Feature Archives

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 Michael 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]

Silber Sweeps Weekend at CAR in Modifieds, Extending Streak to Four

By Rowdy Briggs CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Apr. 4, 2026) — Marvin Mueller and Lukas Tellez set the tone early in Saturday’s Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature, swapping the lead through the first 13 laps in a strong battle up front. Luke Silber then worked his way into contention and took over the top spot. Once out front, he pulled away to score his fourth straight win at Central Arizona Raceway and in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region. Justin Erickson finished second, followed by John Parmeley, Tellez, and Mueller. Jesse Patterson led early in Friday’s feature with Austin Kuehl and Silber locked in a thrilling three-wide fight for the lead at times. The battle intensified in lapped traffic before contact sent Patterson into the wall, collecting Kuehl. When things sorted out, Silber inherited the lead and went on to the victory. Kuehl rallied back through the field for second ahead of Terry Belcher Jr., Mark Carrell, and Montana snowbird C.R. Eisenzimer. Madrid Masters Saturday, Peterson Charges Friday in Hobby Stocks The feature got off to a [Read More]

Foulger Scores Modified and Stock Car Wins in Antioch Opener

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (Apr. 4, 2026) — Troy Foulger of Oakley opened the 2026 season at Antioch Speedway by winning both the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified and Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main events Saturday night. It was his first DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory in the Modifieds and his first EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region win of the current campaign in the Stock Cars. Having won the season opener earlier this year at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway, Oakley’s Andrew Pearce jumped into the early lead in the 20-lap IMCA Modified feature, followed by Matt Kampfraat of Granite Bay. Foulger slipped past Kampfraat for second on lap five, just as heat race winner Tyler Browne of Antioch spun in turn two. Browne kept going without a yellow, and Pearce soon caught slower traffic in the form of Kate Robertson of Reno, Nevada. Pearce struggled to get around Robertson to put her a lap down, allowing Foulger to close the gap. Foulger made an inside pass in turn four on lap [Read More]

Burke Dominates Watsonville’s First Modified Race of 2026

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Apr. 3, 2026) — Past Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified track champion Cody Burke of Salinas led all 25 laps in the first race of the season for the division at Watsonville Speedway on Friday. Burke hit his marks down low each time and held off a relentless Andrew Pierce to earn his first win of the year in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region. Pierce, Troy Foulger, Logan Drake, and Nick DeCarlo followed him across the line. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods put on a fantastic main event for the fans. With track conditions in superb shape, the 20-lapper saw multiple leaders and a finish that wasn’t decided until the very end. Kingsburg’s Todd Carlock led the early stages in his no. 7 mount before having a moment midway through the contest. The always-fast Jason Ryan Jr. then took over and led the second half of the race, as he, Bo Crebs, and Austin VanHoff battled intensely. Lapped traffic created a frantic finish that saw VanHoff take full advantage, picking [Read More]

Anthony Davis: Signals, Service, and a Return to Racing

By Ben Deatherage ESSEX, Iowa (Apr. 3, 2026) — Before the racetrack, before the roar of engines and the rhythm of laps, Anthony Davis was a 19-year-old soldier deployed to Afghanistan, surrounded by steep mountain ranges, dust-covered valleys, and isolated outposts in a world few ever truly understand. One week in, and he was in the middle of nowhere with an explosive ordnance disposal unit, watching controlled detonations rip through the silence. The next, he was inside a forward operating base taking mortar fire. Then, just as quickly, he was sitting down with members of the Afghan National Army, sharing a meal and planning the next mission. “It was unreal,” Davis said. “I had no idea what I was doing at first. It was a culture shock, but at the same time, it was an amazing experience.” As a satellite communications specialist, Davis had a role that placed him at the center of everything. “I had the coolest job,” he said. “I got to go on every mission, be part of everything that was happening.” Those [Read More]

All-Star Shootout Returns for 2026 With Increased Payouts and All-Star Qualifiers Each Night

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Apr. 2, 2026) — Bigger paydays and a full slate of All-Star qualifying opportunities headline the return of the All-Star Shootout, which brings four consecutive nights of racing across Oklahoma and Texas from May 21 through May 24. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods will again anchor the tour, with increased payouts across all three divisions. Modifieds will race for $1,250 to win and $125 to start each night, while Stock Cars and Southern SportMods will compete for $1,000 to win and $100 to start. All four nights of the tour will serve as Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational qualifiers, giving drivers multiple opportunities to add their names to the eligibility lists ahead of the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. The 2026 tour opens Thursday, May 21 at Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore, followed by Friday, May 22 at Grayson County Speedway in Bells. The series then heads to [Read More]

Smith Scores First Career Carolina Sprint Tour Victory at Lavonia Speedway

By Evan McCrory LAVONIA, Ga. (Mar. 28, 2026) — The Carolina Sprint Tour presented by GSR Chassis made its lone appearance in the Peach State Saturday night, bringing 18 RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Cars to Lavonia Speedway for an action-packed program. Ontario, Canada’s Josh Shantz and Floridan Robbie Smith—making just his second weekend start with the series—led the field to green. Smith wasted no time asserting himself, grabbing the lead in the opening corners and quickly establishing control out front. A lap three incident involving George Loux and Dillan Baldwin brought out the first caution, though both drivers were able to continue. On the restart, Smith once again pulled away from Shantz and the rest of the field. The race’s second caution came on lap 20 when Ben McCall spun in front of the leaders. Another stoppage with two laps remaining, involving Chris Humblet, set up a dramatic finish. On the ensuing restart, Trevor Gach went over the wheel of another car and flipped in turn four. Gach was uninjured. On the final restart, Smith remained composed [Read More]