Kenny Schrader Night At Merced Speedway This Saturday

Merced, CA...Saturday night is another special night of racing at Merced Speedway. NASCAR star Kenny Schrader will be in town to do battle with the local IMCA Modified competitors. Also on the card will be Mini Stocks, California Sharp Mini Late Models and a special visit from the 600 Micros.

Since stepping away from full-time racing on the NASCAR Cup circuit, Kenny Schrader has kept himself busy racing against some of the best local drivers at various venues across the United States. On Saturday night, he'll be coming to Merced Speedway. Racing on dirt is a passion for Schrader, and he enjoys going from town to town and visiting different race tracks.

When he gets there, Schrader will find the competition to be pretty tough. Darrell Hughes II maintains his point lead after winning his first Main Event in the Timmy Post Memorial last week. Darrell also leads the division with five Top 5 finishes in 10 starts, giving him a four-point advantage over multi-time track champion and two-time feature winner Paul Stone. Only seven points behind and quietly hanging in the race is Brian Pearce. Pearce has 3 Top 5 finishes and is due for a win.

Ramie Stone has won four championships in the IMCA Modifieds through the years and knows a thing or two about point racing. Stone counts himself as a one-time winner this year and he is tied with Ryan Porter for fourth in the standings, 22 points behind Pearce. Porter, Jeff Streeter, Troy Stone, Derek Nance and Justin Villanueva will be other drivers to watch this week in the battle for victory.

It's been a few weeks since we've seen them, but the Mini Stock class is putting up impressive numbers in what has been their best season so far. The consistent Jennifer Corder is one of three drivers with three Top 5 finishes in five starts. All three drivers in the Top 3 in the standings have three Top 5 finishes as Corder leads Allen Neal by six points and Lee Ragsdale by 12 tallies. Robert Jackson is actually a two-time winner with four Top 5 finishes, but his absence from one race leaves him 27 points out of the lead.

Chris Corder missed one Main Event due to mechanical issues and fell out early in another one. Though the three-time reigning champion is also a three-time winner this year, he trails his sister by 37 points. There are several hungry drivers just looking for their first wins this year, and other drivers to watch for this week include Bryant Desaire, Tyler Jackson, Jennifer Rodgers, Abigail Kennedy and hard charger Lucy Falkenberg.

The California Sharp Mini Late Model division continues to have a good battle for the championship. Tim Crews won his second Main Event of the season last week to build a nine point advantage over one time winner Riley Jeppesen. Carson Guthrie is only 12 points out of a lead in third. Three-time winner Jesse Burks finds himself trailing fourth place competitor Ian Shearer by 26 points in the standings as he has scratched from two Main Events so far this year.

Not a lot is known about what competitors will be out there in the 600 Micro Sprint class, but it is known that there are several drivers in the area just looking to go racing on a bigger track like Merced Speedway. It should be an exciting night of racing with this four division lineup. For further information, go to www.racemerced.com.


Hughes, Thomas, Dean Win Timmy Post Memorial Races

Merced, CA...June 30...Point leader Darrell Hughes II scored his first 30 lap IMCA Modified Main Event win of the season Saturday night at Merced  speedway. It was the annual Timmy post Memorial race, and the night also included a memorial lap for promoter Ed Parker, who passed away during the one break after suffering a heart attack. The event included a big fireworks show and offered free admission to the fans. Making that possible was the sponsorship of Margie Mejia.

Hughes had a second row start for the Main Event, and he battled pole sitter Ryan Porter early on. However, both Hughes and Paul Stone managed to get around Porter. Hughes held Stone off in the remaining laps for the $1,000 payday. Porter settled for third, followed by Troy Foulger, Kellen Chadwick, Brian Pearce, Troy Stone, Ramie Stone, Derek Nance and Jarod Fast. The 20 car field ran four eight lap heat races with wins being recorded by Jeff Streeter, Justin Villanueva, Paul Stone and Darrell Hughes II.

