It was a picture-perfect day for racing at the Karl Chevrolet of Stuart Speedway, which saw the Malvern Bank Super Late Model Racing (SLMR) Series making their only appearance of 2026 at the quarter-mile bullring on the northwest corner of Stuart. A total of one hundred and four cars signed in on Sunday, including 23 SLMR Late Models. It was track points night of the IMCA divisions with a normal points invert. The racing action was exciting and intense all night; we saw one first-time winner and a three-wide photo finish among the excitement.
Mike Van Genderen and the track prep team produced a fantastic racing surface for the Sunday Night Special. Jeff Kropf was fantastic on the sticks. Tony Paris and Anthony Ainslie did amazingly on the announcing all night, and thanks for the shoutouts. Jamie Songer, great job with the victory lane interviews. It was nice to see reverend Michael "Wombat" Walrod at the track for the first time this year to give the invocation. The night started with hot laps at 5:30p, heat races started at 6:15p, and the final checkered flag waved at 9:23p.
The first feature of the night came before a full track prep session; it was the Hawkeye Auto Salvage IMCA Sport Compacts for 15 laps. Levi Volkert outwrestled Michael Gardner for the race lead. Volkert pulled away and never looked back, leading from start to finish. Tyler Fiebelkorn came home second in the feature that went green-to-checkered. Daniel Clayton came home third, Gardner was fourth, and Beatrice, Nebraska's Johnny Thomas was fifth.
After the track prep session, it was time for the Malvern Bank Super Late Model Racing (SLMR) Series 30-lap West Series season-opening feature event. Bill Leighton from Lavista, Nebraska, took the early lead, but it was short-lived. Jesse Sobbing took the top spot on lap three and pulled away. The only caution came out on lap seven when "The Iron Man" Darrel DeFrance and Paul Glendenning spun in turn two. Sobbing had a great restart and checked out until lap traffic came in to play. That would allow Leighton and Daniel Hilsabeck to reel in Sobbing. Tad Pospisil and "The Ripper" Jake Neal joined the battle up front. Sobbing hung on to take the feature win; it was his first SLMR win at Stuart and eleventh SLMR Series win for the 2025 West Series champion. Leighton tried to surge in a late race challenge for second but came up and settled for second, fending off Pospisil. Neal and Hilsabeck rounded out the top five. The Performance Grading hard-luck award goes to Derek Daly after he caught the turn-one wall and barrel-rolled two times before coming to a rest that unfortunately ended his night. Keyser Manufacturing's fastest qualifier was Leighton with a 13.187-second lap in the first group. Pospisil (13.447 seconds) topped Group 2, and Hilsabeck (13.407 seconds) topped Group 3. Heat race winners were Andrew Kosiski, Jeff Tharp, and Dylan Sillman. The Skyline Materials Lucky 6th place starter challenge went to Hilsabeck, but he declined, so they redrew, and Jason Hahne then had a chance to win the extra $2,000, but since he failed, the challenge will increase another $250 at the next SLMR series event.
Next up was the Karl Chevrolet of Stuart IMCA Northern Sport Mods 20-lap feature event. Before a single lap was completed, Spencer Leonard came to a stop in turn one, bringing the caution out. Mike Dullard led the first two laps when the race finally got started, but Matt Avila took over the top spot and pulled away. Avila received late race pressure from tenth-place starter Jake Sachau, but he was able to fend him off to capture his first feature win of the 2026 season. Sachau was second, Dayton Swatek was third, Brayton Carter was fourth, and Mitchell Morris was fifth.
