Feature Archives

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]

Glasser Captures Tougher Than Dirt Tour Opener with Late Pass

By Ben Deatherage UNDERWOOD, N.D. (June 3, 2026) — Keenan Glasser emerged victorious in a thrilling Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature on opening night of the T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Storage at McLean County Speedway, holding off Payce Herrera in a dramatic late-race duel to earn his first career tour victory. The 25-lap main event began with 2006 Sunoco IMCA Stock Car track champion Chad Stratchen taking command before a lap one caution slowed the pace. On the restart, 2024 Junior National champion Payce Herrera and 2024 North Dakota State champion Glasser immediately went to work on the leader. Glasser used the high side to wrestle away the lead on lap three and began setting the pace. The Utah native repeatedly challenged Glasser as the two teenage racers broke away from the rest of the field. The battle intensified when the leaders encountered lapped traffic on lap nine, and Herrera finally found a way around the leader on lap 12. The two frontrunners remained locked together for the [Read More]

Rust Races to IMCA Summer Nationals Opening Night Modified Victory at Independence

By Christine Rublack INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (June 2, 2026) — Joel Rust topped a stellar field of Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds Tuesday night at Independence Motor Speedway, scoring a $3,000 victory on opening night of the IMCA Summer Nationals and earning eligibility to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Jed Freiburger took command early while Brennen Chipp and Spencer Diercks battled for second. Rust, the Grundy Center driver, worked his way forward from the fourth starting position while engaged in a battle with Tripp Gaylord. A caution bunched the field and gave Rust an opportunity to attack. Utilizing the high groove, he surged to the lead and never looked back. The victory was Rust’s first Razor Chassis North Central Region win of the season. Gaylord finished second ahead of Freiburger. Tim Ward charged from 11th to fourth, while Cole Czarneski advanced from 14th to complete the top five. Kelsie Black turned in a notable run from 17th to eighth, while Brandon [Read More]

Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial Returns June 6 at Jamestown Speedway

By Ben Deatherage JAMESTOWN, N.D. (June 3, 2026) — Jamestown Speedway will honor one of the most influential figures in its history when the 7th Annual Don Gumke Racers’ Memorial takes center stage on Saturday, June 6. Presented by Wilhelm’s and North Star Buick & GMC Dealers and I-29 Trailer Sales, the special event will feature Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds racing for a $2,222 top prize in memory of Don Gumke and his iconic No. 2* Modified. The event will also serve as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, giving the winner an opportunity to earn eligibility for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Gumke, who passed away in January of 2020 at the age of 66, left a lasting impact on the racing community throughout North Dakota and beyond. A fierce competitor behind the wheel, he later helped transform Jamestown Speedway into one of the region’s premier dirt track facilities. Alongside his partner Joanne and Keith Veil, Gumke helped build the speedway’s reputation as a destination for both racers and [Read More]

Feature

Simpson Family Enjoys Memorable Night at Kossuth County Speedway

By Greg Grabianowski ALGONA, Iowa (May 28, 2026) — It was a night the Simpson family won’t soon forget at Kossuth County Speedway. Thirteen-year-old Ryan Simpson celebrated his first career feature victory in one of the track’s local divisions, and later in the evening father Jake added a Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature win to complete a memorable family double. With Ryan already in victory lane, the spotlight shifted to Jake in the Northern SportMod feature. The Algona driver answered the challenge in impressive fashion. Drew Fett led the opening laps before cautions on consecutive circuits slowed the action. Following the second restart, Simpson powered past Fett and took command. Starting third, Simpson maintained the lead over the final eight laps to score his second victory of the season, with both wins coming at Kossuth County Speedway. Josh Appel finished second while Grant Kramer completed the podium in third. Charlie Stevens charged from ninth to fourth and Alec Fett rallied from 11th to fifth. Swearingen Wins Stock Car Thriller for Second Straight Week The Sunoco [Read More]

