By Candice Martin
ANTIOCH, Calif. (Apr. 19, 2025) — Brentwood’s Fred Ryland won the 20-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod main event in a near photo finish victory over Jason Ryan Jr at Antioch Speedway. This was the 40th career SportMod win for the three-time track champion, but first of 2025.
Ryland led the field to the green flag ahead of Al Johnson and Jeff Bentancourt. A yellow flag waved after three laps for Scott Savell. Ryland continued to lead Johnson on the restart with Danny Wagner settling into third. An inside pass on the front stretch of the sixth lap put Danny Wagner into second with Kenny Shrader settling into third. Ryland had a big lead erased when Alfred Johnson spun in turn three for a lap 10 yellow flag.
Ryland led Wagner on the restart with Ryan moving into third, but a multi-car tangle in turn four brought out another yellow flag on lap 11. When it was all sorted out, Ryland continued to lead Wagner and Ryan. Ryan slipped past Wagner for second on the fifteenth lap.
Ryan was making his presence known in the battle for the lead, but Ryland had the preferred line and kept his cool under pressure. Ryan got a good run on the inside exiting the final turn, but Ryland beat him to the checkered flag by inches. Ryan was docked two positions in tech, moving Wagner into second ahead of Shrader.
Pearce Perfect in Antioch Modified Victory
Oakley’s Andrew Pearce won the 20-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. The 2023 California State champion grabbed the lead from the start and drove a flawless race on his way to the victory, his first in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region this season.
Pearce surged ahead at the start, followed by Anthony Slaney and the Bill Bowers-owned no. 49 driven by Troy Foulger. A low pass in turn two of the third lap gained Foulger second. The only yellow flag of the race flew on lap 4, when John Pierce of San Jose hit the front straightaway wall. Pearce maintained command on the restart as Slaney got around Foulger for second.
Pearce initially pulled away, but Slaney gradually started closing in on him. However, Foulger was gaining on Slaney and made another low pass in turn two on lap 16 to claim second. Foulger quickly closed in on Pearce and attempted an inside maneuver in turn three of the last lap, only to back off slightly to avoid major contact. Pearce went on to victory, followed by Foulger and Slaney for the rest of the podium.
Foulger Powers Past Enos for Stock Car Score
Double-duty running Troy Foulger of Oakley won the 20-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car finale. The race went without a yellow flag, and the 2023 champion stalked Mitch Enos tenaciously before making what proved to be his winning maneuver on lap 13.
Enos had a front row start and bolted into the lead ahead of California State point leader Austin Van Hoff and Foulger. Foulger made a high pass in turn two of the second lap to claim second and nearly got around Enos in turn four before Enos nudged ahead. Enos and Foulger pulled away a little bit in the lead battle.
On the 12th circuit, Foulger made a slide job pass on Enos in turn three but slid too high exiting turn four. Enos continued to lead the lap, but Foulger made a pass in the second corner on lap 13 to regain the lead for good.