Rick's Towing and Transports IMCA Hobby Stocks had trouble finding momentum early in their 18-lap feature event. Dalton Coady spun in turn one on the first lap. Dylan Hill led the first lap, but shortly after, a caution came out when Michael Johnson Jr. hit the wall in turn one and then rolled once before landing back on the wheels. Derrick Rohe took the race lead on the restart and was followed by Braden Gifford and Kael Koch. The caution came out one final time as lap two was being completed when Hill got into Zach Day and Solomon Bennett, forcing Day and Bennett to get stuck with each other. Day's night ended, Bennett rejoined and got his spot back, and Hill was sent to the tail for being at fault but decided to take it to the pits. Rohe led until lap eight when tenth-place starter Briar Kriegel worked his way up to take the top spot away. Kriegel was followed by Koch. Kriegel, Koch, Gifford, eleventh-place starter Tom Killen Jr., and Eric Stanton made it a five-car race out front. This created excitement, as there was a three-wide photo finish at the line between Kriegel, Koch, and Killen. Kriegel captured the win by .051 seconds over Koch, and Killen was .024 seconds back on Koch. Koch was disqualified in post-race tech for illegal shock mounts, so that granted Killen second. Gifford, Stanton, and Rohe were third through fifth.
In the Diversified Towing and Recovery IMCA Stock Cars 20-lap feature, Thomas Nelson led the first lap before "The Flyin' Bomb Pop" Miciah Hidlebaugh took the lead away on lap two. Hidlebaugh got out to a 1.5-second lead before "Wahoo" Mike Albertsen worked his way up to second. Hidlebaugh went on to capture the feature win at his home track. Albertsen's late surge came up short, and he settled for second. Austin Meiners finished third, Nelson fell back to fourth, and Greg Peck took fifth.
The final feature of the night was the Diversified Sales & Service IMCA Modifieds 20-lap feature. Scott Bash led the opening lap. Colton Nelson took over the race lead, and Chase Weimer followed in second shortly after. Nelson looked smooth out front and appeared nobody was going to take it away from him. A pair of cautions around the midpoint of the race. The first one was on lap ten when Trevor Fitz spun in turn two, and then Owen Barnhill in turn two on lap 11. Nelson held off Weimer and Inman on the restart and went to lead the final 9 laps to capture his first career IMCA Modified win. Which, when I got home, I found out another first-time career IMCA Modified winner happened in Vinton when Ethan Krall did—so two first-time winners on one night. Finishing behind Nelson in Stuart were Weimer, Inman, Todd Shute, and Bash.
The next race at the Karl Chevrolet of Stuart Speedway is on Wednesday, May 13th. It will feature all of the IMCA-sanctioned divisions: Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, and Sport Compacts, plus Outlaw Mini Mods and Crown Vics. Gates open at 5p, hot laps at 6:45p, and racing to follow. Grandstands are $15 for ages 17 and older; kids (11-16) are $5; and those 10 and under are free. A pit pass is $30 for ages 14 & up, $20 for kids (6-13), and free for 5 & under.
Next up for the Malvern Bank SLMR (Super Late Model Racing Series) is an East Series tripleheader at the Mountain Dew Bloomfield Speedway in Bloomfield on Friday, May 22nd; Maquoketa Speedway in Maquoketa on Saturday, May 23rd; and Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway in Dubuque. The West Series' next event is at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, on Friday, May 29th. Joining the SLMR in Bloomfield on May 22nd are the IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods, and IMCA Hobby Stocks. Grandstand ages 11 and up are $20, kids 6-10 are $10, and those 5 and under are free. A pit pass is $35. Gates open at 5p, hot laps at 6:30p, and racing to follow.
Sunday May 3rd, 2026
SUPER LATE MODEL RACING SERIES (SLMR)
Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. Andrew Kosiski; 2. Schroeder; 3. Sobbing; 4. McKenna; 5. Leighton; 6. Berck; 7. DeDrance; 8. Glendenning.
For more information about the Stuart Speedway check out StuartSpeedway.net or check out the Stuart Speedway Facebook Page or call Mike Van Genderen at (641) 521-0330.
More information about the SLMR Series check out SLMRseries.com or check out the Super Late Model Racing (SLMR) Series Facebook Page or call I-80 Promotions at (402) 342-3453.
As usual I took pictures during hot laps and heat races, and they are posted on the Trackside Report by Foxman Facebook Page in a photo album titled Stuart SLMR Sunday Special 5-3-26.
