Brian Bergakker Charges From 23rd to Win $12,000 Hot Shoe 100 at Kalamazoo Speedway

📸 John Berglund

KALAMAZOO, MI — August 8, 2026 — The 12th running of the Hot Shoe 100 delivered everything fans have come to expect from one of the biggest Modified events in the country, with Brian Bergakker charging from the 23rd starting position to capture the $12,000 victory at Kalamazoo Speedway.

The weekend-long event brought some of the best Modified drivers in the Midwest together for one of the most prestigious races of the season, while also raising funds for the Northern Michigan Cancer Crusaders.

Michael Luberda, Jr. set the pace in qualifying with a lap of 14.042 seconds, earning the top spot and the opportunity to spin the inversion wheel before the Hot Shoe 100.

Luberda, Jr. joked that the wheel spin was something that belonged in Las Vegas after the wheel landed on a full inversion, meaning the entire 24-car field would be inverted for the start of the $12,000-to-win main event.

That put Luberda, Jr. at the rear of the starting field and created an opportunity for a driver deep in the field to make his way to the front.

That driver was Brian Bergakker.

Starting 23rd, Bergakker methodically worked his way through the field before capturing the Hot Shoe 100 victory and the $12,000 payday. Bergakker led the charge over Ricky LaDuke, Brian Nester, Connor Landis, Nick Clemens, Blake Rowe, Trevor Berry, Brock Ganus, Phil Bozell, and Michael Luberda, Jr., who rounded out the top 10.

Luberda, Jr.'s incredible run from the rear of the field after setting fast time added another memorable chapter to the Hot Shoe 100.

Larabee Wins 50-Lap B Feature.

The 50-lap B Feature provided another hard-fought battle as Nick Larabee of Hastings, Michigan, picked up the victory and secured his spot in the Hot Shoe 100.

Larabee finished ahead of J.J. Schafer, Walt Obrinske III, Chris Johnson, Thomas Mays, Johnathon Gatton, Jr., Mike Gain, Jon Parish, Dave Cumbee, and Corbin Bartlett, who completed the top 10.

Town Takes Street Stock Showdown.

The Street Stock division also put on a major show as 24 Street Stocks took to the track.

Colin Bozell set fast time with a lap of 14.937 seconds, but it was Jeff Town who collected the biggest prize of the night.

Town captured the $2,500 Street Stock Showdown victory, finishing ahead of Mike Gain, Colin Bozell, Bradley Bullis, Tyler Hufford, Kyle Ribble, Cody Lollar, Bryan Passick, Brandon Zachary, and Jesse Van Avery, Jr. to claim the top ten positions.

The Hot Shoe 100 weekend once again demonstrated why the Hot Shoe 100 remains one of the premier destinations for Modified and Stock Car racing in the Midwest. Beyond the competition on the track, the event continued its tradition of giving back to those battling cancer through the Northern Michigan Cancer Crusaders, which provides gas cards and other assistance to cancer patients and their families.

With a $12,000 winner's check, a dramatic full-field inversion, and a driver coming from 23rd to victory lane, the 2026 Hot Shoe 100 will go down as another memorable chapter in the event's history.