Merced Speedway 2017 Schedule Released

Merced, CA...Merced Speedway is about ready to kick off a new season of exciting auto racing.  In his second year as promoter of the 67 year old racing facility at the Merced County Fairgrounds, Ed Parker has put together an excellent schedule that runs from March through the first week of October.

After back to back playdays to get the cars tuned up on March 11 and 18, the green flag flies over the season on March 25 with the core four divisions on the schedule, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks.  The Valley Sportsman division will again make several appearances as it begins the 19th season of it's "Modern Era" run.  The track has also added the 600cc engine Mini Late Models.  But Sportsmans and Mini Late Models aren't the only classes giving the fans more variety.

For starters, Merced Speedway has landed a pair of dates for the IMCA 305 RaceSaver Sprint Cars on April 1 and July 8.  The class is quickly growing into a power house in Hanford and Tulare with 18-20 cars showing up when they are competing there.  Open wheel fans can also take delight in the fact that the over 70 year old BCRA will be in town on multiple occasions.  The BCRA Midgets will race on April 22, while the BCRA Midget Lites make appearances on May 13 and August 12.  The young guns of the USAC Midet2 division visit on May 13 and August 26.  There is also an AMA Flat Track Motorcycle event on June 24.

The week before the Motorcycles come to town, on June 16-17, there will be a WCDCA Dwarf Car Nationals Event.  Mini Late Models join them on Friday, while Hobby Stocks, Sportsmans and the lone Super 4 appearance will be a part of the Saturday night show.  You want big dates that are part of Merced Speedway tradition?  Parker has it covered once again.  This starts on April 15 with the core four classes, headlined by a big All Star IMCA Modified Series race.

The Ted Stofle Classic is back in May 6 to honor future Hall Of Famer Ted Stofle.  This race will feature IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds and a double point Hobby Stock race.  The Timmy Post Memorial Race opens July in a big way on the 1st with IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds and Hobby Stocks.  Legend's Night is back on August 12 with the Sportsman division running for double points.  Legends Of Kearney Bowl Super Modifieds, BCRA Midget Lites and Hobby Stocks are also part of the big event.  This follows a dark night on August 5 to allow Merced racers to support the Mike Cecil Memorial Race at Watsonville that night.

Merced Speedway icon Matt Von Hoecke is remembered again with the Matt & Glass Cancer Fund Raiser season finale on September 23rd, featuring IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds and a double point race for Hobby Stocks.  The track goes dark September 30th to support Watsonville's Pat Pettit Memorial Shoot Out, but it comes back one more time on October 7th with the John Fore Jr. Memorial Race for Sport Modifieds and Hobby Stocks.  It is an exciting season that offers something for everybody.

Pre Season Pit Stops

The two playdays would have to be considered a success.  Drivers from all divisions took advantage of the chance to practice on the Tim Ragdsdale prepared quarter-mile clay oval.  With the IMCA Modified season opener set for this Saturday, brothers Ramie Stone and Troy Stone made some good laps together last week. Troy has been away for a few seasons, but he looked like he hadn't missed a week.  Ramie is coming off of second in points last season and is a multi time champion in the class.  In fact, he's won championships in three different divisions.  He'll be gunning for defending champion Randy Brown this season.

The Hobby Stock's two biggest stars of the past few seasons, Michael Shearer and Kevin Joaquin, are back this year.  Joaquin was looking fast last week and had a co pilot, Chris Falkenberg, with him shooting a live video feed at practice.  Joaquin barely lost the championship battle last season to Shearer, but he won both the Merced and Chowchilla titles the year before.  There were several Hobby Stocks making laps, including some new drivers.

