wildwestspeedweek Archives

Sanders Edges Ferrando by One Point for Wild West Speedweek Championship

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (June 24, 2026) — Eight races in eight days at six tracks across Oregon produced three hard-fought championship battles during the 2026 IMCA Wild West Speedweek. Matt Sanders captured his first career Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified Wild West Speedweek championship, edging Grey Ferrando by a single point to become the first driver to win Speedweek titles in two different divisions. The Brookings racer previously claimed the IMCA Northern SportMod crowns in 2024 and 2025. Sanders pieced together one of the most consistent weeks of any competitor, collecting three feature victories, seven podium finishes and a perfect eight top-five finishes. Sanders scored wins on the first of two nights at Cottage Grove Speedway, the second of two nights at Coos Bay Speedway, and in the Southern Oregon Speedway finale, while never finishing worse than fifth during the tour. Ferrando remained in championship contention until the final checkered flag. The Scio driver matched Sanders with three feature victories at River City Speedway, the second of two nights at Cottage Grove Speedway, and the [Read More]

Sanders Secures First Modified Speedweek Crown with Southern Oregon Victory

By Ben Deatherage WHITE CITY, Ore. (June 20, 2026) — Matt Sanders capped off a breakthrough week by winning the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature and securing his first career IMCA Wild West Speedweek championship during the eighth and final round of the 2026 tour at Southern Oregon Speedway. Sanders, winner of the previous two Wild West Speedweek IMCA Northern SportMod titles, jumped to the lead at the start and quickly established himself as the driver to beat. The Brookings racer and 2022 Southern Oregon Speedway SportMod champion Ryan Peery separated themselves from the field early and began encountering lapped traffic on lap 10. Although Sanders was briefly boxed in by slower cars, he expertly sliced through traffic and rebuilt his advantage. Behind him, a spirited battle for second developed on lap 16 between Peery and two-time defending Speedweek champion Bricen James. While they battled, Sanders remained firmly in command and cruised to his third victory of the week and fifth DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region triumph of the season. The race served as a Fast [Read More]

Williamson Rallies From Flat Tire for Last-Lap Douglas County Speedweek Victory

By Ben Deatherage ROSEBURG, Ore. (June 19, 2026) — Kevin Williamson completed a remarkable comeback to capture his first career Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified Wild West Speedweek victory during the seventh round of the 2026 tour at Douglas County Dirtrack. Washington’s Devon Reed led the opening lap before two-time defending Wild West Speedweek champion and 2024 track champion Bricen James made a daring move exiting turn four to seize the lead. James entered the night having won the previous three Speedweek Modified events at the 3/10-mile oval dating back to 2023. Following a lap four caution, Matt Sanders, winner of the previous night’s feature at Coos Bay Speedway and the last two Wild West Speedweek IMCA Northern SportMod championships, began applying pressure. Sanders eventually took command and looked poised for a second straight victory. He encountered lapped traffic on lap 14 before cautions for debris on lap 26 and another stoppage on lap 31 set up a four-lap sprint to the finish. On the final restart, Sanders found himself under attack from reigning National Rookie of [Read More]

Sanders Secures Second Career Speedweek Modified Triumph at Coos Bay

By Ben Deatherage COOS BAY, Ore. (June 18, 2026) — Matt Sanders drove away from a stacked field in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature to capture the sixth round of the 2026 IMCA Wild West Speedweek on the final night of competition at Coos Bay Speedway. Defending Southern Oregon Speedway track champion and reigning National Rookie of the Year Ethan Killingsworth jumped to the early lead before Matt Sanders, winner of Monday’s Modified feature at Cottage Grove Speedway and the last two Wild West Speedweek IMCA Northern SportMod championships, closed in and took command on lap four. Two-time defending Wild West Speedweek champion Bricen James worked his way into second on lap nine aboard the Schram Motorsports No. 13 as he and Killingsworth battled for position. Lapped traffic began to enter the equation around lap 10, but a caution slowed the pace before it could become a major factor. The leaders again encountered slower traffic on lap 19, only for another caution to erase the challenge. On the ensuing restart, James pressured Sanders for the [Read More]

Ferrando Capitalizes Late for Coos Bay Speedweek Triumph

By Ben Deatherage COOS BAY, Ore. (June 17, 2026) — Grey Ferrando used lapped traffic to his advantage late in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature to score his third Wild West Speedweek victory of the week during the fifth round of the 2026 IMCA Wild West Speedweek and the first of two nights at Coos Bay Speedway. Two-time defending Wild West Speedweek champion Bricen James paced the opening laps aboard the Schram Motorsports No. 13 before Matt Sanders, winner of the previous two IMCA Northern SportMod Speedweek championships, worked his way into contention. Sanders executed a move to the inside of turn four on lap four to take command and appeared poised to drive away. Cautions on laps seven and 11 kept the field tightly grouped, however, allowing James and Ferrando to remain within striking distance. While Sanders maintained the lead through the middle stages of the race, James and Ferrando engaged in a spirited battle for second. The trio remained closely packed as lapped traffic entered the equation on lap 24. Attempting to navigate [Read More]

