News Archives

Nate Coopman: Three Hundred Wins and a Lasting Legacy

By Ben Deatherage MANKATO, Minn. — Three hundred victories. Even Nate Coopman has a hard time wrapping his head around that number. “I can’t believe it,” Coopman said. “It’s pretty amazing to have had that much success.” On Aug. 1 at Arlington Raceway, the Mankato, Minn., driver reached another milestone by earning the 300th IMCA Sport Compact feature victory of his career, extending his record as the division’s all-time winningest driver. What began with his first IMCA feature victory in 2011 quickly turned into one of the most dominant seven-year stretches in IMCA history. Between 2011 and 2017, Coopman never won fewer than 21 features in a season, highlighted by a 54-win campaign in 2014 that is tied with Mike Nichols’ 2016 IMCA Stock Car season for the modern-era record for victories in a single IMCA class. “We were racing four or five nights a week for a while, so I guess I never really looked at it that close,” Coopman said. “When you step back now, it’s pretty incredible.” Nate Coopman celebrates his 300th career [Read More]

Dan Mackenthun: The Hamburg Racer’s Road to 200 Stock Car Wins

By Ben Deatherage HAMBURG, Minn. (Aug. 11, 2026) — Two hundred victories don’t happen overnight. They aren’t the product of one dominant season or one magical race car. They’re built one night at a time, one feature at a time, one year after another. When Dan Mackenthun earned the 200th Sunoco IMCA Stock Car victory of his career, the Hamburg, Minn., driver joined one of the most exclusive clubs in IMCA history, becoming just the eighth driver to reach the milestone. “It was something we were looking forward to,” Mackenthun said. “The Stock Car class is pretty tough competition anywhere, so to pick up just one win is a feat, let alone to do it 200 times. It’s been a pretty solid year so far.” His first IMCA Stock Car victory came in 2002 at Arlington Raceway. The following night he backed it up with another triumph at Redwood Speedway, unknowingly beginning one of the sport’s most accomplished careers. Mackenthun’s milestone also earned him membership in IMCA Stock Car racing’s exclusive Double Century Club. Only seven [Read More]

Ralph Bloom Memorial Returns to Cottage Grove Speedway Aug. 14-15

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (Aug. 12, 2026) — The sixth annual Ralph Bloom Memorial returns to Cottage Grove Speedway on Aug. 14-15 with an exciting new twist, as the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods will compete topless for the first time in event history. The two-night special honors the memory of Ralph Bloom, one of the patriarchal members of the Bloom Family Racing team whose passion for racing helped build one of Cottage Grove Speedway’s most recognizable racing families. His legacy continues to be celebrated each summer through one of the premier IMCA SportMod events in the Pacific Northwest. Saturday night’s 33-lap feature currently pays at least $3,333 to win and $333-to-start main event. The confirmed purse has already grown to nearly $14,000, with additional support continuing to come in. Presented by American Steel, Industrial Source, Discount Windows, R&S Industrial Supply and Bloom Family Racing, the event continues to grow in prestige while drawing many of the Northwest’s top IMCA SportMod competitors. The weekend opens Friday, Aug. 14, with qualifying competition to set the [Read More]

Shryock’s 100th Career Stock Car Win Headlines Clay County Fair Speedway Program

By Jane Burd SPENCER, Iowa (Aug. 10, 2026) — Kelly Shryock reached a milestone Monday night at Clay County Fair Speedway, earning his 100th career Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature victory to headline the evening’s racing program. Shryock, of Fertile, started from the pole and led the opening laps before Austin Brands worked his way to the front. Shryock remained within striking distance before reclaiming the lead on lap 15 and driving away for the historic victory. The win was Shryock’s 10th EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region triumph of the season and his second at Clay County Fair Speedway in 2026. Brands finished second, Mike Albertsen was third, Jake Masters charged from ninth to fourth, and Dayton Ullrich completed the top five. Davis Scores First Clay County SportMod Win Brayden Ahlers appeared poised for victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature before Zach Davis of Lonsdale, Minn., mounted a late charge. Davis raced from fifth starting position and made the winning pass with two laps remaining to collect his sixth victory of the season. [Read More]

James Captures Third Banks Mod Nationals Crown

By Jack Mitchell BANKS, Ore. (Aug. 8, 2026) — Bricen James added another chapter to his Whisler Construction Banks Modified Nationals legacy Saturday night at Sunset Speedway Park, leading all 40 laps of the $2,000-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature to earn his third career victory of the event and second straight. The Albany driver also collected his third DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the 2026 season, with each of those wins coming at a different track. The Banks Mod Nationals was also a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifying event, but James was already on the eligibility list for the event, which will be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Seventeen cars took the green for the 40-lap feature, which was slowed by just one caution. James wasted little time taking command and spent the evening fending off challenges from Craig Cassell, 2023 winner Grey Ferrando, and Zane Miner. Despite the pressure, James never surrendered the lead and methodically worked through traffic to secure another prestigious [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Shryock Holds Off Albertsen in Kossuth County Stock Car Duel

