cortezfairgroundsspeedway Archives

Tafoya Captures Modified Victory at J.D. Minor Memorial in Cortez

By Suzan McCoy CORTEZ, Colo. (May 30, 2026) — The season-opening J.D. Minor Memorial at Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway featured six Speedway Motors IMCA divisions, and in the night’s premier division, the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Farmington, New Mexico’s Regan Tafoya drove to victory in the 20-lap feature. Tafoya started second and outran a strong field to secure his second DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season and first Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway win of 2026. Dove Creek’s Camron Spangler finished second while Ryder Green advanced from seventh to complete the podium in third. Brian Carey crossed the stripe fourth and Tyrone Yazzie charged from 11th to fifth. Fisher Scores First Stock Car Win of Season The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars saw Dove Creek’s Race Fisher work his way to the front from a fourth-place starting position to claim the feature victory. The win was Fisher’s first EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region triumph of the season. Jeramy Hughes advanced from sixth to finish second while Ron Brewer turned in one of the division’s strongest runs, charging [Read More]

Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway Set for 40th Season Opener May 30

By Suzan Allen CORTEZ, Colo. (May 27, 2026) — The engines are ready to roar and the dirt is set to fly as Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway prepares to open another exciting season of dirt track racing on Saturday, May 30. Race fans from across the Four Corners region will gather at the legendary Colorado oval for a one-night-only event beginning at 6:00 p.m. This year’s opener carries added significance as Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway celebrates its 40th season of dirt track competition, marking four decades of thrilling side-by-side racing, community tradition, and unforgettable moments under the lights. A full night of Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing action is scheduled featuring Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, Stealth Racing IMCA Mod Lites, and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts. The 2026 campaign will include eight IMCA-sanctioned races as drivers battle for season championships. “We are excited to get this season kicked off,” said promoter Joe Bellm. “There are a ton of great drivers in the area, and we are [Read More]

Troy Seidl: Miles, Mountains, and the Long Way Around

By Ben Deatherage CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Dec. 17, 2025) — In southeastern Wyoming, the wind never really stops, and distance is simply part of the landscape. Highways run long and empty across open plains, rising into mountain passes before dropping back into wide-open country where weather sets the rules. For Troy Seidl, racing out of Cheyenne has always meant accepting that reality — that every season begins on the road long before it ever reaches the racetrack. In 2025, those miles turned into momentum. Seidl put together one of the strongest seasons of his career in a Friesen Performance IMCA Modified, earning track championships at Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway and Mosca Motorsports Park while also claiming titles on the Colorado Alliance Tour and the Colorado State championship. The success followed earlier milestones, including the 2023 Colorado State title and a Phillips County Raceway track championship. The Long Road to the Racetrack From Cheyenne to Cortez, Colorado, the drive stretches roughly 11 hours and crosses Wolf Creek Pass at more than 11,000 feet, ending just miles from the New [Read More]

Spangler Family Sweeps SportMod Podium at Cortez

By Suzan McCoy CORTEZ, Colo. (July 26, 2025) — The Dove Creek-based Spangler family stole the spotlight Saturday night at Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway, sweeping the podium in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod division with an unforgettable 1-2-3 finish. Aaron Spangler was the class of the field, charging from the seventh starting position and methodically working his way to the front. Once there, he never looked back, holding off his younger family members with veteran savvy. The win marked Aaron’s fourth of the season and second at Cortez, and it adds to his growing success in the 2025 campaign. Brody Spangler, who started second, kept things steady and fast all night to secure the runner-up spot. Camron Spangler completed the family sweep with a fantastic drive from 10th to third, thrilling the home crowd. Seidel Scores Modified Victory Troy Seidel of Cheyenne, Wyoming, delivered a commanding performance in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. Starting third, he quickly found his rhythm and drove to his fourth win of the year—but his first in the 2025 Shaw [Read More]

