Ward Breaks Through at Deep South for First IMCA TV Clash On The Coast Triumph

Feature, Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Stock Car

Tim Ward poses with IMCA TV Clash On The Coast promoter Peyton Taylor after capturing the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature at Deep South Speedway on Feb. 27. The Mesa, Arizona native, now residing in Harcourt, Iowa, earned his first career series victory in commanding fashion. (Photo by AOM Creative)

By Ben Deatherage

LOXLEY, Ala. (Feb. 27, 2026) — Tim Ward, originally from Mesa, Arizona, and now residing in Harcourt, Iowa, added another milestone to his decorated résumé by capturing the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified 25-lap, $1,000-to-win feature on the third night of the 2026 IMCA TV Clash On The Coast at Deep South Speedway. The event served as a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s later this September — placing Ward on the eligibility list.

After a caution halted the initial start, Ward — wheeling the Doug and Amy Eckrich-owned no. 151 Performer Chassis house car — surged to the lead and paced lap one. Another early caution reset the field before Mississippi’s Spencer Hughes, in the Chris Smith-owned no. 11, and two-time Benton County Speedway champion Joel Rust began battling for second. Hughes secured the runner-up position on lap five as Ward, the two-time reigning Super Nationals winner, began to stretch his advantage.

Hughes kept Ward within sight and made a bid underneath on lap 13, but Ward held firm. A lap-14 caution came just before heavy traffic would have entered the equation, reshuffling the deck for the contenders. Ethan Braaksma — the two-time reigning Dakota Classic Modified Tour champion — and three-division IMCA Super Nationals winner Dylan Thornton moved into third and fourth on the restart.

Braaksma climbed to second on lap 18 and attempted to track down the leader, but Ward maintained a slight edge. A late caution on lap 23 set up a green-white-checkered finish, and Ward executed perfectly on the final restart to secure his first career Clash On The Coast series victory, making it three different Modified winners in the first three rounds of competition.

Braaksma, who started ninth, finished second. Hughes and Thornton battled closely behind, with Thornton earning hard charger honors after advancing from 17th. Rust completed the top five.

64 IMCA Modifieds were in attendance.

Farmer Fends Off Field for Stock Car Breakthrough

Cole Farmer broke through in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car division, capturing the 20-lap, $1,000-to-win feature for his first career IMCA TV Clash On The Coast series victory. The race also served as a B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational qualifier for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s later this September — placing Farmer on the eligibility list to attempt qualification.

Mike “Wahoo” Albertsen, the defending Shelby County Speedway champion, led the opening lap before the Glenwood, Arkansas driver powered to the front on lap two and began building separation. Behind him, reigning series champion Mike Vandermark Jr. and Albertsen traded positions in a heated battle while Dustin White — the 2025 IMCA TV Nationals champion in the IMCA Northern SportMods — surged into contention.

Multiple cautions kept the field tight, and White briefly climbed to second on a restart before Vandermark reclaimed the spot with four laps remaining. A late caution set up a green-white-checkered finish, but Farmer was flawless on the restart and drove away to earn his first victory of the season in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region.

Former IMCA TV Winter Nationals and All-Star Shootout champion Shelby Williams charged from ninth to finish second at the stripe. Dustin White completed the podium in third, while three-time Florida State IMCA Modified champion Owen Barnhill advanced to fourth in the Elmquist Towing-owned no. B24. Tuesday night winner Mike Vandermark Jr. rounded out the top five.

Monday winner Rod Snellenberger, the 2008 National champion and six-time reigning Wisconsin State champion, was the hard charger, advancing from 23rd to eighth.

38 IMCA Stock Cars were on hand.

Cole Farmer celebrates in victory lane with IMCA TV Clash On The Coast promoter Peyton Taylor following his Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature win at Deep South Speedway. The Glenwood, Arkansas driver scored his first career series triumph in impressive style. (Photo by AOM Creative)

Reimers Makes History with Alabama SportMod Victory

Cam Reimers etched his name into history by winning the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod 20-lap main event — becoming the first IMCA Northern SportMod winner in the state of Alabama. The Kelley, Iowa driver led from the outset in a caution-free contest that marked three different winners in as many nights for the division.

