Elliott, Etchison, Corn Share Merced Speedway Spotlight

Merced, CA....April 22...The Bay Cities Racing Association Midgets headlined the show Saturday night at Merced Speedway, and Cory Eliott won a good battle for the feature victory.  Third generation racer T.J. Etchison won the IMCA Sport Modified Main Event, and Garrett Corn collected the win in the Hobby Stock Main Event.

Cory Elliott won the 30 lap BCRA Midgets Main Event, but it didn't come easy.  Alex Schutte set the pace at the initial green flag ahead of 2015 BCRA Midgets champion Frank Guerini and Michael Faccinto.  Ron Dalby moved into third on lap two and  took second from Guerini on the fifth lap.  Elliott settled into third on lap 10, and a thrilling three car battle for the lead began.  The yellow flag flew on lap 17, and Dalby and Elliott slipped past Schutte for first and second on the restart.  Three laps later, Elliott found an opening and took the lead from Dalby.  Guerini took third from Schutte on lap 25 and gained second a lap later.  Elliott pulled to about a half-straightaway lead at the checkered flag as Guerini was a solid second.  Dalby settled for third ahead of Samantha Prince, Faccinto, Schutte, Terry Nichols, Tyler Dolacki, Shannon McQueen and Dan Parker.  Price, Schutte and past champion Matt Streeter won ten lap heat races.

T.J. Etchison battled Chris Falkenberg for the 25 lap IMCA Sport Modified feature victory.  Falkenberg took the Main Event lead from Tanner Thomas on a lap two restart, and Etchison settled into second on a lap three restart.  Falkenberg led until Etchison raced by on the 12th lap.  Igor Gradzuk held third, but the pressure was on as Fred Ryland moved into fourth.  Etchison managed to hold off Falkenberg for the impressive victory, while Ryland made a late pass on Gradzuk for third.  Gradzuk faded as Jared Tickel finished fourth ahead of Jeremy Hoff, Chase Thomas, Tim Elias, Patti Ryland, Chuck Weir and Paul Espino.   Gradzuk, P. Ryland and Tickel won nine lap heat races.

Garrett Corn rebounded from a terrible opening night to win the 20 lap Hobby Stock feature.  Shannon Nelson and Corn won nine lap heat races to earn front row starting spots for the Main Event.  Nelson raced into the lead on the opening lap, but Corn took the lead on a lap two restart.  Austin Van Hoff was third ahead of 2015 champion Kevin Joaquin.  Two time champion Bruce "Bubba" Nelson moved into fourth on lap four, but reigning champion Michael Shearer charged into third on lap five.  Corn was driving a great race as he led S. Nelson, but Shearer would drop S. Nelson back to third.  There was no stopping Corn as he sped home to the victory ahead of M. Shearer and S. Nelson.  Marc Key made a late move for a fourth place finish as Kodie Dean finished fifth ahead of Van Hoff, Kristie Shearer, Darren Miguel, Robbie Loquaci and Mike Stockton.

Corn, M. Shearer, S. Nelson and Key have locked in their starting spots for the Ted Stofle Classic on May 6th.  The Top 4 finishers of this Saturday's show will also qualify for the big race.  Saturday's program will also include IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Mini Stocks and Mini Late Models, making it a full night of racing that you won't want to miss.  For further in formation, go to www.racemerced.com.

Race Results
Hobby Stocks
Heat 1-Shannon Nelson, Austin Van Hoff, Mike Stockton.  Heat 2-Garrett Corn, Kevin Joaquin, Darren Miguel.  Main Event-Corn, Michael Shearer, S. Nelson, Marc Key, Kodie Dean, Van Hoff, Kristie Shearer, Miguel, Robbie Loquaci, Mike Sockton.

BCRA Midgets
Heat 1-Samantha Price, Floyd Alvis, J.R. Williams.  Heat 2-Alex Schutte, Frank Guerini, Cory Elliott.  Heat 3-Matt Streeter, Rob Dalby, Dan Parker.  Main Event-Elliott, Guerini, Dalby, Prince, Michael Faccinto, Schutte, Terry Nichols, Tyler Dolacki, Shannon McQueen, Parker.

IMCA Sport Modifieds
Heat 1-Igor Gradzuk, Chris Falkenberg, Dwayne Short.  Heat 2-Patti Ryland, T.J. Etchison, Jeremy Hoff.  Heat 3-Jared Tickel, Fred Ryland, Tanner Thomas.  Main Event-Etchison, Falkenberg, F. Ryland, Tickel, Hoff, Chase Thomas, Tim Elias, P. Ryland, Weir, Paul Espino.