centralarizonaraceway Archives

Braaksma Holds On for Night Five Modified Victory at IMCA TV Winter Nationals in Casa Grande

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 28, 2026) — Ethan Braaksma from Newton, Iowa, captured his fourth career IMCA Modified Winter Nationals series victory with a hard-fought win in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the fifth night of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Pitt Stop Motorsports and Dynamic Drivelines at Central Arizona Raceway. The defending Winter Nationals champion and two-time Dakota Classic Modified Tour titlist drove the Trent Guest and Danny Meier-owned no. 111 to victory, earning his first win of the 2026 campaign in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region. Braaksma jumped to the early lead at the drop of the green and immediately began setting the pace, while three-division Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner Dylan Thornton moved into second and methodically began closing the gap. A strong battle developed behind them as Jonathan Mawhinney and reigning Marshalltown Speedway track champion Kollin Hibdon fought for third, with Hibdon eventually securing the position. Lapped traffic became a factor by lap 13, and Braaksma navigated [Read More]

IMCA TV Winter Nationals Explode to Life with Action-Packed Opening Week

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 26, 2026) — The first week of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Dynamic Drivelines and Pitt Stop Motorsports at Central Arizona Raceway delivered an incredible start to the 2026 season in the Copper State, with more than 240 teams from across the United States and Canada making the journey to the 3/8-mile clay oval. The three-division Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner from Belle Plaine, Iowa, Dylan Thornton, took care of business in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, winning the first three nights of competition. One of those victories came in dramatic fashion, as Thornton edged out Mesa native and two-time national champion Chaz Baca Jr. by just 0.021 seconds in the second night’s feature. Baca, the runner-up in that close finish and the 2024 Winter Nationals champion, rebounded to capture the final-night win of the opening week. Three-time IMCA Sprint Car Super Nationals winner Curt Lund of Redwood Falls, Minnesota, claimed the opening Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature before 2024 [Read More]

Baca Masters Traffic and Late Restart to Win at IMCA TV Winter Nationals

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 24, 2026) — Chaz Baca Jr. scored his eighth career Winter Nationals series victory with a hard-fought win in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the fourth night of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Pitt Stop Motorsports and Dynamic Drivelines at Central Arizona Raceway. The two-time IMCA National champion also earned his first win of the 2026 campaign in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region. The Mesa motorist jumped to the early lead and quickly separated himself as the top three checked out from the field. Kevin Williamson, the reigning Western Region champion in the Superior Fuel Cells-fielded no. 42, and Joey Price, the 2018 Montana State titlist in the Shawn Zelenka-provided no. 11*, battled for position behind the leader as Baca began working lapped traffic on lap 12. Pressure mounted in the closing laps when reigning Winter Nationals champion Ethan Braaksma reeled Baca in as traffic tightened the racing groove. A caution on lap 18 set up a green-white-checkered finish, but Baca [Read More]

Thornton Extends IMCA TV Winter Nationals Streak with Third Straight Modified Win

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 23, 2026) — Dylan Thornton of Belle Plaine, Iowa, continued his dominant run at Central Arizona Raceway with a commanding victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the third night of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Pitt Stop Motorsports and Dynamic Drivelines. The former Santa Maria, California native earned his fifth career Winter Nationals series victory, his third win of the 2026 event, and his third straight triumph in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region. Thornton jumped to the lead immediately from the high side on the opening start and began pulling away as the green-flag run developed. Two-time defending Dakota Classic Modified Tour champion and reigning Winter Nationals champion Ethan Braaksma gave chase from the bottom groove in the Danny Meier and Trent Guest-owned no. 111, while a spirited mid-race battle for fourth between reigning Marshalltown Speedway track champion Kollin Hibdon and Tate Johnson provided the best fight inside the top five. A caution on lap 14 reset the field just [Read More]

Thornton Wins Modified Thriller on Night Two of IMCA TV Winter Nationals

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 22, 2026) — Dylan Thornton, calling Belle Plaine, Iowa home these days, continued his Winter Nationals dominance with a dramatic victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the second night of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Pitt Stop Motorsports and Dynamic Drivelines at Central Arizona Raceway. The former Santa Maria, California, resident scored his fourth career Modified Winter Nationals series win, his second straight of the 2026 event, and his second consecutive victory in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region. Thornton, a three-division winner at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, took command on the opening start before an early caution regrouped the field. Two-time IMCA Modified National champion Chaz Baca Jr. quickly emerged as his primary challenger, stalking Thornton through multiple restarts and long green-flag stretches. After a caution on lap 10, Thornton briefly brushed the wall on lap 13, allowing Baca to close the gap and set up a fierce side-by-side battle that featured multiple slider exchanges [Read More]

