Combs Makes Late Race Pass to Win at Santa Maria

Feature, Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Stock Car

Josh Combs raced to the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win on May 23 at Santa Maria Speedway. (Photo by Tom Macht)

By Ben Deatherage

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 23, 2025) — The second leg of the 2025 Central California Clash brought the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds to Santa Maria Speedway for the tour’s first-ever race at the Central California coastal facility, featuring a 30-lap showdown. Roseville’s Josh Combs seized the opportunity to claim his first career series victory and first win of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region.

Combs took the early lead and maintained it through multiple cautions, which prevented him from encountering heavy lapped traffic. Cody Burke, a four-time Ocean Speedway track champion, briefly overtook Combs before a red flag incident nullified the lap, returning Combs to the front. Burke reclaimed the lead on lap 26, but a left rear flat tire with a few circuits remaining allowed Combs to retake the top spot and secure the win.

Katelynn Robertson, the 2023 Nevada State champion, charged into second late in the race, while reigning Arkansas State champion Keith Brown Jr. finished third.

Bannister Battles to SportMod Victory

In the 25-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod main event, Danny Wagner made an exciting pass around Brylon Holder and Chad Weber to take the early lead. Navigating through traffic on lap 15, Wagner faced pressure from two-time series champion Tyler Bannister. Bannister overtook Wagner on lap 21 and held on for his 12th career series win and fourth overall victory of 2025.

Wagner secured a respectable second place, with Brandon Wiley finishing third in the Diani Motorsports No. 33B.

Tyler Bannister claimed the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature win on May 23 at Santa Maria Speedway. (Photo by Tom Macht)

Johnson Dominates Stock Car Feature

The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars capped off the evening with a 25-lap feature. Nicholas Johnson led from start to finish in a non-stop race, claiming his second straight series victory and second win of the year in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region. Eric Cimental and Wayne Dotson completed the podium in second and third, respectively.

Nicholas Johnson topped the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car main event on May 23 at Santa Maria 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.

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