March 25, 2025

Joiner And Seffens Shine In Southern Raceway’s Battle Of The Beach Doubleheader

By Ben Deatherage

MILTON, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2025) — Southern Raceway delivered an action-packed Valentine’s Day weekend with a thrilling Friesen Performance IMCA Modified doubleheader. Drivers from across the Devilbiss Racing Eastern Region gathered for the first two rounds of the highly anticipated Battle of the Beach series at the 3/8-mile oval facility.

The Saturday, February 15th feature was a hometown showcase for Jonathan Joiner, who overcame early chaos to secure a commanding victory. After Jimmy Dunaway initially grabbed the lead, Joiner surged ahead at the line just before a massive three-car wreck reshuffled the top five with only one lap complete.

Another incident shortly after pushed several top contenders to the back, but once the race settled into long green-flag run, Joiner dominated. Building a significant lead, the Milton motorist seemed untouchable until a late caution reset the field for a green-white-checkered finish.

Despite pressure from Owen Barnhill, a three-time Florida State and Southern Raceway champion, Joiner stayed composed and led the final laps to notch his first win of 2025.

Owen Barnhill, who rallied towards the front late, was second while Ryan Fowler fended off several determined challengers to complete the podium, in third.

On Friday, the 14th, David Seffens took control early and navigated through four cautions to score his first victory of the season. Though Seffens led much of the race, it wasn’t without its challenges. Jason Barnhill, a two-time Florida State champion, threatened the lead multiple times, but timely cautions thwarted his advances.

Late in the race, reigning Florida State champion J.C. Wilson surged past Barnhill and made a determined push for the lead. However, Seffens held strong, fending off Wilson’s charge to secure the win and formally open up his winning account in the current campaign.

Wilson and Barnhill were second and third.

Both nights of racing were broadcast live on Speed Sport TV affiliate Hunt The Front TV.

southernraceway

Spalding Holds Off Late Surge to Capture Battle of the Beach Finale at Southern Raceway

By Ben Deatherage MILTON, Fla.(Feb. 22, 2025) — Chris Spalding delivered a commanding performance to win the third and final round of the Battle of the Beach at Southern Raceway. The Montgomery City, Missouri driver led all 20 laps of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event, fending off fierce competition from top drivers across the DeVilbiss Racing Eastern Region and beyond. Spalding jumped out front from the drop of the green flag, but Pennsylvania pilot Randall Paxton stayed close in pursuit. However, a series of early cautions derailed any momentum Paxton could build to try and perform the overtake. Each restart saw Spalding execute flawlessly, while the battle for third heated up between Shawn Harker and Iowa’s Drew Janssen. At the halfway point, hometown driver Joseph Joiner electrified the crowd with a daring double overtake, propelling himself into third. Unfortunately, a misstep the following lap allowed Harker to snatch the position back. As Spalding maintained control, both Harker and Joiner overtook Paxton, reshuffling the podium contenders. A late caution set the stage for a tense [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds on Saturday card at Southern Raceway

MILTON, Fla. – Southern Raceway throws the green flag Saturday for the first race of the season in IMCA’s Dirt Works Eastern Region. IMCA Modifieds race for $500 to win the March 30 main event at Milton. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, E3 Spark Plugs Florida State and track points, as well as regional points will be awarded. Pit gates and the grandstand open at 4 p.m. Hot laps are at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and military, $9 for students ages 13 to 17, $5 for kids ages six to 12 and free for five and under. Pit passes are $30. Non-winged sprint cars and midgets complete the Gator Dirt Nationals card. More information is available by calling 850 390-6136.

Great IMCA racers, partners combine to make Clash on the Coast an event

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2023) – All the nervous energy that promoter Peyton Taylor brought with him to Florida ahead of the inaugural Clash on the Coast presented by IMCA.TV has been transformed. Now it’s energy. “The response has been mind-blowing,” Taylor said, not much more than hours ahead of the tour for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, at NW Florida Speedway in Baker Feb. 27 and 28 and at Southern Raceway in Milton on March 3 and 4. “We have turned four races into an event, and that would not have been possible without a lot of great IMCA racers and a lot of great IMCA partners.” More than 50 early entries are in hand, among them former and defending regional champions, former regional rookies of the year and IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champions. Local drivers will greet a strong contingent from Taylor’s home state of Arkansas and another 10 states, racing for $1,000 to win, a minimum of $100 to start and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility each night. Purses [Read More]

Modified

Manning Flips, Then Flies to Victory in Bill & Shirley Memorial at Mohave Valley

By Ben Deatherage BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (Mar. 22, 2025) — It was a wild night for Gavyn Manning at Mohave Valley Raceway, as the Bakersfield, California driver went from flipping early in the night during hot laps to standing in victory lane after winning the $2,000-to-win 5th Annual Bill & Shirley Memorial. Manning capitalized on a strong restart to take control of the race and never looked back in the 25-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. The 3/8-mile oval hosted 29 competitors from across the Shaw Race Cars Western Region, setting the stage for an action-packed night. Adam Marx led the field early, but it was Dalton Houghton who stormed from fourth to the front on the opening lap. The two-time Mohave Valley Raceway champion set a solid pace until mechanical issues surfaced. Smoke began pouring from his machine, and a left rear tire failure ultimately ended his night and brought out the caution flag. That handed the lead to Noah Geer, but during the restart, eighth-starting Manning made a bold move to the front and [Read More]

Modified

Day Dials Up Late-Race Pass for IMCA Modified Victory at Kennedale

By Ben Deatherage KENNEDALE, Texas (Mar. 22, 2025) — Matthew Day struck pay dirt at Kennedale Speedway Park, winning the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature after a thrilling late-race battle. The 2021 National IMCA Southern SportMod champion surged to the lead in the closing laps to collect his first victory of the 2025 campaign in the division’s first appearance at the ¼-mile oval. The 20-lap main event began with 2013 IMCA National Modified champion William Gould setting the pace. He held steady through two early cautions, but things changed quickly after a lap-nine restart. Jake Upchurch, a three-time KSP IMCA SportMod track champion, used the high side to rocket from fifth to second and began challenging Gould. Just as the action intensified, the 21-year-old Day entered the fray by hugging the low line. He worked his way into second, then mounted a charge on the leader. Day made the decisive move on lap 15, slipping under Gould for the lead. Gould fought back the next lap, but Day countered down the backstretch to reclaim the top [Read More]

News

Ramey Scores First Career Win at Heart O’ Texas’ Gene Adamcik Memorial

By Ben Deatherage ELM MOTT, Texas (Mar. 21, 2025) — Dylan Ramey captured his first-ever RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car main event win Friday night at Heart O’Texas Speedway during the Gene Adamcik Memorial. The 22-year-old Fort Worth native was both emotional and elated in victory lane after achieving the milestone victory. Starting from the front row, Ramey held off defending track champion Claud Estes III at the drop of the green. As Estes battled Jeb Sessums for second, Ramey built a solid lead — one that vanished in lapped traffic by lap 6, allowing both challengers to close in. Sessums, wheeling the Taco Casa Racing entry, made a bold three-wide move on the leaders in turn three, but a caution negated the pass, allowing Ramey to keep the top spot. On the restart, Estes and Sessums resumed their fight for second while Ramey pulled away again. Estes’ night ended on lap 14 after contact with a lapped car, giving Sessums clear track ahead. Despite a final restart, Ramey stayed composed. Sessums made a late push, but [Read More]

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