By Candice Martin
ANTIOCH, Calif. (May 3, 2025) — Fred Ryland of Brentwood won the 20-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA SportMod main event at Antioch Speedway during the Soares Memorial paying tribute to former promoters of the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds 3/8-mile oval. This was the second win of the season for the three-time division champion. It was also his 41st career win in this division. Counting his Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature win earlier in the evening, Ryland now has 78 combined victories at the track.
Al Johnson set the early pace ahead of Ryland and Trent Golden. A low pass in turn four of the fourth lap gained Ryland the lead from Johnson. State point later Danny Wagner slipped into third on lap 8 and began pressuring Johnson, who was trailing Ryland by a straightaway.
However, Ryland’s big lead was erased by a lap 10 yellow flag. Ryland continued to lead the restart with Wagner getting past Johnson for second. Friday night Watsonville winner Jason Ryan Jr. got around Johnson for third on lap 13 before the final yellow flag of the race flew for Golden. Ryland led the restart and the remaining circuits for the victory. Wagner settled for second ahead of Ryan.
As mentioned above, Fred Ryland won the 20-lap IMCA Stock Car main event, his first in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region this year. The win came after he took the lead on a late race restart from California State point leader Austin Van Hoff.
Van Hoff set the early pace ahead of Kenneth and Jason Robles. The two Robles cars and Ryland had a close battle going for second, and Jason Robles made a backstretch pass on lap 7 to gain the position. By then, Van Hoff had a straightaway advantage. Ryland had also maneuvered into third. A yellow flag waved for Jake Archibald in turn two on lap 10, and Jason Robles pitted with a flat.
Van Hoff led Ryland and Kenneth Robles on the restart, and the final yellow flag waved on lap 17 when Kenneth Robles got into the turn two wall. Ryland had just made a pass for the lead on the back stretch, only to have it negated by the late the yellow flag.
On the exciting restart, Ryland and Mitch Enos both made a play on Van Hoff for the lead on the backstretch, but Ryland made a strong inside move to take the lead. Ryland brought it home to victory with Van Hoff settling for second ahead of Enos.
Fred Ryland won his first IMCA Stock Car main event of the season. (Photo by Katrina Kniss)
Pearce Holds Off Foulger and Hogge for Second Modified Win of Season
Andrew Pearce of Oakley won the 20-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. This was his second win of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region and it came despite serious pressure from incoming point leader Troy Foulger.
Pearce set the pace from the drop of the green flag, followed by Chris Sieweke and Jacob Mallet. Foulger moved into third on the second lap and made a backstretch pass on lap 6 to take second from Sieweke. Bobby Hogge IV moved into third a lap later. However, Pearce held nearly a straightaway advantage at that point.
That lead was erased when Carl Berendsen brought out a yellow flag on lap 10. As Pearce led the restart, Hogge slipped past Foulger for second, but Foulger made a low pass in turn four a lap later to regain the position. During the final 10 laps, Pearce felt the pressure from Foulger and Hogge, but he stayed smooth and picked up the victory. Foulger settled for second ahead of Hogge.
Andrew Pearce won his second IMCA Modified main event of the season. (Photo by Katrina Kniss)
