Feature Stories

By Ben Deatherage PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (Mar. 9, 2026) — Inside hotel ballrooms and convention halls across America, Joel Magee can often be found leaning over a folding table with a magnifying glass in hand, carefully studying a toy that might be decades old. A faded lunchbox, a worn toy car, or a well-loved action figure could all hold stories — and sometimes surprising value. For the past several decades, collectors have brought their treasures to Magee hoping to learn what they’re worth. To many in the collecting world, he’s known simply as “The Toy Scout.” But when the appraisal tables close and the lights go down, Magee trades vintage toys for something much louder — the rumble of a race car engine. The Sioux City, Iowa native is also the driver of a Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock, and at 64 years old, he’s chasing checkered flags with the same enthusiasm he brings to tracking down rare collectibles. And in 2026, he’s already off to a strong start. Winter Champion, Summer Contender Magee opened the [Read More]

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 7, 2026) — Following a prolific 2025 season at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway across various Stock Car classes, Nicholas Johnson took on the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods in 2026. His season opener in February ended on his lid, but he quickly regained his form at the one-third-mile dirt track on Saturday during March Madness with a coveted comeback victory. Johnson dominated his heat race, then lined up third for the 25-lap feature alongside his brother Ethan. Ethan jumped ahead at the start with Nicholas sliding into second. Following a crash in turn one on the opening lap, Nicholas Johnson used the restart to take over the lead on the second lap. Johnson dominated the rest of the feature to score his first Bakersfield SportMod win. Tate Lofts drove from eighth to second, with Chris McKellar, 2024 champion Jason Bannister, and Alyssa Smith rounding out the top five. 2023 and 2024 Bakersfield Speedway Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified champion Gavyn Manning returned to the top step of the podium, winning the [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Mar. 3, 2026) — The traditional opening swing of the Iowa IMCA season returns as Frostbuster Week brings four Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing divisions to four tracks in four consecutive nights of racing, April 1–4. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars will each compete for $1,000 to win nightly, while Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks race for $500 top prizes at every stop. The 2026 Frostbuster schedule opens Wednesday, April 1 at Stuart Speedway, followed by Thursday, April 2 at Independence Motor Speedway. Marshalltown Speedway hosts the third night on Friday, April 3, with the finale set for Saturday, April 4 at Boone Speedway. Series champions will receive the largest shares of a $1,000 point fund and earn eligibility for Race of Champions events at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Modified and Stock Car feature winners throughout the week will qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational, respectively. Stuart [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage WACO, Texas (Mar. 2, 2026) — Heart O’ Texas Speedway is headed to IMCA TV, joining a growing catalog of tracks that showcase weekly competition and marquee events from the Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing program. The 1/4-mile Waco oval will now stream its IMCA-sanctioned action to fans across the country, bringing the intensity of its weekly battles to a broader audience. The 2026 season opens March 6 with the Jack Bagby Memorial and concludes with championship night on August 28. A total of 27 nights of weekly racing are scheduled throughout the campaign. Heart O’ Texas Speedway sanctions weekly competition for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods — three divisions with deep roots at the facility. IMCA Modified competition at Heart O’ Texas dates back to 1995, when Paul White earned the first championship. Over the years, the division has featured several multi-time track champions, led by Keith White, who captured six championships between 2009 and 2015. Kevin Green has also been [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Mar. 2, 2026) — The 4th annual IMCA TV Clash On The Coast returned to the Gulf Coast with four nights of competition split between Blackwater Speedway in Baker, Florida, and Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Alabama. Blackwater, formerly Northwest Florida Speedway, has hosted the tour each year since its inception, while Deep South joined the rotation for the second straight season. All three divisions crowned champions after tightly contested four-race title battles, with a different winner in each class on every night of competition. A total of 74 drivers competed in Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified action during the week. Newton, Iowa’s Ethan Braaksma wrapped up the Modified title by 12 points in the Trent Guest and Danny Meier-owned no. 111. The two-time defending Dakota Classic Modified Tour champion, former IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion, and reigning Harris Clash winner never fell outside the top five all week, stacking one win, three podium finishes, and a perfect four-for-four mark inside the top five to seal the championship. His best night came [Read More]