TULARE, Calif. — Clint Reichenbach picked up his second-straight IMCA modified victory on night two of California IMCA Speedway Saturday night at Thunderbowl Raceway.
Reichenbach and Robby Sawyer started the 25-lap IMCA modified feature by battling for the top spot. Reichenbach would outduel Sawyer for first as the green flag run developed. A lap four caution would put a halt to the action.
When racing resumed, Reichenbac pulled away from the rest of the pack. Another yellow on lap six for debris slowed the field down. It happened just as Ethan Dotson was mounting an attempt to overtake Reichenbach.
Dotson kept the pressure on Reichenbach on the ensuing restart. The two would briefly go door-to-door on a couple of occasions, but Reichenbach held on by keeping his composure. The battle between the two would be interrupted by a lap-10 incident.
Dotson again tried to slip underneath Reichenbach, but Reichenbach would prevail in the struggle. Just when it seemed that Reichenbach had the top spot secured, Dotson poured on another round of enormous pressure. The two would fiercely battle each other for another series of circuits.
The race would stay green, and Reichenbach would stay in the race lead the rest of the distance. Dotson was second over Collen Winebarger, Sawyer and Jerry Flippo.
For the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern Sportmods, Tanner Thomas maneuvered his mount to first on the initial start of the 25-lap main event. Unfortunately for the Atwater driver, a caution occurred before the completion of the first circuit. This meant on the second attempt to get a lap in the field would be stacked up for a complete restart.
The second time the green was displayed it would be a dogfight for the lead. The field went three, and briefly four, wide down the back straightaway. Jason Nation emerged with the lead coming out of turn four.
Nation, also a winner on night one if California Speedweek, checked out from the main body of the field. However, the race was slowed by a lap-11 caution. On the restart, Nation would hammer on the throttle and attempted to reconstruct his massive lead over second-place, but Thomas would keep it close as the green flag run got longer.
A lap-15 stoppage for debris allowed the field to clump up together. Nation would feel an enormous amount of heat from Garrett Jernagan. Jernagan exchanged sliders with Nation, but Nation somehow managed to hold on.
A lap-17 incident once again put the pause on the action. When the cars got back up to speed, Nation managed to keep all challengers in check. As the green flag run developed, Nation would put some distance between himself and Jernagan. However, a pair of late cautions prevented Nation from creating too much of a lead.
It would be a green-white-checkered finish, with Nation trying to bring his machine into victory lane. Tyler Bannister tried to make a pass on Nation on the final restart, but Nation stayed out in front.
Nation doubled up to start California Speedweek, with Bannister finishing second. Jason Bannister was third, followed by Thomas and K.C. Keller.
The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars battled 20 laps with a $1,300 payday on the line. Double duty driver Dotson seized lead at the start. Dotson’s only major challenge was that he had to deal with a couple of restarts. Despite the slowdowns, it did not hamper Dotson as he went on to win his second Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature in as many days.
Steven Johnson placed second followed by Brock Hamilton in third. Nicholas Johnson and Larry Thompson finished fourth and fifth.
California IMCA Speedweek continues Sunday at Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford, Calif.