Modified News

By Michael Benjamin ISLE, N.Y. (Oct. 31, 2026) — Eddie Sites charged from 12th to capture the $3,116 second annual Ed and Jan Billings Classic on Saturday night at Thunder Mountain Speedway, closing out the Close Racing Supply NY/Penn IMCA Modified Series season during Monster Bash weekend. Nineteen Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds returned for the second night of competition. Gaege Higley of Wyalusing, Pa., collected his first career IMCA heat race victory in the opening heat. Aaron Benjamin won the second heat for his second victory in as many nights, while Matt Roberts of Afton, N.Y., claimed the third heat. David McDaniels of Sanger, Texas, captured the Dash 4 Cash. McDaniels and Roberts started on the front row of the feature, with Roberts taking the early lead. Several early cautions kept the field close, but Roberts maintained the advantage while Sites worked his way forward from the sixth row. Sites eventually caught Roberts, and the two battled for the lead over the next several laps before Sites completed the pass. Once out front, Sites pulled away [Read More]

By Michael Benjamin ISLE, N.Y. (Oct. 30, 2026) — James Lamphere took advantage of a late-race incident involving leader Keith Lamphere to capture the $1,004 fourth annual Billy Ward Memorial on Friday night at Thunder Mountain Speedway during the Monster Bash weekend for the Close Racing Supply NY/Penn IMCA Modified Series. A field of 24 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds checked in for the opening night of the season-ending doubleheader. Lamphere opened the evening by winning the first heat race aboard the Gary Lamphere-owned No. 87. Aaron Benjamin of Forksville, Pa., collected the second heat victory, while Rodney Morgan won the third heat and the Dash 4 Cash. Morgan and Gaege Higley brought the feature field to the green flag, but James Lamphere quickly moved forward from his fifth starting position to take the lead. Former series champion Keith Lamphere, who started at the rear of the field, worked his way through traffic and eventually passed James Lamphere for the top spot. Keith Lamphere continued to lead until contact with a lapped car in turn three late [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage BELGRADE, Mont. (Oct. 22, 2026) — Ty Clemens knows what it takes to compete for a regional championship in Montana, where traveling several hours between racetracks is a regular part of the season. The 38-year-old from Belgrade made those miles count in 2026, capturing his second DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region championship in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified division. Clemens, who previously won the region in 2022, remains the only Montana driver to claim the Western Region championship. He also secured his fifth Montana State championship, breaking a tie with Jeremy Meirhofer for the most in state history, and earned his second consecutive track championship at Electric City Speedway in Great Falls. “We have to travel a lot in this part of the world with the racetracks all spread apart as they are compared to Iowa or other places,” Clemens said. That travel included regular three-hour trips from Belgrade to Electric City Speedway and Big Sky Speedway in Billings. One weekend, Clemens raced Friday at Gallatin Speedway in his hometown before making the [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage LACEYVILLE, Pa. (Oct. 22, 2026) — Tyler Belcher’s 2026 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified campaign began with a difficult trip to Florida, but the 35-year-old from Laceyville, Pa., returned home and put together a season that ended with the Close Racing Supply Eastern Region championship. Belcher became just the third Pennsylvania driver to capture the Eastern Region championship, marking the 10th time the title has gone to a Keystone State competitor. He joined eight-time champion Sean Lias and 2015 titleholder Keith Lamphere. Belcher also earned his first New York and Pennsylvania State championships, along with track titles at The Hill Speedway in Monroeton, Pa., and Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, N.Y. Driving the Robinson Timber Harvesting/Latini Enterprise/Belcher Trucking-sponsored No. 7B Alpha Chassis, Belcher recorded five feature victories at three different facilities, along with 20 top-five finishes and 27 top-10 results in 32 feature starts across 35 events attended. He also reached the podium 16 times. “We started out the year in Florida and didn’t do too hot down there, but we learned a [Read More]

By Bill Martin DAVENPORT, Iowa (Oct. 25, 2026) – A Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified driver who says he was “just out to win races” this season won the first regional championship of his career, too. Spencer Diercks collected a personal single-season best 21 features in reigning over point standings for the Razor Chassis North Central Region. He was track champion and a five-time winner at hometown Davenport Speedway. The national runner-up, Diercks made starts at 13 different tracks in his home region in 2026, winning at least once at a remarkable 11 of those venues. “Everything had to go our way, and it was cool to accomplish what we did. It’s October now and I still kind of look back and think ‘Damn, we did that,’” Diercks said. “It’s pretty cool, and I never thought I’d be able to win the region.” “We had luck on our side, the car was working good and the team worked well together. Everything was just gelling,” he’d add. “Everything has to work good and that starts with all the [Read More]

