Recognizing the 2026 Champions at Crystal Motor Speedway
CRYSTAL, MI - Crystal Motor Speedway hosted the final race of the year in the state of Michigan on Saturday, October 10, for the rescheduled day two of the Great Lakes Nationals. The show came nearly a month and a half after champions were crowned on August 29.
Derrick Hilliker wrapped up yet another Late Model track championship at Crystal on the back of two wins during the season and only two finishes outside the top-ten. He beat out IMCA Modified standout Kody Johnson and Mike Vandermark Jr. for his fifth track championship in the last six years.
2025 IMCA Modified national champion Jeff Reay won his third consecutive Crystal track championship ahead of Don Proctor and Myron DeYoung. Just two finishes outside the top-five helped propel him to the championship, as well as a win on June 20 on Dan Salay Memorial night.
Kyle Hunt’s move to Late Models on a weekly basis opened the way for Curtis Rice to pick up the Pro Stock track championship after finishing runner-up the year before. Four wins and no finishes outside the top-ten in a very competitive Pro Stock division put Rice 46 points ahead of Rob Putt at the end of the season.
The IMCA Stock Cars replaced the Street Stock division for 2026, and featured the closest points battle at Crystal. 2025 Street Stock runner-up Zayden Buskirk beat out 2025 champion Gary Vandermark by a single point to claim the championship in the new division. The entirety of the top-five were separated by just 30 points in the final standings in what was arguably the most competitive division in the entire state of Michigan.
The Bomber division also made their debut at Crystal in 2026 and saw Bill Wilkins collect the track championship by 41 points over Dale Allen. He batted nearly .500 during the season, winning seven of 18 features on the year.
Mini Wedges crowned two track champions, with Rhett Foust (6-9) and Brooke King (10-14) winning championships in the two divisions.
For more information on Crystal Motor Speedway, go to their Facebook page or visit their website at http://www.crystalmotorspeedway.com/.
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