VINTON, Iowa — A pair of loyal companies — Wehrs Machine & Racing Products and Mitchell Machine — have extended their lengthy relationships with IMCA.
Mitchell Machine in Webster City, Iowa, will celebrate 20 years as an official sponsor of IMCA Racing while continuing to supply dependable drivetrain components to racers across the country and beyond.
Founded and operated by Ted Mitchell, the Webster City, Iowa-based company was born from hands-on necessity rather than business ambition. Mitchell’s journey into transmission manufacturing began in 1996 when his brother Jim entered the racing scene.
“My brother Jim started racing in ’96 and I made his transmission for him,” Mitchell recalled. “It worked really good and other drivers noticed a difference in his car. They started asking what he was running and he told them, ‘I don’t know — my brother makes it.’ That’s how it all got started.”
Early production centered around two-speed transmissions, but durability challenges — particularly cracked cases — pushed Mitchell to innovate. Around 2002, he began developing aluminum replacement cases, creating patterns based on the Saginaw stock three-speed transmission widely used in Stock Car competition at the time.
“I decided to make an aluminum case and built a replacement off the Saginaw design,” he said. “Back then most Stock Car drivers ran those transmissions, and some still do today with really good results.”
The aftermarket aluminum case eventually caught IMCA’s attention. After submitting a unit for review, approval soon followed.
“IMCA heard about the case and I sent one to Brett Root,” Mitchell said. “He looked it over and said it should be legal for the Stock Car class. I became a sponsor in 2006 and have been with them ever since.”
Since that approval, Mitchell estimates hundreds of Sunoco IMCA Stock Car transmissions have entered the market, alongside extensive production for Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod, and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods racers — now the primary focus of the business.
Through its IMCA sponsorship program, Mitchell Machine awards product certificates to top drivers competing with Mitchell-manufactured transmissions. Top three eligible finishers in both Hobby Stock regions, and national standings for the two SportMod divisions receive certificates valued at $250, $100, and $100.
Additional support includes $50 product certificates awarded to first, fifth, 10th, and 15th-place finishers — plus the top non-qualifier — in IMCA Hobby Stock and IMCA Northern SportMod main events at the Speedway Motors IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
Located in Bangor, Wis., Wehrs Machine & Racing Products is entering its 15th year as a valued sponsor of IMCA competition.
Led by founder Chad Wehrs, the Wisconsin-based company has become a familiar presence throughout Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing pit areas, supporting racers through product development, contingency programs, and event partnerships across the country.
“It’s very cool to be a part of IMCA,” Wehrs said. “It’s probably one of the best decisions we’ve made as a company, coming onboard back in 2011. They’re a great group of people, a great group of racers, and it’s our core market.”
Wehrs Machine continues to bolster that partnership through an extensive contingency awards program spanning multiple divisions and premier events.
The company will award $50 gift certificates to top-five finishers at each of 80 designated special events for Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Late Models, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, and Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMods.
Wehrs Machine also returns as title sponsor of the Harris Clash, one of IMCA’s most prestigious single-day specials, first established in 1992.
“Bob Harris and I are great friends,” Wehrs said. “He’s promoted the longest-standing single-day special in IMCA history, and we love being part of it. There’s nothing better than a midweek special with a good purse to get everyone’s blood flowing. Having it at Boone Speedway makes it even better — it’s an awesome event at an awesome facility.”
Further recognizing season-long performance, champions and rookies of the year in each of the five Modified regions will receive $500 gift certificates applicable toward the purchase of an Ultra Force spring machine. The first non-qualified driver in the IMCA Modified division at the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s will also receive an Ultra Force spring machine award.
That racer-driven mindset continues into 2026 with one of the company’s most ambitious product expansions to date.
“We’re super excited about our new wireless load sticks for 2026,” Wehrs explained. “They’ll help racers gather data and understand why their cars are performing the way they are. We’ve got around 25 new products coming out. We work with a great group of racers, crew chiefs, chassis builders, and engine builders who bring us ideas, and we turn those into tools racers can use across the country.”
