centralcaliforniaclash Archives

Combs, Wilson, Johnson Crowned Central California Clash Champions

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 28, 2025) — Josh Combs, Dylan Wilson, and Nicholas Johnson each made history with their first career Central California Clash championships in their respective Speedway Motors IMCA divisions, capping a competitive four-race tour across the Golden State. Roseville’s Josh Combs clinched the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified title with a strong and consistent week. After opening with a ninth-place finish at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway Park, he stormed to victory at Santa Maria. Combs followed that with a runner-up finish at Merced before closing the series with a fifth-place run at Petaluma. Bakersfield youngster Gavyn Manning was runner-up in points after finishing second on opening night, taking ninth at Santa Maria, winning at Merced, and wrapping up the week 10th at Petaluma. Third in points went to Keith Brown Jr., now based in Greenbrier, Ark. Brown’s week included a 10th at Bakersfield, third at Santa Maria, eighth at Merced, and 12th at Petaluma. Dylan Wilson of Bakersfield earned the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod championship with a [Read More]

Foulger Outduels Sieweke Late for Clash Victory at Petaluma; Combs Clinches Series Title

By Ben Deatherage PETALUMA, Calif. (May 25, 2025) — The final night of the 2025 Central California Clash brought the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds to the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds for a dramatic 30-lap finale at Petaluma Speedway. Local racer Chris Sieweke appeared to have the race in hand, building a lead of more than seven seconds once the green-flag run settled in. But a string of cautions repeatedly erased his advantage, and with nine laps to go, Oakley’s Troy Foulger was suddenly in striking distance. Driving the Bill Bowers-owned No. 49, Foulger worked every inch of the racetrack in pursuit of the leader. As the white flag waved, the two were side-by-side. Entering the final corners, Sieweke was slowed by a lapped car, allowing Foulger to pounce. Sieweke spun while trying to hold on, and Foulger raced to the line to earn the win. It was his third career Petaluma tour win in four tour starts, his seventh career series triumph, and his first of the 2025 campaign in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Philip Shelby, [Read More]

Manning Outduels His Uncle to Capture Modified Victory

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. (May 24, 2025) — Merced Speedway welcomed the third leg of the 2025 Central California Clash on Saturday night, and the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds brought the fireworks early in their 30-lap main event. Bryan Clark set the tone with an early lead, but it didn’t take long for his nephew, Gavyn Manning, to mount a challenge. Manning edged ahead at the stripe on lap three and never looked back. Even as multiple cautions bunched up the field, the Bakersfield driver remained poised and executed each restart with precision. Manning crossed the finish line first to earn his first career Clash series win and his fourth victory of the season in Shaw Race Cars Western Region competition. Santa Maria winner Josh Combs made a steady drive to second, while Ethan Killingsworth rounded out the podium in third. Gavyn Manning celebrates in victory lane at Merced Speedway after scoring his first career Central California Clash win in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. (Photo by Tom Macht) Wilson Doubles Up with SportMod Score [Read More]

Combs Makes Late Race Pass to Win at Santa Maria

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 [Read More]

Pounds Prevails in Three-Car Modified Melee at Bakersfield

By Ben Deatherage BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (May 22, 2025) — The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds kicked off the Central California Clash with a wild 30-lap main event at the new Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway. Local standout Brad Pounds, a six-time Bakersfield Speedway champion, emerged victorious in dramatic fashion to claim his first career series win and first Shaw Race Cars Western Region triumph of 2025. The race started with Markus Frazier showing the early way before Larry Wise took control on lap two. Pounds powered to the lead following a restart on the fourth circuit and appeared to be in control until traffic brought challengers into the mix. Former California State and Bakersfield track champion Robby Sawyer closed the gap and briefly took over the lead on lap 19, while young gun Gavyn Manning also joined the fight to make it a thrilling three-car showdown. Brad Pounds (15B) and Robby Sawyer (X) battle for the lead during the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway. Pounds [Read More]

