Feature Archives

DeCarlo Charges from Eighth for First Watsonville Win of 2026

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calif. (June 12, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified main event at Watsonville Speedway saw multiple different leaders while putting on a solid show in its shortened 20-lap feature. Jonathan Hagio took the early command, but it was short-lived as Robert Marsh blasted to the point on lap four. A lengthy red flag period to clean up a crash in turn two forced officials to trim the race from 25 laps to 20 with curfew looming. Jim Pettit II looked extremely fast and took over the lead on lap nine. Starting eighth, however, “Quick Nick” DeCarlo methodically worked his way forward before assuming command with 14 laps complete. Once out front, DeCarlo was never seriously challenged and raced away to score his first DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season and first Watsonville Speedway triumph of 2026. Pettit crossed the stripe second, followed by Marsh, Fred Lind and Hagio. Just outside the top five, Gordon Joel turned in one of the night’s strongest performances, advancing from 11th to sixth. [Read More]

Jake Dimond Memorial Pays $5,000 to Win June 19 at Black Hills Speedway

By Ben Deatherage RAPID CITY, S.D. (June 11, 2026) — One of the richest Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified events in the region comes to Black Hills Speedway on Friday, June 19, as the inaugural Jake Dimond Memorial takes center stage with a $5,000 winner’s share awaiting the victor. The special event will feature a 30-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified main event paying $5,000 to win and $2,250 for second. Third place pays $1,500, fourth receives $1,000, and fifth earns $750. The feature purse pays throughout the 24-car starting field, with all starters guaranteed at least $150. Modified competitors will race with a $100 car-and-driver entry fee. The Jake Dimond Memorial will also serve as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, with the winner earning eligibility for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National, Razor Chassis North Central Region, South Dakota State, and track points will be awarded. The inaugural Jake Dimond Memorial combines a $5,000 winner’s payday with Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational eligibility, making it [Read More]

MODtana Madness Returns to Gallatin Speedway June 26-27

By Ben Deatherage BELGRADE, Mont. (June 11, 2026) — One of the premier Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified events in the Devilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region returns to Gallatin Speedway on June 26-27 as the fourth annual MODtana Madness brings two nights of racing and a $5,000 winner’s payday to the Montana facility. Drivers will battle through a unique two-day format highlighted by Saturday’s 55-lap championship feature, a distance chosen in honor of promoter Dave Weisz’s former car number. The winner will collect $5,000, with $3,000 awarded for second and $2,000 for third. Every top-10 finisher will earn at least $1,000, while all starters in the main event are guaranteed a minimum of $400. Friday’s opening night program will feature a double-heat format to determine the starting lineup for Saturday’s finale, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated Modified races of the season in the state. In addition to the lucrative purse, the MODtana Madness winner will earn eligibility for the 2026 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational to be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA [Read More]

Mark Martini: 100 Wins in Homebuilt Equipment

By Ben Deatherage AVON, Minn. (June 10, 2026) — The grandstands at North Central Speedway had seen a lot over the years. Championships. Heartbreak. Future stars. Veteran racers. And thousands upon thousands of laps turned around the Brainerd-area clay. On May 23, 2026, the Brainerd-area track witnessed something it had never seen before. Mark “Bud” Martini parked his No. 4Q2 IMCA Northern SportMod in Victory Lane for the 100th time in his career, becoming the first Minnesota driver to reach the century mark in the division and just the 13th member of the SportMod Century Club. The moment carried extra significance. The victory came on the final night of Cliff Sasker’s tenure as promoter before retirement, ending an era at a racetrack Martini had called home for decades. “That was pretty special,” Martini said. “I’m probably one of the longest racing guys there at Brainerd. Cliff is a super, super guy. I don’t know anyone in the racing industry better than him. He is a good man, and it was an honor to race at his [Read More]

Scott Cook Memorial One-Eye Nationals SportMod Special Set for June 11 at Kossuth County Speedway

By Ben Deatherage ALGONA, Iowa (June 9, 2026) — Kossuth County Speedway will honor the memory of Scott Cook with the Scott Cook Memorial One-Eye Nationals SportMod Special on Thursday, June 11. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods will headline the evening with a lucrative $1,000-to-win feature. An additional $100 bonus will be awarded to the winner if 24 SportMods are entered, pushing the top prize to $1,100. The special-event purse pays $800 for second, $700 for third, $500 for fourth, $400 for fifth, $300 for sixth, and $200 for seventh. Positions eighth through 24th will each receive $100. In addition to the featured SportMod special, Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks will also be in action as part of a full night of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing competition. Hot laps are scheduled to begin at 6:50 p.m., with racing to follow. Fans unable to attend can watch every lap live on IMCA TV, where America comes to watch racing. For additional event information and updates, follow Kossuth [Read More]

