Feature Archives

Eagle River Speedway to Host Pair of Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Qualifiers

By Joe Verdegan EAGLE RIVER, Wis. (June 17, 2026) — Eagle River Speedway will host a pair of Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifying events on Tuesday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 21, at the third-mile clay oval. Both Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified specials will pay $1,000 to win and $125 to start. A draw/redraw format will be used for both programs. The winner of each event will earn eligibility to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, which will be held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s at Boone Speedway in September. “With all of the card-carrying IMCA Modified drivers just to the south of us, we’ve actually had a pretty good buzz about hosting two of these races,” said promoter Pat Zdroik. “We’re hoping for a decent turnout for both of those scheduled events.” There will be no draw fee for either event. Sponsors for the specials include Dustin White Construction, Mike Winter Seasonal Services, and Harry’s on the Lake. Racing begins at 7 p.m. on both [Read More]

Micah Lavrenz: Finding Home, Family, and Racing in Burt

By Ben Deatherage BURT, Iowa (June 12, 2026) — In a town the size of Burt, Iowa, people tend to know each other’s stories. They know who farms which ground. They know whose kids play ball together. And on warm summer evenings, they know which garage doors are open. One of those garage doors changed Micah Lavrenz’s life. Around 2000 or 2001, Lavrenz and his father Floyd were driving through town when they noticed activity at the shop of Del Reutzel, a family friend whose excavating business had long been part of the community. Inside, a go-kart was being prepared for a race for his son, Tad. Lavrenz was six or seven years old. “I vaguely remember that one summer night and seeing the garage door open and we stopped,” he said. The Reutzels showed him the kart, explained what they were doing, and not long afterward took him to a race. He was hooked. More than two decades later, the boy who stopped to look inside that garage has become one of the familiar faces [Read More]

Herrera and Raynard Capture 2026 Tougher Than Dirt Tour Titles

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (June 12, 2026) — Consistency proved just as valuable as race wins during the 2026 T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Performance, as Payce Herrera and Diezel Raynard emerged with championships after five nights of competition across North Dakota and Saskatchewan. Payce Herrera of Price, Utah, claimed the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod title by just four points. Herrera opened the tour with a runner-up finish at McLean County Speedway, scored his first career tour victory at Williston Basin Speedway, finished second at Estevan Motor Speedway, third at Thunder Mountain Speedway, and capped the week with another runner-up effort at Nodak Speedway. Minot’s Chad Strachen finished second in the standings. His tour included a fourth-place finish at McLean County Speedway, runner-up efforts at Williston Basin Speedway and Thunder Mountain Speedway, a third-place run at Estevan Motor Speedway, and another podium finish with third at Nodak Speedway. Estevan, Saskatchewan’s Keenan Glasser ended the week third in points despite winning four of the five features. Glasser charged from [Read More]

Ferrando Wins at Cottage Grove to Become Third Different Modified Winner of ’26 Speedweek

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 16, 2026) — Grey Ferrando drove to victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the fourth round of the 2026 Wild West Speedweek at Cottage Grove Speedway on Tuesday night, earning his second series victory of the week after winning Sunday’s event at River City Speedway and the fourth Speedweek triumph of his career. Defending DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region, Oregon State, and Cottage Grove Speedway champion Kevin Williamson paced the opening lap of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature before 2017 track champion Grey Ferrando charged to the lead on lap two. A caution on lap three briefly slowed Ferrando’s momentum, but the Scio driver quickly reestablished control on the restart and again after another yellow on lap seven. Ferrando remained untouchable through the middle stages of the race and worked lapped traffic beginning on lap 16. A caution on lap 21 erased his sizable advantage, and Matt Sanders, winner of the previous night’s feature and the last two Wild West Speedweek Northern SportMod championships, advanced [Read More]

Mikey Smith Tops Brother Johnny in $4,012 to win Joey Kay Memorial Thriller at Bridgeport

By Pete Wortman SWEDEBORO, N.J. (June 13, 2026) — Mikey Smith made the long trip from Scranton, Pennsylvania, worthwhile Saturday night, collecting the $4,012 top prize in the Joey Kay Memorial at Bridgeport Speedway and earning his first career DCB Plumbing & Heating Mid-Atlantic Sprint Series presented by Capitol Renegade victory. The 30-lap feature went caution-free and showcased a thrilling battle between Smith and series point leader Troy Betts during the opening stages before Smith mastered lapped traffic and drove away to the victory. Betts and Smith started on the front row and immediately put on a show, trading sliders on the fast racing surface. The pair continued their spirited battle from an earlier match race, with Betts repeatedly fending off Smith’s advances. The complexion of the race changed when the leaders encountered heavy lapped traffic. Smith continued to pressure Betts, at one point brushing the outside wall exiting turn four while searching for a way past. His winning move came while navigating slower cars, sliding underneath Betts in turn four to secure the lead. Once [Read More]

