By Ben Deatherage
BOONE, Iowa (Aug. 5, 2025) — Ethan Braaksma added another prestigious crown jewel to his growing list of accolades by winning the Harris Clash presented by Wehr’s Machine & Racing Products for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds Tuesday night at Boone Speedway. The 34th annual edition paid $4,000 to the winner and marked the first time the Harris Clash had been held at Iowa’s Action Track since 1994 and the first Iowa-hosted Clash since 2017. The Newton standout drove to his first career Harris Clash victory.
The race began with a thrilling three-wide start, and it wasn’t long before Braaksma stormed to the front aboard the Trent Guest and Danny Meier-owned No. 111 machine. The 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champ and two-time reigning Dakota Classic Modified Tour titleholder slipped away from the field early before a lap 10 caution bunched everyone back up.
Tim Ward, the 2023 Harris Clash, Dakota Tour, and Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champion, kept the pressure on while fending off 2007 Super Nationals winner Todd Shute. Ward finally shook Shute’s advances but was left with a gap to close as Braaksma maintained a steady advantage.
Behind them, 2016 Harris Clash winner Joel Rust emerged from a fierce multi-car battle to take third. Braaksma cruised unchallenged the rest of the way, picking up his 11th win of 2025 — ten of them in Razor Chassis North Central Region action. Ward and Rust completed the podium. 79 IMCA Modifieds were on the registration sheets.
Reynolds Makes History in Harris Clash Stock Car Debut
For the first time in event history, the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars were part of the Harris Clash— and it was Kaden Reynolds who etched his name into the books with a $3,000 victory in the 25-lap main event. The Cedar Rapids driver, a former IMCA Hobby Stock National and Junior National Champion, earned his fourth win of the season at his fourth different track in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region.
A stunning four-wide battle opened the feature as Reynolds jumped to the point and held off early pressure from 2006 National Champion and reigning Boone Speedway track titlist David Smith. As the race stayed green, Reynolds built a healthy advantage until a lap nine caution bunched the field back up. Another yellow with three laps to go set the stage for a dramatic finish.
Reynolds never flinched, executing flawless restarts both times to dominate the closing laps. He made Harris Clash history with the win while 2019 Iowa State Stock Car champion and two-time Boone Speedway titleholder Jay Schmitt finished second. Ricky Thornton Jr., a four-time Super Nationals winner with titles in both a Modified and a Sunoco IMCA Late Model, charged from 16th to finish third in the Simon Sez Motorsports No. 20RT. 81 IMCA Stock Car made the journey for the event.
Kaden Reynolds celebrates his historic $3,000 win in the first-ever Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at the Harris, held Aug. 5 at Boone Speedway. (Photo by Pixel Boss Productions)
Sachau Slings It Late for First Harris Clash SportMod Victory
Jake Sachau left no doubt in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods feature, stealing the win with a late-race slider to score his first career Harris Clash crown. The Manning, racer topped a 20-lap showdown and banked a $2,000 payday for his 11th victory of the season.
The race saw Minnesota’s Ben Reierson lead the first half and hold a comfortable gap until a lap 10 caution brought the field back together. On the restart, Nebraska’s Tyler Nerud — the reigning Beatrice Speedway champion — slipped by on lap 13 to take the lead. He looked poised for the upset, even as 2022 Super Nationals winner Sachau closed the gap.
A green-white-checkered finish set up the dramatic ending. Sachau threw a bold claymaker in turn four coming to the white flag and emerged with the lead. Nerud tried to counter but couldn’t quite get there, as Sachau crossed the line first for his fourth win at Boone this year and was his third straight triumph at the historic facility.
Two-time Super Nationals Hobby Stock winner Mike Smith took second, followed by defending Iowa State champion Brayton Carter. 71 IMCA Northern SportMods were on hand for the night.
Jake Sachau picked up his first career Harris Clash triumph in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature at Boone Speedway on Aug. 5. The $2,000 payday came in his fourth win at Boone in 2025. (Photo by Pixel Boss Productions)
The Harris Clash at Boone Speedway was broadcast live on IMCA TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $24.99/month. Don’t miss Season 2 of The Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
