out a place in sprint car racing that few could ever match, continuing to compete well into his 90s before his passing on April 2 at the age of 91. But long before the tributes, the Hall of Famer had already told his story — in conversations with reporters, at racetracks, and in the quiet, in-between moments that defined a life spent chasing the next green flag. A Life That Spanned Generations Kennedy was born on August 7, 1934, into a world far different than the one he would come to know behind the wheel of a Sprint Car. The United States was deep in the Great Depression, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the early years of his first term, working to steady a nation searching for its footing as parts of [Read More]

The Midnight Rider Strikes Again as McLain Holds Off Miller in CST Thriller at Friendship

By Evan McCrory ELKIN, N.C. (Apr. 18, 2026) — A scorching April afternoon set the stage in the valleys of North Carolina as 16 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars rolled into Friendship Motor Speedway for the Carolina Sprint Tour’s first appearance at the facility since 2021. The night opened with Radical Race Gear hot laps, where Pennsylvania’s Trevor Gach continued his early-season speed streak. Piloting the Carber Racing entry, Gach topped the charts for the second consecutive event with a blistering lap of 15.186 seconds. Heat race action proved eventful. Matthew Wall went for a tumble in turn three, bringing a collective pause from the crowd—fortunately, he emerged unharmed. In another incident, Robert Tyler and Ben McCall made contact entering turn one, collecting Gach in the process. When the dust settled, George Loux and Greg Smyre claimed heat race victories. Following a redraw of the top eight, Jake McLain and Robert Tyler led the field to green for the 25-lap, $1,000-to-win main event. McLain wasted no time asserting control, charging to the lead through the opening corners [Read More]

Cooper Cruises to First SportMod Win of Season at Marysville

By Troy Hennig MARYSVILLE, Calif. (Apr. 18, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods continued their resurgence in car count at Marysville Raceway, with 16 competitors signing in for championship point race number five. A familiar name dominated the 20-lap feature, as Yuba City’s Todd Cooper started on the front row and led every lap without issue. Cooper, teaming with the Shelby family, piloted the No. 86 to a commanding victory. Former track champion Jimmy Ford chased Cooper for much of the race but ultimately finished just over a second behind at the checkered flag. Mike Merritt completed the podium in third. Two early contenders encountered trouble. Buddy Olschowka stopped on lap three with a mechanical issue and was unable to continue, while Jason Clayton Jr., who had been running second, pulled off on lap five. Defending track champion Mark Garner charged from 10th to finish fourth, while newcomer Al Johnson impressed with a fifth-place run. Olschowka won the first eight-lap heat race, while Clayton Jr. dominated heat race two, building a lead of more [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]

Modifieds and SportMods Set to Get Rolling at Santa Maria

By Stephanie Odom SANTA MARIA, Calif. (Apr. 20, 2026) — Santa Maria Speedway is set to host an action-packed night of racing this Saturday, April 25, on the famed third-mile clay oval. The evening marks the season championship opener for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods. IMCA Modifieds competed six times at Santa Maria Speedway in 2025 and produced six different winners, proving just how deep and competitive the division was all season long. Cody Burke opened the year in victory lane, and the Salinas native will look to repeat that performance as he heads south on US 101 for this season’s opener. Josh Combs, Larry Wise, Gavyn Manning, Rob Sanders, and Logan Drake also found victory lane last season, and several are expected back this weekend in pursuit of the first win at SMS in 2026. IMCA Northern SportMods were just as competitive in 2025, producing six different winners over seven nights of racing. The only two-time winner, Tyler Bannister, has moved to the IMCA Modified ranks and will make [Read More]

Brown on Top of His Game at Delaware Int’l MASS Event

By Pete Wortman DELMAR, Del. (Apr. 18, 2026) — Dave Brown Jr. of Aston, Pennsylvania took top honors Saturday night at Delaware International Speedway by capturing his first MASS victory of the young season. Brown outlasted defending champion Troy Betts in the 25-lap feature with the DCB Plumbing & Heating Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series presented by Capitol Renegade. It was Brown’s 13th career MASS victory, tying him for second on the all-time win list for the series. Brown drew the pole during the redraw and took full advantage, grabbing the early lead at the start while Betts wasted no time giving chase. Betts pressured Brown in the opening laps, with Brown slowly opening up a five-car-length advantage. Meanwhile, behind the leaders, heat winner Ryan Stillwaggon was on the move, battling with D.J. Tanner and last week’s winner Tim Iulg for third. The trio raced three-wide multiple times in a thrilling fight that lasted several laps. By halfway, Tanner secured the position, with Iulg in pursuit and Stillwaggon fending off a hard-charging Aiden Borden. At that point, Brown [Read More]

Humblet First on Dirt at Natural Bridge with VSS

By Jim Haines NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (Apr. 18, 2026) — Chris Humblet has won a number of Virginia Sprint Series asphalt events, but on Saturday he picked up his first dirt track victory when the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car series rolled into Natural Bridge Speedway. Heat races on the warm, sunny spring evening kicked off the program with Jerald Harris and Humblet taking wins. In the feature, Daren Bolac and Matt Mullins led the field to green, with Bolac jumping out front and Mullins right with him. Jerald Harris and Humblet followed closely behind in the early laps. Mullins soon worked his way into the lead as Humblet advanced to third, while Harris held position just behind them. Mullins continued to pace the field as Humblet moved into second and began to close the gap. As the laps wound down, Humblet reeled in Mullins and made his move, taking the lead with just a few circuits remaining. Mullins adjusted his line in an attempt to fight back, but Humblet stayed strong to the waving checkered flag. [Read More]

Bannister Blasts from Eighth to Bakersfield Modified Victory

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (April 18, 2026) — Tyler Bannister earned his first Bakersfield Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified victory Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway. It marked his second DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region win of the season. Markus Frazier seized the lead early from his third starting position while Bannister stormed from eighth on the grid to second by lap seven. Bannister then knifed underneath Frazier exiting turn two to take the lead on lap ten and drove away to a straightaway advantage for the win. Pounds won an exciting battle with Rob Sanders and Gavyn Manning for second, while Frazier settled for fifth. In Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod action, a strong 15-car field was split across two heat races, with Ethan Johnson and Tyler Irwin winning the eight-lap preliminaries. Alyssa Smith led early in the 25-lap feature ahead of Johnson before Matthew Frazier methodically advanced from sixth starting position. Frazier took over the lead on lap 13 and withstood a restart to secure his first win of [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]

Earven Triumphs in Wild Modified Feature at Casa Grande

By Rowdy Briggs CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Apr. 18, 2026) — Gerry Glenn got the jump at the start of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature at Central Arizona Raceway before a chaotic opening lap brought out a restart. Chad Ayers got loose in turn two, sending Jett Ayers up the track to avoid him. Jett’s move forced Terry Belcher Jr. into the wall, and in turn three, contact between Luke Silber and Ethan Stevens collected Bryan Gray, Todd Izzo, and Bill Slocum. On the restart, Glenn again jumped to the lead, but it was short-lived as Don Earven worked his way to the front. Earven settled in out front and held off Justin Erickson over the closing laps to secure the victory. Chad Ayers finished third, followed by Jesse Tellez and Sean Conyers to complete the top five. Silber had raced his way back into contention and up to third at one point before pulling in with two laps remaining. It was Earven’s first win in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region since 2024, when his [Read More]