News Archives

Hughes Breaks Through with Stock Car Win at Cortez

By Suzan McCoy CORTEZ, Colo. (Aug. 29, 2026) — Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway came alive Saturday night with a full slate of racing action as drivers from across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona battled for feature victories. Jeramy Hughes of Carlsbad, N.M., raced from fourth starting to capture the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature. The victory was Hughes’ fourth EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region win of the 2026 season and his first outside his native New Mexico. Race Fisher of Dove Creek was second, followed by Allen Bradley of Farmington, N.M., Sid Tenney, and Traci Bradley. Dove Creek’s Brody Spangler continued a strong season by racing the No. 91B to victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature. The win was Spangler’s 12th of the 2026 campaign and fifth at Cortez. Bubba Jr. Stafford of Wittmann, Ariz., finished second, with Keelan Matthews of Camp Verde, Ariz., third. Cortez’s Jimmy Wilson and Grand Junction’s Rick Spangler completed the top five. Waylon Hale of Mancos put together a winning performance in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature, [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]

Drueke Charges From 13th in Championship Showdown Thriller at Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Aug. 29. 2026) — Saturday was the Championship Showdown at Eagle Raceway, presented by Avid Realty and the Lincoln Stars. The night could only be described as “Jam Packed” as the largest crowd of the season showed up to see 147 cars compete in 28 races to determine who would leave America’s Home Track with the honor of being a 2026 points champion. Dan Nekolite led the opening circuit of the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature before Brandon Horton took command on lap six. The championship battle took a dramatic turn on lap 11 when points leader Cole Wayman stopped in turn four with a broken left rear heim and went off on the hook. Horton continued to lead while Gene Ackland, Cole Vanderheiden and Tyler Drueke worked their way forward. Horton jumped the cushion and hit the turn two wall with just four laps left, moving Drueke into the lead. After starting 13th, Drueke held them off to win by nearly two seconds. It was the Eagle driver’s fifth victory [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]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through Aug. 27, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 993; 2. William Gould, Calera, Okla., 991; 3. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 971; 4. Jed Freiburger, Dubuque, Iowa, 965; 5. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 960; 6. Matthew Sanders, Brookings, Oregon, and Chaz Baca, Jewell, Iowa, both 958; 8. Tyler Bannister, Bakersfield, Calif., 955; 9. Ty Clemens, Belgrade, Montana, 951; 10. Kevin Williamson, Harrisburg, Oregon, 944; 11. Jace Eckrich, Oxford, Iowa, 942; 12. Cole Czarneski, Denmark, Wisconsin, 939; 13. Matthew Looft, Swea City, Iowa, 936; 14. Johnny Whitman, Suamico, Wisconsin, and Jake McBirnie, Boone, Iowa, both 932; 16. John Nord, Enderlin, N.D., 929; 17. Tyler Belcher, Laceyville, Pennsylvania, 925; 18. Trevor Fitz, Bondurant, Iowa, 921; 19. Jeffrey Reay, Portland, Michigan, 919; 20. Marcus Tomlinson, Turtle Lake, N.D., 918. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. John Oliver Jr., West Burlington, Iowa, 992; 2. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 982; 3. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 980; 4. Jason Batt, Harker Heights, Texas, 979; 5. Kyle Vanover, Beatrice, Neb., and Dan Mackenthun, Hamburg, Minn., both 971; 7. Kelly Shryock, [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]

Nine New Names Earn B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational Qualifier Wins in August

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 26, 2026) — August competition added nine new drivers to the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car eligibility list for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational, while nine already eligible drivers added to their qualifying win totals. Drivers become eligible by winning Speedway Motors IMCA-sanctioned events paying $1,000 or more to win, earning the opportunity to qualify for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational, held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September at Boone Speedway. Drivers winning qualifying events paying $5,000 or more receive automatic starting positions in the invitational. Already eligible drivers continued to collect qualifying victories throughout August. Brock Beeter won the Ole Olson Memorial at Nodak Speedway on Aug. 9, while Greg Peck collected victories during the Donald Green Tribute at Park Jefferson Speedway on Aug. 7 and the Bill Kirk Memorial there on Aug. 16. Jayce Reimer won Aug. 21 at Salt City Racing in Hutchinson, Kan., while Kelly Shryock captured the Harken Memorial at Kossuth County Speedway on Aug. 6. [Read More]

Seventeen More Drivers Earn Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational Eligibility in August

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Aug. 26, 2026) — Seventeen more drivers became eligible to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational with qualifying victories during August, while already eligible competitors continued to add wins at special events, touring races, and weekly programs across all five IMCA Modified regions. Drivers become eligible by winning IMCA-sanctioned events paying $1,000 or more to win, earning a place on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, held during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September at Boone Speedway. Already eligible drivers continued to collect qualifying victories throughout August. Chaz Baca Jr. won the Harken Memorial at Kossuth County Speedway on Aug. 6. Brandon Beckendorf won Aug. 15 at Worthington Speedway, while Zane DeVilbiss won Aug. 1 at Aztec Speedway. Spencer Diercks captured the John Dubuque Classic at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway on Aug. 2. Charlie Fulton won Aug. 7 at The Hill Speedway, while Tripp Gaylord captured the Cowboy Challenge at Sheridan Speedway on Aug. 8. William [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]