DeVolder, Corn Win Merced Speedway County Fair Races

Merced, CA...June 7...Taking the lead on a lap 22 restart, Shane DeVolder won the 25 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event Wednesday night at Merced Speedway. DeVolder is the current IMCA State point leader, and the mid week Merced County Fair race gave him an opportunity to pay the track a visit. Young Cody Parker set the pace at the start of the Main Event ahead of Patti Ryland and Tim Elias. P. Ryland gained the lead on a lap six restart with DeVolder moving into second ahead of point leader Fred Ryland. Anthony Giuliani made his first appearance in the Top 5 on lap 13 and took third from F. Ryland on lap 15. The flying Giuliani raced past P. Ryland and DeVolder for first on lap 16, and DeVolder and F. Ryland gained second and third a lap later. Giuliani's bid for victory ended on lap 22, and DeVolder grabbed the lead. DeVolder brought it home a happy winner with F. Ryland holding off wife P. Ryland for second. Parker rebounded with a fourth place finish as Elias, Gavin Espino, B Main winner Tim Ragsdale, Chase Thomas, Rick Diaz and Jeremy Hoff rounded out the Top 10. The 27 car field ran four eight lap heat races with wins going to Giuliani, DeVolder, Hoff and Diaz. Ragsdale won the 12 lap B Main ahead of past champion Shawn Bryant and Paul Espino.

Third generation racer Garrett Corn collected his third 20 lap Hobby Stock feature win of the season. Corn followed Robbie Loquaci early on before taking the lead on a lap two restart. Corn was never able to shake Loquaci off of his rear bumper. Despite two yellow flags in the last ten laps and a spun car in the leader's path as he entered the back stretch on the final lap, Corn held on for a well earned victory. Loquaci and point leader Kodie Dean trailed closely in second and third. 2015 champion Kevin Joaquin was a strong fourth, followed by Mike Stockton, Antioch Speedway visitor Chris Bennett, Kristie Shearer, Shannon Nelson, B Main winner Austin Van Hoff and John Hensley. The 23 competitors ran three eight lap heat races with wins going to Loquaci, Donnie Shearer and Corn. Van Hoff won the 12 lap B Main ahead of D.J. Shannon and Cody Smiley.

Racing resumes on June 16th and 17th with the WCDCA Dwarf Car Nationals. This is one of the biggest Dwarf Car events anywhere on the West Coast and should have a car count approaching 60 or more. California Sharp Mini Late Models will be on the card on the 16th, while Hobby Stocks, Valley Sportsman and Super Mini Stocks will be there on the 17th. For further information, go to www.racemerced.com.

Race Results
IMCA Sport Modified
Heat 1-Anthony Giuliani, Chase Thomas, Josh Hensley. Heat 2-Jeremy Hoff, Tanner Thomas, Cody Brown. Heat 3-Shane DeVolder, Fred Ryland, Cody Parker. Heat 4-Rick Diaz, Patti Ryland, Tim Elias. B Main-Tim Ragsdale, Shawn Bryant, Paul Espino, Mark Condell, Dwayne Short. A Main-Shane DeVolder, Fred Ryland, Patti Ryland, Cody Parker, Tim Elias, Gavin Espino, Tim Ragsdale, Chase Thomas, Rick Diaz, Jeremy Hoff.

Hobby Stock
Heat 1-Robbie Loquaci, Shannon Nelson, John Hensley. Heat 2-Donnie Shearer, Chris Bennett, Kevin Joaquin. Heat 3-Garrett Corn, Kodie Dean, Michael Shearer. B Main-Austin Van Hoff, D.J. Shannon, Cody Smiley, Nick Lawrence, James Stockton. A Main-Garrett Corn, Robbie Loquaci, Kodie Dean, Kevin Joaquin, Mike Stockton, Chris Bennett, Kristie Shearer, Shannon Nelson, Austin Van Hoff, John Hensley.