Double shot of Merced.  Just an unofficial review of last week and preview this week, if it doesn't get rained out...  

Mack, Diaz, Keldsen Win Merced Speedway Features

Merced, CA...April 1...Jesse Mack won the 25 lap IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car Main Event Saturday night at Merced Speedway.  The event was presented by Quality Scaffold and was the first appearance at the track for this particular group.  Mack is the 2015 division champion at Hanford, and he set the pace from the start ahead of Grant Duinkerken and reigning champion Blake Robertson.  Tanner Boul made a charge into second by lap five as Robertson fell back a few spots.  Boul took over second on lap seven before a yellow flag flew.  A couple more yellow flags allowed Robertson to move into third behind Boul by lap 12 as Mack continued to lead.  Robertson put the moves on Boul for second on lap 13, and he kept it close.  Despite having the reigning champion behind him, Mack sped home to an impressive victory ahead of Robertson, Boul, Duinkerken and George Tristao.  There were 17 cars in action, and Mike Stallings, Vaughn Schott and Robertson each won heat races.

Reigning two time IMCA Sport Modified champion Rick Diaz ran a patient race, and he was rewarded with a well earned 25 lap Main Event victory.  Jarred Tickel led early ahead of Chuck Weir and past Antioch champion Jeremy Hoff.  Rookie Guy Ahlwardt moved in to battle Tickel for the lead, but the battle between the two ended with a Tickel spin that collected Ahlwardt on lap 10.  Weir found himself leading 2015 State champion Fred Ryland and Diaz at that point, but he fell back a few spots on lap 14 as Ryland had the lead.  However, Diaz made his winning move on lap 18 and sped home to the victory from there.  Ryland settled for second ahead of Tim Elias, Hoff and Andrew Peckham.  Anthony Giuliani, Trevor Clymens and Weir won heat races.

Watsonville champion D.J. Keldsen came to town and won the 15 lap Mini Stock Main Event.  After holding off her brother and reigning champion Chris Corder for a heat race win, Jennifer Corder had the pole for the feature and raced into the early lead ahead of heat winner Shawn Schwartzenberger and C. Corder.  Keldsen was fourth when a lap five yellow flag flew.  Keldsen made a big move on the outside on the restart as Schwartzenberger was also working on a way around J. Corder.  J. Corder spun in Turn 3, collecting C. Corder.  Keldsen led the restart with Schwartzenberger right there with him in second.  C. Corder found his way back to third on a lap 12 restart.  Keldsen set a good pace up front and collected the victory ahead of Schwartzenberger, C. Corder, J. Corder and Andy Boydstun.

Racing continues next Saturday night when Blue Line Rentals Presents the IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Dwarf Cars and Mini Late Models.  For further information, go to www.racemerced.com.
Race Results

RaceSaver Sprints
Heat 1-Mike Stallings, George Tristao.   Heat 2-Blake Robertson, Nathan Rolfe.  Heat 3-Vaughn Schott, Jesse Mack.  Main Event-Mack, Robertson, Tanner Boul, Grant Duinkerken, Tristao, Chris Ennis, Rolfe, Matt DeMartini, Jacob Tuttle, Monty Ferreira.

IMCA Sport Modifieds
Heat 1-Chuck Weir, T.J. Etchison.   Heat 2-Anthony Giuliani, Fred Ryland.  Heat 3-Trevor Clymens, Tim Elias.  Main Event-Rick Diaz, Ryland, Elias, Jeremy Hoff, Andrew Peckham, Chase Thomas, Josh Hensley, Paul Espino, Tanner Thomas, Clymens.

Mini Stocks
Heat 1-Jennifer Corder.  Heat 2-Shawn Schwartzenberger.  Main Event-D.J. Keldsen, Schwartzenberger, Chris Corder, J. Corder, Andy Boydstun, Jason Womack, Lucy Falkenberg.



IMCA Modifieds Headline Four Division Program At Merced Speedway

Merced, CA...The IMCA Modifieds return to Merced Speedway this Saturday night, and it could be considered a tune up for the big All Star Series race that is scheduled for April 15th.  Other divisions competing this week include Hobby Stocks, SBDCA Dwarf Cars and the debut of the Mini Late Models.  The Dwarf Car race can also be considered a tune up for the big WSDCA Nationals Event on June 16th and 17th.

