Feature Archives

Belcher Captures Eastern Region Crown while Adding Two State Championships

By Ben Deatherage LACEYVILLE, Pa. (Oct. 22, 2026) — Tyler Belcher’s 2026 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified campaign began with a difficult trip to Florida, but the 35-year-old from Laceyville, Pa., returned home and put together a season that ended with the Close Racing Supply Eastern Region championship. Belcher became just the third Pennsylvania driver to capture the Eastern Region championship, marking the 10th time the title has gone to a Keystone State competitor. He joined eight-time champion Sean Lias and 2015 titleholder Keith Lamphere. Belcher also earned his first New York and Pennsylvania State championships, along with track titles at The Hill Speedway in Monroeton, Pa., and Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, N.Y. Driving the Robinson Timber Harvesting/Latini Enterprise/Belcher Trucking-sponsored No. 7B Alpha Chassis, Belcher recorded five feature victories at three different facilities, along with 20 top-five finishes and 27 top-10 results in 32 feature starts across 35 events attended. He also reached the podium 16 times. “We started out the year in Florida and didn’t do too hot down there, but we learned a [Read More]

Just Out to Win, Races Diercks Earns Top Prize in Razor Chassis North Central Region, Too

By Bill Martin DAVENPORT, Iowa (Oct. 25, 2026) – A Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified driver who says he was “just out to win races” this season won the first regional championship of his career, too. Spencer Diercks collected a personal single-season best 21 features in reigning over point standings for the Razor Chassis North Central Region. He was track champion and a five-time winner at hometown Davenport Speedway. The national runner-up, Diercks made starts at 13 different tracks in his home region in 2026, winning at least once at a remarkable 11 of those venues. “Everything had to go our way, and it was cool to accomplish what we did. It’s October now and I still kind of look back and think ‘Damn, we did that,’” Diercks said. “It’s pretty cool, and I never thought I’d be able to win the region.” “We had luck on our side, the car was working good and the team worked well together. Everything was just gelling,” he’d add. “Everything has to work good and that starts with all the [Read More]

Late Change of Focus Puts Wasserman on Jet Racing Central Regional Throne

By Bill Martin FAIRBURY, Neb. (Oct. 23, 2026) – Adam Wasserman was so focused on winning a track championship that he’d forgotten about an even bigger prize. The second-season Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified driver clinched the Jet Racing Central Region crown, along with the track and Nebraska State titles with a third-place finish in the Aug. 29 finale at Eagle Raceway. “I wasn’t paying attention to regional points until about the last three weeks, then somebody said, ‘hey, you should look at the standings,’” he said. “I did and told myself I’d better try. I was so focused on winning the track championship that I kind of forgot about the region.” “It still feels surreal that I put my name up there with guys like Johnny Saathoff, Jordan Grabouski and David Murray Jr. as a regional champion. It’s cool to have your name with guys like that.” From Fairbury, Wasserman cut his racing teeth running with the best of them for five seasons in a Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock. His Modified rookie season was a learning [Read More]

Opening Night Rainout Proves Key to Batt’s Reign in Southern Stock Car Region

By Bill Martin HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas (Oct. 25, 2026) – Most race car drivers are chomping at the bit to get their new season started. Jason Batt didn’t even have a ride at the start of the 2026 Sunoco IMCA Stock Car point season, so he didn’t mind waiting another week. The veteran wheelman motored to his career first EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region crown and fifth Texas State prize, propelled to a runner-up finish in the national points race by bonus points earned along with Heart O’ Texas Speedway and Cotton Bowl Speedway track titles. “What I’m really on cloud nine about was finishing second in the nation. That’s where we’re really pumped,” Batt said, following his 26th season in the class. “It’s pretty exciting. I’m humbled. We had great seasons in 2017, 2018, 2019 and even further back to 2010 when we finished eighth in the nation. But the last couple seasons have been down and I was kind of thinking my not doing good was my age.” “Then we got a new car this [Read More]

Barney Makes Utah History With B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region Championship

By Ben Deatherage PANGUITCH, Utah (Oct. 22, 2026) — Hayden Barney entered the 2026 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock season looking to make the most of a repaired race car and build on his success from the previous year. By season’s end, the 35-year-old from Panguitch, Utah, had made history as the first driver from the Beehive State to capture the B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region championship since regional titles were first awarded in 2007. Barney also secured his second consecutive Utah State championship and his first track championship at Desert Thunder Raceway. He became just the second driver to win back-to-back Utah State titles since the championship was established in 2009, joining Troy Sweeten, who accomplished the feat in 2009 and 2010. Behind the wheel of the Eric Hartle Concrete/Burdick Materials/Beau’s Car Quest-sponsored No. 45 Grumpy Chassis, Barney recorded four feature victories, 20 podium finishes, 33 top fives, and 35 top-10 finishes in 35 official starts. All four victories came at Desert Thunder Raceway. The championship season began with a race car that had endured a [Read More]

