Brown, Hoff, Corder Win Merced Speedway Main EventsMerced, CA...September 16...Randy Brown won the 25 lap IMCA Modified Main Event Saturday night at Merced Speedway. This was the third win of the season for Brown, and he cliched his second straight track championship. Brown started back in ninth as D.J. Shannon set the early pace. Four time champion Ramie Stone, Derek Nance and Tim Cecil had a good early battle for second. Brown made his way up to third by lap seven, and he went to work on passing R. Stone. Brown made an inside pass on the front stretch on lap 13 to take second from Stone, and Stone headed to the pits. A low pass in Turn 1 of the 16th lap gained Brown the lead. Once he took the lead, Brown pulled away to straightaway advantage. A last lap bobble in Turn 2 didn't stop Brown as he won ahead of Shannon, Nance, Bruce "Bubba" Nelson, Mitch Enos, Mike White, Bill Egleston, Jarod Fast, Harley Turner and Cecil. Stone and Brown won nine lap heat races.
Jeremy Hoff won his first 25 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event of the season. The win enabled Hoff to move into second in the standings. Hoff started back in seventh, and front row starter Tanner Thomas set the early pace ahead of Josh Hensley. Jack Aguiar gained second on lap four restart, and he took the lead from Thomas on a lap six restart. Hoff was up to third by then, and an inside move on the front stretch of the eighth lap enabled Hoff to take the lead from Aguiar. Chris Falkenberg settled into third, and Fred Ryland passed T. Thomas for fourth on lap 11. Hoff ran strong up front, and Aguiar had his hands full with Falkenberg and Ryland right behind him. Ryland made a last lap pass on Falkenberg for third, and Hoff scored the victory ahead of Aguiar, Ryland, Falkenberg, Mark Odgers, Tim Elias, Patti Ryland, Chase Thomas, T. Thomas and Paul Espino. Aguiar and F. Ryland won nine lap heat races.
Jennifer Corder won her second 15 lap Mini Stock Main Event, but her brother Chris Corder won his third championship in the last four years with his third place feature finish. Lucy Falkenberg raced into the early lead ahead of Jason Womack and C. Corder. A low pass in turn 2 of the fourth lap gained C. Corder second from Womack as J. Corder also got by for third. A three wide battle on lap six saw J. Corder make an inside pass in Turn 1 to take the lead. The three car battle continued as Falkenberg searched high and low for a line around J. Corder. Shawn DePriest joined the battle up front. J. Corder ran a great race and brought it home to a well earned victory ahead of Falkenberg, C. Corder, DePriest, Destiny Carter, Womack, Jakob Ebersole, Brent Desaire and Karina Peffer. Womack and Falkenberg won their nine lap heat races.
Tim Vaught won the 15 lap California Sharp Mini Late Model Main Event. Tim Crews won the nine lap heat race and led most of the Main Event. Vaught ran right behind Crews and made a last lap pass for the victory. Riley Jeppesen finished third ahead of Neill Barcellos and Ian Shearer.
The season wraps up next Saturday night with the Matt & Glass Cancer Fundraiser. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds and a double point Hobby Stock race are all on the schedule. For further information, go to
www.racemerced.com.