Spring Fling SportMod Nationals Set for June 12 at Hancock County Speedway

By Ben Deatherage BRITT, Iowa (June 9, 2026) — A big night for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods at Hancock County Speedway is set for Friday, June 12, as the Spring Fling SportMod Nationals presented by Gold-Eagle Cooperative comes to the historic oval. The featured event will see SportMod competitors race for a $1,250 winner’s share, while a full slate of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing action is also scheduled. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars will each compete for $1,000 to win, while Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks will race for a $500 top prize. Both the Modified and Stock Car features will serve as qualifying events for the 2026 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational, respectively, to be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National, Iowa State, track, and regional points will be awarded. Modified competitors will race for Razor Chassis North Central Region points, while Stock Car drivers will compete for [Read More]

IMCA Wild West Speedweek Set to Storm Oregon Border to Border June 13–20

By Jeremy Means VINTON, Iowa (June 9, 2026) — From the Columbia River on the Oregon–Washington border to the doorstep of California, the 2026 IMCA Wild West Speedweek will push drivers through eight consecutive nights of racing June 13–20. The tour opens at Sunset Speedway Park in Banks and heads south, testing teams across bullrings and bigger layouts before champions are crowned in the finale in Southern Oregon. Three Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing divisions—Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods—will be in action each night. Sunset Speedway Park opens the tour on Saturday, June 13, returning to its role as the “Banks Bullring.” Located just outside the Portland metro area, the quarter-mile oval sets the tone for the week with tight racing after weather impacted last year’s finale. Round two shifts to a new venue, River City Speedway in St. Helens, on Sunday, June 14. Situated near the Columbia River along the Oregon–Washington border, the tight and technical quarter-mile will host its first IMCA-sanctioned event, adding a fresh [Read More]

Hagen Hustles to Don Gumke Memorial Victory, Earns Fast Shafts Eligibility

By Jon Breckel JAMESTOWN, N.D. (June 6, 2026) — Travis Hagen added another special-event victory to his resume Saturday night, charging to the front and capturing the seventh annual Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial for Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds at Jamestown Speedway. The victory was worth $2,222 and also made the McGregor driver eligible to attempt to qualify for the 2026 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The 25-lap feature produced intense racing from the opening green flag as defending track champion Quentin Kinzley and Marcus Tomlinson brought the field to the start. A caution on the opening lap slowed the action before John Nord emerged as the early leader following the restart. Nord paced the field through the opening stages while Hagen methodically worked the low groove and reeled in the frontrunners. Kinzley maintained second for much of the early going, but Hagen steadily closed the gap as the race settled into a long green-flag stretch. A caution just past the halfway point proved pivotal. Hagen utilized [Read More]

Petersen Earns First Career Stock Car Victory at Shelby County Speedway

By Don Hawkins HARLAN, Iowa (June 6, 2026) — Dylan Petersen’s transition from Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods to Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars paid off in a big way Saturday night as the Jacksonville driver captured his first career Stock Car feature victory at Shelby County Speedway. Twenty-seven Stock Cars filled the pit area and put on a show worthy of the division’s reputation. Petersen entered the night with just two previous starts in the class but showed veteran poise throughout the 20-lap feature. Starting second, Petersen quickly established himself among the frontrunners and never relinquished the lead despite constant pressure from behind. As the laps wound down, Miciah Hidlebaugh mounted a charge from his 16th starting position and closed the gap on the leader, but Petersen held his line and raced to the checkered flag. The victory was Petersen’s first career Stock Car triumph and came in EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region competition. Hidlebaugh’s impressive run netted a runner-up finish, while Mike Albertsen crossed the stripe third. Ryan Webb finished fourth and Dayton Ullrich rounded [Read More]

Eckrich Earns Second SportMod Victory of Rookie Season at Maquoketa

By Jerry Mackey MAQUOKETA, Iowa (June 6, 2026) — Twenty-two Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods took the green flag Saturday night at Maquoketa Speedway, and the drivers used every inch of the well-prepared racing surface while putting on a thrilling display of three- and four-wide racing. Fifteen-year-old Bryson Eckrich of Oxford worked both the top and bottom grooves as he charged forward from the eighth starting position. Eckrich eventually overtook Josh Starr for the lead and drove away to score his second victory of the season and first at Maquoketa Speedway. Jarett Franzen turned in a strong run from 11th to finish second while Starr completed the podium in third. Ed Mills crossed the stripe fourth and Nathan Silaggi rounded out the top five. Garnhart Dominates Late Model Main Event Bryce Garnhart proved to be the class of the field in the Sunoco IMCA Late Model feature. The Lanark, Illinois, driver started third and quickly worked his way to the front before leading all 25 laps en route to his first victory of the season. Dalton [Read More]