Diaz, Nelson Merced Speedway Winners

Saturday night at Merced Speedway offered a little something for everybody last week.  There was the pre race Sweet 16 Birthday celebration for Destiny Carter and Zoe Sandoval.  There was a candy toss at intermission for the kids.  Then, there was plenty of great racing on the quarter-mile dirt oval.  When respected flag man Doug Laidlaw waved the checkered flag on the Main Events, it was Rick Diaz grabbing the victory in IMCA Sport Modifieds, Bruce "Bubba" Nelson getting the win in Hobby Stocks, Jason Lewis emerging victorious in Mini Stocks and Kenny Birdsong getting his first win in the Valley Sportsman class.

With two wins already this year and a front row start, 2014 IMCA Sport Modified champion Rick Diaz seemed like the likely winner of that division's feature.  However, Watsonville Friday night winner Anthony Giuliani was lined up on the outside to make things interesting.  Giuliani already has wins at three different tracks and was looking for his fourth track.  However, Diaz was not to be denied as he prevailed for the third time this year to keep the point battle close.  Giuliani settled for second with veteran Gary Tucker third.  Tim Elias was forth and Chris Falekenerg rounded out the Top 5.  Dave Gibson finished sixth ahead of incoming point leader Steve Stone, 2015 point runner up Mark Odgers, Mike Drake and defending champion Josh Hensley.

In the midst of his potential "Rookie Of The Year" season in IMCA Modifieds, Bruce Nelson got the chance to drive one of the Shearer Racing Team Hobby Stocks.  The two time Hobby Stock champion would get a front row start and used it for the Main Event win.  However, Dexter Long has been knocking on the door to his first career win.  The second year racer briefly took the lead from Nelson, but he couldn't quite pull it off.  Nelson won with Long settling for an apparent third straight second place finish.  Ben Lewis crossed the line third ahead of recent Ted Stofle Classic winner Phil Vaughn, Ben Lewis II, Kodie Dean and Garrett Corn.  Post race tech shuffled the order with Nelson still winning and Vaughn the new second place finisher ahead of Ben Lewis, Dean and Corn.  The B Main was a battle between 2015 champion Kevin Joaquin and George Silva.  Joaquin grabbed the win.

The Mini Stock race would not go to point leader Chris Corder this time as he failed to finish.  It was Jason Lewis and James Stockton up at the front, and Lewis notched his first career victory.  Stockton was a season best second ahead of a second straight third place finishing position for Joy Alger.  Lucy Falenkeberg was fourth ahead of rookie Destiny Carter, Jennifer Corder, Mike Germait, Brian Widdowson and Chris Corder.

One of the biggest boosters out there trying to drum up support for the Sportsman division is Kenny Birdsong.  On Saturday night, it was Kenny's time to shine.  He drove a good race in the Rod Poor tribute car and would win his first Main Event.  Eric Seely was second ahead of the season debut of two time champion Mike Freisen's newly painted car.  Mike Palmberg and Jeff Bristow rounded out the Top 5.

Racing continues next Saturday night with the track hosting the second round of the All Star IMCA Modified series.  Hobby Stocks, Honda HPD Midgets and Valley Sportsman cars are also a part of the program.  For further information, check out www.racemerced.com.


IMCA Sport Mods

IMCA Sportmod Heat 1
1 9B Igor Gandzuki
2 03 Danny Roe
3 57MX Mark Odgers
4 07 Mike Drake
5 3CF Chris Falkenberg
6 10 Andy Welch
7 17 Matt Tanner

IMCA SportMod
Heat 2 Finish
1 15 Anthony Guiliani
2 7G Dennis Gates
3 10T Gary Tucker
4 48 Alex Odishoo
5 86 Josh Hensley
6 75G Dave Gibson
7 209 Chase Thomas

IMCA SportMod Heat 3 Finish
1 9D Rick Diaz
2 44 Tim Elias
3 73 Steve Stone
4 31 Mark Squadrito
5 27 Dwayne Short
6 22 Tanner Thomas

