Brown, Tucker, Joaquin, Win Matt Van Hoecke Memorial
Features At Merced Speedway

Merced CA...September 24...Saturday night was a special night of racing at Merced Speedway.  It was an event that was booked to remember long time speedway supporter Matt Van Hoecke, who lost a heroic fight with Cancer.  The event was also used to help raise funds to fight Cancer, and Promoter Ed Parker pledged that $1 for every ticket sold would be donated to the cause.  On top of that, it was the opportunity for the track to crown three more champions in Michael Shearer (Hobby Stocks), Rick Diaz (IMCA Sport Modifieds and Randy Brown (IMCA Modifieds).  Brown left little doubt who was the champion when he won his second 30 Lap IMCA Modified Main Event of the weekend.  Other 30 lap wins went to fisrt time 2016 winners Gary Tucker (IMCA Sport Modifieds) and Kevin Joaquin (Hobby Stocks).

IMCA super star Randy Brown has been on such a roll lately that he hasn't finished outside the Top 3 in his last eight Merced starts. Feeling good about the way his car has been running, he went to Watsonville on Friday night to tune up for this coming week's Pat Pettit Memorial Shoot Out.  He outdueled that track's champion, Bobby Hogge IV, for an impressive victory.  When you're a champion, you want to know that you've beat the best.  Saturday night, it was the track's most decorated champion over the last two decades, Ramie Stone, providing the pressure.  However, Brown was not about to let this one get away from him as he drove another brilliant race for his fifth victory.  Stone settled for his best finish in recent starts with a strong second place effort.  Coming off of his winning performance last week, 2012 champion Bill Egleston finished third ahead of Ricky Thatcher and "Rookie Of The Year" Bruce Nelson, Harley Turner brought it home in sixth, followed by Ryan Larimer, Jarod Fast, Steve Streeter and his son Jeff Streeter.  Nelson grabbed a nine lap heat race win ahead of D.J. Shannon, while Ramie's brother Troy Stone won his first heat race of the year ahead of Turner.

A veteran of several divisions at Merced Speedway, IMCA Sport Modified star Gary Tucker still had a shot at second in the points, and he was also hoping to get his first win of the season.  As is the case most of the time this season, to get a win you have to get through Rick Diaz.  Diaz had already clinched the championship after last week, but he was in the hunt for another win.  This time, however, Tucker was there to score a well earned victory.  Diaz settled for second ahead of strong efforts by both Dwayne Short and past Pure Stock champion Andy Welch in third and fourth, respectively.   Chase Thomas wrapped up a Top 10 point season with one of his best finishes in fifth, followed by past Mini Stock champion Marisa Odgers.  With his seventh place finish, Mike Drake protected his runnerup point season in the George Medeiros car.  Tanner Thomas, Shane DeVolder and 2015 champion Josh Hensley completed the Top 10.  Diaz won a nine lap heat race ahead of Steve Stone, while Tim Elias got a heat win in front Welch.  Top 10 ranked C. Thomas outran Short to win his heat race.

Kevin Joaquin was definitely hitting his stride as the season came to a close.  The 2015 Hobby Stock champion made a late move up the point ladder into second, but he needed a strong effort on double point night to make it stick.  After winning his heat race ahead of Kodie Dean, Joaquin got a front row start for the Main Event.  After nine wins on the circuit last year, Kevin was without a win to this point of the season.  Coming off of back to back second place finishes, he was definitely showing signs that his time was coming.  Dexter Long had a win back in early August and was making a strong bid to do it again.  However, Joaquin stayed smooth and forced Long to settle for his third runnerup finish.  Shannon Nelson enjoyed her best finish of her brief season in third.  Ted Stofle Classic winner Phil Vaughn finished fourth ahead of Donnie Shearer, John Hensley, Austin Van Hoff, Bruce Nelson and Garrett Corn.  Dell Humbert was a star of Street Stock racing in the 1980's, and he was given the ride in the Mike Stockton owned car to race in memory of his brother in law, Matt Van Hoecke.  He finished tenth.  Van Hoff won his heat race ahead of Stockton.  Corn won his heat in front of Long.  Michael Shearer had already clinched the championship prior to the night.

On October 15th, the track will hold the John Fore Jr. Memorial Race, which is being billed as the biggest Sport Modified event in California at $1500 to win.  Hobby Stocks are also running a special race as part of the program.  For further information, go to www.racemerced.com.