By Ben Deatherage
LOXLEY, Ala. (Feb. 28, 2026) — Spencer Hartwick captured the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified 25-lap, $1,000-to-win feature on championship night of the 2026 IMCA TV Clash On The Coast at Deep South Speedway. The race 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 Hartwick on the eligibility list to attempt qualification.
After an opening-start caution, Hartwick surged to the lead and set the pace while two-time IMCA Modified National champion and Tuesday winner Chaz Baca Jr. applied early pressure. Bo Slay joined the mix as the top three separated themselves from the field. A pair of mid-race cautions threatened to tighten the battle, but the Quitman, Arkansas pilot was flawless on each restart and pulled away late to secure his first win of the season in the Close Racing Supply Eastern Region and his first career Clash On The Coast series triumph — making it four different Modified winners in four nights.
Baca finished second, former Arizona IMCA Tour and IMCA Wild West Speedweek champion Troy Morris III claimed third, Michigan’s Oliver Hilliard advanced to fourth, and two-time reigning Dakota Classic Modified Tour champion Ethan Braaksma completed the top five in the Trent Guest and Danny Meier-owned no. 111.
Mississippi’s Spencer Hughes, wheeling the Chris Smith-provided no. 11, earned hard charger honors with an impressive drive from 23rd to ninth.
Braaksma secured the overall Modified series championship — the first Clash On The Coast title of his career.
61 IMCA Modifieds were in attendance.
Lund Charges to Stock Car Victory
Curt Lund powered to victory in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car 20-lap, $1,000-to-win feature on championship night. The event was a B&B Racing Chassis All-Star Stock Car Invitational qualifier for the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s — Lund was already on the eligibility list with earlier wins this season.
2023 Eagle Raceway Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stock champion Ryan Gilland led early before three-time reigning Iowa State and 12-time defending 34 Raceway champion John Oliver Jr. took control. Former IMCA TV Winter Nationals and All-Star Shootout champion Shelby Williams then capitalized on an Oliver miscue to grab the lead.
Following a mid-race caution, Lund — driving the Paul and Melissa Burger-owned B&B Racing Chassis house car — stormed around Williams on the outside on lap 14. The three-time IMCA Super Nationals Sprint Car champion from Redwood Falls, Minnesota, maintained command the rest of the way for his first career Clash On The Coast victory, becoming the fourth different Stock Car winner in as many nights. It was his third win of 2026, all coming in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region, and his first outside the state of Arizona this year.
Williams settled for second, Oliver was third, defending series champion Mike Vandermark Jr. placed fourth, and two-time Iowa State champion and reigning Shelby County Speedway titlist Mike “Wahoo” Albertsen advanced from 15th to fifth. 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod champion Dustin White earned hard charger honors, racing from 24th to 12th.
Vandermark clinched his second consecutive series championship, becoming the first two-time Clash On The Coast Stock Car champion in series history.
38 IMCA Stock Cars competed.
A championship-night breakthrough came for Curt Lund, who celebrates with promoter Peyton Taylor following his Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature victory at Deep South Speedway. The Minnesota veteran secured his first career Clash On The Coast main event win. (Photo by AOM Creative)
Suckow Dominates SportMod Finale
Cole Suckow of Cresco, Iowa closed the week in dominant fashion by winning the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod 20-lap feature. The 2024 Independence Motor Speedway champion led from the outset and never relinquished control.
Multiple cautions bunched the field, but Suckow repeatedly rebuilt his advantage while Keenan Glasser — the 2024 North Dakota State and Williston Basin Speedway champion — and last year’s National Rookie of the Year and Boone Speedway champion Mike Smith battled for position behind him.
Though traffic tightened late, Suckow remained steady and drove to his second victory of the season — his first of 2026 outside Arizona — ensuring four different SportMod winners in four nights. Glasser finished second, Smith was third, and double-duty driver Dustin White edged Dylan Cherry in the Jeri and Steve Vogt-owned no. 4C for fourth.
Kevin Goben was the hard charger with a run from 24th to 13th.
Smith secured the first-ever Clash On The Coast Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod series championship.
34 IMCA Northern SportMods filled the pit.
Victory lane belonged to Iowa’s Cole Suckow on the final night of the Clash On The Coast as he poses with Peyton Taylor after winning the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature at Deep South Speedway. (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.
