News Archives

July Qualifiers Expand Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational Eligibility List

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (July 27, 2026) — The Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational eligibility list continued to grow throughout July as several drivers secured their first qualifying victories of the season. Already-eligible competitors also remained busy, collecting additional qualifying wins at major specials, touring events, and weekly races across all five IMCA Modified regions. Drivers become eligible by winning IMCA-sanctioned events paying $1,000 or more to win, earning a place on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September at Boone Speedway. Already eligible drivers continued to add to their qualifying totals throughout late June and July. Tom Berry Jr. collected four victories during the Dakota Classic Modified Tour, winning July 5 at Nodak Speedway, July 6 at Estevan Motor Speedway, and July 8-9 at Dacotah Speedway to increase his season total to six. Cole Czarneski added victories during the tour at Jamestown Speedway on July 10 and with the Salute To Veterans Tour at [Read More]

RaceSaver Nationals Set for Sept. 3-6 With $14,000 on the Line; 2025 Finale Makeup to Open Weekend

By Ben Deatherage EAGLE, Neb. (July 27, 2026) — The 14th annual RaceSaver Nationals returns to Eagle Raceway over Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 3-6, and it’s shaping up to be another unforgettable edition. With a total purse exceeding $150,000, the weekend culminates in Sunday’s RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car championship feature, paying $14,000 to win and $1,700 to start. A dramatic 27-car, three-wide grid will once again launch into battle for one of grassroots racing’s most prestigious prizes. RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car competitors from across the country will converge on Eagle Raceway for four days of competition and entertainment. The weekend begins Thursday with an open practice session, pre-tech inspection, and RaceJugs Race of Champions qualifying. Also on Thursday’s schedule is the completion of the postponed 2025 RaceSaver Nationals championship feature following practice. After the on-track action, fans and teams can kick off the weekend with a DJ, karaoke contest, and the opening night of the Melon Bar. Friday and Saturday feature complete RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car qualifying programs, with the top nine finishers from each night’s [Read More]

Night of 1,000 Stars Returns to Hancock County Speedway With $6,250 Top Prize on Aug. 14

By Ben Deatherage BRITT, Iowa (July 27, 2026) — One of Iowa’s longest-running Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified specials returns to Hancock County Speedway on Friday, Aug. 14, as the Night of 1,000 Stars offers competitors the chance to race for a possible $6,250 payday. The feature purse exceeds $13,000, with the winner taking home as much as $6,250 and every starter guaranteed at least $250. The 50-lap feature will include a mandatory pit stop at lap 25, returning the event to its original Night of 1,000 Stars format. Designed to reward racers while keeping costs low, the event features free entry for all IMCA Modified competitors. The Night of 1,000 Stars also serves as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, with the winner earning eligibility to attempt to qualify for the 2026 invitational, held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks will also be in action as Hancock County Speedway closes out its 2026 racing season. [Read More]

Nodak Speedway’s All-Stars of August Memorial Specials Return Aug. 9 and 16

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (July 27, 2026) — Four memorial races honoring individuals who helped shape racing at Nodak Speedway highlight the second annual All-Stars of August specials, returning to the Playground of Power at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds for two consecutive Sundays on Aug. 9 and 16. Each night of racing begins at 7 p.m., with the featured memorial events paying $2,000 to win. The opening program on Aug. 9 features the Ole Olson Memorial for Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars and the John Gaule Memorial for Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods. The following Aug. 16, the spotlight shifts to the Monte Lundy Memorial for Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and the Bonnie Beeter Memorial for Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks. Unlike last season, when the four memorial races were spread across four separate weekends, this year’s schedule brings all four events together over two consecutive Saturdays, creating a pair of marquee nights for racers and fans. The Monte Lundy Memorial is a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, with the winner earning eligibility to attempt [Read More]

Southern SportMod Super Nationals Returns to Kennedale Speedway Park Sept. 10-12

By Ben Deatherage KENNEDALE, Texas (July 27, 2026) — The premier event for the Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods returns this fall as Kennedale Speedway Park hosts the Summit Racing Equipment IMCA Southern SportMod Super Nationals, highlighted by a $5,000-to-win, $500-to-start championship feature on Saturday, Sept. 12. The multi-day event offers competitors multiple opportunities to race for big money, with one driver capable of collecting $7,000 by sweeping all three marquee features. The action begins Saturday, Sept. 5, with the Photos By Mike Frieri Prelude, paying $1,000 to win. The Prelude winner will earn a guaranteed starting position in the Southern SportMod All-Star Race. Because the 2026 All-Star Tour was rained out, eligibility for the All-Star Race has been expanded. Any IMCA Southern SportMod driver who competes in the Prelude at KSP, as well as any driver who has won an IMCA Southern SportMod-sanctioned event during the 2026 season, will be eligible to compete for a spot in the no-entry-fee, $1,000-to-win, $100-to-start All-Star Race. The Super Nationals weekend resumes Thursday, Sept. 10, with an open [Read More]

