Feature Archives

Race of Champions eligible drivers register in large numbers for 44th IMCA Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 4, 2026) – Qualifying fields for five Race of Champions events have been set for the 44th annual Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. All track champions (or current point leaders if their respective points battles resume after Super Nationals), along with past national champions, regional champions, Super Nationals champions, Race of Champions champions and 2025 state champions who pre-registered for Super Nationals are eligible to attempt to qualify for their respective RoC in 2026. The 53 RAGE Chassis IMCA Modified Race of Champions drivers eligible to qualify are Chris Abelson, Jeff Aikey, Bubba Alvarado, Chaz Baca, Tyler Bannister, Curtis Barnes, Jason Barnhill, Austen Becerra, Brandon Beckendorf, Tyler Belcher, Cole Bents, Tom Berry Jr., Kelsie Black, Ethan Braaksma, Troy Cordes, Zane DeVilbiss, Jerry Flippo, William Gould, Richie Gustin, Shawn Harker, Clint Hatlestad, Kollin Hibdon, Mitchell Hunt, Trey Kline, Cody Laney, Jeff Larson, Matthew Looft, Jared Maupin, Dan Menk, R.J. Merchant, Nick Meyer, Jeremy Mills, Jay Noteboom, Jason Pike, Don Proctor, Jeff Reay, Cory Sample, Todd Shute, Jared Siefert, Luke Silber, Casey [Read More]

Record 1,193 pre-entries for 44th IMCA Super Nationals

BOONE, Iowa (Sept. 4, 2026) – For the fifth consecutive year, pre-entries for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s have reached quadruple digits and, like each of the four years before it, a new record-setting registration milestone was set in 2026. As of 4 p.m. CST today, 1,193 drivers have pre-registered for America’s Racin’ Vacation, eclipsing the previous pre-entry mark of 1,156, which was established last year. The divisional breakdown includes 265 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, 329 Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, 195 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, 192 Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, 113 Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts and 76 Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lites. While they typically don’t pre-register, 23 Sunoco IMCA Late Models have already reserved their spots for the 44th annual event. Registration numbers for Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts are pre-entry records. The Sport Compact division eclipsed the 100 pre-entry mark for the first time in event history. The pre-entry number for Modifieds is the largest in 16 years. Racers from a record-breaking 34 states have entered, including [Read More]

369 Days Later, Bolden Captures RaceSaver Nationals Crown

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Sept. 3, 2026) — Last year’s RaceSaver Nationals was plagued by threats of poor weather. With the forecast worsening as the weekend drew closer, officials decided to run both the Friday and Saturday programs on Friday, leaving the finale for Saturday. Sadly, as the 27 Sprint Cars were on the track Saturday, a light drizzle began to fall. As the liquid sunshine became actual rain, the cars were pushed off in an attempt to save the racing surface. Mother Nature’s wrath eventually won out, and the call was made to postpone the 2025 finale until the Thursday festivities of the 2026 RaceSaver Nationals. Well, just 369 days later, the race finally took place Thursday at Eagle Raceway. Carson Bolden took advantage of his pole starting position to lead lap one, with Joey Danley second, Kevin Ramey third, and 2026 Eagle Raceway track champion Adam Gullion fourth. Ramey got past Danley on lap two to take second, while Gullion moved into third on lap six. Ethan Barrow slowed on lap 11, bringing [Read More]

Speedway Motors Fabricated Chevelle Lower Control Arm Approved for IMCA Modifieds

VINTON, Iowa (Sept. 4, 2026) — IMCA Modified drivers will have a new lower control arm option beginning Oct. 1, 2026, with the addition of the Speedway Motors fabricated Chevelle lower control arm to the list of approved components. Designed and manufactured by Speedway Motors in Lincoln, Nebraska, the new fabricated lower control arm was developed to meet the same travel specifications as the stock Chevelle lower control arm currently used in the IMCA Modified division. The stock lower control arm will remain legal for IMCA Modified competition. The new Speedway Motors component provides racers with an additional option for those looking for an alternative to a stock-appearing Chevelle lower A-arm. The Speedway Motors fabricated lower control arm maintains the 1968-72 Chevelle/GM A-Body control arm profile to retain factory geometry. Construction includes a 10-gauge steel spring pocket with 1.250-inch by .125-inch wall DOM steel tubing. The control arm accepts K727 screw-in ball joints, the 1960-66 Chrysler-style application, which are sold separately. It also accepts 1.40-inch OD front and 1.65-inch OD rear round-style bushings using factory [Read More]

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]