News Archives

Braaksma Breaks Through for First IMCA TV Clash On The Coast Triumph at Blackwater

By Ben Deatherage BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2026) — Ethan Braaksma powered to victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified 30-lap, $1,000-to-win feature on the opening night of the 2026 IMCA Clash On The Coast at Blackwater Speedway, formerly known as Northwest Florida Speedway. The event also served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s later this September, for which Braaksma was already on the eligibility list. Tim Ward, the two-time reigning Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner, jumped to the early lead aboard the Doug and Amy Eckrich-owned no. 151 Performer Chassis house car before Joseph Joiner wrestled the top spot away on lap two. Joiner, driving the Andrews Autosport no. 10J for car owner Spencer Andrews, withstood multiple early cautions while fending off challenges from Braaksma. The race turned on lap 10 when Joiner bobbled, allowing Braaksma — the two-time defending Dakota Classic Modified Tour champion racing the Trent Guest and Danny Meier no. 111— to pounce and seize control. [Read More]

Martini and Winemiller Split Casa Grande SportMod Weekend

By Rowdy Briggs CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 22, 2026) — Avon, Minnesota’s Mark Martini captured the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature on Sunday night at Central Arizona Raceway, scoring his second victory of the season — both coming at the Casa Grande 3/8-mile oval. Martini seized the early lead and established control of the main event before chaos erupted on lap two. Joseph Patterson, running second at the time, spun in turn one, triggering a multi-car pileup that collected several contenders including Eric Winemiller, pole sitter Austin Wiseman, Scott Francoeur, Ty Weidner, and others. Following the restart, Bubba Stafford mounted the strongest challenge to Martini. A late debris caution with five laps remaining set up a decisive run to the finish. Martini hugged the bottom groove while Stafford threw everything he had at the top side, but Martini maintained his advantage to secure the win. Stafford finished second, followed by Tyler Johnson, Anthony Madrid, and Winemiller, who rebounded from the earlier incident to complete the top five. Tyke Miles delivered an impressive hard charger performance, [Read More]

Gould Goes Wire-to-Wire in Ice Breaker Finale at Abilene

By Ben Deatherage ABILENE, Texas (Feb. 21, 2026) — William Gould captured the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature on the final night of the 32nd Annual Ice Breaker at Abilene Speedway, scoring the $1,000 victory in the 20-lap main event. The Calera, Oklahoma driver led from the outset aboard the Kenny Fryer Motorsports no. 60 to earn his first win of the season in the GRT Race Cars South Central Region. The race also served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, placing Gould on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify later this September. The 2013 National champion and eight-time reigning regional titlist snatched the lead immediately at the drop of the green and proved dominant through multiple stoppages. Gould was flawless on restarts following several early cautions while 2021 South Central Region Rookie of the Year Steve Askew settled into second and worked to keep pace. Askew faced heavy pressure from New Mexico’s Rob Moseley as the pair battled intensely for the [Read More]

Morris Gets Winter Nationals Finale Victory at Southern Raceway

By Ben Deatherage MILTON, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2026) — Troy Morris III was declared the winner of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature on the final night of the Winter Nationals at Hunt The Front’s Southern Raceway following the post-race disqualification of Wesley Wise for a rev box infraction. The 20-lap, $1,000-to-win main event before a packed house. The decision completed a weekend sweep for Morris, who also won the previous night’s main event and is already on the eligibility list for the 2026 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational. The sweep also earned Morris a $1,000 bonus for the achievement. Tyler Allen led the opening lap before Cory Wray, a two-time Missouri State champion, powered around the outside to take command on lap two. A caution soon after reset the field, and on the restart Wray got sideways, handing the lead to Wise — last year’s track champion at Arkansas’ Two Dollar Pistol Motor Speedway. Chase Rosebrugh, the 2023 Close Racing Supply Eastern Region Rookie of the Year, moved into second while Dylan Thornton, a three-division [Read More]

Pearce Prevails in Winter Clash Feature at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (February 21, 2026) — Eighth-starting Andrew Pearce of Oakley won the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified 30-lap season opener during the Winter Clash at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. 2025 champion Brad Pounds and 2024 champion Gavyn Manning collided while battling for the lead in turn one on lap 11, thrusting 2025 Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod champion Tyler Bannister into the top spot. Pearce searched all over the speedway for a way to get around Bannister before the caution flew for Pounds with an apparent oil line fire underneath his machine on lap 18. Bannister restarted with a mechanical failure on his left front wheel, and Pearce took advantage of the wounded machine to make the decisive pass for the lead on lap 19. Markus Frazier of Santa Maria then flipped in turns one and two to bring out a red flag. Pearce led the final 10 laps for his first DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region win of 2026, while Race Liberante drove into second place. Bannister held on [Read More]

