Feature Archives

Raffurty Victorious Under the Starrs in Batesville MLA Opener

By Bryce Vowan BATESVILLE, Ark. (Apr. 11, 2026) — Five-time and defending Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite national champion Dillon Raffurty charged from the fifth starting position to capture the Mod Lites of Arkansas season opener at Batesville Motor Speedway on Saturday night. The Kansas City, Missouri, native arrived late after a seven-hour haul, but Raffurty wasted no time getting up to speed at Mooney Starr’s facility. After limited hot laps, he went on to win his heat race, setting himself up with a fifth-place starting spot for the feature. After battling runner-up Blake Wilson for the top spot, Raffurty took the lead on lap five and never looked back, picking up his fifth feature win of 2026 as he chases a sixth national crown. The victory added to earlier wins during the IMCA TV Winter Nationals in Arizona in January, along with a triumph at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park in his home state of Missouri last month. Blake Wilson rebounded from an earlier incident in the season to finish second, while his father, [Read More]

Bryce Vowan: Delta Dirt Driver Growing Arkansas Mod Lites

By Ben Deatherage WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (Apr. 13, 2026) — Just across the Mississippi River from Memphis, where freight trucks rumble through one of the busiest corridors in America and the Delta air hangs heavy over rich, dark soil, sits West Memphis, Arkansas—a place shaped by movement, grit, and history. It’s a region where river crossings, rail lines, and highways all converge. Where Saturday nights still belong to dirt tracks carved into gumbo clay. For Bryce Vowan, this isn’t just where the driver of the no. 52 Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite lives. It’s who he is. A Region Built on Movement and Music West Memphis sits on the western bank of the Mississippi River, directly across from Memphis, Tennessee—a pairing shaped by geography, commerce, and culture. Long before it became a modern transportation hub, the region was defined by the river itself. In 1541, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto crossed the Mississippi near present-day Crittenden County, encountering one of the most densely populated regions he had seen on his expedition. Centuries later, early settlements like [Read More]

Maupin Masters Cotton Bowl to Become First STIMS Repeat Winner of ’26

By Nick Robbins PAIGE, Texas (Apr. 11, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts rolled into Cotton Bowl Speedway, marking the first visit for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds in 2026. Nineteen drivers signed in for the $1,000-to-win, 20-lap feature, and perseverance quickly became the theme of the night as pop-up showers gave the track an unexpected dose of last-minute moisture. The CBS crew remained undaunted, and drivers were quickly back on track to help pack the surface once the showers ended. Friday’s runner-up, Jared Maupin of San Antonio, struck first by taking the win in DIY Equipment Sales and Rental Heat One. Johnny Torres, also of San Antonio, claimed Sundowner Performance Diesel Heat Two, while G.W. Egbert from Salado grabbed another victory in 3-D Landscaping and Irrigation Heat Three. Maupin led the field to green in the 20-lap feature with Torres, Egbert, and Whiteaker Jr. in tow. The early laps saw the field begin to spread out as the top four attempted to break away. Racing throughout the field [Read More]

Sobbing Holds Off Late Charge for Thrilling IMCA Late Model Win at Park Jefferson

By Chance Riley JEFFERSON, S.D. (Apr. 10, 2026) — The Sunoco IMCA Late Models set the tone for the night at Park Jefferson Speedway, with Jesse Sobbing of Malvern, Iowa taking the early lead from Jordan Krug. Sobbing paced the field but had to withstand a last-lap slider attempt from Zach Zeitner, holding on at the line for his first Late Model win of the year and his second Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly victory of 2026, following a Sunoco IMCA Stock Car score during the Beatrice Spring Nationals. Zeitner finished second, followed by Krug, Landen Rojewski, and Cody Thompson. The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars delivered a strong run as Mike Vondrak led much of the feature before Dan Mackenthun went to work. Charging from 11th, Mackenthun methodically worked the bottom groove to take over and drive away to his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region win of the season. The Hamburg, Minnesota driver piloted the Jared Fasching-owned no. 7X to victory. Travis Barker was second, Ryan Harris third, with Greg Peck and Jordan Rogotzke completing the [Read More]

Pirkle Powers to First STIMS Win in Dominant Performance at HOT

By Nick Robbins WACO, Texas (Apr. 10, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts roared into the historic Heart O’ Texas Speedway for its first appearance of the 2026 season. A strong field of 30 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds signed in for action, pushing the winner’s share to $1,500 for the 20-lap main event. Series regulars from South Texas were eager to show what they could do against some of the best local racers from the northern half of the Lone Star State. DIY Equipment Sales and Rental Heat One went to Salado, Texas racer G.W. Egbert, who crossed the line four seconds ahead of the nearest transfer. Sundowner Performance Diesel Heat Two was a bit closer, with Wyatt Bruce of Montgomery, Texas taking the win over current point leader Jared Maupin. 3-D Landscaping and Irrigation Heat Three went to the no. 6R of Jacob Pirkle from Midlothian. Heat Four was won by 2025 STIMS champion Logan Dinsmore. Steven Whiteaker Jr. claimed the B-Main, leading the top eight transfers to [Read More]

