southernraceway Archives

Becerra is incredible in unforgettable IMCA Clash on the Coast title clinching win

MILTON, Fla. (March 4, 2023) – Improbable? Maybe. Impossible? Not for Austen Becerra. Becerra was incredible in racing from last at the start to first at the finish Saturday night at Southern Raceway, winning his third Clash on the Coast for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds start of the week and going home to Carthage, Ill., with a $2,500 share of the inaugural tour point fund. “We put our heads down and did what we had to do,” said Becerra, who worked his way quickly through the field and passed Drew Janssen for the lead following a restart with four laps left. “This win, and to win three nights and finish second the other night, means a lot to us about our entire program.” “Definitely, the last race is one I’ll never forget.” Becerra had taken a two point advantage over Milton driver Joseph Joiner into the Saturday show, finished sixth in his heat and then ran second in the final ‘B’ feature. “We got run over in the heat but the car wasn’t very good, [Read More]

Becerra masters Southern traffic for second IMCA Clash on the Coast win

MILTON, Fla. (March 3, 2023) – Austen Becerra worked a little lapped traffic for another big Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win in Florida Friday night. Becerra chased hometown driver Joseph Joiner to just past midway of the Clash on the Coast presented by IMCA.TV main event at Southern Raceway, making his pass for the lead as the front pair came to the line on the 14th of 25 laps. He’d lead to the $1,000 checkers, repeating his winning ways from opening night on Monday and flipping the 1-2 finish with Tuesday winner Joiner. “I knew we’d get to lapped traffic and I saw my chance. He was trying to search and more around, he’d go low and I’d go high,” said Becerra, from Carthage, Ill. “A lapped car kind of got him bottled up. He didn’t know where to go, I stuck it in there and was able to get the lead in lapped traffic.” The only caution came with eight circuits left, when a lapped car spun in front of Joiner, who was able to [Read More]

Great IMCA racers, partners combine to make Clash on the Coast an event

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2023) – All the nervous energy that promoter Peyton Taylor brought with him to Florida ahead of the inaugural Clash on the Coast presented by IMCA.TV has been transformed. Now it’s energy. “The response has been mind-blowing,” Taylor said, not much more than hours ahead of the tour for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, at NW Florida Speedway in Baker Feb. 27 and 28 and at Southern Raceway in Milton on March 3 and 4. “We have turned four races into an event, and that would not have been possible without a lot of great IMCA racers and a lot of great IMCA partners.” More than 50 early entries are in hand, among them former and defending regional champions, former regional rookies of the year and IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s champions. Local drivers will greet a strong contingent from Taylor’s home state of Arkansas and another 10 states, racing for $1,000 to win, a minimum of $100 to start and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility each night. Purses [Read More]

Florida vacation for IMCA Modifieds has sun, sand, four Clash on the Coast dates

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2023) – If he hasn’t already, promoter Peyton Taylor should be giving serious thought to a parade of states during the inaugural Clash on the Coash presented by IMCA.TV. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility at Feb. 27 and 28 shows at Northwest Florida Speedway in Baker, and March 3 and 4 shows at Southern Raceway in Milton. Drivers from 15 states – from all across IMCA’s Eastern Region, Texas to the west and Minnesota and Wisconsin to the north – are already pre-registered and Taylor believes it’s more than warm temperatures and sandy beaches that’s bringing them to The Sunshine State. “The whole package deal works. Everything from the IMCA sanction to having (executive director of competition) Dave Brenn here for duration to the weather is going to make the Clash on the Coast popular,” he said. “The weather is one thing – it’s so nice in Florida this time of year – and we have a lot of good [Read More]

IMCA.TV inked as presenting sponsor, Clash on the Coast adds more awards

BAKER, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2023) – The Clash on the Coast has signed on IMCA.TV as its presenting sponsor while adding awards from another four marketing partners for its inaugural run. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000 to win at Feb. 27 and 28 shows at Northwest Florida Speedway in Baker, and March 3 and 4 shows at Southern Raceway in Milton. Purses each night total $7,500 with a minimum of $100 paid to start. Drivers competing all four nights of the Clash on the Coast are eligible for shares of a $10,000 point fund. The top driver in points earns $2,500 with $1,500 for second and $1,000 for third. “We’re gaining momentum every day. We’ve already got more than 35 drivers pre-registered,” reported Clash on the Coast Promoter Peyton Taylor. “I know a lot of people are looking forward to it. It will be a great time to enjoy a Florida vacation.” “Fast Shafts will give two drive shafts to the series champion. It’s neat to have them on board because the winner [Read More]