Starry Scores Ice Breaker Opening Night Win at Abilene

By Ben Deatherage ABILENE, Texas (Feb. 20, 2026) — Cameron Starry continued his torrid early-season pace by winning the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature on the opening night of the 32nd Annual Ice Breaker at Abilene Speedway. The 20-lap, $1,000-to-win main event saw the Corpus Christi driver secure his seventh victory of 2026, all in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region. The 2026 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion and 2024 Dakota Classic Tour titleholder also earned a B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational qualifier, further adding to his existing eligibility for the event, which will be held at the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Starry started third and quickly surged to the lead once the race got underway, building separation before an early caution reset the field. Blake Clark, a two-time EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region champion, held firm in second while 2020 Grayson County Speedway IMCA Modified title winner Beau Collins applied steady pressure. Their duel allowed Starry to check out once again. Late cautions tightened the field, but Starry [Read More]

Morris Strikes First on Opening Night of Winter Nationals at Southern Raceway

By Ben Deatherage MILTON, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2026) — Troy Morris III captured the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature on opening night under new ownership at Hunt The Front’s Southern Raceway, scoring the $1,000 victory in the 20-lap main event. The race served as the first of two nights of Winter Nationals competition and doubled as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifying event, placing Morris on the eligibility list for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Morris, the former Arizona IMCA Tour and IMCA Wild West Speedweek champion now based in Waterloo, Iowa, via California, set the tone early, battling two-time reigning Super Nationals winner Tim Ward for the lead on the initial start. Morris led lap one while Ward — piloting the no. 151 Performer Chassis house car owned by Doug and Amy Eckrich — gave chase. A lap-two restart sparked a three-wide battle for second involving two-time Florida State titlist Jason Barnhill, Ward, and two-time national champion Chaz Baca Jr., allowing 2024 Alabama State crown winner Ryan Fowler, aboard the [Read More]

Bakersfield Speedway Season Opener Shifts to One-Day Winter Clash Saturday

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2026) — Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway will launch its 2026 campaign with the Winter Clash, now scheduled as a one-day event on Saturday, Feb. 21, following wet weather throughout the week. Originally planned as a two-day program, all Friday racing activities have been consolidated into Saturday, creating a full night of racing for one ticket price. Competition will feature Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, with all divisions competing for championship points. Grandstand gates open at 2 p.m., with hot laps and qualifying set for 2:45 p.m. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for approximately 5 p.m., followed by heat races and main events for all classes. Race fans can save on general admission by purchasing tickets in advance at BakersfieldSpeedway.com. Adult tickets are $22 online, including fees, or $25 at the gate. Kids ages 6–12 are $10 in advance or $12 at the gate, while children five and under are admitted free. Parking is free. Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway is [Read More]

Florida Bullring Recharged Under New Ownership Ahead of IMCA TV Clash On The Coast

By Ben Deatherage BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2026) — A new chapter is underway for Northwest Florida Speedway, as Ron Wolverton has officially taken ownership of the Baker, Florida ¼-mile facility, launching an ambitious revival effort aimed at preserving grassroots racing while positioning the venue for long-term growth. For Wolverton — a lifelong drag racer turned dirt track promoter — the journey into ownership has been nothing short of extraordinary. “The whole thing has been a miracle after miracle,” Wolverton said. “We pulled off a construction feat that even the big guys couldn’t pull off. We didn’t start until January 9 before we got to moving dirt, and I couldn’t have done it without all the volunteers and community members that came out to help.” Among the most notable upgrades has been the restoration of the racing surface itself. Wolverton and his team worked to bring the track back to its roots by reconditioning the oval with original dirt pulled directly from the property versus having it hauled in from elsewhere. Now entering his first season [Read More]

Hunt The Front Revives Southern Raceway and Launches New Era

By Ben Deatherage MILTON, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2026) — Southern Raceway is entering a new era as the Hunt The Front group has officially acquired the 3/8-mile clay oval in Milton, Florida, launching a revitalization effort that will see the venue operate as Hunt The Front’s Southern Raceway. The ownership group — brothers Jonathan, Joshua, and Joseph Joiner and their wives Shadow, Elizabeth, and Kayla — makes the project a true family-driven endeavor. A centerpiece of the track’s competitive foundation will remain the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified division, continuing a sanctioning relationship that dates back more than three decades. Southern Raceway first joined the Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing program in 1993, when Robert Miley became the inaugural track champion. Events at the facility will again award track, Florida State, Close Racing Supply Eastern Region, and National points. For Joshua Joiner and the entire Hunt The Front team, the acquisition was as much about preservation as it was progression. “Our big fear was the track was going to go away,” Joiner said. “There were discussions and [Read More]