September 29, 2026

Sponsors

Entries
	Company
	Fast Shafts
	Finishline Racing Products
	Freedom Race Lifts
	Friesen Chevrolet
	Company

Modified

Johnson Strikes Late as Bannisters Secure Bakersfield Championships

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Sept. 26, 2026) — Tyler Bannister and Jason Bannister completed championship-winning seasons at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on Saturday night during Championship Night on the dirt. Brad Pounds, the 2025 Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified track champion, dominated the 20-lap feature. Pounds started fourth and drove to his third DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season, with all three coming at Bakersfield. Newly crowned 2026 track champion Tyler Bannister finished second after starting from the pole, while Markus Frazier was third and Rob Sanders fourth. Pounds also won the heat race. The Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods led the action with 15 entries on hand and an exciting 25-lap championship finale. Jason Bannister built a sizeable advantage on several occasions, but a pair of cautions on lap 16 erased his lead and tightened the field for the closing stages. Ethan Johnson took advantage of the opportunity. Johnson worked the high side and drove around Bannister in turn four to take the lead on lap 20 before going [Read More]

Feature

McKinney Makes 1,000-Mile Trip Pay Off With MLA Nationals Victory

By Bryce Vowan WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (Sept. 26, 2026) — A roughly 1,000-mile trip from Magnolia, Del., paid off in a big way for Ryan McKinney Saturday night as he captured the $2,000 Mod Lites of Arkansas IMCA Nationals at Riverside International Speedway. McKinney started third and found himself in the right place at the right time late in the feature, taking advantage of trouble for the leaders before driving the No. 25M to victory. The trip to Arkansas was far from a certainty for McKinney, who suffered a spine injury in a racing accident two months earlier. “I came to Riverside on a whim,” McKinney said. “We were iffy on going due to a spine injury from a wreck two months ago, but decided to give it a shot and I’m glad we did!” McKinney said the Riverside surface provided plenty of options throughout the feature. “The track was awesome and racey,” he said. “The line changed a lot throughout the race, and could run anywhere!” McKinney admitted his car wasn’t quite good enough to [Read More]

Events

Southern Challenge Brings Two Nights of Racing to Abilene Oct. 16-17

By Ben Deatherage ABILENE, Texas (Sept. 28, 2026) — The Southern Challenge returns to Abilene Speedway for two nights of Speedway Motors IMCA racing Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16-17, with $3,000 awaiting the Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod winner and $2,000 top prizes on the line for both Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. The weekend begins with qualifying Friday night. Heat races and qualifying features will set the stage for Saturday’s last-chance races and championship features. SportMods headline the IMCA purse in the second annual Brown Plumbing Southern SportMod Blowout, paying $3,000 to win and $200 to start. Non-transfers will receive $100. Bradley Poor returns as the defending race winner after capturing the inaugural event in 2025. Modifieds race for $2,000 to win and $200 to start, with $100 going to non-transfers. Stock Cars will also compete for $2,000 to win and $200 to start, with $100 for non-transfers. The Modified winner will earn eligibility to attempt to qualify for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, while the Stock Car [Read More]

Results