Feature Archives

Hibdon Wins Yankee Dirt Classic Modified Finale by .039 Seconds

By Jerry Mackey FARLEY, Iowa (Aug. 29, 2026) — The 49th annual Yankee Dirt Track Classic was completed Saturday night despite Mother Nature throwing a couple of curveballs at the 300 Raceway crew. Thanks to the relentless efforts of R.J. Simon and the entire crew, the entire race program was completed. A two-day total of 322 race teams took part in the Yankee, presented by GTG Peterbilt. The closest finish of the weekend was witnessed Saturday night in the Trading Paints Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified championship race. Waterloo driver Kollin Hibdon, by way of Pahrump, Nev., charged from 20th starting and made a last-lap move to nip Jed Freiburger at the stripe by just .039 of a second. Freiburger had led the entire race, but in the late going the lead pack swelled to five very talented drivers. Hibdon’s last-lap heroics earned him his 10th IMCA Modified victory of the season, with nine coming in the Razor Chassis North Central Region. Freiburger settled for second, while 2021 IMCA national champion Jeff “Bone” Larson was third and [Read More]

Stock Car Stampede Roars Into Jamestown on Sept. 25-26 for 55th Running

By Jon Breckel JAMESTOWN, N.D. (Aug. 31, 2026) — The biggest racing weekend of the season at Jamestown Speedway is almost here as the 55th annual Stock Car Stampede takes over the North Dakota oval Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25-26. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars headline both nights of the Stampede. Racing begins at 7 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday, with the format following the successful programs used in recent years. Fans unable to attend can watch both nights live on IMCA TV affiliate Dacotah Speedway TV. A lucrative purse awaits competitors in all three IMCA divisions. The Modifieds race for $3,055 to win and $255 to start, while Stock Cars and Northern SportMods each race for $2,055 to win and $175 to start. Friday night’s program consists of heat and dash races, setting the top eight starting positions for each feature. Consolation events and A features Saturday determine the 2026 Stock Car Stampede champions. The Stampede has long been one of North Dakota’s marquee dirt [Read More]

Hope For The Warriors Finds Community and Connection at Super Nationals

By Ben Deatherage CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 26, 2026) — For retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Lee Bonar Jr., a trip to Boone Speedway during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s is about far more than watching race cars. It is about community. It is about finding veterans who may be struggling with the transition from military to civilian life, sometimes without anybody around them realizing it. And, occasionally, it is about opening a door for someone who hasn’t been ready to ask for help. “The IMCA community is a phenomenal community of patriots,” said Bonar, senior director of military relations for Hope For The Warriors. “They embrace the veteran community as well as the active, reserve, and National Guard community, and that helps them in that transition.” Bonar will make his third trip to Boone for America’s Racin’ Vacation as Hope For The Warriors celebrates its 20th anniversary. Founded by military families aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in 2006, HOPE began after military spouses witnessed firsthand the needs of service [Read More]

$10,000-to-Win Survive the 55 Returns to Skagit Speedway Sept. 25-26

By Ben Deatherage ALGER, Wash. (Aug. 26, 2026) — One of the biggest Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified events in the Pacific Northwest returns to Skagit Speedway Sept. 25-26 when Survive the 55 puts $10,000 on the line for the winner of its signature 55-lap main event. The two-day event will bring Modified competitors back to the Washington speedplant for the fifth running of Survive the 55, with Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National, DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region, and Washington State points on the line. The winner will also earn eligibility to attempt to qualify for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Four different drivers have visited victory lane in the event’s first four runnings. Jon DeBenedetti captured the inaugural Survive the 55 in 2022 before Grey Ferrando added his name to the winner’s list in 2023. Tom Berry Jr. took the victory in 2024, while Bricen James became the fourth different winner in 2025. The 2026 edition will once again culminate with 55 laps [Read More]

Brendon LaBatte: From the Gridiron to the Dirt

By Ben Deatherage WEYBURN, Sask. (Aug. 12, 2026) — The airplane lifts away, its engine growing quieter until eventually there is nothing left but the water, the wilderness and silence. Brendon LaBatte stands on a dock hundreds of miles into northern Saskatchewan. There are no roads leading back to civilization. No help waiting around the corner. For someone who spent 14 seasons battling 300-pound linemen in the Canadian Football League and now wrestles a homebuilt Sunoco IMCA Stock Car around dirt tracks on both sides of the border, even this can get the adrenaline flowing. “It’s such a different feeling when that plane takes off and you’re left standing there on the dock,” LaBatte said. “I’ve been out there all alone and you think, ‘Oh man, I’m really doing this.’ It’s always a rush and an adventure.” Competition and adventure have been constants throughout LaBatte’s life. The Weyburn native went from racing as a teenager to becoming the sixth overall selection in the 2008 CFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before [Read More]

