Tafoya denies Baca for opening night Clash checkers

Hobby Stock, Mod Lite, Modified, Northern SportMod, Results, Sport Compact, Stock Car

Regan Tafoya paced the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds on opening night of Desert Thunder Raceway’s season-ending Clash special. (Photo courtesy of Desert Thunder Raceway)

By Ben Deatherage

PRICE, Utah (Sept. 26, 2024) – There would be some thunder at Desert Thunder Raceway on Thursday night in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds for the first of three legs of the Clash. 

Regan Tafoya stormed the castle around the halfway mark after a restart. But the Farmington, N.M., driver had to fend off several advances by a determined Chaz Baca Jr. and held on for the win. 

The main event began with Bryan Wordelman setting a good pace when the green flag dropped.  A caution on lap seven halted things and when the race resumed, Tafoya pounced on an opportunity to get to the front on the eighth circuit.

Another yellow flag emerged, erasing Tafoya’s lead.  When the race resumed, Tafoya faced relentless challenges from defending national champion Baca. Despite Baca’s persistent efforts, the seventh-starting Tafoya managed to fend off his attempts not once, but twice, in a thrilling display of skill and determination.

Baca secured a respectable second place. Local driver Wyatt Howard, who had a remarkable journey to the front after significant contact with a tractor tire that nearly caused a rollover, finished the night in third place, earning the admiration of the local crowd.

Five additional IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing divisions were on tap including the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites and Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compacts.

Payce Herrera, Kade Dimick, Beau Hutchison, Dillion Thomas and Travis Bott were the victors.

Jeff Danos set the tone early and tried to get away, but a massive battle for a second erupted.  Eventually, Mylee Goldwich-Rhames captured second, got a great run on the inside line, and got the top spot on the sixth circuit.

The Lady Eagle racer from Northwest New Mexico tried her best to escape the clutches of Danos. Danos retrieved the lead the next time around the track, but the circuit just after that, it was Goldwich-Rhames back in the role of the trailblazing position.  

Goldwich-Rhames tried to pull away but Junior National Champion contender Herrera began to reel her in. Herrera’s determination paid dividends as he successfully reeled in the pacesetter, drew side by side, and captured the lead on lap 13.

From there, the hometown racer, Herrera, set a quick pace, had no difficulties lapping traffic, and won the race to the checkers. Goldwich-Rhames was a respectable second, followed by Hunter Ferrell, who was third.

For the Northern SportMods, there was sheer dominance from Dimick.  The Price driver set an incredible pace, and the only thing that slowed him down was caution on the fifth lap.

Waylon Hale and Jacob Vasquez were second and third, respectively.

In the Stock Cars, Brad Ostler got to the front at the start of the feature.  Traci Bradley would bring the heat and finally got around the leader on lap four.

Hutchison eventually entered the picture and ran down and made a sweeping pass out of turn four.  After beginning the race sixth, Hutchison, piloting the Dillion Lawrence entry, dominated the rest of the way to score the win.

Mitchell Ferguson placed second, while Allen Bradley was behind him in third.

Gabe Shim, brought a fast mount in the Mod Lites, seized control of the lead from the start. He skillfully negotiated the racing surface but had to deal with several restarts.  Unfortunately, he lost the lead to Thomas after getting sideways, adding a dramatic twist to the race.

Thomas had no difficulties constructing a sizable lead and took care of business the rest of the way.

Bott was the leader of the entire distance in the Sport Compacts. However, it wasn’t an easy victory as the driver from Rock Springs, Wy., had to withstand several challenges and a pair of restarts.  Despite the pressure, he would rise to the occasion and score his second win of 2024.

The front three runners were a tight-knit pod, with the slightest mistake costing them a position.  Jackson Shiew and Cody Poll were the rest of the podium.

IMCA TV affiliate A.A. Productions broadcast the event.

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