Sanders Wins Frank Brewer Memorial G-60 Classic at Cottage Grove

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (July 25, 2026) — Matt Sanders continued his outstanding 2026 season Saturday night, capturing the $3,000-to-win second annual Frank Brewer Memorial G-60 Classic for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds at Cottage Grove Speedway. The 60-lap feature was contested in two segments with a midway break. Defending race winner Ethan Killingsworth, the reigning Southern Oregon Speedway champion and National Rookie of the Year, paced the opening circuits before an early caution on lap two. Fresh off his IMCA Wild West Speedweek championship in June, Sanders moved into second on the restart and began applying pressure to Killingsworth. The Brookings driver made his first serious bid on lap six but was denied before using the low groove to complete the pass on lap nine. A caution on lap 10 erased Sanders’ advantage, but he quickly rebuilt his lead. Lapped traffic came into play on lap 17 before another yellow one lap later brought the field back together. Dustin Cady moved into second on the ensuing restart, but Sanders again drove away and [Read More]

Scholpp Captures Inaugural Prairie Modified Nationals at Estevan

By Brandon Beeter ESTEVAN, SK (July 25, 2026) — Hometown driver Kody Scholpp pocketed the $5,000 top prize Saturday night, rallying late to win the inaugural Prairie Modified Nationals at Estevan Motor Speedway after a thrilling 45-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature that featured multiple lead changes and a mandatory halfway inversion. Travis Hagen, Steven Pfeifer and Scholpp all spent time at the front during the opening 21 laps, with Scholpp leading the most circuits before the scheduled halfway break. The redraw produced a two, forcing Scholpp to exchange positions with Pfeifer, who inherited the lead to begin the second 24-lap segment. Hagen lined up alongside Scholpp on the second row for the Delaware double-file restart and immediately charged to the cushion, using the high side to wrestle the lead away from Pfeifer. Scholpp wasn’t finished. The Estevan driver slipped past Pfeifer for second before chasing down Hagen and reclaiming the lead with six laps remaining. A caution with four laps to go erased his advantage, but Scholpp was flawless on the restart to secure the [Read More]

Manning Tops Modified Feature During Summer Spectacular at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (July 25, 2026) — Gavyn Manning returned to victory lane Saturday night, holding off defending track champion Brad Pounds to win the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the Summer Spectacular at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. Manning, the 2024 Bakersfield Speedway champion, used the high groove to edge ahead of polesitter Rob Sanders at the start before Sanders spun in turn two on lap three to bring out the race’s lone caution. Pounds methodically reeled in Manning and mounted his strongest challenge with 11 laps remaining, throwing a slide job entering turn one. Manning crossed back underneath in turn three and maintained the advantage the rest of the way despite continued pressure around the cushion. Austin Kiefer completed the podium while points leader Tyler Bannister advanced from seventh to fourth. Sanders recovered to round out the top five. The victory was Manning’s sixth of the season in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region and his third at Bakersfield Speedway. Manning and Bannister won the heat races. Piker Capitalizes [Read More]

Merkes Edges Watters in Summer Showdown Thriller at Maquoketa

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (July 25, 2026) — Reegan Merkes picked the perfect time to earn his first career Maquoketa Speedway victory, slipping past Blaise Watters coming to the checkers to win by just .067 seconds in a thrilling second round of the Summer Showdown for the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks. Twenty-nine Hobby Stocks answered the call, and the feature delivered another classic with only one caution slowing the 15-lap contest. Several drivers spent time at the point before seventh-starting Watters, making his first appearance at Maquoketa Speedway, worked into the lead. Merkes remained glued to Watters’ rear bumper as the pair took the white flag virtually dead even. The two raced side-by-side around the final circuit before Merkes found just enough room entering turn four to edge Watters at the finish line by a scant .067 seconds. Richard Nelson completed the podium, Carson Butt finished fourth and Kile Vohringer rounded out the top five. The victory added Merkes’ name to the list of 2026 B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region winners. Diercks Cruises to Modified [Read More]

Kirk Sweeps SportMod Action on Salute to Veterans Night at Algona

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (July 23, 2026) — Willy Kirk enjoyed the biggest night of Thursday’s Salute to Veterans Tour powered by Performance Bodies & Parts, sweeping both the Race of Champions and the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature during the 10th annual Hunting With Heroes Salute to Veterans Night at Kossuth County Speedway. Kirk collected $2,500 for his efforts while earning his first career Salute to Veterans Tour victory and his 10th feature win of the season, but first at Algona in 2026. The evening opened with the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod Race of Champions, where Josh Appel and Tad Reutzel paced the nine-car field for the 12-lap special paying $1,000 to the winner. Pole sitter Appel grabbed the lead at the start and remained out front through the halfway point before Kirk slowly reeled him in. Kirk took command with four laps remaining and, once in clean air, was never challenged. Smith finished second ahead of Appel, Herrera, and Reutzel. The 24-car feature followed with Blake Luinenburg leading the opening five [Read More]