Weekly Notebook presented by FK Rod Ends
Notes: Composed Nebraskan makes gains
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt managing editor
Drew Baker (Shotz by Sam)
Drew Baker knows immaturity led to mistakes last season. The 24-year-old IMCA Late Model driver from Omaha, Neb., recalls that oftentimes when things didn’t go his way, he wasn’t able to regain his composure behind the wheel.
Late last season during the first night of the Tiny Lund Memorial at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa, Baker wrecked on the first lap. He restarted on the tail but only made it worse.
"I remember I was just trying to make as much spots as possible back up,” Baker said, “and I got in a bad situation and I tried squeezing where I probably shouldn't have squeezed and I got another wreck and I tore the nose off it. So I ended my race pretty much before it even started.”
One of Baker’s focuses in 2026 has been to settle himself and refocus after things go awry on the track. It’s been part of a successful season with a career-high six feature victories for the fifth-year Late Model driver.
"I've learned a lot behind the wheel this year. I feel like in the years past, if something wouldn't go my way. I'd kinda get a little worked up behind the wheel and it's hurt me in the past,” Baker said. “Like this year, when something bad goes wrong. I kind of stay calm and just keep the tires under me, keep the car under me, and then that’s really helped me also, so I don't get in any bad situations and stuff like that.”
Baker couldn’t deny he’s struggled if things didn’t go his way. He’d watch the videos his mother shoots, and see how he’d “just get all worked up behind the wheel.” And crew member Eli Burbach had seen Baker’s self-inflicted miscues, reminding him this season to get back on track instead of making something bad worse.
“It's kind of like a maturity thing, I think, behind the wheel, especially this year,” Baker said. “We’re just racing more, that has helped a lot, just like learning. I learned a lot about myself behind the wheel this year, just like trying not to be — I wouldn't say like out of control — but trying not to win the race on the first lap or whatever.
“If something bad goes wrong in lap two, you still have 18 laps left to get it back.”
Burbach has “kept my head on straight all year” by reminding him that racers will run into trouble, but not to “dwell on it. You just gotta keep on going, keep on racing, so keep your head down.”
It’s been a significant improvement for Baker, who plans to gear up for a run at IMCA’s overall weekly title next season after staying in the top five in points most of this season — one of his primary 2026 goals.
Along with his maturity behind the wheel, Baker credits a better handle on his Rocket Chassis, thanks to help from Chad Simondsen of Swisher, Iowa-based Factory CS. And his team’s better maintenance program, including Burbach’s often daily help, has boosted fortunes, too.
“It's honestly probably them two guys” that have made the season successful, Baker said.
In Baker's second season in a Rocket, "I wouldn't say we struggled with it, but it was just a new car to me, and we just didn't really have a big notebook on it.” Baker said. Simondsen has “really helped me out this year building our notebook. I can text him or call him anytime.”
Baker, whose crew help along with Burbach includes his father Andy Baker, says the team has also prepared its equipment better.
“We worked hard in the shop this year compared to like last year,” Baker said. “Last year, I'm not saying we didn't work hard, but we did some stuff this year that we probably should have done all my years of racing. And also it's helped (that) I got my crew guy Eli, he comes to the shop pretty much every day with me and he's helped us like a lot, and it's helped our program to contend.”
Baker’s family had long been spectators at the now-closed I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb., and more than 20 years ago his father saw a flyer in a track bathroom advertising the sale of a gokart. Andy Baker had designs on Drew’s older sister racing, but when she wasn’t up for it, pre-school Drew was a natural.
"I don't really remember it, but my dad asked me if I wanted to race and of course I was a little kid, so I didn't say no,” Baker said. “I said yes, and that's pretty much how we started.”
After years of gokart racing, they decided to move up to full-size cars for the 2022 season and chose the Late Model division.
“My dad's always loved Late Models. I've always loved Late Models,” Baker said. “So we found a Late Model around here that was Corey Zeitner's old Black Diamond, and we got that, and we’ve just kind of been going since then.”
After a few winless seasons, Baker’s first victory came more than two years ago in Denison, Iowa, then he added three victories in 2025, another at Denison and two at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa.
This season, he’s split his six wins between Denison’s Highway 39 Speedway and Park Jefferson (S.D.) Speedway. He also contended at Shelby County, but he ran into the buzzsaw that is reigning IMCA champ Zach Zeitner, finishing second in points to Zeitner at all three tracks.
