clashonthecoast Archives

Weekend forecast forces change in Clash on the Coast schedule

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 27, 2024) – An ever fickle Mother Nature has forced changes to the weekend part of the schedule for the IMCA Clash on the Coast. Tonight’s (Tuesday) speedweek event for Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars at Northwest Florida Speedway is on as originally scheduled with Wednesday’s planned day off at the beach becoming a practice day at Southern Raceway. With developing potential for inclement weather, the scheduled Friday and Saturday races at Milton have been moved to Thursday and Friday, Feb. 29 and March 1. What was to have been the final night of racing on Saturday has been designated as a rain date should the Friday show fall to weather. All start times and gate admission rates remain the same. Each Clash on the Coast race program will be broadcast on IMCA.TV starting at 6:30 p.m. CST.

IMCA history made with Neal’s Clash on the Coast Stock Car win

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 26, 2024) – After getting caught up in a first-lap caution, Gage Neal was wondering if he’d be able to stay in the race. After winning the first-ever IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature in Florida, he was thinking about leaving his car just the way it was. Neal topped Monday’s Clash on the Coast main event for The Class Too Tough to Tame at Northwest Florida Speedway, earning $1,000 and a chapter in the IMCA history book. After starting 17th and restarting 23rd following that early fracas, his checkers came ahead of heavyweights John Oliver Jr. and Dallon Murty. “It means the world to me. I never thought in a million years I’d be racing out of the Midwest,” the Anamosa, Iowa, driver said. “Obviously I’ve never been here (Baker) before or raced in the South at all.” “It’s pretty amazing to come here and win.” Nearly 100 Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – Jeff Larson of Freeport, Ill., won that feature – and 49 Stock Cars competed on night one at Baker, representing 23 states and [Read More]

Sun, sand, speed are Clash on the Coast attractions for IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2024) – Sun, sand and speed bring 150-plus IMCA drivers to Florida for the four-race Clash on the Coast presented by IMCA.TV. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds will be joined by IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, making their first-ever appearance in the Sunshine State Feb. 26 and 27 at Northwest Florida Speedway in Baker and March 1 and 2 at Southern Raceway in Milton. Speedweek features for both divisions pay $1,000 to win and a minimum of $100 to start. Feature winners become eligible to qualify for the Modified Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational or the Stock Car B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. “We now have more than 150 drivers from 23 states and two provinces pre-entered,” said speedweek director Peyton Taylor, “including Ken Schrader for the first two nights in a Modified and Kenny Wallace all four nights in both the Modified and Stock Car.” “Both the opportunity to race in Florida at this time of year and to compete under the IMCA sanction are what bring a lot of drivers to [Read More]

130-plus IMCA Modifieds, Stock Cars are Florida bound for Clash on the Coast

BAKER, Fla. (Jan. 29, 2024) – Just north of 130 drivers from across the United States and Canada are headed south for the Clash on the Coast presented by IMCA.TV. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds return to race night cards for the second annual speedweek, presented by IMCA.TV and will be joined by IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for first-ever appearances by The Class Too Tough To Tame at both Northwest Florida Speedway in Baker Feb. 26 and 27, and at Southern Raceway in Milton on March 1 and 2. Features for both divisions pay $1,000 to win and a minimum of $100 to start. Feature winners become eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational or the B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational. All four race programs will be broadcast by IMCA.TV. “It’s mind boggling that we have gotten this much support from the racing community. We’ve already got more than 80 Modified and more than 50 Stock Car entries, from 20 states and two Canadian provinces,” said speedweek promoter Peyton Taylor. “These being 100 percent [Read More]

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]

Night 2 worst to first storyline ends with Joiner’s win at IMCA Clash on the Coast

BAKER, Fla. (Feb. 28, 2023) – The top storyline from night two of the Clash on the Coast presented by IMCA.TV was Joseph Joiner’s drive from the worst starting spot in his heat to the best finishing position in the Tuesday main event at Northwest Florida Speedway. The Hunt the Front hotshoe from Milton led flag to flag in winning the fast-paced and caution-free Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Baker, working his way through lapped traffic and outrunning opening night winner Austen Becerra to the $1,000, Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible checkers. “I knew we had a good shot when I knew I was on pole,” said Joiner, who’d run third in his first start in the car and the class on Monday at Baker. “I grew up racing here and track conditions were a lot like what I’m used to.” “I’m glad I was able to capitalize on it. It turned out to be a good couple days,” he continued. “I’m thankful I was the guy who got to hold the steering wheel.” More [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]