An unofficial report from Merced Speedway

Ryland, Nelson, Odgers, Corder Merced Speedway Winners

Merced, CA...June 18...Fred Ryland returned to Merced Speedway Saturday night and was glad that he did.  The reigning IMCA Sport Modified State champion won the 20 lap Main Event ahead of veteran Gary Tucker.  Two time Merced Hobby Stock champion Bruce "Bubba" Nelson drove one of the Shearer Racing Team cars to his second 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event win of the season.  Past Sportsman champion Mark Odgers returned and beat the biggest field of Sportsman drivers this year with his 20 lap feature triumph.  Despite an invasion of stars from Bakersfield and Porterville, the "Corder Train" kept rolling as point leader Chis Corder won his fourth 20 lap Mini Stock Main Event in five starts.

After title contender Mike Drake, Andy Welch and G. Tucker won nine lap IMCA Sport Modified heat races, the race was on for Main Event glory.  Fred Ryland and G. Tucker were in a race to see which of the two could get to the front from the third row first.  Tucker won multiple Main Events last season, but the veteran of over 20 years of racing at Merced has been shut out thus far.  Second was Tucker's best finish so far this year, but F. Ryland continued his string of impressive finishes with his latest triumph.  Ryland had a double win weekend last week up north.  Past IMCA State champion Nick Spainhoward charged from tenth to third as Patti Ryland, point leader Steve Stone and reigning champion Josh Hensley rounded out the top 6.  Having parted ways with car owner Randy Brown during the week, incoming point leader Rick Diaz scrambled to get the ride in the #74 car while he awaits his new car.  Diaz managed a seventh place finish ahead of Paul Espino, Andy Welch and Drake.

The lowest Hobby Stock count of the year still produced a 17 car field, and heat race wins went to Raulie Rodriguez, Ben Lewis and point leader Michael Shearer.  Starting back in the eighth spot, Bubba Nelson made a charge to the  front and mixed it up with front row starters Lewis and M. Shearer.  However, Nelson passed them both and scored the well earned victory.  Lewis settled for second with M. Shearer maintaining his point lead in third.  Kodie Dean continued his strong season with a fourth place finish ahead of John Hensley.  Kristie Shearer regained second in the standings with her seventh place finish as Kyle Singleton, Rodriguez and rookie Darren Miguel made up the remainder of the Top 10.

After winning the heat race in his "Mr. Dirt" Vern Willhoite tribute car, past Sportsman champion Mark Odgers scored an impressive feature victory.  Car count was higher than it's been in about two years, and Odgers had to contend with two time champion Mike Friesen, who settled for second.  Sportsman point leader Kenny Birdsong was third in the Rod Poor tribute car as Watsonville's all time Sportsman win leader and "Hall Of Famer" Jerry Cecil was fourth.  Jeff Bristow completed the Top 5.  Division newcomers Jeff Amos and Shannon Fry were sixth and seventh as Eric Sealy completed the finishing order.

When Jennifer Corder sold her Hobby Stock, she really didn't want to get out of racing, so she orchestrated a trade to get her back into a Mini Stock.  Jennifer joined her point leading brother Chris Corder as heat winners on the night.  She gave it a good run in the Main Event, but Chris was just a bit too fast.  Jennifer settled for a strong second place finish to complete the Corder domination of the night.  Bakersfield title contender Andy "The Dirt Dog" Boydstun was third ahead of Porterville regular Clinton Massey and Justin Moore.  Tony Peffer drove his truck to a sixth place finish as Kit Murphy, Paul Laoretti and Curtis Thornhill made up the rest of the field.  Bakersfield point leader Shawn Schwartzenberger scratched from the Main Event.

Merced Speedway goes flat track racing this week, but The Tommy Post Memorial Race returns on July 2nd.  The night features IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds and Hobby Stocks as well as a Fireworks Display.  To make it even better, it is free admission for the fans.  For further information, go to www.racemerced.com.