STIMS Rebrands and Expands Points Fund for 2026 Campaign

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Apr. 10, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series enters a new era in 2026, rebranded as STIMS and presented by On Demand Shirts, with a 16-race schedule, a boosted points fund, and every feature paying at least $1,000 to win. The series, formerly known as the South Texas IMCA Modified Series, continues to spotlight Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and has already completed its first two races of the season at Texana Raceway Park in March, where strong car counts and a pair of different winners helped set the tone for the year ahead. Each race serves as a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational to be held during September’s Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. All races from March through September also award National, GRT Race Cars South Central Region, and Texas State points. James Cole now steps into the spotlight as series director after working behind the scenes last season, helping shape the direction of the tour as it continues to grow. “I love [Read More]

Chris Carroll: Second Lap of Racing for a Purpose Bigger Than Himself

By Ben Deatherage SPRING BRANCH, Texas (Apr. 9, 2026) — On Christmas Day 2020 in Cozumel, with the ocean still and the world quiet, Chris Carroll made a decision that didn’t make sense to anyone but him. He was done racing. Everything tied to it—cars, equipment, years of work—was going up for sale. Just like that. For three decades, racing had been the rhythm of his life. The noise, the grind, the long nights in the shop, the chase from one track to the next—it was all he knew. And now, in a single moment, he was ready to walk away from it. His wife, Melanie, didn’t understand it either — especially when she woke up to find everything had already been sold online. “Now we are going to have to buy it all back again,” she told him. But something in him said it was time. So he stepped away. And for a while, the silence held. No race nights. No engines firing. No next event on the calendar. Just the kind of quiet that [Read More]

NAPA Returns as Title Sponsor of Prelude and Fan Zone for IMCA Super Nationals Week

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Apr. 9, 2026) — NAPA Auto Parts will once again play a major role during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, serving as the title sponsor of both the NAPA Double Down Prelude and the popular Fan Zone experience throughout the week at Boone Speedway. NAPA’s continued support extends beyond naming rights, as the company will provide a $500 gift card to each Super Nationals champion, as well as the RaceSaver Nationals champion. In addition, first non-qualifiers across divisions will each receive $250 NAPA gift cards. A centerpiece of NAPA’s involvement is the Fan Zone, which features a full schedule of interactive events designed to connect drivers and fans throughout the week. Activities include meet-and-greets, redraw ceremonies, group photos, and Victory Lane celebrations across all divisions, giving fans unique access to competitors from across the United States, Canada, and Australia. Highlights include the Young Guns meet-and-greet with Junior National participants, the Women in IMCA session presented by NAPA and Dynamic Drivelines, featuring a meet-and-greet with Lady Eagle competitors [Read More]

Texas RaceSaver Sprint Car Nationals Brings $5,000-to-Win Show to Kennedale May 9

By Ben Deatherage KENNEDALE, Texas (Apr. 8, 2026) — A new chapter begins at Kennedale Speedway Park as the former Mike Melton race transitions into the Texas RaceSaver Sprint Car Nationals, a one-night, high-paying event set for Saturday, May 9. The RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car special will feature a $5,000-to-win main event with a total purse exceeding $20,000, offering multiple bonus opportunities that could see a driver earn as much as $9,000 in a single night. Incentives include $500 for quick time, $500 to win the pole dash, and a $3,000 bonus for leading every lap of the feature. Lap sponsorships will also be available at $100 per lap led. Mike Frieri of Photos by Mike is a primary supporter of the event, alongside presenting sponsor 2nd Opinion Auto Center, owned by Dan and Patricia Harris of Haltom City, Texas. “We wanted to create something big but keep it simple for teams,” said promoter James Lopez. “This is a one-night show that helps racers save on fuel, hotels, and travel expenses while still competing for a [Read More]

Dillan Baldwin: Bluegrass State Phenom on the Rise

By Ben Deatherage TAYLORSVILLE, Ky. (Apr. 8, 2026) — In a small Kentucky town where the evenings are quiet, the roads are narrow, and neighbors gather around campfires, Dillan Baldwin found his calling long before he could even understand it. He was just two years old the first time he saw Sprint Cars. It was the 2011 Kings Royal — a night filled with thunder, speed, and spectacle. “It was probably a bad decision for my dad,” Baldwin said with a grin. “Because I’ve been hooked ever since.” From that moment on, the path was set. What started with arrive-and-drive go-karts turned into Champ Karts, then Quarter Midgets, and eventually — with a leap most wouldn’t dare take — straight into Sprint Cars. No Micro Sprint detour. No gradual easing in. Just full commitment. “It was definitely a big jump going from five horsepower to almost 500,” he said. “Just a small step, right?” Now 17 years old, Baldwin has already carved out a name for himself in the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car ranks, competing against [Read More]