Thornton Controls IMCA TV Winter Nationals Modified Opening Night Feature

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 21, 2026) — Dylan Thornton turned in a commanding performance Wednesday night at Central Arizona Raceway in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds during the opening night of the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Pitt Stop Motorsports and Dynamic Drivelines. Zane DeVilbiss, a two-time IMCA Modified National champion, grabbed the lead on the opening lap before an early caution slowed the pace. On the restart, multi-division Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner Dylan Thornton mounted a strong challenge, but a yellow flew before the pass could be completed. Thornton officially took control during the ensuing restart on lap six and began to stretch his advantage, navigating traffic efficiently. Behind him, two-time IMCA Modified National champion Chaz Baca Jr. and Brandon Beckendorf waged a hard-fought battle for fourth around the halfway mark. Thornton, who started third, checked out during the long green-flag run and never looked back on his way to his third career Winter Nationals victory in the Modified division and his first [Read More]

Lund Rules Prelude to IMCA TV Winter Nationals Stock Car Feature at Casa Grande

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 18, 2026) — Curt Lund was victorious in the Prelude to the IMCA TV Winter Nationals on Sunday night at Central Arizona Raceway, leading all 20 laps of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature to claim the $1,000 win in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region. The Redwood Falls, Minnesota driver took command immediately from the three-wide start after rolling off from the front row of the outside column, setting the pace in the 28-car feature. Bo Partain stayed close early and applied pressure through the opening circuits, but by lap two Lund had firmly established control out front. 2015 Kansas State Stock Car champion Jason Rogers worked his way into second a couple of laps later and began trying to reel in the three-time Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner in the Sprint Car division. The first caution flew on lap five, followed by another yellow on lap six and yet another on lap seven, but each time Lund executed clean restarts to remain out [Read More]

$1,000 Jan. 18 Sunday Night Showdown Awaits Stock Cars at Central Arizona Raceway

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Jan. 16, 2025) — Before the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA.TV Winter Nationals presented by Dynamic Drivelines and Pitt Stop Motorsports kicks off on January 21, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars will get the action started with a special Sunday night event at Central Arizona Raceway. The IMCA Stock Cars will take to the clay on Sunday, January 18, at the same facility that will host the Winter Nationals, giving competitors an early opportunity to tune up ahead of the opening round of the prestigious winter series. Pits will open at 1 p.m., grandstands will open at 3 p.m., with on-track activity scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. The event will pay $1,000 to the winner, with Black Magic Bead Breaker contributing $250 to the winner’s purse. Arizona State, EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region and National points will be awarded. In addition, the race will serve as a B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational qualifier for the 2026 Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s, scheduled for September. More information [Read More]

Fugly Push Co. Gears Up for High-Octane Fundraiser at Central Arizona Raceway on Jan. 24

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Dec. 3, 2025) — With the 2025 IMCA racing season in the books, Fugly Push Co. is already shifting gears toward 2026 and its second annual fundraiser to benefit Camp Eyabsut, a camp dedicated to helping children who have suffered burn injuries. The effort will once again be anchored at Central Arizona Raceway during the 2026 DeVilbiss Racing Chassis IMCA TV Winter Nationals powered by Pitt Stop Motorsports and Dynamic Drivelines. The big day is set for Saturday, from 10 am to 1:30 pm on Jan. 24, 2026, when Fugly Push Co. teams up with the Arizona Cascade Renegade Riders for a full Motorcycle & Car Show on the grounds of Central Arizona Raceway. Last year’s inaugural fundraiser generated a little over $10,000 for Camp Eyabsut, and organizers are aiming to push that total even higher this time around. Sunshine, the well-known Fugly Push Co. tow truck, is also getting a round of off-season improvements to better serve racers — and to be even more fun to wheel around the [Read More]

Hibdon Goes Back-to-Back with The Showdown Modified Triumph at Central Arizona Raceway

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Nov. 9, 2025) — Kollin Hibdon capped off The Showdown tripleheader weekend in style, leading every lap of Sunday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Central Arizona Raceway to win the finale for the second consecutive year. The Pahrump, Nev., native—now residing in Waterloo, Iowa—pocketed $3,000 for the 30-lap victory and became the first driver in event history to repeat as champion. The win also earned Hibdon a spot on the eligibility list for the 2026 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at Boone Speedway during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Hibdon, the 2025 Marshalltown Speedway track champion and winner of the Ernie Mincy Memorial Early Thaw Series at the same track earlier this year, started outside the front row and grabbed the lead immediately. Despite several cautions slowing the pace, he never faltered, mastering each restart and steadily pulling away from his challengers. Wisconsin’s 2024 state champion Cole Czarneski stayed closest in pursuit, coming home second after winning Saturday’s preliminary feature, while Friday night’s victor, Austin [Read More]