BOONE, Iowa — Ethan Braaksma dominated the opening qualifier, while Trevor Fitz controlled the second to claim Friday night victories during Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified qualifying at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
Two 25-lap qualifiers determined eight starting spots in the outside lane of Saturday’s Big Dance, with the top four finishers from each locking themselves into Saturday’s championship event.
Braaksma put the Trent Guest and Danny Meier-owned No. 11e out front on the opening lap before a caution quickly slowed the field.
The 2026 IMCA TV Clash on the Coast champion and two-time Dakota Classic Modified Tour champion remained in command on the restart and continued to lead through another caution on lap six.
Texas Showdown winner Steven Whiteaker Jr. and defending RPM Speedway track champion Dakota Sproul both tried to find a way around the Newton, Iowa racer, but neither could make the move.
Braaksma began to check out before cautions on laps 11 and 13 again erased his advantage. Each time, he was strong when racing resumed and eventually pulled away from the field. Braaksma dominated the remainder of the 25-lapper to secure the win.
Whiteaker finished second. Nick Meyer, who won a NAPA Auto Parts Double Down Prelude feature Saturday night and captured track championships at Kossuth County Speedway and Hancock County Speedway in 2018, advanced from ninth to finish third.
Inaugural Cowboy Challenge winner and 2024 Marshalltown Speedway track champion Tripp Gaylord charged from 15th to fourth and secured the final transfer position.
Troy Cordes provided the biggest charge through the field. The 10-time and defending track champion at both Benton County Speedway and Independence Motor Speedway raced from dead last in 30th to finish seventh.
Trevor Fitz grabbed the lead at the start of the second qualifier and quickly began to distance himself from the field.
Originally from Camarillo, California and now residing in Marshalltown, Iowa, the 2019 California State champion and three-time Ventura Raceway track champion remained out front until a caution on lap eight erased his advantage.
Additional cautions on laps 11 and 13 kept the field within striking distance, but Fitz continued to execute strong restarts and maintained control.
A late caution gave the field one final opportunity and set up a green-white-checkered finish. Fitz took care of business on the final restart and drove to the qualifier victory.
Colby Fett charged from 14th to finish second. The 2024 Sunoco IMCA Stock Car National Rookie of the Year had also won a Stock Car qualifier Thursday night. California native Troy Morris III, now residing in Iowa, advanced from 10th to third. The fourth and final transfer went to 2020 California State champion and three-time Antioch Speedway Modified track champion Troy Foulger.
Texan Mason Day charged from 25th to finish fifth, one position short of transferring.
Locked-in drivers from Thursday night’s qualifying tossed bags in the NAPA Fan Zone on Friday to determine their starting positions in the middle lane of Saturday’s Big Dance.
Kollin Hibdon defeated Brandon Beckendorf to secure the middle of the front row, with Beckendorf starting in the middle position of row two. Joel Rust defeated Jesse Sobbing for the middle of row three, putting Sobbing in the middle position of row four.
Kyle Brown defeated Jeremy Mills for the middle of row five, with Mills starting in the middle position of row six. Jake Pike defeated Chaz Baca Jr. for the middle of row seven, putting Baca in the middle position of row eight.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV.