Sanders Breaks Through for First Modified Speedweek Win at Cottage Grove

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 15, 2026) — Matt Sanders earned the biggest Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified victory of his career, winning the third round of the 2026 IMCA Wild West Speedweek on Monday night at Cottage Grove Speedway. Reigning National Rookie of the Year and Southern Oregon Speedway track champion Ethan Killingsworth, from California, grabbed the lead at the start and established himself as the driver to beat. He encountered lapped traffic on lap seven but maintained command as Sanders gradually closed the gap. By lap 14, Sanders was within striking distance and began challenging for the lead. A trio of cautions around the halfway mark repeatedly interrupted the battle, with Sanders unable to complete a pass before each yellow flag flew. The Brookings driver finally broke through on lap 25, edging ahead by .067 seconds at the stripe. Killingsworth attempted to counterattack but made contact with the frontstretch wall, allowing 2017 Cottage Grove Speedway champion and River City Speedway winner Grey Ferrando to move into second. A final caution on lap 29 [Read More]

Reimers Captures SportMod Nationals at Hancock County Speedway

By Chad Meyer BRITT, Iowa (June 12, 2026) — Cam Reimers realized a longtime goal Friday night, dominating the annual Gold-Eagle Cooperative SportMod Nationals at Hancock County Speedway to earn one of the biggest victories of his season. The Kelley driver controlled the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature despite several cautions, including a late restart that brought the field to his rear bumper for a final sprint to the checkered flag. Reimers quickly pulled away once the race resumed and secured his seventh victory of the season, earned at five different tracks. Keegan Nordquist finished second, followed by Ben Reierson, Alec Fett and Josh Appel. Flippo Holds Off Fett in Modified Feature Jerry Flippo of Rockford, by way of Bakersfield, California, scored his second Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified main event. Flippo led throughout but faced intense pressure from Colby Fett during the second half of the race. Fett charged from seventh starting position and repeatedly challenged for the lead but could not find a [Read More]

Robles Earns Emotional Antioch Stock Car Victory

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (June 13, 2026) — Kenneth Robles of Rio Vista scored an emotional first Sunoco IMCA Stock Car victory of the season Saturday night at Antioch Speedway, dedicating the win to longtime track supporter Tom Fraser, who passed away two weeks earlier. Starting fourth, Robles charged into the lead at the drop of the green flag and spent much of the 20-lap feature holding off point leader Troy Foulger of Oakley. As the leaders navigated lapped traffic, Robles continued to hit his marks while Foulger and Fred Ryland battled behind him. Foulger’s hopes took a hit on lap 13 when he got sideways exiting turn four and slipped behind Ryland. That gave Robles some breathing room, though Ryland steadily reeled him in during the closing laps. Robles stayed composed under pressure and raced to the victory, his first of 2026 in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region. Ryland finished second after advancing from ninth, followed by Foulger. Jason Robles and Clarence Holbrook III completed the top five. Clymens Charges From Eighth for [Read More]

Mike Hagen Wins Fyllesvold Memorial, Travis Hagen Reaches 100-Win Mark at Nodak Speedway

By Brandon Beeter MINOT, N.D. (June 14, 2026) — Mike Hagen collected the biggest payday of the night in the Randy Fyllesvold Memorial for Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, while Travis Hagen reached a major career milestone with his 100th IMCA-sanctioned Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature victory during an action-packed evening at Nodak Speedway. The Randy Fyllesvold Memorial for Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars featured a unique redraw format that placed Gabriel Deschamp 14th in the starting lineup and made him eligible for bonus money based on positions gained. Mike Hagen, of Williston, drew the pole and immediately took command of the race. Although Marcus Tomlinson pressured him for much of the event and briefly challenged for the lead, Hagen remained in control and drove away for the $1,414 victory. The win was his first of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and made him eligible to attempt to qualify for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational at Super Nationals. Tomlinson’s strong run ended prematurely with mechanical issues before the finish. Deschamp charged [Read More]

Whiteaker and Maupin Top STIMS Doubleheader Weekend

By Nick Robbins SAN ANTONIO, Texas (June 14, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts returned to action for an exciting doubleheader weekend at Heart O’ Texas Speedway on Friday and Cotton Bowl Speedway on Saturday. Although the tracks are vastly different, both provided strong fields and exciting racing. A season-best 34 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds signed in for action at the historic Elm Mott speed plant on Friday night, making the winner’s share $1,500. The stout field meant only two drivers from each of the evening’s five heat races would transfer directly to the feature. DIY Equipment Sales and Rental Heat One belonged to Raymond McSpadden, who took the win over Steven Whiteaker Jr. Sundowner Performance Diesel Heat Two went to Jared Maupin with Matthew Day second. Calera, Oklahoma’s William Gould won 3-D Landscaping and Irrigation Heat Three followed by “Big Brother” Paul White. Heat Four saw 2025 series champion Logan Dinsmore pick up the win with Trent Beaver second. Brenda Kirby-Morris collected her first STIMS heat race victory [Read More]