Zeitner has all but locked up his second straight IMCA title, but Baker has been a factor in the points chase throughout the season and at one point wondered if he could reach the top spot.
“We were trying to get second or trying to get up to that lead with Zach,” Baker said, “ and then about a month ago, we kind of like came to our senses that like, ‘Man, I don't think I'll be able to do that.’ ”
But Baker looks at the list of IMCA contenders that includes Zeitner, Tommy Elston, Travis Denning and Curtis Glover and realizes he’s had a solid season on the organization that provides bonus points drove drivers earning a track title.
“That just kind of shows how consistent we've been this year,” Baker said. “Everyone in that top six has a track championship somewhere, or multiple track championships, and we're sitting third in national points with no track championships. So it's like if we just were able to get one, I think we'd be right up there contending for that championship there.”
Baker, who will surpass the 40-race mark for the first time in his career this season, plans to make a more concerted run at the IMCA title next year.
“It's been a learning year,” Baker said. “and I learned a lot behind the wheel this year, which I think that will help a lot for next year when we try going for the national point deal.
“Now we know we kind of have like a gameplan. We can develop a good schedule for that,” he said.
He’ll continue his IMCA focus for now, but a natural next step would be a spec-engine run on the Omaha-based Malvern Bank tours as a regional racer.
“I might slow down a little bit after next year. I need to grow up eventually. But I'll never quit racing,” Baker said. “We’re gonna hit it hard again next year, but then after that, I'll kind of just see where see where it takes us after that.”
Weekly highlights
• Leading the final 12 laps, Michael Rouse of Wilson, N.C., pocketed a $5,000 victory Sept. 11 at Dixieland Speedway in Elizabeth City, N.C.
• Zach Zeitner of Bellevue, Neb., notched his 17th feature victory of the season on Sept. 12, earning $1,598 in the Brandon and Scott Saltzman Memorial at Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa.
• Winning Sept. 12’s season points finale at Southern Oregon Speedway in White City, Richard Papenhausen of Chico, Calif., wrapped up the track title.
First things first
Recent first-time occurrences at the dirt track:
• Winning Sept. 12’s Harvest Hustle finale at Sycamore Speedway in Maple Park, Ill., Hayden Spoonmore of Leland, Ill., notched his first Limited Late Model victory.
• Austin Burke of Chapel Hill, Tenn., won his first Late Model feature Sept. 12 at Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tenn.
Weekly news briefs
• Adam and Brittany Elliott, who have operated Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway for five seasons, announced plans to end their promotions of the 3/8-mile track at season’s end and list the property for sale. “We don’t want the track to sit and be vacant,” Adam Elliott posted on the track’s Facebook page, “so we will be taking care of it leading to a sale. If a sale is not made in a timely manner then we will look at lease options.” The Elliotts hope to transition to new owner or lessee as soon as possible.
• With a new owner and promoter recently taking over Laurens County Speedway in Laurens, S.C., the track announced plans for Nov. 28’s Winter Clash. Action includes a $4,000-to-win event for CT 525-engine Late Models and $2,500-to-win for 602 Crate Late Models. New owner Reid Stone of Belton S.C., a 602 Crate Late Model racer, also announced construction plans to improve the facility for 2027. The track had been promoted the last two seasons by Reggie Frazier with 602 Crates and Limited Late Models among divisions.
• Facing a wet forecast, Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa, postponed the 34th annual Tiny Lund Memorial one week to Sept. 25-26. The seven-division event includes $850- and $2,000-to-win IMCA Late Model programs.
• A rainy week forced U.S. 30 Speedway in Columbus, Neb., to cancel Sept. 18-19’s the Lincoln Legacy Tribute. IMCA Late Model drivers lost the opportunity for a $2,015-to-win finale.
• Red Cedar Speedway in Menomonie, Wis., announced that Sept. 25-26’s Punky Manor Challenge of Champions will pay $5,057-to-win for the Late Model division, up from the originally announced $4,057. The upgrade is thanks for Prochnow Family Farms and Galloping Ghost Motorsports & Transportation with payouts for the top 11 finishing positions increased.
• Jamie Stumph and Josh Messer have stepped away from promotions at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Ky., because of "different circumstances," Stumph wrote on the track's Facebook page. He thanked competitors, fans and supporters of the events they promoted. The two most recent scheduled events at the track have been cancelled.