Ferrando Wins at Cottage Grove to Become Third Different Modified Winner of ’26 Speedweek

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 16, 2026) — Grey Ferrando drove to victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature during the fourth round of the 2026 Wild West Speedweek at Cottage Grove Speedway on Tuesday night, earning his second series victory of the week after winning Sunday’s event at River City Speedway and the fourth Speedweek triumph of his career. Defending DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region, Oregon State, and Cottage Grove Speedway champion Kevin Williamson paced the opening lap of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature before 2017 track champion Grey Ferrando charged to the lead on lap two. A caution on lap three briefly slowed Ferrando’s momentum, but the Scio driver quickly reestablished control on the restart and again after another yellow on lap seven. Ferrando remained untouchable through the middle stages of the race and worked lapped traffic beginning on lap 16. A caution on lap 21 erased his sizable advantage, and Matt Sanders, winner of the previous night’s feature and the last two Wild West Speedweek Northern SportMod championships, advanced [Read More]

Sanders Breaks Through for First Modified Speedweek Win at Cottage Grove

By Ben Deatherage COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (June 15, 2026) — Matt Sanders earned the biggest Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified victory of his career, winning the third round of the 2026 IMCA Wild West Speedweek on Monday night at Cottage Grove Speedway. Reigning National Rookie of the Year and Southern Oregon Speedway track champion Ethan Killingsworth, from California, grabbed the lead at the start and established himself as the driver to beat. He encountered lapped traffic on lap seven but maintained command as Sanders gradually closed the gap. By lap 14, Sanders was within striking distance and began challenging for the lead. A trio of cautions around the halfway mark repeatedly interrupted the battle, with Sanders unable to complete a pass before each yellow flag flew. The Brookings driver finally broke through on lap 25, edging ahead by .067 seconds at the stripe. Killingsworth attempted to counterattack but made contact with the frontstretch wall, allowing 2017 Cottage Grove Speedway champion and River City Speedway winner Grey Ferrando to move into second. A final caution on lap 29 [Read More]

Ferrando Wins Historic First IMCA Wild West Speedweek Stop at River City

By Ben Deatherage ST. HELENS, Ore. (June 14, 2026) — Grey Ferrando added another chapter to his IMCA Wild West Speedweek résumé by winning the first-ever series event held at River City Speedway in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds. Defending DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region and Oregon State champion Kevin Williamson paced the opening laps aboard the Superior Fuel Cells-owned No. 42. Two-time defending Wild West Speedweek SportMod champion Matt Sanders quickly emerged as a challenger and briefly completed a pass for the lead before a caution negated the move. A three-car battle between Williamson, Sanders and Ferrando erupted after the restart. Ferrando, the 2024 Cocopah Speedway and 2017 Cottage Grove Speedway track champion, edged ahead by just .014 seconds at the line on lap eight to seize the lead before a pair of cautions kept the field tightly bunched. Sanders secured second on lap 10 and remained within striking distance as lapped traffic entered the equation on lap 16. A caution on lap 20 removed heavy traffic from the picture and set up another showdown [Read More]

Winebarger Scores First Win of Season in IMCA Wild West Speedweek Opener at Banks

By Ben Deatherage BANKS, Ore. (June 13, 2026) — Two-time IMCA Wild West Speedweek champion Collen Winebarger used a late restart to capture the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature and open the 2026 tour at Sunset Speedway Park with his 14th career series victory. Jeff Lovell led the opening lap and quickly established a comfortable advantage. The leader encountered lapped traffic on lap eight but continued to maintain a strong pace as the race remained under green. A caution on lap 15 brought the field back together and allowed Winebarger, aboard the John Gaynor-owned No. 99X, to begin mounting a serious challenge. Another caution on lap 19 proved pivotal, as the Corbett driver maneuvered into the lead down the backstretch on lap 20. A final caution on lap 23 set up one more restart, but Winebarger was flawless when racing resumed and drove away for his first DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season. The win was his 14th career Wild West Speedweek triumph, second series victory at Sunset Speedway Park after previously winning [Read More]

IMCA Wild West Speedweek Set to Storm Oregon Border to Border June 13–20

By Jeremy Means VINTON, Iowa (June 9, 2026) — From the Columbia River on the Oregon–Washington border to the doorstep of California, the 2026 IMCA Wild West Speedweek will push drivers through eight consecutive nights of racing June 13–20. The tour opens at Sunset Speedway Park in Banks and heads south, testing teams across bullrings and bigger layouts before champions are crowned in the finale in Southern Oregon. Three Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing divisions—Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods—will be in action each night. Sunset Speedway Park opens the tour on Saturday, June 13, returning to its role as the “Banks Bullring.” Located just outside the Portland metro area, the quarter-mile oval sets the tone for the week with tight racing after weather impacted last year’s finale. Round two shifts to a new venue, River City Speedway in St. Helens, on Sunday, June 14. Situated near the Columbia River along the Oregon–Washington border, the tight and technical quarter-mile will host its first IMCA-sanctioned event, adding a fresh [Read More]