Duggins Charges to Victory in Hobby Stocks at Cortez

By Suzan McCoy CORTEZ, Colo. (Jun. 7, 2025) — In what was arguably the race of the night at Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway on Saturday, Kyler Duggins of Farmington, New Mexico, stormed through the 20-car Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock field from the eighth starting position to claim his first win of the season in the B&B Racing Chassis Southern Region. Arizona’s Nathan Deragon and Colorado’s Hunter Ferrell rounded out the podium after a competitive and clean feature that kept fans on their feet. Bradley Bags First 2025 Win in Stock Car Showdown Allen Bradley of Farmington, New Mexico emerged victorious in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event, fending off a strong charge from Arizona’s Casey Murdoch. The win marked Bradley’s first of the year in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region. Local favorite Robert Reed brought home third for Cortez. Sutherlin Scores First Western Region Victory in Modifieds Friesen Performance IMCA Modified driver Travis Sutherlin of Aztec, New Mexico powered from the fifth starting spot to claim his first win of the season in the Shaw [Read More]

Feature

Wilson Wins $5,000-to-Win IMCA Summer Nationals Stock Car Thriller at the Wire

By Christine Rublack INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (June 3, 2026) — Tyler Wilson emerged victorious in one of the closest finishes of the week, edging Brandon Schmitt by just .025 seconds to win the $5,000-to-win Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature on the final night of the 2026 IMCA Summer Nationals at Independence Motor Speedway on Wednesday night. Schmitt, aboard the Stephanie and Josh Sorce-owned No. 20 entry, established himself as the early leader and quickly pulled away from the field. Behind him, Wilson, Nick Buckarma, and Damon Murty engaged in a spirited battle for position while Kelly Shryock steadily worked his way forward. Shryock, in the Mike Hauan-owned Lake Mills Motorsports No. 3, cracked the top three as the laps wound down, but the battle for the lead belonged to Wilson and Schmitt. Wilson finally edged ahead in the closing laps and narrowly held off Schmitt at the checkered flag for the $5,000 payday. The Little Suamico, Wisconsin, driver earned his third EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region victory of the season and automatically qualified for the 2026 B&B [Read More]

Feature

Glasser Captures Tougher Than Dirt Tour Opener with Late Pass

By Ben Deatherage UNDERWOOD, N.D. (June 3, 2026) — Keenan Glasser emerged victorious in a thrilling Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature on opening night of the T&A Tong and Indicator Tougher Than Dirt Tour presented by Schatz Storage at McLean County Speedway, holding off Payce Herrera in a dramatic late-race duel to earn his first career tour victory. The 25-lap main event began with 2006 Sunoco IMCA Stock Car track champion Chad Stratchen taking command before a lap one caution slowed the pace. On the restart, 2024 Junior National champion Payce Herrera and 2024 North Dakota State champion Glasser immediately went to work on the leader. Glasser used the high side to wrestle away the lead on lap three and began setting the pace. The Utah native repeatedly challenged Glasser as the two teenage racers broke away from the rest of the field. The battle intensified when the leaders encountered lapped traffic on lap nine, and Herrera finally found a way around the leader on lap 12. The two frontrunners remained locked together for the [Read More]

Feature

Rust Races to IMCA Summer Nationals Opening Night Modified Victory at Independence

By Christine Rublack INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (June 2, 2026) — Joel Rust topped a stellar field of Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds Tuesday night at Independence Motor Speedway, scoring a $3,000 victory on opening night of the IMCA Summer Nationals and earning eligibility to attempt to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. Jed Freiburger took command early while Brennen Chipp and Spencer Diercks battled for second. Rust, the Grundy Center driver, worked his way forward from the fourth starting position while engaged in a battle with Tripp Gaylord. A caution bunched the field and gave Rust an opportunity to attack. Utilizing the high groove, he surged to the lead and never looked back. The victory was Rust’s first Razor Chassis North Central Region win of the season. Gaylord finished second ahead of Freiburger. Tim Ward charged from 11th to fourth, while Cole Czarneski advanced from 14th to complete the top five. Kelsie Black turned in a notable run from 17th to eighth, while Brandon [Read More]