News Archives

KSE Racing Products Celebrates 30 Years of IMCA Support

By Ben Deatherage WHITE HOUSE, Tenn. (Mar. 30, 2026) — KSE Racing Products marks a major milestone in 2026, celebrating 30 years as a valued partner of the Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing program. The White House, Tennessee-based manufacturer continues its long-standing support of grassroots racing, renewing awards for Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified, Sunoco IMCA Late Model, RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car, Sunoco IMCA Stock Car, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod, and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod competitors, including $100 product certificates to be awarded at designated specials throughout the season. The Modified National champion receives a KSE tandem power steering/fuel pump. Second through fifth place finishers in the national standings receive $200 product certificates, while sixth through 10th place drivers earn $100 certificates. The Sprint Car National champion receives a Gen2 power steering gear, with second through 10th place finishers in national standings receiving $100 product certificates. Modified regional rookies, along with the national rookies of the year in the Stock Car, Northern SportMod, and Southern SportMod divisions, each receive a 700 Series steering box. [Read More]

45 Drivers on Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational Eligibility List Ahead of April Qualifiers

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Mar. 30, 2026) — A fast start to the 2026 season, combined with a strong finish to last year’s fall slate, has already produced 45 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified drivers eligible to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational. All drivers who win IMCA Modified features paying $1,000 or more to win are added to the eligibility list, giving them the opportunity to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, to be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September at Boone Speedway. Dylan Thornton led all drivers with four qualifier victories, winning all four features during the IMCA TV Winter Nationals at Central Arizona Raceway in January. Chaz Baca Jr. has recorded three qualifier wins, capturing two IMCA TV Winter Nationals features at Central Arizona Raceway and adding an IMCA TV Clash On The Coast victory at Blackwater Speedway in February. Jordan Grabouski, Ethan Braaksma, Jacob Pirkle, Troy Morris III, and Steven Whiteaker Jr. have each earned multiple qualifier [Read More]

Sunoco IMCA Late Model Bonus Money Nights Return for 2026 Season

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Mar. 30, 2026) — Sunoco IMCA Late Model drivers will once again have added incentive to chase checkered flags this season, as the 2026 Bonus Money Nights program returns with a 15-race slate across Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The program rewards the highest eligible finisher at each event with a $300 bonus, along with a Sunoco fuel jug, a Sunoco hat, and a Sunoco IMCA door panel trophy. To ensure a wide range of competitors share in the rewards, drivers can only earn the bonus once per season, guaranteeing 15 different recipients over the course of the schedule. In addition to the bonus payout, several contingency certificates will be distributed each night from IMCA sponsors, recognizing performances such as top-five finishes, hard charger efforts, and hard luck recipients. These include a certificate from Penske Racing Shocks and a right rear quarter panel from STAKT Products. The 2026 schedule opens May 1 at Highway 39 Speedway in Denison, Iowa, and continues May 2 at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan. Lee [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through March 26, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 399; 2. Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, 362; 3. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 319; 4. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 314; 5. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine, Iowa, 300; 6. Steven Whiteaker, Robstown, Texas, 287; 7. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 285; 8. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 280; 9. Dean Abbey, Boyd, Texas, 271; 10. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, and Gage McCaughan, Scottsdale, Ariz., both 270; 12. Troy III Morris, Waterloo, Iowa, 264; 13. Chaz Baca, Stanhope, Iowa, 260; 14. Cole Szlauko, Shell Beach, Calif., 256; 15. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 234; 16. Jake Pike, Pahrump, Nev., 218; 17. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 216; 18. Brian McCaughan, Scottsdale, Ariz., 214; 19. Jason Barnhill, Milton, Florida, and Justin Erickson, Glendale, Ariz., both 208. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 598; 2. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 561; 3. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn., 470; 4. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 413; 5. Dillon Richards, Wymore, Neb., 403; 6. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 400; 7. Kaden Woodie, [Read More]

Baby Blue Harcrow Memorial Returns April 24 with $3,000-to-Win Stock Car Showdown at HOT

By Ben Deatherage WACO, Texas (Mar. 25, 2026) — A cherished Central Texas tradition returns in a big way as the 7th Annual Baby Blue Harcrow Memorial roars back to life on April 24 at Heart O’ Texas Speedway, bringing with it one of the richest Sunoco IMCA Stock Car paydays in the Lone Star State. The special event comes during a milestone season for the Waco oval, which celebrates 60 years of racing in 2026, and once again honors the life and legacy of “Baby Blue” Harcrow. A $3,000 payday awaits the winner of the 25-car, $300-to-start feature, with additional bonuses including a $315 Brazos Roofing Hard Luck Award in tribute to Baby Blue’s iconic numbers 3 and 15, a $250 Hard Charger award, and a Fastest Lap bonus. The Baby Blue Harcrow Memorial will also serve as a qualifier for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational, to be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. More than just a race, the event carries deep personal meaning [Read More]

