Rookie National Points

February 13, 2026

IMCA Stock Car

(points through 1/31)

Rank	Driver	Points
1	Payce Herrera	234
2	Dayton Ullrich	207
3	Joe Beller	79
4	Austin Kayton	56
5	Scott Bernards	36
6	Kim Maxwell	11

Past National Rookies of the Year
2025 – Mason Richards, Denton, NE
2024 – Colby Fett, Algona, IA
2023 – Jake Sachau, Manning, IA
2022 – Kaden Reynolds, Cedar Rapids, IA
2021 – Cade Richards, Lincoln, NE
2020 – Cameron Wilkinson, Neligh, NE
2019 – Dallon Murty, Chelsea, IA
2018 – Troy Burkhart, Hays, KS
2017 – Eric Harpole, Bismarck, ND
2016 – Kyle Pfeifer, Hill City, KS
2015 – Greg Gill, Muscatine, IA
2014 – Devin Smith, Lake City, IA
2013 – Tristan Carman, Killeen, TX
2012 – Brandon Taylor, Granbury, TX
2011 – Dustin Larson, Rushmore, MN
2010 – Nathan Wood, Keswick, IA
2009 – Phil Holtz, Manchester, IA
2008 – Adam Balthazor, Stockton, KS
2007 – Donavon Smith, Lake City, IA
2006 – Kirk Kinsley, Wapello, IA
2005 – Cory Struckhoff, Kensington, KS
2004 – B.J. Dulock, Waco, TX
2003 – Mark Zorn, Russell, KS
2002 – Randy Clydesdale, Edmond, KS
2001 – David Trauernicht, Beatrice, NE
2000 – Duain Pritchett, Combine, TX
1999 – Donald Sanders, Ottumwa, IA
1998 – Brad Pinkerton, New Sharon, IA
1997 – Sean Jerovetz, Green Bay, WI
1996 – Gary Przekurat, Flora Vista, NM
1995 – Bryan Nevins Sr., Des Moines, IA
1994 – Dan Trimble, Fairbank, IA
1993 – Kevin Wagoner, Jennings, KS
1992 – Brady Bauer, Ransom, KS
1991 – Denny Stoneburner, Boone, IA

Feature

Racine Thompson Takes the Reins at Eagle Raceway

By Ben Deatherage EAGLE, Neb. (Feb. 12, 2026) — Eagle Raceway, long known as “America’s Home Track,” has officially been passed down to the next generation of the Hadan family, as Racine Thompson has been named the new promoter of the famed Nebraska 1/3-mile oval. Roger Hadan, who has owned Eagle Raceway since 2007 after leasing and promoting the facility in 2006, formally handed over day-to-day leadership to his daughter with the goal of continuing the track’s long-standing success and family legacy. Racetrack promotion runs deep in the Hadan family. Roger’s grandfather, Albert Hadan, built the historic Sunset Speedway in Omaha, embedding the sport into the family’s foundation. With a desire to ensure racing remains strong in Eagle for years to come, the transition to Racine represents both continuity and evolution. Thompson has spent her entire adult life at the raceway. Since her parents took over operations, she has worked in virtually every role imaginable at the facility. “When my parents purchased the track in 2007, I’ve worked there since then,” Thompson said. “I started off [Read More]

Feature

Choate Conquers Ocala, Claims First ’26 Winter Nationals Triumph

By Ben Deatherage OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2026) — Ronnie Choate of Cookeville, Tennessee, delivered a dominant performance in the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature on night five of the 2026 Florida Winter Nationals, capturing the 20-lap main event at Ocala Speedway. The defending Florida Winter Nationals champion controlled the race on the 3/8-mile oval to secure his first series victory of the season. Choate jumped to the early lead on the opening start and immediately established command. Behind him, a spirited battle for second unfolded in the opening laps between Texan Corey Babbitt and Delaware’s Ryan McKinney, with McKinney initially holding the position. A caution on lap seven reset the field, allowing Babbitt to move into second on the restart, but Choate quickly stretched his advantage once green-flag racing resumed. Another slowdown on lap 11 again erased the leader’s margin, yet Choate remained flawless on the restart, driving away from Babbitt and the rest of the field. Brandon Dennis worked past McKinney for third on lap 13, while Babbitt attempted to chip into Choate’s [Read More]

Feature

Hubbard Charges to Bullring Bash Victory at Marion County

By Ben Deatherage OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2026) — Carson Hubbard broke through in a big way Tuesday night, capturing the Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lite feature during night four of the 2026 Florida Winter Nationals and the second round of the Bullring Bash at Marion County Speedway. The Fredericktown, Ohio, driver led the entirety of the 25-lap contest on the tight 1/5-mile oval to score his first victory of the season and halt Riley Clem’s series dominance. The race opened with Texas driver Scott Jordan jumping to the early lead, but Carson Hubbard stormed around the outside off turn four to lead lap one before an immediate caution slowed the field. On the restart, Delaware’s Shane McCarron — who had flipped the previous night — surged into second and quickly set his sights on the leader. A lap-six caution reset the field, and McCarron briefly took the lead on lap seven before another yellow negated the pass and restored Hubbard out front. The race settled into a long green-flag stretch until a red flag on [Read More]