By Ben Deatherage
MERCED, Calif. (May 24, 2025) — Merced Speedway welcomed the third leg of the 2025 Central California Clash on Saturday night, and the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds brought the fireworks early in their 30-lap main event. Bryan Clark set the tone with an early lead, but it didn’t take long for his nephew, Gavyn Manning, to mount a challenge.
Manning edged ahead at the stripe on lap three and never looked back. Even as multiple cautions bunched up the field, the Bakersfield driver remained poised and executed each restart with precision. Manning crossed the finish line first to earn his first career Clash series win and his fourth victory of the season in Shaw Race Cars Western Region competition.
Santa Maria winner Josh Combs made a steady drive to second, while Ethan Killingsworth rounded out the podium in third.
Gavyn Manning celebrates in victory lane at Merced Speedway after scoring his first career Central California Clash win in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. (Photo by Tom Macht)
Wilson Doubles Up with SportMod Score
Dylan Wilson delivered a near-flawless performance in the 25-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature. After slipping past early leader Danny Wagner on a lap-three restart, Wilson built a commanding lead before the race’s lone caution on lap 11 slowed the pace.
Dylan Wilson (80D) leads Danny Wagner (11D) and Tyler Bannister (151) enroute to his second win of the Central California Clash at Merced Speedway on May 24. (Photo by Tom Macht)
Once the green flag waved again, it was all Wilson. The Bakersfield pilot, who started fifth, dominated the closing laps to score his second win of the tour and of the season. Two-time series champion Tyler Bannister crossed the stripe in second, followed by Wagner in third.
Dylan Wilson enjoys victory lane honors at Merced Speedway after dominating the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature for his second win of the tour. (Photo by Tom Macht)
Johnson Completes Hat Trick in Stock Cars
The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars capped off the night with a 25-lap feature that began as a spirited back-and-forth battle between Riley Jeppsen and Washington traveler John Gumaer. However, it was Bakersfield’s Nicholas Johnson who stormed to the front on lap four and never looked back.
Nicholas Johnson powers through the turns at Merced Speedway on May 24 to win his third straight Central California Clash feature in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. (Photo by Tom Macht)
Despite several restarts, Johnson maintained a perfect rhythm and once again proved unbeatable, collecting his third straight Central California Clash win and fourth overall victory in EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region competition this season. Chris Lewis charged from twelfth to finish second, with Gumaer holding on for third.
A fired-up Nicholas Johnson celebrates atop his car in victory lane after capturing his third consecutive Central California Clash win at Merced Speedway. (Photo by Tom Macht)
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $24.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