IMCA SportMod A-Main
1 9D Rick Diaz 8 Chowchilla  
2 15 Anthony Guiliani 2 Morgan Hill  
3 10T Gary Tucker 10 Delhi  
4 44 Tim Elias 7 Los Banos
5 3CF Chris Falkenberg 13 Merced
6 75G Dave Gibson 17 Valley Springs  
7 73 Steve Stone 11 Winton  
8 57MX Mark Odgers 12 Mariposa
9 07 Mike Drake 9 Turlock
10 86 Josh Hensley 14 Ballico  
11 10 Andy Welch 16 Merced
12 7G Dennis Gates 6 Claypool, AZ  
13 9B Igor Gandzuki 1 Prundale  
14 48 Alex Odishoo 4 Merced  
15 22 Tanner Thomas 18 Atwater  
16 209 Chase Thomas 20 Atwater  
17 03 Danny Roe 3 Turlock
18 31 Mark Squadrito 5 Copperopolis  
19 27 Dwayne Short 15 Merced
20 17 Matt Tanner 19 Merced

Hobby Stocks

Hobby Stocks Heat 1
1 67JXL Bruce Nelson
2 67XXX Michael Shearer
3 7M Garrett Corn
4 20X Ben Lewis
5 1 Matthew Schlessinger
6 97 Kevin Joaquin
7 4 Chris Williams
8 69 Bobby Williams
9 28J Jerry Tubbs

Hobby Stocks Heat 2
1 73J Kristie Shearer
2 911 Dexter Long
3 76K Phillip Vaughn
4 70L Robbie Loquaci
5 22 Ben Lewis II
6 8 George Silva
7 87M Brandon Speck
8 37J Donnie Shearer
9 28 Cody Parker

Hobby Stocks Heat 3
1 67XXL Mike Villanueva
2 86J Darren Miguel
3 7 Kodie Dean
4 34 Adam Reed
5 78 Brandon Pugh
6 02 Kyle Singleton
7 17 Robert Daniel
8 86 John Hensley

Hobby Stocks B-Main
1 97 Kevin Joaquin 1 Sonora
2 8 George Silva 2 Merced
3 37J Donnie Shearer 8 Merced  
4 86 John Hensley 9 Denair  
5 4 Chris Williams 4 Ceres  
6 69 Bobby Williams 7 Ballico  
7 02 Kyle Singleton 3 Clovis  
8 87M Brandon Speck 5 Merced  
9 17 Robert Daniel 6 Stockton  
10 28J Jerry Tubbs 10 Merced  
11 28 Cody Parker 11 Merced  

Hobby Stocks A-Main
1 67JXL Bruce Nelson 1 Winton
2 76K Phillip Vaughn 8 Merced  
3 22 Ben Lewis II 14 Stockton  
4 7 Kodie Dean 9 Chowchilla
5 7M Garrett Corn 7 Cathey's Valley
6 97 Kevin Joaquin 16 Sonora
7 73J Kristie Shearer 2 Atwater
8 8 George Silva 17 Merced
9 34 Adam Reed 12 Turlock  
10 70L Robbie Loquaci 11 Madera
11 67XXL Mike Villanueva 3 Merced
12 67XXX Michael Shearer 4 Atwater
13 86J Darren Miguel 6 Ballico
14 37J Donnie Shearer 18 Merced  
15 1 Matthew Schlessinger 13 Merced
16 78 Brandon Pugh 15  
17 911 Dexter Long 5 Ballico  
18 20X Ben Lewis 10 Stockton

Mini Stocks

Mini Stocks Heat 1
1 68C Chris Corder
2 37 James Stockton
3 68 Joy Alger
4 37M Mike Germait
5 9 Brian Widdowson
6 80S Curtis Thornhill        

Mini Stocks Heat 2
1 87 Jason Lewis
2 4 Tony Peffer
3 13C Jennifer Corder
4 18 Lucy Falkenberg
5 24 Destiny Carter    

Mini Stocks A-Main
1 87 Jason Lewis 8 Merced
2 37 James Stockton 2 Merced  
3 68 Joy Alger 7 Atwater  
4 18 Lucy Falkenberg 4 Turlock  
5 24 Destiny Carter 3 Merced  
6 13C Jennifer Corder 10 Modesto  
7 37M Mike Germait 1 Merced  
8 4 Tony Peffer 6 Modesto  
9 9 Brian Widdowson 11 Turlock  
10 68C Chris Corder 9 Modesto  
11 80S Curtis Thornhill 5 Merced

Vintage Valley Sportsman

Vintage Valley Sportsman Heat
1 62 Eric Seely
2 14 Jeff Bristow
3 25M Kenny Birdsong
4 121 Mike Friesen
5 10 Mike Palmberg

Vintage Valley Sportsman Main
1 25M Kenny Birdsong 3 Merced
2 62 Eric Seely 1 Ceres
3 121 Mike Friesen
4 Atwater 4 10 Mike Palmberg
5 Merced 5 14 Jeff Bristow 2 Turlock