Feature Archives

Mike Vandermark Jr.: From Snowy Michigan to Clash On The Coast Champion

CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. (Mar. 14, 2025) — A Wolverine who took his mittens off at this year’s IMCA TV Clash On The Coast was Mike Vandermark Jr., who never finished outside the Top 5 and earned the overall championship title in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car series. His worst finish was fourth on the final night at Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Alabama, to become the second champion in the class in two seasons. Racing Against the Odds Vandermark stands out for more than his performance. Like Florida’s Wyatt Parker and Evan Foust of Maryland, during this year’s Clash, he comes from a state without a track that hosts IMCA Stock Car races weekly. Despite the long journey and limited experience in the division, he finished second in a three-wide photo finish on the first night and claimed victory at Northwest Florida Speedway. Seizing the Opportunity “There’s a bunch of snow and cold weather back at home, so it was a perfect opportunity to go down and race and have some fun,” Vandermark said. “We stayed [Read More]

South Texas IMCA Modified Series Ready for Sophomore Season

SAN ANTONIO (Mar. 14, 2025) — Race fans, get ready — the South Texas IMCA Modified Series is back for an action-packed second season in 2025! Ten races at five Lone Star State tracks are scheduled, starting March 28 at Heart O’ Texas Speedway near Waco, followed by I-37 Speedway in Pleasanton on March 29. Chris Morris is the defending champion. “Texas has a strong group of (Friesen Performance) IMCA Modified drivers,” said series director Kevin Rogers. “I look forward to showcasing their talent in the upcoming season at these awesome facilities we will travel to.” Each race will pay at least $1,000 to win and $100 to start, with increased payouts for higher car counts. If 25 to 39 cars enter, the purse rises to $1,500 to win and $125 to start. For over 40 entries, the winner gets $2,000, and starting pays $150. Drivers will compete not just for cash, but will also earn points for the National, South Central Region, and Texas State championships. A $10,000 point fund is available for drivers finishing [Read More]

Chris Tuchscherer: From the Octagon to the Race Track

BURLINGTON, N.D. (Mar. 12, 2025) — North Dakota’s Chris Tuchscherer knows how to race hard, achieve success, and persevere. His competitive drive stems from a background in wrestling, which began in his high school hometown of Bowman. Excelling at both the high school and collegiate levels, he wrestled at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo and Moorhead State before stepping into the Octagon as a competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Racing Roots and Return to the Track Tuchscherer’s passion for racing began with derby cars before transitioning to Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars. Despite the long commute from Fargo, on the Minnesota side of the Peace Garden State, he claimed the IMCA Stock Car title at Williston-Basin Speedway in 2005 — a track located in the northwest corner of North Dakota near the Montana border. However, as his MMA career gained momentum, racing took a backseat. His competitive fire never faded, though. Four years ago, he made his return to Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly competition, stepping into the highly competitive Friesen Performance IMCA Modified [Read More]

Robby Sawyer Kicks Off Bakersfield Speedway With IMCA Modified Triumph

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 8, 2025) – Bakersfield’s Robby Sawyer kicked off the new era of dirt track racing at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, using a last lap slidejob to win the 2025 Opening Night Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. The feature win paid $750 and was the inaugural event of the partnership of the two speedways, racing at the newly redesigned one-third mile dirt track adjacent to Kern Raceway. “We lost our brakes early in the race. I didn’t think I had anything. I was just trying to stay consistent. I don’t think I was the better car,” Sawyer said. “Rob Gallaher – I’ve been driving for him for two years and I had yet to win for him. So to do it at home is huge!” The season is a new partnership between Bakersfield Speedway promoter Scott Schweitzer and Kern Raceway promoter Tim Huddleston, with racing taking place at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway dirt track. A strong crowd filled the new grandstands at the one-third mile dirt track. Sawyer [Read More]

Babbitt Repeats at 105 Speedway’s Texas Grand

By Ben Deatherage CLEVELAND, Texas (Mar. 1, 2025) — Corey Babbitt took care of business in his home state of Texas as he would lead all 30 laps of the Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lite feature at 105 Speedway for the 2025 Texas Grand. It is the second straight year that he has won the event and he had to set a quick pace and even hold off a late challenge to score the $1,000 payday. The main event kicked off with Babbitt immediately pouncing to the point. Setting a quick pace, the New Caney, Texas driver ended up having to deal with a trio of cautions in the first third of the race that disallowed him from getting too far away. Taylor Hunter created some buzz around this time. After destroying a car the night before and at the controls of Johnny Brown Jr.’s back up car, Hunter would put on show on the top side of the ¼-mile oval and gained wholesale positions. In fact, he would pole vault himself so far in [Read More]

Joiner Dominates Modified Finale at Clash On The Coast, Becerra Wins Second Title

