By Ben Deatherage
KENNEDALE, Texas (Mar. 22, 2025) — Matthew Day struck pay dirt at Kennedale Speedway Park, winning the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature after a thrilling late-race battle. The 2021 National IMCA Southern SportMod champion surged to the lead in the closing laps to collect his first victory of the 2025 campaign in the division’s first appearance at the ¼-mile oval.
The 20-lap main event began with 2013 IMCA National Modified champion William Gould setting the pace. He held steady through two early cautions, but things changed quickly after a lap-nine restart. Jake Upchurch, a three-time KSP IMCA SportMod track champion, used the high side to rocket from fifth to second and began challenging Gould.
Just as the action intensified, the 21-year-old Day entered the fray by hugging the low line. He worked his way into second, then mounted a charge on the leader. Day made the decisive move on lap 15, slipping under Gould for the lead. Gould fought back the next lap, but Day countered down the backstretch to reclaim the top spot for good.
The 2023 IMCA Modified South Central Region champion from Farmersville was flawless the rest of the way, scoring a hard-fought win. Gould and Upchurch completed the podium in second and third.
Cook Cruises to Stock Car Win at Kennedale
Cameron Cook made it look easy in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, taking command on lap one and never looking back. The Mansfield motorist managed lapped traffic and a restart with ease to secure his first EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region win of 2025.
The only interruption came on lap 15 when a caution bunched the field. But Cook, the 2022 Texas State champion, remained composed and drove away from his challengers on the restart.
Three-time KSP IMCA Stock Car track champion Jerrett Bransom gave a strong effort to finish second, followed by veteran racer Darryl Campbell in third.
Gaston Breaks Through for First SportMod Win of 2025
Camo Gaston, the 20-year-old from Weatherford, held off all comers to secure his first Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod victory of the year at Kennedale.
Gaston grabbed the lead at the drop of the green and quickly built a gap. Tommy Williams closed the distance around halfway and made a strong bid on the inside but couldn’t complete the pass as Gaston maintained his rhythm.
The race’s only caution came on lap 14 for debris. On the restart, Gaston was sharp and pulled away to seal the win.
Williams settled for second, with 2018 National SportMod Rookie of the Year Kyle Wilkins taking third.
Bevills Capitalizes Late to Win Sport Compact Feature
Steven Bevills made a patient and calculated move in the second half of the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact main to earn his first win of the season.
2023 Junior National champion Sean Leasure led much of the race before Bevills — the 2019 National Rookie of the Year and former Texas State champion — began applying pressure.
Bevills pounced in lapped traffic on lap 18 to grab the top spot and held on to take the checkered flag. Leasure finished a close second, while 2023 IMCA Sport Compact National Rookie of the Year Stephen Stitler completed the podium in third.
