northwestfloridaspeedway Archives

Matthew Triefenbach: Florida Flyer, Blue Collar Built

By Ben Deatherage CRESTVIEW, Fla. (Apr. 14, 2025) — For most racers, their story starts with a garage, a go-kart, and a weekend hobby. For Matthew Triefenbach, it started the same—but quickly got complicated by military orders, Arizona heat, and a first sergeant who didn’t care much for trailers in the dorm parking lot. These days, Triefenbach is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base and calls the Florida panhandle home. But in Alabama on April 5, 2025, he made a major breakthrough. At Deep South Speedway in Loxley, he scored his first career Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win—a flag-to-flag run that ended with his hand in the air and a little redemption in his heart. “It was good to come back to Deep South for our local area points racing and start the year off strong there,” he said. “I feel like we had unfinished business from The Clash.” A Strong Start, a Tough Week Just weeks before, Triefenbach had rolled out for the IMCA.TV Clash on the Coast—a growing showcase for the DeVilbiss Racing Eastern [Read More]

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]

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]

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]

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]