Diaz, Nelson, Friesen, Corder Win On Legends Night At Merced Speedway

Merced, CA...August 13...Even after a two week break, Rick Diaz continued his march towards a second IMCA Sport Modified track championship at Merced Speedway Saturday night.  The occasion was Jerry Holzer "Legends Of Merced Speedway" night, and the competition was no match for Diaz.  The 2014 track champion increased his point lead with his division leading fifth win of the season.  Perhaps as big a story was the performance of second generation racer Chase Thomas.  After his career best third place finish last time out, Chase did even better as he drove another great race to finish a strong second.  Still in the hunt for second in the standings, veteran Tim Elias pursued Thomas before settling for third ahead of reigning IMCA State champion Fred Ryland.  Second ranked Mike Drake drove the George Medeiros owned entry to another Top 5 finish as current IMCA State point leader Brian Cooper finished sixth ahead of Jerry Bartlett, Patti Ryland, Gary Tucker and Chase's younger brother Tanner Thomas.  F. Ryland won his heat race ahead of Bartlett.  Elias held off C. Thomas to grab his nine lap victory before Diaz won his heat in front of Andy Welch.

The Shearer Racing Team was well represented once again in Hobby Stocks by two time division champion Bruce "Bubba" Nelson.  Nelson was making his fourth start of the season as he continues to maintain a Top 5 point effort in his rookie season in IMCA Modifieds.  The night marked the return of Dexter Long, who has second place finishes in two big races, the Ted Stofle Classic and the Mike Cecil Memorial Race, which was held at Watsonville last week.  Long was hoping to get his first career win, but he was no match for Nelson.  Bubba held command for his third win of the season, forcing Long to settle for his third second place finish at Merced.  Ted Stofle Classic winner Phil Vaughn grabbed the final podium position as John Hensley and Austin Van Hoff rounded out the Top 5.  Reigning champion Kevin Joaquin settled for sixth in the 19 car field as Ben Lewis, Joe Salvi, Jeff Lacy and point leader Michael Shearer made up the remainder of the Top 10.  Mike Stokton returned and won his nine lap heat race ahead of Long.  Nelson outran Vaughn for a heat win, while Van Hoff got his win in front of Robbie Loquaci.

The Valley Sportsman division had their biggest turnout in over two years, and veteran Mike Friesen used it as an opportunity to collect another 20 lap Main Event victory.  Friesen won the first two championships of this division's revival in 1999 and 2000, and he had to contend with 2008 champion Mark Odgers to get this win.  Odgers was making his second start of the season in his Vern Willhoite Tribute car, and he won in his previous start.  However, Friesen would prevail this time ahead of long time Merced Speedway competitor Odgers.  Tim Prothro had another good run as he scored his third Top 3 finish in third.  Jesse James Burks made his debut in fourth ahead of point leader Kenny Birdsong in his Rod Poor Tribute car.  Jeff Amos, Shannon Fry, Sportsman division legend Jerry Cecil and newcomer Jeff West rounded out the finishing order.  Jeff Bristow was en route to this race to make it a ten car field but his tow vehicle broke down on the highway.  Birdsong won the heat race ahead of Odgers.

Chris Corder debuted yet another new car, but it ended with the same results in the Mini Stock division.  The current point leader collected his sixth feature victory in eight races.  Watsonville star D.J. Keldsen was coming off of another win at his home track and returned to Merced to see if he could make it a two win weekend.  However, Corder ran just as strong as ever in victory, forcing Keldsen to settle for second.  Tony Peffer drove his truck to a third place finish head of Jennifer Corder, second ranked Paul Lauretti, Nick Lawrence in another Corder car, Destiny Carter and Lucy Falkenberg.  C. Corder held off Falkenberg to win the heat race.

The Legends Of Kearney Bowl made another foray onto the dirt with their beautiful Super Modifieds and fit in perfectly with the theme of the night.  John Sorensen won the Main Event ahead of Tony Pereira, Mike James, Craig Yockey and Jack Heinrich.  Lisa Stumphouser was sixth ahead of Larry Nix, Phil Morandian and Wayne Klaustian.  Nix won a heat race ahead of Yockey, while Mike James won the other heat ahead of Pereira.

The night featured a visit from 1968 Sportsman champion Jerry Holzer and several other greats from the past as part of Legends Night.  Some of these past greats got behind the wheel of the Sportsman cars for a couple laps before being interviewed in front of the stands.  Among them were past champions Dennis Moomjean, Duane Noe and Jerry Cecil.  Sportsman star Rod Poor, long time promoter Chuck Griffin and legendary announcer Johnny Sass were also part of this event.  Nice trophies were awarded to the Main Event winners in all classes.  Next up for Merced Speedway will be the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks next Saturday night.  For further information, check out www.racemerced.com.



Race Results
IMCA Sport Mods
A-MAIN
1 714 Rick Diaz Los Banos
2 209 Chase Thomas Atwater
3 44 Tim Elias Los Banos
4 7J Fred Ryland Brentwood
5 O5 Mike Drake Turlock
6 17C Brian Cooper Marysville
7 00 Jerry Bartlett Yuba City
8 7 Patti Ryland Brentwood
9 10T Gary Tucker Delhi
10 22 Tanner Thomas Atwater
11 51 Nick Tucker  
12 82M Tim Ragsdale Merced
13 22M Damian Merritt Marysville
14 33G Gavin Espino Merced
15 57M Marisa Odgers Mariposa
16 58M Mike Merritt Yuba City
17 27 Dwayne Short Merced
18 10 Andy Welch Merced 19
27C Todd Cooper Yuba City

Hobby Stocks -
A-MAIN
1 63C Bruce Nelson Winton
2 911 Dexter Long Ballico
3 76K Phillip Vaughn Merced
4 86 John Hensley Denair
5 44 Austin VanHoff Chowchilla
6 97 Kevin Joaquin Sonora
7 20X Ben Lewis Stockton
8 82 Joe Salvi Modesto
9 13L Jeff Lacy  
10 67J Michael Shearer Atwater
11 02 Kyle Singleton Clovis
12 28 Cody Parker Merced
13 C29 Garrett Corn Cathey's Valley
14 7 Kodie Dean Chowchilla
15 73J Kristie Shearer Atwater
16 78 Dave Smart Clovis
17 70L Robbie Loquaci Madera
18 33 Mike Stockton Merced
19 37J Donnie Shearer Merced

VALLEY SPORTSMAN
A-MAIN Finish
1 121 Mike Friesen Atwater
2 4M Mark Odgers Mariposa
3 23 Tim Prothro Merced
4 69 Jesse James Burks Le Grand
5 25M Kenny Birdsong Merced
6 27 Jeff Amos Sonora
7 70 Shannon Fry San Jose
8 1 Jerry Cecil Merced
9 69J Jeff West  

Mini Stocks
A-MAIN
1 68 Chris Corder Modesto
2 01 DJ Keldsen Watsonville
3 4 Tony Peffer Modesto
4 13C Jennifer Corder Modesto
5 13 Paul Lauretti Aromas
6 68C Nick Lawrence Ceres
7 24 Destiny Carter Merced
8 18 Lucy Falkenberg Turlock

Legends Of Kearney Bowl Super Mods
A-MAIN
1 42 John Sorensen
2 99 Tony Pereira
3 5 MIke James
4 4 Craig Yockey
5 45 Jack Heinrich
6 61 Lisa Stumphouser
7 14 Larry Nix
8 33 Phil Moradian
9 56 Wayne Klaustin