Newswire

Brian McCaughan: Chasing Gold in the Yukon and Racing for the Moments

By Ben Deatherage SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Mar. 18, 2026) — In the Yukon, the air is so clean you can drink from the streams. The country stretches wide and wild, with mountains on the horizon, deep cuts in the earth, and wildlife moving through a landscape that still feels untamed. In that far-north world, where long days of summer labor are measured against cold, distance, and the uncertainty of what lies beneath the ground, Brian McCaughan has built a life chasing one of the planet’s oldest prizes. Gold. It is a life shaped by risk, patience, hard work, and wonder. Some days the earth gives something back. Other days, after moving millions of tons of dirt, there is almost nothing to show for it. But for McCaughan, the beauty of the Yukon and the challenge of making a living there have become part of who he is. Maybe that is why getting back into racing made sense. The driver of the no. 2D Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified once raced Modifieds and Late Models regularly and made a [Read More]

Bitting Charges from Rear to Win Saturday Hobby Stock Show at Central Arizona

By Rowdy Briggs CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Mar. 14, 2026) — A strong field of 24 Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks answered the call for the $1000 to win feature at Central Arizona. Matt Rice and Joel Magee led the field to green, with Magee taking the early lead. Steve Bitting Jr. spun on lap two and was sent to the rear but mounted an impressive comeback. Up front, Magee and Anthony Madrid battled, for the lead until lap 18, when Bitting charged past both drivers to take over the top spot. Bitting went on to score the win over Magee, Madrid, Charles McDaniel Sr., and Hannah Miller. He stated in his post-race interview that he lost brakes early but kept his car on the bottom and worked his way through the field. Ty Warner and Steve Bitting Jr. led the 18-car field to the green for Friday’s 20-lap feature. Bitting led the opening six laps before Anthony Madrid took over in the Rick Thornton Sr. machine. Madrid pulled away while Bitting battled Joel Magee for second. Madrid [Read More]

Saathoff Delivers Hometown Victory on Final Night of Beatrice Spring Nationals

By Ben Deatherage BEATRICE, Neb. (Mar. 14, 2026) — Jaxon Saathoff delivered a thrilling hometown victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature on the final night of the 33rd annual Spring Nationals at Beatrice Speedway. The Beatrice driver charged from ninth to win the 25-lap, $2,000-to-win main event, which served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s and placed him on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify. The triumph marked Saathoff’s first Jet Racing Central Region win of the season and his first career Spring Nationals title — exactly 30 years after his father Johnny captured the event in 1996. Shawn Harker, last year’s Jet Racing Central Region and Nebraska State champion as well as the reigning Eagle Raceway track titlist, initially shot to the lead on the opening start. Bryson Yeager, a two-time Sweetwater Speedway champion, wrestled the top spot away on the backstretch and led the opening lap. A caution slowed the field on lap four, but Yeager executed the [Read More]

Maupin Masters Texana Raceway Park for STIMS Modified Win

By Nick Robbins EDNA, Texas (Mar. 14, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts served up another helping of incredible racing at Texana Raceway Park. 25 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds signed in for the $1,000 to win, 20-lap main event. Jared Maupin made a statement early by taking the win in DIY Equipment Sales and Rental Heat One over Steven Whiteaker Jr., Sundowner Performance Diesel Heat Two would go to Ryan Doyon, with Steven Whiteaker III finishing second in only his second IMCA Modified start. Cody Leonard scored the win in 3-D Landscaping and Irrigation Heat Three with Johnny Torres coming second. A full field lined up for the feature ready to thrill the Texana fans once more. Maupin and Leonard set the pace early with Whiteaker Jr. close behind. Cautions would ultimately slow the field three times, but Maupin led all 20 laps in the Rick Pollaro-provided no. 96 on the way to his first STIMS victory in 2026 as well as his first in the GRT Race Cars [Read More]

Whiteaker Scores STIMS Season Opener Victory at Texana Raceway Park

By Tim Robbins EDNA, Texas (Mar. 13, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts opened its 2026 campaign at Texana Raceway Park. A strong field of 23 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds were on hand for the $1,000-to-win 20-lap main event. Twenty-one of the 23 cars made the call for the 20-lap main event and gave the crowd a great four-wide salute, complete with fireworks. Once the green dropped, Robstown driver Steven Whiteaker Jr. jumped out front from the outside of the first row with Rob Slott in tow. The field would run 15 green-flag laps before seeing its first yellow. That stretch allowed Jared Maupin and Johnny Torres to work toward the front in their pursuit of the Whiteaker machine. The caution flew two more times, but ultimately Whiteaker came out on top to score his second win of the season in the GRT Race Cars South Central Region, but his first in STIMS competition. The race was a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational to be run [Read More]

