centralcaliforniaclash Archives

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]

Green flag flies Wednesday for IMCA Central California Clash

ANTIOCH, Calif. (May 1, 2023) – Wednesday night is opening night for the fourth annual IMCA Central California Clash. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $750 to win and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying eligibility, and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods for $750 to win each night of the May 3-7 tour. Following the opening night show at Antioch Speedway are dates Thursday, May 4 at Merced Speedway; Friday, May 5 at Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford; Saturday, May 6 at Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway; and Sunday, May 7 at Bakersfield Speedway. IMCA.TV broadcasts each night of the tour and the top drivers in point standings for each division also become eligible to qualify for their respective race of champions event during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western Region and EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region and California State points will be awarded all five [Read More]

Central California Clash set for May 3-7, IMCA.TV broadcasts each night of tour

ANTIOCH, Calif. (March 21, 2023) – Three champions will be crowned in the upcoming IMCA Central California Clash May 3-7. IMCA.TV broadcasts each night of the fourth annual tour, which features Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. Opening night is Wednesday, May 3 at Antioch Speedway. The Central California Clash travels to Merced Speedway on Thursday, May 4, to Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford on Friday, May 5 and to Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway on Saturday, May 6 before concluding Sunday, May 7 at Bakersfield Speedway. Modifieds run for $1,000 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility, Stock Cars for $750 to win and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying eligibility, and Northern SportMods for $750 to win each night. Top drivers in point standings for each division also become eligible to qualify for their respective race of champions event during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western Region and EQ [Read More]

Laney, Partain, Jernagan close IMCA Clash with wins at Merced

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. (May 7, 2022) – Cody Laney raced his way into the record book on the sixth and final night of the IMCA Central California Clash Saturday evening. Laney won a second straight Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Merced Speedway, and for the record fourth time in wrapping up the series crown. Opening salvos had Bobby Hogge go toe to toe with Troy Morris III, with Laney joining them to make it three-wide before the first circuit was scored. A pair of early cautions prevented Hogge from getting away from the rest of the pack and he’d trade a couple sliders with Laney before falling to second on lap five. Laney had a couple cautions to deal with himself but kept an even keel on both restarts and won ahead of Morris, Hogge, Jerry Flippo and Kyle Heckman. It was a barnburner of an IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. Bo Partain maintained a firm grip on the lead despite three early restarts before Dakota Schweitzer closed the gap during [Read More]

Laney, Foulger, Bannister collect California Clash checkers at Merced

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. (May 6, 2022) – Night five of the IMCA Central California Clash saw Cody Laney put another $1,000 in his racing account. The Torrance standout won his third Friesen Performance IMCA Modified start of the week when the Clash shifted locations to Merced Speedway Friday evening. Ryan Porter paced the competition on the initial start and held down the front position being overtaken on lap five by Laney. A series of six stoppages slowed things down, but Laney, already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, kept his mount ahead of all challengers, equaling Ethan Dotson’s 2021 feat for the most wins in a single season with the series. Bobby Hogge was second over Kyle Heckman, Cody Burke and Troy Foulger. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars had a thriller of a main event. Dakota Schweitzer marshaled the field on the opening start with double-duty driver Foulger in second. Mid-race cautions kept the competitors close. Schweitzer battled Anthony Guiliani before the two briefly touched and the contact allowed Foulger to pass both [Read More]

Laney stars in Central California Clash IMCA Modified main at Tulare

TULARE, Calif. (May 4, 2022) – He’s not a fan of the film franchise but the force was with Cody Laney in the Central California Clash feature for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds on Star Wars Night Wednesday evening. Laney started outside row one and led every lap in topping the May the Fourth main event at Thunderbowl Raceway, following his Tuesday victory at Keller Auto Speedway with another $1,000 checkers. Monday night winner Bobby Hogge was second, with Jerry Flippo, Nick DeCarlo and Troy Foulger completing the top five. “We had a long green flag run and passed a couple cars before Jake Pike showed his nose in (turns) one and two,” Laney said. “I was able to clear him before the caution came out – we had a bunch of cautions late – and Bobby took over second.” “I didn’t like seeing them. Every time there’s a caution when Bobby Hogge is behind you, you have to stay perfect,” he continued. “It took a couple laps after the restarts before I was able to [Read More]