Karl Chevrolet of Stuart Speedway
Stuart, Iowa
SLMR Super Sunday + IMCA Weekly Racing
presented by Conrad's Pillow Pets, Choice Inc., Hawkeye Auto & Dirt Track Bank
presented by Conrad's Pillow Pets, Choice Inc., Hawkeye Auto & Dirt Track Bank
Sunday May 3rd, 2026
presented by Malvern Bank
A Feature (30 Laps) : 1. 99 Jesse Sobbing (Malvern); 2. 24 Bill Leighton (Lavista, Neb.); 3. 04 Tad Pospisil (Norfolk, Neb.); 4. 6 Jake Neal (Omaha, Neb.); 5. 22D Daniel Hilsabeck (Earlham); 6. 53 Andrew Kosiski (Lavista, Neb.); 7. 76X Blair Nothdurft (Renner, S.D.); 8. 35D Dylan Sillman (Alvo, Neb.); 9. 76 Jason Hahne (Webster City); 10. 26JR Corey Zeitner (Omaha, Neb.); 11. 14 Kyle Berck (Marquette, Neb.); 12. 4 JC Wyman (Griswold); 13. 01 Jacob Hobscheidt (Plattsmouth, Neb.); 14. 10T Jeff Tharp (Sherrill); 15. 22 Charlie McKenna (Ames); 16. 35 Kale Kosiski (Ralston, Neb.); 17. 58 Dave Eckrich (Oxford); 18. 99D Darrel DeFrance (Marshalltown); 19. 15C Curt Schroeder (Newton); 20. 3 Mike Collins (New Orleans, La.); 21. 33 Paul Glendenning (Mount Ayr); 22. 25C Cody Thompson (Sioux City); DNS 4D3 Derek Daly (Omaha, Neb.).
A Feature (30 Laps) : 1. 99 Jesse Sobbing (Malvern); 2. 24 Bill Leighton (Lavista, Neb.); 3. 04 Tad Pospisil (Norfolk, Neb.); 4. 6 Jake Neal (Omaha, Neb.); 5. 22D Daniel Hilsabeck (Earlham); 6. 53 Andrew Kosiski (Lavista, Neb.); 7. 76X Blair Nothdurft (Renner, S.D.); 8. 35D Dylan Sillman (Alvo, Neb.); 9. 76 Jason Hahne (Webster City); 10. 26JR Corey Zeitner (Omaha, Neb.); 11. 14 Kyle Berck (Marquette, Neb.); 12. 4 JC Wyman (Griswold); 13. 01 Jacob Hobscheidt (Plattsmouth, Neb.); 14. 10T Jeff Tharp (Sherrill); 15. 22 Charlie McKenna (Ames); 16. 35 Kale Kosiski (Ralston, Neb.); 17. 58 Dave Eckrich (Oxford); 18. 99D Darrel DeFrance (Marshalltown); 19. 15C Curt Schroeder (Newton); 20. 3 Mike Collins (New Orleans, La.); 21. 33 Paul Glendenning (Mount Ayr); 22. 25C Cody Thompson (Sioux City); DNS 4D3 Derek Daly (Omaha, Neb.).
Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. Andrew Kosiski; 2. Schroeder; 3. Sobbing; 4. McKenna; 5. Leighton; 6. Berck; 7. DeDrance; 8. Glendenning.
Heat 2 (8 Laps) : 1. Tharp; 2. Hahne; 3. Zeitner; 4. Hobscheidt; 5. Pospisil; 6. Nothdurft; 7. Eckrich; 8. Thompson.
Heat 3 (8 Laps) : 1. Sillman; 2. Neal; 3. Hilsabeck; 4. Collins; 5. Kale Kosiski; 6. Wyman; DNS Daly.
