Feature Archives

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]

Schwien Stuns Field with Last-Corner Pass in Sport Compact Thriller at RPM’s Sunflower Classic

By Sheldon Wickwar HAYS, Kan. (Mar. 28, 2026) — The Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts delivered one of the races of the night on the final night of the 14th Annual Sunflower Classic at RPM Speedway, with their 15-lap feature kicking off with Kiowa Higdon and Makennon Sanders on the front row. Early trouble for both drivers opened the door for Johnny Thomas and Connor Schwien to charge forward. A thrilling three-car battle developed between Schwien, J.D. Renfro, and Thomas, with the trio swapping positions in the closing laps. Schwien made a bold move in the final corner to steal the win and secure his first victory of 2026. Russell’s Schwien took the win, followed by Cheyenne, Wyoming’s J.D. Renfro in second and Beatrice, Nebraska’s Johnny Thomas in third. Kyle Mortensen finished fourth, with Gage Porter rounding out the top five. Schwien also earned hard charger honors, gaining 14 spots on his way to victory lane. Kiowa Higdon, Johnny Thomas, and Kaishen Brack each picked up heat race wins. Friday night’s feature was won by Johnny Thomas, [Read More]

Taylor Takes Batesville Stock Car Victory at Wimp Reed Memorial Arkansas Spring Nationals

By Ben Deatherage LOCUST GROVE, Ark. (Mar. 28, 2026) — Peyton Taylor capitalized on early misfortune and never looked back in winning the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at the Wimp Reed Memorial Arkansas Spring Nationals. The 25-lap, $1,500-to-win main event served 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, placing Taylor on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify. Taylor assumed command just a few laps into the race after early leader Curtis Cook, who had grabbed the point on the opening circuit from the bottom, suffered mechanical issues and was forced to retire. Once out front, Taylor — wheeling the Cadillac Chassis house car no. 11T for car owner Jack Sullivan — quickly built a sizeable advantage. Behind him, a spirited battle for second developed between 2024 Natural State Nationals winner Hayden Linn and T.J. Herndon, the winner of the final night of the 2024 Arkansas Spring Nationals. Herndon initially secured the runner-up spot before a caution [Read More]

King Holds Strong at Watsonville for First SportMod Triumph

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Mar. 27, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods brought a fantastic 24-car field to Watsonville Speedway on Friday. Pismo Beach driver Landon King rocketed out to the early lead in the 20-lap finale. Bakersfield’s Nicholas Johnson was on the move right from the get-go and assumed the runner-up spot on lap eight. Johnson applied pressure to King and seemed to have the speed to win, but got into a spin seven circuits shy of the finish to draw a caution. King, who cut his teeth in Outlaw Karts, went on to tally his first Watsonville Speedway IMCA Northern SportMod triumph. Following King across the stripe were Ethan Johnson, Jason Bannister, Danny Wagner, and Buddy Kniss. The Watsonville Speedway debut of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars saw the main event go right down to the wire. A solid field of 16 IMCA Stock Cars came out and provided some excellent action in their finale. Atwater racer Mike Villanueva ended up leading all 20 laps, but he certainly had to work [Read More]