Chris Corder continues to make headlines not just for winning three Mini Stock tiles in the last three seasons, but because of his sportsmanship.  Chris is maintaining four cars this year.  In addition to his new car, he's helping get his sister Jennifer back up to speed.  There's also teen racers Destiny Carter and Zoe Sandoval.  Carter finished third in her rookie season, and Sandoval is just getting started.  The Keldsen family is three generations strong at Watsonville Speedway, and young Cody Keldsen made his first laps in the D.J. Keldsen Watsonville championship car.  Second generation racer Devin Belton made his first laps in a Mini Truck.  His father Jason Belton is a past Sportsman driver at the track.

The California Sharp Mini Late Models don't get to race until April 8th, but several of the drivers made some good laps as they attempt to establish this new 600cc motorcycle engine class.  It's a scaled down version of a Late Model, and young drivers Riley Jeppesen and Ian Shearer are making their debuts on the big track.  Chuck Crews and Timmy Vaught have a bit more experience and were looking fast.  Past Merced Street Stock champion Robby Jeppesen has climbed aboard as the car dealer in California, and the hope is that this class will grow at Merced as well as some of the Micro Sprint tracks in the state.

Racing kicks off this Saturday with a West Coast IMCA Sport Modified race along with IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks.  Reigning champions this year include Randy Brown (IMCA Modifieds), Rick Diaz (IMCA Sport Modifieds), Michael Shearer (Hobby Stocks), Chris Corder (Mini Stocks) and Kenny Birdsong (Valley Sportsman).  For more information, go to www.racemerced.com.

2017 Merced Speedway Schedule            

March 25 - IMCA Mod, IMCA SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks
April 1 - RaceSaver Winged Sprints, IMCA Sport Mods, Valley Sportsman, Mini Stocks
April 8  IMCA Mods, Hobby Stocks, Dwarf Cars, Mini Late Models
April 15 - IMCA All Star Mods, IMCA SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks
April 22 - BCRA Midgets, IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Valley Sportsman
April 29 - IMCA Mods, IMCA Sport Mods, Mini Stocks, Mini Late Models
May 6 - "Ted Stofle Classic" IMCA Mods, IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks (Double Points Hobby Stocks)
May 13 - BCRA Midget Lites, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks, Mini Late Models
May 20 - IMCA Mods, IMCA Sport Mods, Mini Stocks, Valley Sportsman
May 27 - No Races In Observance Of Memorial Day
June 3 - No Races Due To Fair Prep
June 7 - Wednesday - "Merced County Fair" IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks
June 10 - No Races Due To Fair
June 16 - Friday - "Dwarf Car Nationals" Dwarf Cars, Mini Late Models
June 17 - "Dwarf Car Nationals" Dwarf Cars, Hobby Stocks, Super 4 Bangers, Valley Sportsman
June 24 - AMA Flat Track Motorcycles
July 1 "Timmy Post Memorial" IMCA Mods, IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks
July 8 - RaceSaver Winged Sprints, IMCA Mods, Mini Stocks, JR Box Stock Go Karts
July 15 - IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Valley Sportsman, Mini Late Models
July 22 - IMCA Mods, IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks (Double Points Mini Stocks)
July 29 - No Races Summer Break
August 5 - No Races Summer Break
August 12 - "Legends Of Merced Speedway" Valley Sportsman, Legends Of Kearney Bowl, BCRA Midget Lites, Hobby Stocks (Double Points Sportsman)
August 19 - IMCA Mods, IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks
August 26 - IMCA Mods, IMCA Sport Mods, Mini Stocks, Valley Sportsman
September 2 - Dark In Observance Of Labor Day
September 9 - Dark For Boone Super Nationals
September 16 - IMCA Mods, IMCA Sport Mods, Mini Stocks, Mini Late Model (Double Points Mini Stocks)
September 23 - "Matt & Glass Cancer Fund Raiser" IMCA Mods, IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks (Double Points Hobby Stocks)
October 7 - "John Fore Jr. Sport Mod Nationals" Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks (50 Lap Feature For Sport Mods)
October 21 - 2nd Annual Golden Valley FFA Tractor Pulls