By Ben Deatherage LOXLEY, Ala. (Mar. 1, 2025) — Joseph Joiner delivered a commanding performance in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified finale of the 2025 IMCA TV Clash On The Coast at Deep South Speedway. The Milton, Florida driver, piloting the Andrews Autosport entry for car owner Spencer Andrews, led all 25 laps to secure his second career Clash victory and first since 2023. Joiner wasted no time asserting control, blasting into the lead in turn one and quickly building a massive advantage. His blistering pace carried him into lapped traffic by lap 16, but he navigated through the back markers effortlessly. A late caution tightened the field, setting up a restart where Matthew Triefenbach, a current U.S. Air Force airman, battled for second against Dylan Thornton, the reigning Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s IMCA Modified and Sunoco IMCA Late Model champion. Thornton took the spot, bringing Austen Becerra up into third shortly after the overtake. Another stoppage with two laps to go led to a green-white-checkered finish. Becerra and Thornton fought for [Read More]

Horejsi Holds Off Charging Murty for Clash On The Coast Glory

By Ben Deatherage LOXLEY, Ala. (Feb. 28, 2025) — After near-misses last year and again on Monday, Jim Horejsi finally broke through at the IMCA TV Clash On The Coast, leading all 25 laps of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Deep South Speedway. The Marshall, Minnesota driver held off a late charge from defending series champion Dallon Murty to claim his first Clash victory. Horejsi jumped to the lead in his Pearl Harbor tribute Salute To Veterans Tour wrap at the start while Shelby Williams of Texas and Wisconsin’s Rod Snellenberger battled for second. This allowed Horejsi to build an early advantage. Williams, the 2025 IMCA TV Winter Nationals champion, saw his night cut short due to mechanical trouble, bringing out the first caution. That set up a fierce battle for second between Snellenberger, the 2008 National Stock Car champion, and Iowa’s Gage Neal, again giving Horejsi room to pull away. A series of additional cautions kept the pressure on Horejsi, with the final yellow waving with three laps to go. Before the stoppage, [Read More]

Harnick Doubles Up at Clash On The Coast with Tuesday Night Win

By Ben Deatherage BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 25, 2025) — Austin Harnick made history at the 2025 IMCA TV Clash On The Coast, becoming the first driver to win multiple Friesen Performance IMCA Modified features at Northwest Florida Speedway. The eighth starting Claire, Michigan racer earned a hard-fought $2,000 victory in the 25-lap main event, navigating traffic and surviving two late-race restarts. Local drivers Tyler Allen and Owen Barnhill set the early pace, with Allen leading the first lap before Barnhill took over on the next one. As the leaders worked through lapped traffic, Harnick moved into second and began closing in on Barnhill, the three-time track champion. On lap 12, Harnick found his opening on the inside and grabbed the lead. The race stayed green, allowing Joseph Joiner to make his move into second. Driving the Spencer Andrews-fielded Andrew Autosport entry, Joiner used traffic to his advantage, pressuring Harnick before pulling off a bold pass in turn four with eight laps to go. Just as Joiner looked to pull away, a caution with four laps left [Read More]

Harrington Claims First Career Victory in Close Three-Wide Finish at Clash On The Coast

By Ben Deatherage BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 24, 2025) — The 2025 IMCA TV Clash On The Coast kicked off with a thrilling 25-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature at Northwest Florida Speedway, ending in a dramatic three-wide finish reminiscent of a scene from the first Disney/Pixar Cars film. Presley Harrington of Oshkosh, Wisconsin emerged victoriously, claiming his first ever win with both the series and in IMCA Stock Car competition. At the drop of the green, Harrington fiercely battled Minnesota’s Jim Horejsi for the lead. Horejsi led the opening lap, but Harrington remained relentless in pursuit on the inside line. A slip from Harrington later allowed Iowans Gage Neal and John Oliver Jr. to surge into second and third. As lapped traffic came into play, Neal, last year’s winner of both nights at the facility, took the lead on lap 11. On a restart, Horejsi made a strong topside move while Harrington dived under Neal in turn one. Horejsi’s pass was nullified by a caution. When racing resumed, Horejsi reclaimed the lead around turn four with ten laps [Read More]

Baca Charges Deep to Sweep IMCA Modified Weekend at Central Arizona Raceway

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 22, 2025) — Chaz Baca Jr. once again wound up in victory lane at Central Arizona Raceway for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds as he would sweep the weekend at the place where he has won the last four track championships. This time, however, he would have to win it from starting from tenth and got the lead just a few laps shy of the midway point of the 20-lap affair. Jonathan Mawhinney sprinted out to the lead when the green flag was unfurled and effectively operated on the lower portion of the racetrack. However, the dynamic of the race would change when a caution came out with six circuits counted to the good. On the restart, Baca clawed his way into second and had Mawhinney in his crosshairs. Mawhinney stuck to his guns on the lower portion of the track while Baca operated up on the high side. Baca would execute a sweeping pass around the leader and obtained the top spot on lap 8 just before the [Read More]