By Bill Martin FAIRBURY, Neb. (Oct. 23, 2026) – Adam Wasserman was so focused on winning a track championship that he’d forgotten about an even bigger prize. The second-season Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified driver clinched the Jet Racing Central Region crown, along with the track and Nebraska State titles with a third-place finish in the Aug. 29 finale at Eagle Raceway. “I wasn’t paying attention to regional points until about the last three weeks, then somebody said, ‘hey, you should look at the standings,’” he said. “I did and told myself I’d better try. I was so focused on winning the track championship that I kind of forgot about the region.” “It still feels surreal that I put my name up there with guys like Johnny Saathoff, Jordan Grabouski and David Murray Jr. as a regional champion. It’s cool to have your name with guys like that.” From Fairbury, Wasserman cut his racing teeth running with the best of them for five seasons in a Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock. His Modified rookie season was a learning [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Nov. 2, 2026) — IMCA has released its 2027 rules package, featuring minor updates and clarifications across several divisions, along with changes to helmet requirements and head and neck restraint regulations for minor drivers. In the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock divisions, frame ground clearance must measure a minimum of 6.5 inches and a maximum of nine inches beneath the oval frame holes, identified as letters D and K in the 1978-88 Monte Carlo frame drawing. Floating or removable bars are not permitted in either division. Stock Cars will no longer be permitted to use Camaro nosepieces on anything other than the Camaro MD3 body, while Hobby Stocks will not be allowed to use lightweight pressure plate. For Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Speedway Motors fabricated lower A-frames, part numbers 91035297-L and 91035297-R, have been added to the rules. The interior deck must also be level from left to right within a one-inch tolerance. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod division will have the same interior deck requirement, [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage CALERA, Okla. (Oct. 20, 2026) — Thirteen years after winning his first Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified national championship, William Gould returned to the top of the standings in 2026, capturing his second career national crown by 14 points following a season that produced 18 feature victories. The Calera, Okla., veteran became one of just eight drivers to win multiple Modified national championships since 1982 and remains the only Oklahoma driver to accomplish the feat. His latest championship also came with his ninth GRT Race Cars South Central Region title, tying David Murray Jr. for the most regional championships in IMCA history while breaking a tie with Henry Witt Jr. for the most in the South Central Region. Gould also secured his sixth consecutive and eighth career Texas State championship, giving him 10 combined state titles between Texas and Oklahoma, the most in the division’s history. He added track championships at Grayson County Speedway and Heart O’ Texas Speedway, earning his fifth career Grayson County crown and second straight, along with his first championship [Read More]

By Nick Robbins EDNA, Texas (Oct. 17, 2026) — The Southern Touring IMCA Modified Series presented by On Demand Shirts took the green flag for its 2026 season finale at Texana Raceway Park during the Lance and Martha Toler Last Call Racing Texana Clash. Two separate $1,500-to-win shows produced two different winners, with one grabbing his first victory of the season. The first heat race went three-wide at the green flag, with Steven Whiteaker Jr. storming through the middle of the track to take the lead from fourth off turn two. Reigning series champion Jared Maupin got loose entering turn three, leaving Shawn Sandegren with nowhere to go as contact brought out the caution. The second attempt saw polesitter Brian Machicek hold off a charge from Logan Dinsmore to lead the opening lap. Dinsmore took command on lap two and led through lap seven, but Whiteaker grabbed the lead off turn four coming to the white flag. Whiteaker held on to win, with Dinsmore second. The second heat saw Cody Leonard walk away from the field [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage SOMERTON, Ariz. (Oct. 21, 2026) — Some of the biggest names in Speedway Motors IMCA racing will converge on Cocopah Speedway Nov. 4-7 for the inaugural Wild River Diamond in the Desert, featuring three nights of competition and an $8,000 payday awaiting the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified winner. Presented by Wild River Family Entertainment Center, the first-year event will bring five IMCA divisions to the Diamond in the Desert for a weekend of racing in southwestern Arizona. The four-day gathering begins Wednesday, Nov. 4, with an open practice session before racing gets underway Thursday, Nov. 5, and continues through Saturday, Nov. 7. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds will headline the event, with $8,000 awaiting the winner of the division’s main event. The Modifieds will be joined by the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, with both divisions competing for $4,000 top prizes. Saturday’s Modified and Stock Car features will serve as qualifying events for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational, [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Oct. 21, 2026) — Central Arizona Raceway will close out the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with three nights of Speedway Motors IMCA racing during The Showdown: A Salute to Phil Hertel, scheduled for Friday through Sunday, Nov. 27-29. The three-day event will feature Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks also competing Friday and Saturday. More than just a weekend of racing, The Showdown will pay tribute to Phil Hertel while offering competitors three opportunities to race for substantial payouts at the Casa Grande facility. The IMCA Modifieds will headline the weekend, with Friday and Saturday’s features each paying $1,000 to win before Sunday’s $3,000-to-win finale. All three Modified features will serve as qualifying events for the 2027 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s All-Star Invitational, with each winner earning eligibility to attempt to qualify for the prestigious race at Boone Speedway. Modified competitors will receive $100 to start Friday and Saturday’s features, while Sunday’s finale will pay [Read More]