IMCA Releases 2027 Rules with Minor Changes

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 2, 2026) — IMCA has released its 2027 rules package, featuring minor updates and clarifications across several divisions, along with changes to helmet requirements and head and neck restraint regulations for minor drivers. In the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock divisions, frame ground clearance must measure a minimum of 6.5 inches and a maximum of nine inches beneath the oval frame holes, identified as letters D and K in the 1978-88 Monte Carlo frame drawing. Floating or removable bars are not permitted in either division. Stock Cars will no longer be permitted to use Camaro nosepieces on anything other than the Camaro MD3 body, while Hobby Stocks will not be allowed to use lightweight pressure plate. For Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Speedway Motors fabricated lower A-frames, part numbers 91035297-L and 91035297-R, have been added to the rules. The interior deck must also be level from left to right within a one-inch tolerance. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod division will have the same interior deck requirement, [Read More]

Every Point Counts as Vlies Captures First Northern SportMod National Title

By Ben Deatherage CASCO, Wis. (Oct. 20, 2026) — CASCO, Wis. (Oct. 20, 2026) — At just 19 years old, Coy Vlies accomplished something no Wisconsin driver had done before, becoming the first from the Badger State to capture the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod national championship. The Casco racer was also the youngest of IMCA’s 2026 national champions, prevailing in the closest national championship battle of the season by edging Jarett Franzen by a single point after a campaign that produced 19 feature victories in 45 starts. For Vlies, the possibility of winning a national championship seemed like a long shot entering the year, particularly with Wisconsin’s limited weekly racing opportunities compared to other parts of the country. “I thought going into the season if winning a national championship in the state of Wisconsin was even possible because you can only race two times a week up here,” Vlies said. “But everything fell the right way this year, and it all worked out.” Driving the Prestige Custom Cabinetry & Millwork/Vlies Custom Race Bodies/Casco Kids Zone No. [Read More]

Cogburn Returns Stronger to Capture First Southern SportMod National Championship

By Ben Deatherage ROBINSON, Texas (Oct. 22, 2026) — After coming up just short of a national championship in 2025, Trevor Cogburn returned with unfinished business in 2026. The 21-year-old Robinson, Texas, racer captured his first Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod national championship. Cogburn also earned his first Texas State championship and repeated as Heart O’ Texas Speedway track champion, completing a season that began with a determination to settle the score after narrowly missing the national title the previous year. His championship continued Texas’ dominance of the division, making Cogburn the 11th consecutive driver from the Lone Star State to capture the national title. Since the division began crowning national champions in 2005, Texas drivers have claimed 21 of the 22 championships, with Jesse Baldwin of New Mexico in 2015 the lone exception. In 2025, Cogburn finished tied for the national points lead but lost the championship on a tiebreaker determined by the number of 40-point victories. “We just decided to come back stronger this year and put on a show,” Cogburn said. Driving [Read More]

Goos Claims Third Straight RaceSaver Sprint Car National Championship

By Ben Deatherage HARTFORD, S.D. (Oct. 22, 2026) — Lee Goos Jr. continued his championship run in 2026, capturing his third consecutive RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car national championship after another season of success across the Midwest. The 47-year-old Hartford, S.D., driver finished 44 points ahead in the national standings while adding his second South Dakota State championship. He also collected track championships at Huset’s Speedway and I-90 Speedway in South Dakota and Jackson Motorplex in Minnesota. The Huset’s and Jackson titles were his second at each facility, while his I-90 championship was his fifth overall and fourth consecutive. “This definitely feels great. The first one is always the most exciting, but being able to back it up is really gratifying,” Goos said. “This year was great with Rapid Speedway getting sanctioned and Jackson adding some races on Thursdays this year, giving us more opportunities to gain points. It’s still never easy winning a national championship, especially with the high car counts around our area.” Goos became one of nine drivers in IMCA history to win at [Read More]

Thomas Keeps National Sport Compact Crown in Nebraska

By Ben Deatherage BEATRICE, Neb. (Oct. 21, 2026) — Johnny Thomas never planned to chase a national championship in 2026. But when Dillon Richards asked him to pursue a third consecutive Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact national title for the Cornhusker State, the 40-year-old from Beatrice, Neb., found it difficult to turn down the opportunity. After eight months of traveling, preparation, and racing, Thomas had accomplished that goal, securing his first national championship by 12 points. “The biggest thing was Dillon when this all started, when he asked if I would run this year because if I would have won it, it would be three in a row for WEB Chassis, and I couldn’t really tell him no,” Thomas said. Driving the WEB Chassis/Richards Speed Shop/Bohlmeyer Built-sponsored No. 45, Thomas collected 14 feature victories at five different tracks, 34 top-five finishes, and 42 top-10 finishes in 45 feature starts across 46 events attended. His accomplishments extended beyond the national standings, as he earned his first Nebraska State championship and captured track championships at Beatrice Speedway and Stuart [Read More]