Feature Archives

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]

Glasser Ties Tougher Than Dirt Tour Record; Herrera Claims Crown at Nodak

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (June 7, 2026) — Keenan Glasser capped off a remarkable week by winning the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature on the final night of the 2026 T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Storage at Nodak Speedway. Reigning track champion Chad Stratchen emerged from a three-wide battle on the opening lap with the lead and quickly settled into a duel with Glasser. The pair separated themselves from the field before a caution on lap seven erased their advantage. Lapped traffic came into play on lap 13, and Glasser stayed glued to Stratchen’s rear bumper while searching for an opening. The 2024 North Dakota State champion finally found one on lap 19, completing the pass for the lead just before a caution slowed the pace. The 18-year-old from Estevan, Saskatchewan was flawless on the restart and pulled away to earn his fourth victory of the week and eighth overall triumph of the season. Four of those wins have come at Nodak Speedway. The victory also tied Gabriel [Read More]

Raynard Repeats in $2,000-to-Win Robbie Conway Memorial Hobby Stock Feature at Bottineau

By Ben Deatherage BOTTINEAU, N.D. (June 6, 2026) — Defending series champion Diezel Raynard held off a late-race charge from Caden Appelt to capture the $2,000-to-win Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock feature and earn his second victory of the week on the fourth night of the 2026 T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Storage. The Lampman, Saskatchewan driver took command on the opening lap and established himself as the driver to beat. Although several cautions slowed the pace throughout the 20-lap contest, Raynard flawlessly executed each restart to maintain control. Behind him, five-time reigning North Dakota State champion and former two-time track champion Kyler Satran found himself in a spirited battle with 2024 McLean County Speedway champion Caden Appelt for second. Appelt eventually secured the position and set his sights on the leader. The ninth-starting Appelt closed rapidly in the final laps and mounted a serious challenge coming to the checkered flag, but Raynard held on by a narrow margin. The victory was his second of the week, fourth career Tougher Than [Read More]

Marsh Masters Modifieds at Watsonville

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calif. (June 5, 2026) — The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds showcased some of their best racing of the season Friday night at Watsonville Speedway, with multiple grooves in play and side-by-side battles throughout the 25-lap feature. Jonathan Hagio led the opening three circuits before Salinas driver Robert Marsh took command. Although Marsh built a sizable advantage out front, the action remained intense behind him as drivers traded positions lap after lap around the quarter-mile oval. Marsh stayed smooth and steady to secure his second DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season and first Watsonville Speedway triumph of 2026. Bobby Hogge Jr. finished second, followed by Markus Frazier, Logan Drake, and Fred Lind. Wagner Charges from Tenth for SportMod Victory The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods also delivered plenty of excitement despite several caution periods slowing the pace. Chris Smith led the opening stages before mechanical issues on lap 13 forced him to the pit area, handing the lead to reigning Watsonville Speedway champion Danny Wagner. The Bay Point driver, who [Read More]

Raynard Holds Off Late Charge for Estevan Tougher Than Dirt Hobby Stock Victory

By Ben Deatherage ESTEVAN, SK (June 5, 2026) — Defending tour and Estevan Motor Speedway track champion Diezel Raynard returned to victory lane in the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, surviving a furious late-race challenge to score his first win of the week on the third night of the 2026 T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Storage. The Lampman driver grabbed the lead at the drop of the green and maintained command through a pair of early cautions. Behind him, Nathan DeRagon, winner of the tour’s first two nights, and 16-year-old Cash Saxon battled intensely for second, allowing Raynard to build a comfortable advantage. As the race progressed, Manitoba’s Pat Smith methodically worked the low groove and eventually moved into second. Several restarts kept the field bunched together, but Raynard consistently executed strong launches and remained out front. Smith closed rapidly in the closing laps and pulled alongside the leader, but Raynard was slightly better off the corners. The battle intensified in the final turns as DeRagon joined the fight, creating a [Read More]

Herrera Breaks Through for First Tougher Than Dirt Tour Victory

By Ben Deatherage WILLISTON, N.D. (June 4, 2026) — Seventeen-year-old Payce Herrera raced to his first career T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Storage victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods at Williston Basin Speedway. The Price, Utah driver led the opening lap before a caution immediately slowed the pace. On the restart, Herrera and reigning Nodak Speedway track champion Chad Stratchen separated themselves from the rest of the field as the 2024 Junior National champion established himself as the driver to beat. A pair of cautions just before the midway point kept the field close. Buffalo River Speedway’s defending track champion Jayden Pavlicek mounted several challenges on the high side, but Herrera remained composed while Stratchen and Pavlicek battled intensely for second. The leaders encountered lapped traffic on lap 18, but Herrera never wavered and drove away in the closing laps. The victory was his first career tour triumph and eighth win of the 2026 season at four different racetracks. Stratchen finished second. Pavlicek narrowly beat Tanner Conlin to [Read More]

Wilson Wins $5,000-to-Win IMCA Summer Nationals Stock Car Thriller at the Wire

By Christine Rublack INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (June 3, 2026) — Tyler Wilson emerged victorious in one of the closest finishes of the week, edging Brandon Schmitt by just .025 seconds to win the $5,000-to-win Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature on the final night of the 2026 IMCA Summer Nationals at Independence Motor Speedway on Wednesday night. Schmitt, aboard the Stephanie and Josh Sorce-owned No. 20 entry, established himself as the early leader and quickly pulled away from the field. Behind him, Wilson, Nick Buckarma, and Damon Murty engaged in a spirited battle for position while Kelly Shryock steadily worked his way forward. Shryock, in the Mike Hauan-owned Lake Mills Motorsports No. 3, cracked the top three as the laps wound down, but the battle for the lead belonged to Wilson and Schmitt. Wilson finally edged ahead in the closing laps and narrowly held off Schmitt at the checkered flag for the $5,000 payday. The Little Suamico, Wisconsin, driver earned his third EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season and automatically qualified for the 2026 B&B [Read More]