Olsen Charges Late for Shelby County SportMod Victory

By Don Hawkins HARLAN, Iowa (May 30, 2026) — Thirty-three Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods signed in at Shelby County Speedway and the feature lived up to expectations. Josalyn Elmquist jumped out to the early lead before defending track champion Hayden Hillgartner worked his way to the front. As the laps wound down, Red Oak’s Cody Olsen charged through the field from the eighth starting position and made a late-race move to steal the victory. The win was Olsen’s second of the season and came at his second different track in 2026. Hillgartner settled for second while Corey Madden completed the podium in third. Elmquist finished fourth and Brayden Shepherd rounded out the top five. Meiners Scores First Stock Car Win of Season The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars closed out the evening with Austin Meiners putting together an impressive drive from the eighth starting position. The Polk City driver worked his way through traffic and eventually overtook Larry Robinson Jr. to score his first EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season. Robinson finished second [Read More]

Sunoco Bonus Bucks Program Rewards IMCA Late Model Racers During Busy Month of May

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (June 2, 2026) — The 2026 Sunoco Bonus Bucks program for Sunoco IMCA Late Models got underway in May, recognizing feature winners and contingency award recipients at four events across Iowa and Illinois. The month began May 8 at Highway 39 Speedway, where Omaha, Nebraska’s Corey Zeitner scored the feature victory and collected the Sunoco Bonus Bucks award. Defending Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National champion Zach Zeitner finished second, while Drew Baker advanced from eighth to third. Mike Collins and Robbie Jorgensen completed the top five. Baker’s charge through the field earned him the Justice Brothers Hard Charger Award, while Charlie Peck collected the PEM Racing award as the 10th-place finisher. One night later at Shelby County Speedway, Zach Zeitner put together an impressive drive from 10th starting position to capture both the feature win and Sunoco Bonus Bucks honors. Aidan Mohr finished second, followed by Allan Hopp, Sterling Perkins, and Cooper Tilley. Zeitner’s drive through the field also earned him the Justice Brothers Hard Charger Award. The May 15 [Read More]

Harris Goes Back-to-Back in Park Jefferson Stock Cars

By Chance Riley JEFFERSON, S.D. (May 29, 2026) — Ryan Harris continued his winning ways Friday night at Park Jefferson Speedway, racing from the 10th starting position to capture the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature. The Homer, Nebraska driver earned his second EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season, with both wins coming at Park Jefferson Speedway. Lowell Roeber finished second while Dayton Mosher completed the podium in third. Jason Ward advanced from 14th to fourth. Wyatt Luke rounded out the top five, while Devin Tripp charged from 21st to sixth. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature belonged to South Sioux City’s R.J. Merchant. Starting third, Merchant worked his way to the front and held off a late challenge from Duke Erickson to secure his third Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season. All three wins have come at Park Jefferson Speedway. Erickson advanced from ninth to finish second while Bob Moore crossed the stripe third. Brian Mahlstedt rallied from eighth to fourth and Ricky Stephan completed the top five. Willy Kirk [Read More]

Clash at the Creek XVIII Returns June 12-13 with $10,000-to-Win Modified Feature

By Ben Deatherage FRANCIS CREEK, Wis. (June 1, 2026) — One of Wisconsin’s premier dirt track events returns to 141 Speedway on June 12-13 as Clash at the Creek XVIII brings two nights of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing action highlighted by a $10,000-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified finale, one of the richest payouts for the division anywhere in the country. The biggest change for 2026 is a move to a weekend format. Traditionally held during the middle of the week, event organizers shifted the Clash to Friday and Saturday to make it easier for teams and fans to attend without needing to take additional vacation time after spending much of the week at the racetrack. Activities begin Thursday, June 11, with an open test and tune session starting at 6:00 p.m. Racing follows on Friday and Saturday, June 12-13. Friday’s program will feature split qualifying features for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, with each qualifier capped at 24 starters. Heat race lineups will be determined by draw, and heat race results will set the qualifying [Read More]