14th Annual Sunflower Classic Returns to RPM Speedway March 26–28

By Ben Deatherage HAYS, Kan. (Mar. 24, 2026) — RPM Speedway will host the 14th Annual Sunflower Classic presented by Nutrien Ag Solutions on March 26–28 at the 3/8-mile Kansas oval, featuring a full slate of Speedway Motors IMCA competition. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds headline the program and will race for $1,000 to win each night. Each night’s feature will serve as a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational to be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars will compete for $750 to win nightly, while Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods will each race for $500 to win. Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts will battle for $200 top prizes. The three-day program opens Thursday, March 26 with a Test-N-Tune session. Grandstand admission will be free that evening and pit passes are $25. Racing begins Friday, March 27 and continues Saturday, March 28 with two complete draw-redraw programs that pay full purses each night. Gates open at 3:00 p.m., hot laps [Read More]

Merritt Dominates Marysville SportMod Feature for First Win of 2026

By Troy Hennig MARYSVILLE, Calif. (Mar. 21, 2026) — Yuba City chauffeur Mike Merritt was dominant during the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod 20-lap main event at Marysville Raceway. Merritt passed Thomas Reynolds for the lead on lap two and never looked back, opening a sizeable advantage. Merritt beat second-place Dan Brown Jr. by nearly four seconds at the checkered flag to score his first win of the year. Jason Clayton Jr. ran in the third spot for most of the race but unfortunately pulled off the track with less than two laps to go. This moved Oregon’s Travis Pruitt into third after starting ninth. Cole Fear finished fourth, while Reynolds secured the fifth spot at the finish. Brown Jr. won the first heat race, and Jeff Bentancourt picked up the win in heat race two. The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate NorCal Speed. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $24.99 per month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, streaming exclusively on IMCA [Read More]

Estes Pounces Late to Capture Gene Adamcik Memorial Win at HOT

By Ben Deatherage WACO, Texas (Mar. 20, 2026) — Claud Estes III capitalized on a late-race opportunity to score an emotional victory in the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature at the 10th annual Gene Adamcik Memorial at Heart O’ Texas Speedway. Louisianan Thomas Johnson, the reigning 105 Motor Speedway track champion, jumped to the lead at the drop of the green and held off an early charge from Estes. The Mannsville driver briefly took command on lap three, only for Johnson to edge back ahead at the stripe and begin building a solid advantage. Johnson encountered lapped traffic on lap eight, but continued to maintain control until a critical moment on lap 11. After hopping over the cushion in turn four, Johnson lost momentum, allowing Estes to pounce and reclaim the lead. From there, the 2024 track champion pulled away and never looked back, scoring his first win of the season. Daniel Estes Jr. finished second, while Landon Valenzuela came home third. Mark Zoeller earned hard charger honors with a fourth-place finish, and Johnson recovered to [Read More]

Hamilton Wins Modified Thriller at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 21, 2026) — Eric Hamilton won his second career Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature on Saturday night in a thriller, topping Tyler Bannister for the final night of the Southwest Shootout. Hamilton and Bannister engaged in a slide job-filled battle that thrilled the fans and event organizers with perhaps the best feature of the early part of the 2026 season at the one-third-mile dirt track. Bakersfield Speedway merged operations with Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway at the start of the 2025 campaign, with promoters Tim Huddleston and Scott Schweitzer combining efforts. Hamilton’s victory came over a red-hot Tyler Bannister for his first triumph in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region. Bannister, the 2025 IMCA Northern SportMod track champion, has adapted quickly to the Modifieds in 2026, with a win at Merced and the points lead at Bakersfield Speedway. Jake Pike of Pahrump, Nevada again was the evening’s hard charger, matching Friday night’s run from tenth to third to run 11th to third on Saturday. [Read More]

Manning Scores Second Straight Bakersfield Win Friday Night at Southwest Shootout

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 20, 2026) — Racing against one of the strongest Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified fields of the season, Gavyn Manning won his second consecutive feature at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on Friday night. Manning outfoxed a field of 17 Modifieds for his second win in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region after 30 laps of competition. Manning won a long duel with multi-time champion Brad Pounds for the lead in the first half of the feature, then defended from 2025 IMCA Northern SportMod champion Tyler Bannister over the closing stages. A green-white-checkered finish did not deter Manning, with the 2024 track champion sailing to the win. The win also represented redemption for Manning after a collision with Pounds on opening night bounced him from the event. Bannister finished second while Jake Pike of Pahrump, Nevada finished third from tenth on the grid. Pounds was fourth followed by Fernley, Nevada’s Shawn Natenstedt. Rob Sanders and Manning split the head races. Nicholas Johnson has had an outstanding start to his [Read More]