Foulger is double winner at Merced’s Central California Clash show

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. (Aug. 10, 2024) – Troy Foulger celebrated his first win this season at Merced Speedway with fireworks. The Oakley flyer celebrated twice when he returned to the Central Valley oval Saturday night for the latest installment of the Central California Clash. Foulger, first to the checkers in the July 3 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified headliner at Merced, topped both the Modified and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car features at Merced. The Modified feature paid $1,000 to win with Foulger already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. Jason Bannister was the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod victor. Cody Burke led the Modified pack in the early stages, challenged around the sixth lap by Foulger, who got around for the lead on the next circuit, with the lap scored complete just before what proved to be the only caution of the contest came out. On the restart, Burke was under fire from Paul Stone, a fight that Stone would win on the eighth circuit. Bobby Hogge followed, putting his machine into third [Read More]

Chadwick, Diaz, Bannister are best in opener for Central California Clash

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (April 20, 2024) – Kellen Chadwick scored the victory in the 25-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified race Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. This was the opening race of the six-race Central California Clash. The win paid Chadwick $1,000 and made him eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Chadwick had the outside front row for the start and bolted into the lead at the green flag, followed by Bobby Hogge IV and Troy Foulger. Foulger slipped past Hogge for second on a lap three restart with Andrew Pearce settling into third. After a lap nine caution, the race had a good run of green flag racing with Chadwick pulling away from Foulger. A yellow flag with three laps to go bunched the field but Chadwick bolted ahead and brought it home to a satisfying win. Foulger settled for second ahead of Pearce, Hogge and Cody Burke. Rick Diaz won the 20-lap IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event. He led all the way and held off a furious challenge [Read More]

IMCA Central California Clash kicks off Saturday at Antioch Speedway

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (March 28, 2024) – Rain put a damper on the festivities last week, but the facility will dry off and the action will heat up at Antioch Speedway this Saturday night, March 30. This is the first big event of the season. The track is kicking off fifth annual IMCA Central California Clash. Featured divisions will include the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars. Joining them this Saturday night and in all six rounds of the series will be the West Coast Hobby Stocks. This is also the track’s annual Easter Extravaganza. During the intermission, there will be an Easter egg hunt in the infield along with kids bicycle and Easter basket giveaways. It’s all part of the family fun offered at the speedway. Merced Speedway Promoter Doug Lockwood created the California Speedweek in 2020. Drivers in all four IMCA divisions will be competing for increased purse money, including $1,000 to win for the Modifieds in their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying event [Read More]

Bannister rallies at Bakersfield, completes sweep of IMCA Central California Clash

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (May 7, 2023) – He was the defending tour champion but Tyler Bannister admittedly went into opening night of the IMCA Central California Clash with low expectations. Four wins – the last of them best described as improbable – in as many races later, the Bakersfield driver was a repeat champion in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod portion of the tour. “Our goal had been to show up and turn laps,” said Bannister, forced into father Jason’s 2019 Victory Circle ride after totaling his own mount late last month. “I’d finished second in my only other start in that car but we struggled to do that and there were a lot of things we had to change.” “We ended up having a pretty good week,” he continued, “and to get our first wins of the season in our home state was great.” Getting his fourth win of the week, and first of 2023 at his hometown track was even better. Feature wins at Antioch Speedway, Kings Speedway and Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway … [Read More]

Morris outduels Foulger for California Clash win at Antioch

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (May 3, 2023) – Troy Morris III scored the win in the 25-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event, in Wednesday’s opening round of the Central California Clash at Antioch Speedway. The win by Morris, already eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, paid $1,000. Jim Pettit II motored into the lead at the start ahead of Troy Foulger. The race had multiple cautions during the first 10 laps with Pettit leading Foulger up to that point. Morris moved up to battle Clark Guglielmoni for third on lap 10. A low pass in turn four on lap 13 put Morris into third and he soon joined the battle between Pettit and Foulger for first. An outside pass on the back stretch on lap 18 moved Morris around both Pettit and Foulger with Foulger going low in turn four to take second. A yellow flag waved on lap 23. However, Morris kept his poise and withstood a serious challenge down the front stretch to hold off Foulger for the [Read More]