Egleston, Ryland Return To Merced Speedway Winner's Circle

Merced, CA...September 17...On Gary Brown Memorial Youth Appreciation Night last Satuday night at Merced Speeday, children 12 and under got treated to a free night of racing.  They watched as Bill Egleston returned to the winner's circle in the 25 lap IMCA Modified Main Event.  Reigning IMCA State Sport Modified champion Fred Ryland won the that division's Main Event, while Chris Corder wrapped up an impressive Mini Stock championship season with his seventh victory.  2008 Sportsman champion Mark Odgers returned to action and won the 15 lap Main Event in that division.

A good field of 18 IMCA Modifieds came to compete on the fast quarter-mile clay oval.  Ryan Larimer started things off with a nine lap heat race win ahead of fellow rookie D.J. Shannon, who was only getting warmed up.  Bill Egleston gave people of a glimpse of what was to come with his heat race win ahead of one time feature winner Mike Villaneuva.  Point leader Randy Brown held off Late Model veteran Derek Nance to win his heat race.  Brown has been on a bit of a roll lately with four wins and three of his four second place finishes in the previous seven Main Events.  Again, Brown was in the hunt.  Meanwhile, second generation racer D.J. Shannon was making his father Chris proud as he contended for his first career feature victory.  However, 2012 champion Egleston was on a mission to get his fist victory since the third race of the season, and he was not about to be denied.  Egleston held off Shannon for the well earned victory.  Brown took another step closer to his second career championship with his third place finish.  Villanueva held off a pair of champions in Jim Pettit II and Ramie Stone for a fourth place finish.  Nance settled for seventh ahead of likely "Rookie Of The Year" Bruce Nelson, Harley Turner and Larimer.

Not to be outdone, the IMCA Sport Modified division checked in with a strong field of 19 cars.  Fred Ryland started his night off strong with a nine lap heat race win ahead of Mark Squardrito.  Veteran Gary Tucker won his heat ahead of past Pure Stock champion Andy Welch.  Rising teen star Tanner Thomas won his first career heat race and beat point leader Rick Diaz to do it.  Diaz knew he could clinch his second track championship in three seasons, but he was hungry for his seventh feature win of the season.  As fast as he was running, however, F. Ryland was just a little bit faster.  Despite missing three races, Ryland is closing in on fifth in the standings, and his fourth Main Event win of the season will gain him a few points in that effort.  Diaz is the 2016 champion following his third runnerup feature finish, and second generation racer Tanner Thomas gave his father Darren something to be proud of with his career best third place finish.  Dwarf Car graduate Chuck Weir finished fourth as Josh Hensley had one of his best finishes in fifth.  Tucker, Welch, Paul Espino, second ranked Mike Drake and Patti Ryland completed the Top 10 at the checkered flag of the 20 lap race.

The Mini Stocks wrapped up their season with a car count that needed two heat races.  Paul Lauretti held off point leader Chris Corder to win his heat as Erik Moody made his first visit and won the second heat ahead of the truck of Tony Peffer.  Lauretti was hoping to complete his second place point season with his first feature win.  Unfotuantely, there aren't too many racers who can beat Chris Corder when he's running strong.  Corder drove to his seventh Main Event win and hurt his motor in the process.  Lauretti was a season best second ahead of another great effort by second generation racer Lucy Falkenberg in third.  Rookie Destiny Carter held on to her third place point status in the Corder Racing entry by finishing fourth in the 20 lap Main Event ahead of Peffer, Moody, Curtis Thornhill, Jason Womack and Tony Miranda.

2008 Sportsman champion Mark Odgers only runs selected races in his Vern Willhoite tribute car, but he is fast when he's there.  Odgers held off new champion Kenny Birdsong to win the eight lap heat race.  Odgers continued that mementum by scoring his second Main Event win of the season to leap into fifth in the final standings.  Jeff Bristow had his third second place feature finish ahead of Birdsong, two time division champion Mike Friesen and Shannon Fry.

Point racing concludes this Saturday night with the special Matt and Glass Fight Against Cancer: Matt Van Hoecke Memorial race.  It's Championship Night for the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds and Hobby Stocks and the Hobby Stocks will run for double points.  For further information, go to www.racemerced.com.