Group 1 Qualifying (2 laps) : 1. 24 Bill Leighton [13.187]; 2. 99 Jesse Sobbing [13.203]; 3. 14 Kyle Berck [13.284]; 4. 53 Andrew Kosiski [13.356]; 5. 22 Charlie McKenna [13.409]; 6. 15C Curt Schroeder [13.643]; 7. 99D Darrel DeFrance [13.902]; 8. 33 Paul Glendenning [13.925].
Group 2 Qualifying (2 laps) : 1. 04 Tad Pospisil [13.447]; 2. 76X Blair Nothdruft [13.484]; 3. 76 Jason Hahne [13.572]; 4. 01 Jacob Hobscheidt [13.757]; 5. 10T Jeff Tharp [13.908]; 6. 26JR Corey Zeitner [13.92]; 7. 25C Cody Thompson [14.106]; 8. 58 Dave Eckrich [14.429].
Group 3 Qualifying (2 laps) : 1. 22D Daniel Hilsabeck [13.407]; 2. 4 JC Wyman [13.719]; 3. 6 Jake Neal [13.925]; 4. 35 Kale Kosiski [13.964]; 5. 35D Dylan Sillman [14.138]; 6. 3 Mike Collins [14.437]; 7. 4D3 Derek Daly [No Time].
IMCA MODIFIEDS
presented by Diversified Sales & Service
A Feature (20 Laps) : 1. 93N Colton Nelson (Osceola); 2. 19S Chase Weimer (Eldora); 3. 5T Tyler Inman (Altoona); 4. 5 Todd Shute (Norwalk); 5. 14B Scott Bash (Windsor Heights); 6. 11F Colton Garside (Redfield); 7. 95N Garett Nelson (Osceola); 8. B24 Owen Barnhill (Milton, Fla.); 9. 36T Jeff Wiggins (Greenfield); 10. 17 Cory Sauerman (Johnston); 11. 28 Trevor Fitz (Camarillo, Calif.); DNS 9B Larry Baldwin Jr. (Des Moines).
Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. Garside; 2. Barnhill; 3. Bash; 4. Shute; 5. Inman; 6. Baldwin Jr.
Heat 2 (8 Laps) : 1. Colton Nelson; 2. Garrett Nelson; 3. Weimer; 4. Fitz; 5. Sauerman; 6. Wiggins.
IMCA STOCK CARS
presented by Diversified Towing & Recovery
A Feature (20 Laps) : 1. 72H Miciah Hidlebaugh (Menlo); 2. 3 Mike Albertsen (Audubon); 3. 8M Austin Meiners (Polk City); 4. 34N Thomas Nelson (Stuart); 5. 2X Greg Peck (Sioux City); 6. 92 Buck Schafroth (Orient); 7. 3H Ty Hill (Winterset); 8. V31 Todd Van Eaton (Orient); 9. 94 Dillon Solum (Winterset); 10. 37D Brad Derry (Bedford); 11. 1C Leremy Jackson (Monroe); 12. 101 Marvin Henriksen (Corning); 13. 26 Tony Bass (Winterset); 14. 57VG Rowdee Van Genderen (Newton); 15. 14 Blake Lund (Greenfield).
Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. Albertsen; 2. Schafroth; 3. Van Eaton; 4. Nelson; 5. Jackson; 6. Van Genderen; 7. Henriksen; 8. Derry.
Heat 2 (8 Laps) : 1. Meiners; 2. Hidlebaugh; 3. Peck; 4. Solum; 5. Hill; 6. Bass; DNS Lund.
IMCA NORTHERN SPORT MODS
presented by Karl Chevrolet of Stuart
A Feature (20 Laps) : 1. 2X Matt Avila (Boone); 2. 14 Jake Sachau (Manning); 3. 22D Dayton Swatek (Cresco); 4. 01 Brayton Carter (Oskaloosa); 5. 18 Mitchell Morris (St Charles); 6. CB25 Chris Burke (Altoona); 7. 4 Gage Hilgenberg (Waukee); 8. 13B Preston Bright (Indianola); 9. 26 Mike Dullard (Winterset); 10. 9M Matt Morrow (Omaha, Neb.); 11. 81 BJ Charlson (Indianola); 12. 0LD Bryan Morris (St Charles); 13. 10L Logan Frederiksen (Wiota); 14. 69K Kaden Rice (Mitchellville); 15. 20C Chris Onstot (St Charles); 16. 18B Jackson Elmquist (Boone); 17. 12 Zachary Dunham (Runnells); 18. 12J Darrin Hardisty (Cumberland); 19. 18J Josalyn Elmquist (Boone); 20. 110S Spencer Leonard (Winterset).