By Christine Rublack CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Oct. 17, 2026) — Jed Freiburger of Dubuque collected his 11th Razor Chassis North Central Region victory of the season in the $2,000-to-win, 20-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature, holding off a late charge from Cody Laney. Freiburger started on the pole and established the early advantage while Jace Eckrich moved into second, followed by Jeff Bodendorfer and Laney. Following a restart, Bodendorfer advanced into the runner-up position as Laney worked the bottom groove to take over third. Laney, who started eighth, continued his charge and moved into second with only a few laps remaining. Despite the late pressure, Freiburger maintained his advantage and crossed the finish line first. Laney finished second after advancing six positions, with Bodendorfer third, Eckrich fourth, and Chris Zogg fifth. Gifford Makes Three-Wide Move Count in Hobby Stocks Bradyn Gustin of Marshalltown used the bottom groove to his advantage in the $1,000-to-win, 15-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature, taking control early and pulling away as Josh Banes and Jarett Franzen battled for second. Gifford, [Read More]

By William Nusser LA CROSSE, Kan. (Oct. 13, 2026) — Rush County Speedway will close its first full Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing season with the Last Call Classic, a two-night event scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, at The Bullring on the Rush County Fairgrounds. The event features United Rebel Sprint Series (URSS) competitors alongside Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods. The weekend offers $1,500 to win for both Modifieds and Stock Cars, $1,000 for the URSS, and $750 for Northern SportMods. The weekend will serve as qualifiers for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational and B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational. Winners of the main events will earn eligibility to attempt to qualify for their respective invitationals at next September’s Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “The season isn’t over yet,” promoter William Nusser said. “One more weekend. One last shot under the lights. This is last call at The Bullring for 2026 — and we see Last Call Classic becoming [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (Oct. 14, 2026) — The 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing season crowned five first-time National champions while a collection of familiar names added to already impressive championship resumes across the nine divisions. William Gould returned to the top of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified ranks for the first time in 13 years, Zach Zeitner captured his second straight Sunoco IMCA Late Model National championship, Lee Goos Jr. earned his third consecutive RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car crown, and Dillon Raffurty continued his unprecedented run with a sixth straight Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite title. John Oliver Jr., Coy Vlies, Nicholas Ronnebaum, Trevor Cogburn, and Johnny Thomas completed the championship lineup, with each earning his first career National championship in 2026. Gould, of Calera, Okla., captured his second career Modified National championship and first since 2013, winning the title by 14 points aboard the Kerry Fryer Motorsports No. 60. The veteran also captured his ninth GRT Race Cars South Central Region championship and third consecutive Regional crown. Gould continued his run of [Read More]

By Mike McGuire DAVENPORT, Iowa (Oct. 10, 2026) — Jace Eckrich’s $1,000 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified victory highlighted the second and final night of the Davenport Dirt Stars at Davenport Speedway. The two-night program featured plenty of action after Friday morning showers left the racing surface fast and challenging for competitors. Eckrich wasted little time getting to the front in Saturday’s feature, charging from third to lead the opening circuit. Jason Schueller moved ahead on lap two, but Eckrich answered the following time around and regained command. He controlled the remainder of the feature and crossed the finish line with a two-second advantage. Jace Whitt finished second for the second consecutive night, while Friday winner Brandon Durbin was third. Matt Werner finished fourth, and Shane Paris rounded out the top five. The victory was also a qualifier for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, putting Eckrich on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify at next September’s Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Friday’s 20-lap Modified feature took a toll on both drivers [Read More]