Feature Archives

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]

Chaz Baca Jr. Extends Dominance with Fourth Win at Central Arizona Raceway

By Ben Deatherage CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Feb. 21, 2025) — Central Arizona Raceway delivered another night of high-octane action as Chaz Baca Jr. showcased why he’s the two-time defending Friesen Performance IMCA Modified National Champion. The Mesa phenom captured his fourth win of the season in commanding fashion during the 20-lap feature. Luke Silber set the pace early, leading the field until a lap-two caution reset the competition. Baca seized the opportunity on the restart, expertly working the low line to sweep past Silber coming out of the fourth turn and officially taking the lead on lap 3. Silber did his best to keep pace, but Baca’s blistering speed was unmatched, as lapped traffic could not slow him down. Despite two late-race cautions that threatened his momentum, Baca remained in control and surged to the checkered flag first. Silber finished second in a strong showing, while Michael Egurola Jr. completed the podium in third. Woodie Battles Back for Second Casa Grande Stock Car Victory of 2025 Grabbing the early lead in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car [Read More]

Joiner And Seffens Shine In Southern Raceway’s Battle Of The Beach Doubleheader

By Ben Deatherage MILTON, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2025) — Southern Raceway delivered an action-packed Valentine’s Day weekend with a thrilling Friesen Performance IMCA Modified doubleheader. Drivers from across the Devilbiss Racing Eastern Region gathered for the first two rounds of the highly anticipated Battle of the Beach series at the 3/8-mile oval facility. The Saturday, February 15th feature was a hometown showcase for Jonathan Joiner, who overcame early chaos to secure a commanding victory. After Jimmy Dunaway initially grabbed the lead, Joiner surged ahead at the line just before a massive three-car wreck reshuffled the top five with only one lap complete. Another incident shortly after pushed several top contenders to the back, but once the race settled into long green-flag run, Joiner dominated. Building a significant lead, the Milton motorist seemed untouchable until a late caution reset the field for a green-white-checkered finish. Despite pressure from Owen Barnhill, a three-time Florida State and Southern Raceway champion, Joiner stayed composed and led the final laps to notch his first win of 2025. Owen Barnhill, who rallied [Read More]

Kellen Chadwick’s Triumphant Return: A Story of Resilience

By Ben Deatherage OAKLEY, Calif. (Feb. 21, 2025) – February 22, 2008, is a day forever etched in the memory of Kellen Chadwick. On that fateful evening, while competing in Modified action at Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande, Arizona, tragedy struck. During the race, after colliding with a spun car, Chadwick’s car flipped multiple times before being struck by another vehicle near the roof. His car eventually came to a rest, but not before a terrifying fire ignited, when fuel caught flame. The then 22-year-old racer was quickly attended to by safety crews who extinguished the flames and extracted him from the wreckage. Complaining of neck pain and tingling in his arm, Chadwick was transported to a hospital in Phoenix for urgent medical attention. The injuries sustained by the Oakley, California racer were severe—7 broken vertebrae in his neck and 2 in his back, with 31 total fractures altogether, artery damage, and burns to his back and right arm. The severity of the trauma led doctors to place him in a medically induced coma, [Read More]