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (Aug. 6, 2026) — The Koppen/Harken/Hovinga Memorial Fair Race highlighted Thursday night’s program at Kossuth County Speedway, with each feature winner receiving a six-foot trophy. The evening also included the Kossuth County Hall of Fame induction, honoring Bruce Wickman, John Pletcher, Timmy Sidles, Stacy Mills, the Algona Fire Department and Algona EMS. The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars produced the night’s most entertaining feature as season point leader Kelly Shryock and Mike Albertsen waged a classic battle over the final 10 laps. Shryock grabbed the lead at the drop of the green while veteran racers Albertsen and Kevin Opheim kept the pressure on. Cautions on laps five and nine slowed the pace, but Shryock remained in command at halfway with Albertsen, Opheim and McCain Jennings in pursuit. Albertsen spent the closing laps glued to Shryock’s rear bumper but came up just half a car length short at the checkers. Jennings completed the podium ahead of Opheim and Zayn Feaster. Chris Palsrok and Carson Reinig each advanced six positions to share Hard Charger [Read More]

Peck Scores $1,000 Donald Green Memorial Stock Car Victory

By Chance Riley JEFFERSON, S.D. (Aug. 7, 2026) — Greg Peck captured the biggest prize of the night Friday at Park Jefferson Speedway, winning the $1,000-to-win Donald Green Memorial for Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. Jason Ward and Travis Barker dueled for the lead over the opening five laps before Greg Peck, who started fifth, raced his way to the front. Once out front, the Sioux City, Iowa, driver moved to the high side and pulled away to secure the 25-lap victory. The win was Peck’s fifth EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region triumph of 2026 and his fourth at Park Jefferson Speedway this season. The Donald Green Memorial was a B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational qualifying event, but Peck was already on the eligibility list for the event, which is held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Dan Mackenthun finished second ahead of Barker, Ward and Mel Elsberry. Wyatt Luke and Mike Vondrak won the heat races. Abelson Goes Back-to-Back in Modifieds Chris Mills paced the early laps of the Karl [Read More]

Banks Charges to Hobby Stock Victory at Phillips County

By Suzan McCoy HOLYOKE, Colo. (Aug. 8, 2026) — Phillips County Raceway wrapped up its 2026 season Saturday night with championship battles settled in five IMCA divisions. Dave Banks of Brush collected the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature after starting fourth. Wade Kolbo finished second, Christopher Glass was third, and Aiden Miller crossed the stripe fourth. Tylan Lambertus advanced five positions from 10th to finish fifth and secure the 2026 track championship. The victory was Banks’ first B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region win of the season. Bussell Scores Modified Victory as Steffens Clinches Title Justin Bussell of Imperial, Neb., raced to victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature, leading home Anthony Rhoades after starting second in the 20-lap contest. Bubba Alvarado advanced from seventh to finish third, followed by Troy Seidl and Tom Quint. Ayden Steffens saw his night end early with a DNF but still secured the 2026 track championship. Brack Wins Stock Car Finale, Banks Earns Track Championship Bill Brack of Mead captured the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature after starting alongside polesitter [Read More]

Kreider Returns from Illness to Capture Dramatic Bridgeport Sprint Victory

By Pete Wortman SWEDESBORO, N.J. (Aug. 8, 2026) — Jared Kreider’s return to the cockpit couldn’t have gone much better. Back in action after missing the past month due to illness, the Stockton, N.J., driver rallied on the final lap to score his second career Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series victory in Saturday night’s 25-lap DCB Plumbing & Heating Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series presented by Capitol Renegade feature at Bridgeport Speedway. Kreider, who also topped hot laps and won one of the All-State Auto Glass heat races, chased Tim Iulg for most of the race before a late caution and mechanical trouble for the leader opened the door. Shelby Kelly and Kreider shared the front row, with Kreider leading the opening lap before Iulg charged underneath him on lap two to seize the lead. Iulg established a comfortable advantage while Kreider settled into second and Troy Betts battled Jeremy Kornbau for third. As the race reached halfway, Eddie Wagner joined the battle after advancing into sixth and lapped traffic soon became a factor. Iulg expertly worked through slower cars, [Read More]

Browne Breaks Through for First Modified Victory at Antioch

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (Aug. 8, 2026) — Tyler Browne of Antioch captured his first career Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature victory Friday night at Antioch Speedway, adding his name to the list of 2026 DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region winners. Browne jumped into the lead at the start of the 20-lap main event with heat race winner Troy Foulger of Oakley and previous feature winner Andrew Pearce of Oakley in pursuit. Foulger applied constant pressure throughout the race, but Browne answered every challenge to maintain the top spot. An inside pass on the frontstretch on lap 15 moved Pearce into second. Foulger headed to the pits moments later, allowing Pearce one final opportunity to challenge. Browne remained composed over the closing laps to secure the milestone victory. Doug Hagio of Prunedale finished third, followed by Carl Berendsen II of Antioch, and Foulger. Ryland Doubles Up in SportMods and Stock Cars Fred Ryland of Brentwood enjoyed another double-feature night, winning both the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods and Sunoco IMCA Stock Car features. The victories [Read More]