Sobbing Surges Late to Capture Spring Nationals Stock Car Opener at Beatrice

By Ben Deatherage BEATRICE, Neb. (Mar. 13, 2026) — Jesse Sobbing powered to victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature on opening night of the 33rd annual Spring Nationals at Beatrice Speedway, earning a spot on the eligibility list for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational to be held during the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. The Malvern, Iowa driver and reigning Super Nationals Sunoco IMCA Late Model winner grabbed the lead on the opening lap of the 20-lap, $1,000-to-win main event, but immediately had his hands full with Damon Murty. The 2005 National Stock Car champion and six-time Iowa State titlist repeatedly worked the bottom of the track trying to unseat Sobbing while 2019 National champion Jordan Grabouski soon entered the battle. Grabouski powered into second on lap seven as Sobbing stretched his advantage until a lap nine caution erased the gap. On the restart, Grabouski seized the lead on lap 10 and briefly appeared in command before another pair of cautions slowed the pace. Grabouski mastered the [Read More]

Michigan IMCA Stock Car Scene Expands with Crystal and Mt. Pleasant in 2026

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Mar. 13, 2026) — Two Michigan race tracks will host Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars on a regular basis during the 2026 season, creating additional opportunities for drivers in the Great Lakes region. Crystal Motor Speedway and Mt. Pleasant Speedway will both sanction the division this year, with track, Michigan State, EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and national IMCA points awarded at both facilities. Crystal Motor Speedway first hosted IMCA Stock Cars during the 2024 Great Lakes Nationals and will expand the division significantly in 2026. Approximately 20 nights for the class are currently scheduled, beginning with the season opener on April 11. Promoter Brian Le Baron believes the division will be a great fit for the speedway moving forward. “I love the class and the racing is great,” Le Baron said. “Our local Stock Car class had gotten to the point where the motors were getting out of hand and expensive. IMCA has a great package to keep everything under control.” “We’re going to run them quite a few times this [Read More]

Justice Brothers Marks 30 Years of Support for IMCA Weekly Racing

By Ben Deatherage EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (Mar. 13, 2026) — Justice Brothers continues its long-standing commitment to grassroots motorsports in 2026, celebrating three decades as a proud sponsor of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing. The company, known for its extensive line of automotive performance and maintenance products, traces its roots directly to the racing world. Founded by the Justice Brothers, who began building race cars as teenagers in Paola, Kansas, the company’s history has always been closely tied to the automotive and racing industries. From those early days in the Midwest, the Justice family eventually moved to Southern California, where they became involved in constructing some of the most legendary vehicles and race cars of the era. Many of those machines are now prized collector pieces worth millions of dollars. Today, Justice Brothers remains a family-owned and operated company, continuing to manufacture its products in the United States while maintaining its deep connection to racing. Over the decades, the company has developed an extensive catalog of automotive products, offering hundreds of solutions designed for passenger vehicles, [Read More]

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through March 12, 2026

Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds – 1. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 314; 2. Dylan Thornton, Belle Plaine, Iowa, 300; 3. Brandon Beckendorf, Danube, Minn., 280; 4. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 279; 5. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, Iowa, 270; 6. Troy III Morris, Waterloo, Iowa, 264; 7. Chaz Baca, Stanhope, Iowa, 260; 8. William Gould, Calera, Okla., and Jared Maupin, Helotes, Texas, both 253; 10. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 247; 11. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 234; 12. Dean Abbey, Boyd, Texas, 232; 13. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill., 216; 14. Steven Whiteaker, Robstown, Texas, 212; 15. Spencer Hughes, Meridian, Mississippi, 193; 16. Cole Szlauko, Shell Beach, Calif., 190; 17. Tim Ward, Harcourt, Iowa, 189; 18. Gage McCaughan, Scottsdale, Ariz., 188; 19. Steve Askew, Valley View, Texas, 182; 20. Logan Drake, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 179. Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars – 1. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 561; 2. Cameron Starry, Robstown, Texas, 558; 3. Curt Lund, Redwood Falls, Minn., 470; 4. Dillon Richards, Wymore, Neb., 403; 5. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 400; 6. Blake Clark, Joshua, Texas, 389; [Read More]

Arkansas Spring Nationals Returns as Batesville Motor Speedway Invests in Upgrades

By Ben Deatherage LOCUST GROVE, Ark. (Mar. 12, 2026) — Batesville Motor Speedway will host the Arkansas IMCA Spring Nationals “Wimp” Reed Memorial on March 26-28, featuring Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. The three-day program opens Thursday, March 26 with a practice session only. Pit passes will be $30, while grandstand admission will be free for spectators that evening. The racing portion of the weekend starts Friday, March 27 and continues through Saturday, March 28 with full shows each night. Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars will each race for $1,500 to win nightly. Modified feature winners will earn Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifying eligibility, while Stock Car feature winners will do the same for the B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational. Entry fee for both divisions is $50 per night, and non-qualifiers will receive $50 in tow money. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. each day. For the Friday and Saturday race programs, draw opens at the pit gate, hot laps are scheduled for 7 p.m., [Read More]