clashonthecoast Archives

Mike Vandermark Jr.: From Snowy Michigan to Clash On The Coast Champion

CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. (Mar. 14, 2025) — A Wolverine who took his mittens off at this year’s IMCA TV Clash On The Coast was Mike Vandermark Jr., who never finished outside the Top 5 and earned the overall championship title in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car series. His worst finish was fourth on the final night at Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Alabama, to become the second champion in the class in two seasons. Racing Against the Odds Vandermark stands out for more than his performance. Like Florida’s Wyatt Parker and Evan Foust of Maryland, during this year’s Clash, he comes from a state without a track that hosts IMCA Stock Car races weekly. Despite the long journey and limited experience in the division, he finished second in a three-wide photo finish on the first night and claimed victory at Northwest Florida Speedway. Seizing the Opportunity “There’s a bunch of snow and cold weather back at home, so it was a perfect opportunity to go down and race and have some fun,” Vandermark said. “We stayed [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]

IMCA Modifieds, Stocks head south for third annual Clash on the Coast

BAKER, Fla. (Dec. 20, 2024) – Friesen Performance IMCA Modified and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car drivers can enjoy sunlight on the sand and moonlight on the sea when they’re not at the track, during the 2025 Clash on the Coast. Presented by IMCA.TV, the third annual Clash sees both divisions running for $1,000 to win and a minimum of $100 to start each night, along with shares of a combined $16,800 point fund, at shows Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 24 and 25 at Northwest Florida Speedway in Baker and Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, March 1 at Deep South Speedway in Loxley, Ala. No racing is planned Feb. 26-27 so drivers, family and team members can enjoy the beach: Clash promoter Peyton Taylor notes that Northwest Florida is just 35 miles from the sand at Destin while Deep South is a 45-mile drive to Pensacola Beach. “This event has grown from 50 Modifieds the first year to 150 Modifieds and Stock Cars last year,” Taylor said. “A lot of those cars came from 20 hours [Read More]

Mallicoat ends Florida roller coaster ride with IMCA Modified Clash on the Coast checkers

MILTON, Fla. (March 2, 2024) – His Florida roller coaster ride saw Izac Mallicoat end the IMCA Clash on the Coast on top. The 17-year-old speedster from Boone, Iowa, stayed close to leader Trevor Fitz the first 19 times around the track in the Saturday finale for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds at Southern Raceway, and took over up front after Fitz fell off power on a restart. Mallicoat then outran Benji LaCrosse, Ethan Braaksma, speedweek champion Jeff Larson and Tanner Barnhart to the $1,000 checkers. “We have struggled with consistency but the whole week, we knew we had a fast car. We just didn’t know it would be this good,” said Mallicoat, who became eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational aboard a new Brand X ride. “This was a big confidence booster before we start racing around home.” Mallicoat ran fourth in his opening night ‘B’ and exited early from the night two feature at Northwest Florida Speedway, then was kayoed by a flat tire early in his ‘B’ Thursday at Milton. [Read More]

Ohio’s O’Patik tops Clash on the Coast IMCA Modified feature at Milton

MILTON, Fla. (Feb. 29, 2024) – Mitchell O’Patik and Dallon Murty both talked about luck during their post-race interviews Thursday night at Southern Raceway. Truth is that both made their own luck on night three of the IMCA Clash on the Coast. O’Patik led the distance of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Milton, outrunning hometown speedster Joseph Joiner for the $1,000 win and earning Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. “I had a good feeling on the night. I drew 11, went out for my heat race and saw there were some heavy hitters in the back,” he said. “I was like ‘Man, it’s pretty stacked, I’d better go,’ and I did that.” A Colorado native and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod winner early in his racing career there, O’Patik attended college in Ohio and now works for Meyer Shank Racing in Pataskala. His Thursday start was just his third in a 2020 Rage Chassis. The win came just a car length ahead of Joiner, with Shane Stephens, Joel Rust and Jadin Fuller [Read More]

IMCA Clash on the Coast finale will be Saturday

MILTON, Fla. (March 1, 2024) – Current weather conditions and impending rain mean no racing tonight (Friday) in Florida and postponement of the final installment of the IMCA Clash on the Coast to Saturday. Both Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars will be in action on March 2 at Southern Raceway. The race day schedule and gate admission rates remain the same with the IMCA.TV broadcast from Milton beginning Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Fitz tops next level competition for IMCA Modified Clash on the Coast win

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 27, 2024) – Trevor Fitz made the move to the Midwest from his native California looking to race with and win against next level Friesen Performance IMCA Modified competition. He did just that Tuesday, in Florida. The transplant to Marshalltown, Iowa, won the night two installment of Clash on the Coast at Northwest Florida Speedway, earning $1,000 and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility. Fitz chased leader Tanner Barnhart into what quickly became lapped traffic. He was in the right place at the right time, running second when Barnhart couldn’t avoid hitting a spun car and the resulting chaos on lap 12. Fitz inherited the point, lead the pack after another restart on lap 13, then held off opening night winner Jeff Larson as the race stayed green the last 12 circuits. “I was hoping for lapped traffic but when I got it, I messed up,” said Fitz, who more than had his hands full with Larson. “I ran for my life. I knew he was back there and I saw his [Read More]