Online registration begins for IMCA Clash on the Coast

BAKER, Fla. (Sept. 29, 2022) – IMCA Speedweek returns to Florida in 2023 and Friesen Performance IMCA Modified drivers can now go to www.theclashonthecoast.com to register for the inaugural tour. Presented by IMCA.TV, the Clash on the Coast pays $1,000 to win each night and opens with Feb. 27 and 28 features at Northwest Florida Speedway in Baker, then travels to Southern Raceway in Milton for March 3 and 4 shows. Clash on the Coast winners become eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, while second place each night pays $900, third pays $800, fourth pays $700 and fifth pays $600. Nightly purses total $7,500 with a minimum of $100 paid to start and $50 tow. Drivers competing all four nights are eligible for shares of a $10,000 point fund. The top driver in points earns $2,500 with $1,500 for second and $1,000 for third. Finishing in the top 20 in points will be good for a minimum of $200. Entry fee each night is $25 with IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Dirt Works [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds are Florida bound for 2023 Speedweek

BAKER, Fla. (May 6, 2022) – Friesen Performance IMCA Modified drivers can start making plans for a Florida vacation early in 2023. The inaugural Clash on the Coast opens with Feb. 27 and 28 features at Northwest Florida Speedway in Baker, then travels to Southern Raceway in Milton for March 3 and 4 shows. All four main events pay $1,000 to win, $900 for second, $800 for third, $700 for fourth and $600 for fifth. Nightly purses total $7,500 with a minimum of $100 to start. Drivers competing all four nights are eligible for shares of a $10,000 point fund. The top driver in points earns $2,500 with $1,500 for second and $1,000 for third. The Clash on the Coast is the brainchild of veteran IMCA Modified driver Peyton Taylor from Arkansas, a double winner at Southern Raceway’s Winter Nationals earlier this season. “This will be the first Florida-based Speedweek for IMCA Modified drivers in about 20 years,” said Taylor. “I think we can make this an annual event that will expand to three or [Read More]

Winter Nationals sweep a Florida first for Taylor

MILTON, Fla (Feb. 25-26, 2022) – A spur of the moment decision to load up his IMCA Modified for a Florida vacation led to a storybook ending for Peyton Taylor. Taylor topped both Friday and Saturday night Winter Nationals features at Southern Raceway, earning $1,000 for each checkered along with Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. The wins were his first-ever in Florida and came in his first visit to the Milton speedplant as well. “This was a spur of the moment deal. We got down there and A.J. Ward and William Gould were there and a lot of good local drivers were there,” said Taylor, from Batesville, Ark. “This is the first time we’ve been to Milton. They’re great people and it’s a great track, and it worked out pretty well for us.” His opening night win came from fifth starting. Taylor passed Ward for the lead, held off the defending Dirt Works Eastern Region champion following multiple restarts and was able to pull away in the later laps. Fellow Arkansas speedsters Landon Meilke [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds return to Winter Nationals at Southern Raceway

MILTON, Fla. – Winter Nationals returns to Southern Raceway with a pair of $1,000 to win IMCA Modified features Friday, Feb. 25 and Saturday, Feb. 26. Winners both nights become eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Sanctioned Modifieds last ran at the special more than a decade and a half ago. The division is presented this year by Heath Racing Engines of Milton. “The IMCA Modified division here is really starting to get some good car counts. We’re really glad to have this event back on the schedule,” Southern Raceway promoter Tom Lowery said, “and want to build it back and make it something big.” DIRT2MediaTV, an affiliate of IMCA.TV, broadcasts both nights. Entry fee is $25 and pit passes are $35 for adults and $15 for kids ages 12 and under each night. Adult grandstand admission is $20 on Friday and $25 on Saturday, and $5 for kids both nights. Pit gates open at 4:30 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. on Friday. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. and the [Read More]

IMCA Modifieds on Saturday card at Southern Raceway

MILTON, Fla. – Southern Raceway throws the green flag Saturday for the first race of the season in IMCA’s Dirt Works Eastern Region. IMCA Modifieds race for $500 to win the March 30 main event at Milton. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, E3 Spark Plugs Florida State and track points, as well as regional points will be awarded. Pit gates and the grandstand open at 4 p.m. Hot laps are at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and military, $9 for students ages 13 to 17, $5 for kids ages six to 12 and free for five and under. Pit passes are $30. Non-winged sprint cars and midgets complete the Gator Dirt Nationals card. More information is available by calling 850 390-6136.