CASA GRANDE, AZ – Team NPP’s Lane Zerbin made the executive decision Thursday evening to wrap-up his Copper State adventure at Central Arizona Raceway.  Race #6 of the 2026 IMCA Winter Nationals saw Zerbin involved in a two-car incident in his Heat race.  His 9th place finish would have forced the Victoria, British Columbia driver to run his 6th consecutive ‘B’ Feature event.  “We had the parts to fix the car,” admits the driver of the Northern Provincial Pipelines/Alien Race Cars #81 Modified, “I just didn’t feel like trashing the car again for one or maybe two more nights (of racing).  I called it a night and called it a trip.  The fun meter peaked last week!”  Zerbin had high hopes for this race event which had been on his bucket list for almost a decade.

“I set some high expectations,” says Zerbin, “its a bit of a wakeup call.  The car never handled the way it probably should have.  We have some notes (car set-up) but this event really opened our eyes.”  The first week of the Winter Nationals saw an impressive car count.  “Most of the nights there were 91 cars.”  Despite a lower car count for Week two of the Winter Nationals (around 65-cars), the competition remained fierce.  “Every time I was out on the track I was racing against four or five national champions.  The caliber of these drivers is insane.”  Making the 26-car “A” Feature was the goal for all competitors.  “I learned lots.  It was a good experience.  The car probably felt the best on Friday (Race #4).  I gained four spots in the “B”.  Just needed a little more luck on my side in the Heat races.”  Zerbin and his father Ted will begin their 3-day journey home on Friday.

ZERBIN WINTERNATIONALS RESULTS (WEEK 2)
Wednesday, January 28th   Heat – 7th  / “B” Feature – 10th
Thursday, January 29th       Heat – 9th / “B” Feature – did not start
Friday, January 30th >> Heading home