• Highway 72 Speedway in Corinth, Miss., is on hiatus until Oct. 10 while making repairs to the track’s water truck and water system. The pump system isn’t keeping the water flowing from a pond fast enough.
• Modoc (S.C.) Speedway cancelled a Sept. 12 practice because of electrical issues that weren’t repaired until early this week. The track returns to action Sept. 19 with the Southern Thunder Super Dirt Series paying $17,522-to-win for the Jack Starrette Memorial.
Weekly points
DIRTcar (Supers): Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., has 2,384 points to lead Tanner English (2,259) and Mike Spatola (2,152).
IMCA (Limiteds): Zach Zeitner of Bellevue, Neb., has 792 points to lead Tommy Elston (788) and Drew Baker (771).
WISSOTA (Limiteds): Shane Sabraski of Rice, Minn., has 1,601 points to lead Kevin Burdick (1,598) and Tyler Peterson (1,594).
American All-Stars (Crates): Brandon Fouts of Kite, Ky., has 596 points to lead Logan Walls (566) and Corey Almond (512).
Crate Racin’ USA (602 Crates): Chace Pennington of Steens, Miss., has 600 points to lead Landon Mathews (592) and Spencer Moore (585).
Crate Racin’ USA (604 Crates): Taylor Jarvis of Milton, Fla., has 597 points to lead Brady Walton (595) and Shannon Lee (590).
DIRTcar (Crates): Braden Johnson of Taylorville, Ill., has 1,319 points to lead Chase Wilson (1,196) and Ryan Miller (1,145).
Gen X (Crates): Parker Gilbertson of Montevideo, Minn., wrapped up the championship.
RUSH (Crates): Devin Brannon of Winchester, Va., has 1,340 points to lead Jeremy Wonderling (1,336) and Kurt Stebbins (1,318).
Ultimate (Crates): T.J. Salango of Glen Daniel, W.Va., has 289 points to lead Brandon Adkins (267) and T.J. Hicks (249).
USRA (Crates): Lucas Peterson of Stockholm, Wis., has 5,987 points to lead Jason McFadden (5,736) and Josh Wahlstrom (5,705).
Upcoming weekly specials
Among non-touring and independent special events coming up for Late Models at dirt tracks around the country:
I-94 EMR Speedway, Fergus Falls, Minn. (Sept. 15-19): The WISSOTA 100 pays $10,000-to-win for the Late Models as the promoters organization hosts its biggest event.
Magnolia Motor Speedway, Columbus, Miss. (Sept. 18-19): The Cotton Pickin’ pays $20,000-to-win for Super Late Models with a $3,000-to-win Crate Late Model event.
Cedar Lake Speedway, New Richmond, Wis. (Sept. 18-19): The Legendary 100 gets a big purse upgrade paying $12,000-to-win for the Late Model division thanks to Kapella Machine Electronics.
Eriez Speedway, Hammett, Pa. (Sept. 18-19): The September Sweep has $4,000- and $6,500-to-win events for the Super Late Model divisions with Crates running a two-day program for $2,500-to-win.
191 Speedway, Campton, Ky. (Sept. 18-19): The Wince Mayabb Swift Silver 40 weekend includes $2,000- and $5,000-to-win Super Late Model features with five other divisions in action.
Crystal (Mich.) Motor Speedway (Sept. 18-19): The Great Lakes Nationals include a $4,000-to-win Super Late Model program.
East Alabama Motor Speedway, Phenix City, Ala. (Sept. 18-20): The 54th annual Alabama State Championships include $7,500-to-win events for the Limited Late Model and 602 Crate divisions (604 Crate action is a CRUSA touring event).
Beckley (W.Va.) Motor Speedway (Sept. 19): The Mountaineer 50 is highlighted by a $10,000-to-win Super Late Model event.
Hummingbird Speedway, Reynoldsville, Pa. (Sept. 19): The Dave Srock Memorial pays $4,000-to-win for the Super Late Model division as the Caltagarone family wraps up its promotions of the track it founded more than 60 years ago.
Rockcastle Speedway, Mount Vernon, Ky. (Sept. 19): The Sandy Adams Memorial’s action includes a $2,000-to-win event for Crate Late Models.
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