Tanner Thomas outdueled Jeremy Hoff to win his third 30 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event. Thomas had a pole position start and would charge into the lead. However, Hoff was pressuring Hughes hard for the lead before finally making a pass in Turn 2. Unfortunately, a Turn 4 crash forced a yellow flag and negated the pass as there is no racing to the yellow flag. Thomas was put back into the lead and held off the persistent Hoff for a hard-fought victory. Nick Tucker made his season debut in third, followed by Danny Roe, Andrew Peckham, Bruce Nelson, Mark Odgers, Tim Elias, TJ Etchison and Jatrod Mounce. Etchison won the 15 lap B Main ahead of Chase Thomas and Todd Burk. Roe, Nelson, Hoff, Tanner Thomas and Chris Falkenberg won the eight lap heat races as 26 drivers competed.

Point leader Kodie Dean won his sixth 30 lap Hobby Stock Main Event. Dean chased Dexter Long for two laps before taking the lead on a lap three restart. Three time Watsonville champion Billy Nelson raced underneath Long in Turn 4 of the third lap moments before Long spun for a caution flag. For 27 laps, Dean repelled the advances of Nelson for the well earned victory. Robbie Loquaci finished third, followed by Cody Smiley, Kalob Shelton, James Stockton, John Hensley, Kristie Shearer, Long and Josh Hensley. There were three eight lap heat races with wins going to Long, Smiley and Shannon Nelson.

Tim Crews won his second 15 lap California Sharp Mini Late Model Main Event. The point leader also won the eight lap heat race and led every lap of the feature race in victory. Carson Guthrie settled for second, followed by Riley Jeppesen and Ian Shearer. Three-time winner Jesse James Burks was a Main Event scratch.

Next Saturday night is Ken Schrader Night, presented by VH Fresh. NASCAR star Ken Schrader will be strapping into an IMCA Modified to race with the locals. Also on the card will be the Winged 600 Micros and the Mini Stocks. For further information, go to www.racemerced.com.


Merced Speedway Unofficial Race Results June 30, 2018
IMCA Modifieds
Darrell Hughes II
Paul Stone
Ryan Porter
Troy Foulger
Kellen Chadwick
Brian Pearce
Troy Stone
Ramie Stone
Derek Nance
Jarod Fast
Tim Cecil
Justin Villaneuva
Randy Brewer
Bob Williamson
Ricky Thatcher
Ryan Larimer
Jeff Streeter
John Osgood III
John Pierce
Vincent DePalma DNS

IMCA Sport Modifieds
A Main
Tanner Thomas
Jeremy Hoff
Nick Tucker
Danny Roe
Andrew Peckham
Bruce Nelson
Mark Odgers
Tim Elias
T.J. Etchinson III
Jarrod Mounce
Chase Thomas
Andrew Odgers
Richard Ragsdale
Cody Parker
Chris Falkenberg
Todd Burk
Chuck Weir
Joe Salvi
Charlie Hunter
Travis Slayter
Mark Squadrito
Dale Grissom

B Main
T.J. Etchinson III
Chase Thomas
Todd Burk
Jarrod Mounce
Andrew Odgers
Travis Slayter
Joe Salvi
Tony Hornyack
Tony Peffer
Jason Womack
Mark Condell DNS

Hobby Stocks
Kodie Dean
Billy Nelson
Robbie Loquaci
Cody Smiley
Kalob Shelton
James Stockton
John Hensley
Kristie Shearer
Dexter Long
Josh Hensley
Shannon Nelson
Michael Shearer
Austin Van Hoff
Jill Merlan
Nick Lawrence
Race Shelton
Donnie Shearer Jr
Steven Rodgers DNS
George Silva DNS
Steven Torres DNS

California Sharp Mini Late Models
Tim Crews
Carson Guthrie
Riley Jeppesen
Ian Shearer
Jesse Burks DNS