Super Nationals Pre-Entries Hit 1,000 for Fifth Consecutive Year

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 26, 2026) — For the fifth consecutive year, pre-entries for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s have reached the 1,000 mark as another massive gathering of IMCA competitors prepares to descend on Boone Speedway. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified driver Chevy Hadan of Washington, Neb., became the 1,000th driver to register for the 44th annual event, scheduled Sept. 5-12. The milestone continues a remarkable run of four-figure participation at America’s Racin’ Vacation. Super Nationals first reached 1,000 pre-entries in 2022 and has surpassed that mark every year since. Competitors from 31 states, three Canadian provinces, and two Australian states are already represented on the 2026 entry list. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars lead the way with 300 entries, with Bryan Snell of Coon Rapids becoming the division’s 300th registrant. They are followed by 240 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, 169 Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, 155 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, 76 Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts, and 58 Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lites. The Modified field includes competitors from 26 states [Read More]

More Than $90,000 in Contingency Awards Up for Grabs at Super Nationals

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 20, 2026) — More than $90,000 in contingency awards will be up for grabs when hundreds of IMCA competitors converge on Boone Speedway for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Competitors in all seven divisions will chase product, product certificates, gift cards, cash bonuses, and other awards throughout America’s Racin’ Vacation, Sept. 5-12. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Sunoco IMCA Late Models, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lites, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts will all be part of the contingency program. Dozens of companies from throughout the motorsports industry have contributed to this year’s program, including Abilene Race Rads, AERO Race Wheels, AFCO, Allstar Performance, AutoMeter, Bassett, BHE, Brinn Transmission, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Coleman Racing Products, CPT Racing Manufacturing, Dominator Race Products, Dynamic Drivelines, Edelbrock, Eibach, EngineQuest, Fast Shafts, Finishline Racing Products, Harris Auto Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, Hyperco, Integra Racing Shocks, Intercomp, Jaz Products, Jerovetz Motorsports Shock Service, Justice Brothers, Kevko Racing, Kirkey [Read More]

Super Nationals Registration Due Aug. 28 to Race in Prelude

By Ben Deatherage BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 25, 2026) — Drivers planning to compete in the NAPA Auto Parts Double Down Prelude must be registered for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s by noon Central time Friday, Aug. 28. Competitors who register for Super Nationals after the deadline will not be eligible to compete in the Sept. 5-6 Prelude at Boone Speedway. Before registering, competitors must first purchase an IMCA license for every division in which they intend to compete. Drivers should then register for Super Nationals on MyRacePass. Entries will be confirmed in the order they are received, with car numbers assigned based on confirmation order. The 12th annual Prelude features two full days of racing, giving competitors one final opportunity to compete at Boone before Super Nationals officially gets underway. The unique Double Down format has become a staple of Prelude weekend, rewarding more drivers while helping accommodate the tremendous car counts that continue to define the event. Should any division exceed 100 entries, competitors will once again be split into twin [Read More]

Ronnebaum Reaches 100 Wins at Goodland Raceway

By Sheldon Wickwar GOODLAND, Kan. (Aug. 23, 2026) — Nick Ronnebaum reached a career milestone Sunday at Goodland Raceway, scoring his 100th career Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock victory one night after Brayden Hilzer prevailed in a close Saturday night battle. Bingston Rogers led Sunday’s feature early while Ronnebaum quickly charged forward from his ninth starting position. Ronnebaum reached second by lap three and worked past Rogers for the lead on lap four. A caution later that circuit bunched the field, but Ronnebaum sailed away on the restart and never looked back, taking the checkered flag for his 15th B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory of the season. Mitchell Fischer charged nine positions to finish second and earn hard charger honors. Nick Tubbs finished third in his return to racing after a four-year hiatus, Aiden Miller was fourth, and Ted Trumbo completed the top five. Saturday’s feature saw Hilzer and Levi Jones start from the front row, with Hilzer establishing the early advantage. Fischer and Trent Matson joined the battle during the second half of the race, [Read More]

Feature

Smith Charges From 30th to SportMod Victory at Boone

By Jane Burd BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 22, 2026) — Mike Smith turned a back-row challenge into a trip to victory lane Saturday night at Boone Speedway, charging from 30th starting to win the 20-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature. Smith, from Lake City, was originally scheduled to start on the pole but accepted a back-row challenge offered by Johnathon Logue and instead lined up last in the 30-car field. Randy Havlik appeared headed for victory lane before Smith completed his charge through the field and powered past him for the lead on lap 18. Smith stayed in front the rest of the way for his 14th victory of the season and fifth at Boone Speedway. Havlik settled for second, Dusty Masolini was third, and Will Wolf advanced 10 positions to finish fourth. Gage Hilgenberg rounded out the top five. Will Smith Wins Hobby Stock Battle Will Smith and Corey VanDerwilt battled throughout the 20-lap Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with lapped traffic adding another element to their fight for the lead. Smith, also from Lake [Read More]