Submitted photo: Sports Park Raceway owner and promoter Jeff Frevert (right) stands with operations manager Sarah Stewart (middle) and prep manager Brandon Toftee.

A big change is coming to the local racing scene in 2026.

Sports Park Raceway owner and promoter Jeff Frevert joined the rest of the team this week in announcing the track will be IMCA sanctioned and move its racing program to Sunday nights beginning this season.

“We’ve enjoyed our time with our previous sanctioning body and the excitement that came with Saturday night racing,” said Frevert. “But we believe it’s time to grow, and with IMCA’s strong, consistent support and a move to Sunday nights, we’re confident this step will help Sports Park Raceway continue to thrive for years to come.”

With the switch to Sundays, the Raceway plans to open earlier at 5 p.m. This gives families, teams, and travelers a more convenient schedule ahead of the work week, while still delivering the thrilling action they expect.

A switch to Sunday night racing will reduce the competition with other racing venues and various weekend entertainment events in the area.

Sarah Stewart, the operations manager at SPR, added, “As someone who has previously raced under IMCA sanctioning, I’m really excited for this change. It’s a great step forward for our drivers, our fans, and the future of Sports Park Raceway.”

In addition to the scheduling and sanctioning news, extensive track work is already underway. The crew is hard at work shortening and narrowing the racing surface — a change expected to create tighter competition, more side-by-side racing, and reduce the amount of heavy prep work required throughout the season.

“We’re really excited about the improvements we’re making,” Frevert said. “The changes will make the racing even more competitive and exciting for the fans, and more manageable for our dedicated staff.

“The 2026 race season is shaping up to be a big year for Sports Park Raceway.”

Brandon Toftee, the track prep manager, added, “With switching sanctions, many local drivers and fans will return, and changes to the track will produce extremely exciting racing.”

Classes on tap for 2026 include IMCA Late Models, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, IMCA Sport Compacts. Other weekly additions include Sports Park Raceway’s 4.6 Crown Vics and Vintage Cars. Other specialty classes will make the occasional appearance at Sports Park Raceway in 2026.

For more information, visit the Sports Park Raceway website and Facebook page.