Braaksma, Vandermark Jr., Smith Rise to the Top at IMCA TV Clash On The Coast

Feature, Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Stock Car

Ethan Braaksma celebrates his 2026 Clash On The Coast Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified championship in victory lane at Deep South Speedway alongside promoter Peyton Taylor. (Photo by AOM Creative)

By Ben Deatherage

VINTON, Iowa (Mar. 2, 2026) — The 4th annual IMCA TV Clash On The Coast returned to the Gulf Coast with four nights of competition split between Blackwater Speedway in Baker, Florida, and Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Alabama.

Blackwater, formerly Northwest Florida Speedway, has hosted the tour each year since its inception, while Deep South joined the rotation for the second straight season. All three divisions crowned champions after tightly contested four-race title battles, with a different winner in each class on every night of competition.

A total of 74 drivers competed in Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified action during the week.

Newton, Iowa’s Ethan Braaksma wrapped up the Modified title by 12 points in the Trent Guest and Danny Meier-owned no. 111. The two-time defending Dakota Classic Modified Tour champion, former IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion, and reigning Harris Clash winner never fell outside the top five all week, stacking one win, three podium finishes, and a perfect four-for-four mark inside the top five to seal the championship. His best night came in the opening leg at Blackwater Speedway, where he scored the win, and he backed it up with runner-up finishes in both Blackwater round two and Deep South round three.

Grundy Center, Iowa pilot Joel Rust finished second in points. The two-time Benton County Speedway track titlist and 2016 Harris Clash winner was perfect in the top-10 column, finishing inside the top 10 in all four rounds, including three top-five efforts highlighted by a podium run during the Tuesday leg at Blackwater.

Third in points, Dylan Thornton turned in two top fives and three top 10s. The reigning IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion and three-division Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s winner, originally from Santa Maria, California and now living in Belle Plaine, Iowa, stayed in the fight with three top-10 finishes in four starts, including a pair of top-five efforts, with his best run a fourth-place finish in round three at Deep South.

Dubuque, Iowa’s Jed Freiburger placed fourth in the standings. Winner of the last four straight track titles at Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway and Lafayette County Speedway, he logged one podium and three top 10s. His top result came in the opening leg at Blackwater with a third-place finish.

Boone, Iowa racer Izac Mallicoat rounded out the top five in points. He recorded one top five and two top 10s, with his best night coming in Blackwater round two on Tuesday with a fifth-place effort.

40 drivers took part in Sunoco IMCA Stock Car competition.

Cedar Springs, Michigan standout Mike Vandermark Jr. became the first two-time Clash On The Coast Stock Car champion after also winning the title last year. He never missed the top five, going a flawless four-for-four in both the top-five and top-10 categories, with his Tuesday Blackwater victory proving decisive.

Mike Vandermark Jr. poses in victory lane after securing his second straight Clash On The Coast Sunoco IMCA Stock Car championship, joined by promoter Peyton Taylor. (Photo by AOM Creative)

Pulaski, Wisconsin’s Rod Snellenberger finished second in points, just four markers back. The 2008 National champion and six-time reigning Wisconsin State titleholder posted a Blackwater victory, compiled two top-five finishes, and was perfect in the top-10 column with four top-10 runs in four nights, staying within striking distance to the end.

Bonham, Texas driver Shelby Williams ended the week third in points. The former Winter Nationals and All-Star Shootout champion put together four top-10 finishes and back-to-back runner-up efforts in the Deep South rounds.

Milton, Florida’s Owen Barnhill placed fourth in the standings while racing double duty. The Elmquist Towing-owned no. B24 driver, a three-time Florida State Modified champion, recorded one top five and three top 10s. His best night came in Deep South round three with a fourth-place finish.

Eagle River, Wisconsin’s Dustin White completed the top five in points. The 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod champion posted one podium and three top 10s, with his best night coming in Deep South round three with a third-place finish.

35 drivers competed in the inaugural Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod portion of the Clash.

Lake City, Iowa’s Mike Smith captured the inaugural Clash On The Coast Northern SportMod championship by 15 points, the largest margin of any division. The reigning National Rookie of the Year and Boone Speedway track champion, who also owns two Super Nationals Hobby Stock wins, never finished worse than fifth across the entire series, going four-for-four in both top-five and top-10 finishes while grabbing a Blackwater victory in round two.

Mike Smith stands in victory lane after becoming the first-ever Clash On The Coast Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod champion alongside promoter Peyton Taylor. (Photo by AOM Creative)

Arlington, Minnesota’s Ben Reierson finished second in the standings. He recorded one podium, two top fives, and three top 10s, highlighted by his best run in Deep South round three with a third-place finish.

Cresco, Iowa driver Cole Suckow was third in points. The 2024 Independence Motor Speedway track champion totaled one win, two top fives, and three top 10s. His best night came in the finale at Deep South, where he won.

Keenan Glasser, who made the longest tow from Estevan, Saskatchewan, finished fourth in points. The 2024 North Dakota State and Williston Basin Speedway champion turned in one podium and three top 10s, with his best night coming in the Deep South finale with a runner-up finish.

Dysart, Iowa’s Joe Docekal rounded out the top five. The former Benton County Speedway champion in the Heath Dry-owned no. 7TG recorded three top-10 finishes in four nights, including a pair of top-five efforts highlighted by a runner-up performance in the opening Blackwater leg.

The events were all 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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