Reimers, a two-time Harris Clash winner, established control early while defending National champion Brayton Carter, driving the Bobby Six-owned no. 6, moved into second on lap three after passing Ben Reierson.

With seven laps to go, heavy traffic again tightened the margin. Carter searched high and low for an opening and drew closer on the final lap, but Reimers navigated the congestion perfectly to secure the victory.

Carter finished second with Reierson third. 2024 Benton County champion Brady Hilmer placed fourth, and last year’s National Rookie of the Year and Tuesday night winner Mike Smith rounded out the top five.

Double-duty racer Dustin White earned hard charger honors, advancing from 22nd to 13th.

35 IMCA Northern SportMods filled the pits.

Cam Reimers celebrates his breakthrough victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature alongside IMCA TV Clash On The Coast promoter Peyton Taylor. The Kelley, Iowa racer became the first IMCA Northern SportMod winner in the state of Alabama with his Deep South Speedway triumph. (Photo by AOM Creative)

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.

Related Articles

Feature

Becerra is incredible in unforgettable IMCA Clash on the Coast title clinching win

MILTON, Fla. (March 4, 2023) – Improbable? Maybe. Impossible? Not for Austen Becerra. Becerra was incredible in racing from last at the start to first at the finish Saturday night at Southern Raceway, winning his third Clash on the Coast for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds start of the week and going home to Carthage, Ill., with a $2,500 share of the inaugural tour point fund. “We put our heads down and did what we had to do,” said Becerra, who worked his way quickly through the field and passed Drew Janssen for the lead following a restart with four laps left. “This win, and to win three nights and finish second the other night, means a lot to us about our entire program.” “Definitely, the last race is one I’ll never forget.” Becerra had taken a two point advantage over Milton driver Joseph Joiner into the Saturday show, finished sixth in his heat and then ran second in the final ‘B’ feature.  “We got run over in the heat but the car wasn’t very good, [Read More]

Results

IMCA Modifieds are Florida bound for 2023 Speedweek

BAKER, Fla. (May 6, 2022) – Friesen Performance IMCA Modified drivers can start making plans for a Florida vacation early in 2023. The inaugural Clash on the Coast opens with Feb. 27 and 28 features at Northwest Florida Speedway in Baker, then travels to Southern Raceway in Milton for March 3 and 4 shows. All four main events pay $1,000 to win, $900 for second, $800 for third, $700 for fourth and $600 for fifth. Nightly purses total $7,500 with a minimum of $100 to start. Drivers competing all four nights are eligible for shares of a $10,000 point fund. The top driver in points earns $2,500 with $1,500 for second and $1,000 for third. The Clash on the Coast is the brainchild of veteran IMCA Modified driver Peyton Taylor from Arkansas, a double winner at Southern Raceway’s Winter Nationals earlier this season. “This will be the first Florida-based Speedweek for IMCA Modified drivers in about 20 years,” said Taylor. “I think we can make this an annual event that will expand to three or [Read More]

Feature

IMCA history made with Neal’s Clash on the Coast Stock Car win

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 26, 2024) – After getting caught up in a first-lap caution, Gage Neal was wondering if he’d be able to stay in the race. After winning the first-ever IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature in Florida, he was thinking about leaving his car just the way it was. Neal topped Monday’s Clash on the Coast main event for The Class Too Tough to Tame at Northwest Florida Speedway, earning $1,000 and a chapter in the IMCA history book. After starting 17th and restarting 23rd following that early fracas, his checkers came ahead of heavyweights John Oliver Jr. and Dallon Murty. “It means the world to me. I never thought in a million years I’d be racing out of the Midwest,” the Anamosa, Iowa, driver said. “Obviously I’ve never been here (Baker) before or raced in the South at all.” “It’s pretty amazing to come here and win.” Nearly 100 Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – Jeff Larson of Freeport, Ill., won that feature – and 49 Stock Cars competed on night one at Baker, representing 23 states and [Read More]