Heat 1 (8 Laps) : 1. Carter; 2. Mitchell Morris; 3. Dullard; 4. Hilgenberg; 5. Bright; 6. Morrow; 7. Frederiksen; 8. Josalyn Elmquist; 9. Burke; 10. Leonard.
Heat 2 (8 Laps) : 1. Avila; 2. Sachau; 3. Swatek; 4. Hardisty; 5. Charlson; 6. Dunham; 7. Jackson Elmquist; 8. Onstot; 9. Rice; 10. Bryan Morris.
IMCA HOBBY STOCKS
presented by Rick's Towing & Transport
A Feature (18 Laps) : 1. 17K Briar Kriegel (Brooklyn); 2. 1K Tom Killen Jr (Des Moines); 3. 22B Braden Gifford (Boone); 4. 7B Eric Stanton (Carlisle); 5. 98 Derrick Rohe (Audubon); 6. 88H Kale Hemsley (Sigourney); 7. 11B Solomon Bennett (Minburn); 8. 49 Kendal Madsen II (Grimes); 9. 00B Braelynn Long (Norwalk); 10. 56J Jamie Coady (Colfax); 11.11 Macon Robinson (Boone); 12. 84B Rusty Bates (Casey); 13. 99B Bentley Long (Norwalk); 14. 45C Dalton Coady (Newton); 15. 5H Ronnie Hill (Des Moines); 16. 75KB Russell Kilsaris (Earlham); 17. 3T Tony Strable (Knoxville); 18. 79 Charles Belew (Adel); 19. 5 Dylan Hill (Des Moines); 20. 6D Zach Day (Stuart); 21. 7 Michael Johnson Jr (Van Meter); DQ 22K Kael Koch (Marshalltown).
Heat 1 (7 Laps) : 1. Kriegel; 2. Bennett; 3. Braelynn Long; 4. Johnson; 5. Ronnie Hill; 6. Bentley Long; 7. Jamie Coady; 8. Kilsaris.
Heat 2 (7 Laps) : 1. Gifford; 2. Killen Jr; 3. Day; 4. Hemsley; 5. Bates; 6. Madsen; 7. Belew.
Heat 3 (7 Laps) : 1. Koch; 2. Rohe; 3. Dylan Hill; 4. Stanton; 5. Dalton Coady; 6. Robinson; 7. Strable.
IMCA SPORT COMPACTS
presented by Hawkeye Auto
A Feature (15 Laps) : 1. 712 Levi Volkert (Correctionsvile); 2. 61F Tyler Fiebelkorn (Stuart); 3. 72 Daniel Clayton (Fontanelle); 4. 13 Michael Gardner (Des Moines); 5. 45 Johnny Thomas (Beatrice, Neb.); 6. 55 Zander Steiner (Shenandoah); 7. 3H Rece Hayes (Guthrie Center); 8. 8K Kaytee DeVries (Spencer); 9. 41 Corbin Funke (Menlo); 10. 16X Sam Schmitt (Wall Lake0; 11. 3K Carson Hayes (Guthrie Center); DNS 22AD Joseph Carolus (Des Moines).
Heat 1 (6 Laps) : 1. Volkert; 2. Fiebelkorn; 3. Clayton; 4. Funke; 5. DeVries; 6. Carolus.
Heat 2 (6 Laps) : 1. Thomas; 2. Gardner; 3. Rece Hayes; 4. Steiner; 5. Schmitt; 6. Carson Hayes.