Last year, Randy Brown was so fast by the end of the season that he went down to Watsonville and won a race ahead of Bobby Hogge IV.  Brown is the reigning IMCA Modified champion of Merced Speedway and the driver to beat.  One of the drivers leading the charge to beat him is one of the track's most decorated champions of the past 20 years, Ramie Stone.  Ramie had multiple IMCA Modified titles as well as championships in Street Stocks and Mini Trucks.  He'll be joined this season by his brother Troy Stone.

Bruce "Bubba" Nelson has won in Hobby Stocks and Sport Modifieds, but he's setting his sights on a Modified win and a possible title run this year.  He was the top rookie last season and finished third in the standings.  Two years ago, John  MacDougall had to abandon a championship run midway through the season after his car was destroyed in a visit to Petaluma.  John has a new 2016 Evolution Chassis from the shops of Clay Daly, and he's excited about coming back to Merced Speedway.

Bill Egleston is a past division champion with two feature wins last season in a Top 5 season.  He actually tied three time Street Stock champion Ricky Thatcher for fourth in the standings.  Both drivers are anticipated this Saturday night.  Ryan Larimer is a past Hanford Sport Modified champion, and he finished as high as second in his rookie season last year.  The roster of talent in the area is impressive, and other drivers to watch for this week include Ryan Larimer, Jeff Streeter, D.J. Shannon, Jarod Fast and Harley Turner.

Michael Shearer's team of Hobby Stock cars are all very competitive.  The 2015 "Ted Stofle Classic" winner was consistent last season in winning his first division championship.  However, 2015 champion Kevin Joaquin came on very strong with two late season victories and nearly snatched that championship before settling for second.  Shearer's teammates, Kristie Shearer and Shannon Nelson, should also be in action this week.  We also can't count out 2016 Ted Stofle Classic winner Phillip Vaughn, who finished third in points last year.

The area's Hobby Stock roster is known to be in the 40's, and we will probably see at east 20 of them this week, including Top 5 2016 competitors Robbie Loquaci and Austin Van Hoff.  Hard charger Dexter Long, Garrett Corn, Kodie Dean, John Hensley, Darren Miguel, Donnie Shearer, James Stockton and Jeff Lacy are others to watch for.  The competition level in this division is probably the highest of any class at the track.  Many of the drivers on the roster are capable of winning a Main Event, and that means an exciting show any time they are there.

It's been a few seasons since the South Bay Dwarf Car Association has paid Merced Speedway an official visit, but they are in town for their lone point race visit this week.  There are some talented racers on the roster, including 2016 champion David Teves.  Teves narrowly won the championship after a battle with Nick Squatritto.  Like Teves, Squatritto has won Dwarf Car championships with SBDCA and at Antioch Speedway.  Two other past champions to watch for this week are Gene "Punky" Pires and Mark Biscardi.

Other drivers anticipated this week include Top 5 ranked Justin Yanez, Eric Weiser, Kyle Jones, William Belfeild and Marty Weisler.  The rival NCDCA is not booked this week, and that group is part of the WSDCA that will sanction the Dwarf Car Nationals race at Merced in June.  It's possible that we could see some of their racers in action.  A few stars to watch for include Ryan "Ice Chip" Winter, Buddy Olschowka, Scott Dahlgren and Jeremy Blackshere.  The Dwarf Cars put on a good show wherever they race, and this night should be no different.

The California Sharp Mini Late Models will have their first race ever this week.  Past Street Stock champion Robby Jeppeson has become the official car dealer, and his son Riley Jeppesen is one of the first four drivers on the roster.  Second generation racer Ian Shearer will also be on hand along with Timmy Vaught and Tim Crews.  We've heard there are others with cars, but we had no other names at press time.  This smaller scale Late Model class runs a 600cc motorcycle engine, and this division is growing at other tracks around the country.

Racing fans will want to be there Saturday night for IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, SBDCA Dwarf Cars and Mini Late Models.  It's going to be an exciting night of racing.  For further information, go to www.racemerced.com.