Ramie Stone Back With Big Win In All Star Series

Merced, CA...The All Star Modified Series ran their second race of the season with a visit to Merced Speedway on Saturday night. The track also paid tribute to Hobby Stock champion Mark Funkhouser, who passed away this week, by running a 30 lap Hobby Stock race in his memory. When the checkered flag flew, the wins were collected by Ramie Stone (All Star IMCA Modified Series), Raul Rodriguez Sr. (Hobby Stocks) and Kenny Birdsong (Valley Sportsman).


As a champion in three different divisions at Merced Speedway during the last 20 years, Ramie Stone has already racked up an impressive resume. The multi time IMCA Modified champion has struggled a bit to get things dialed in this season. However, Ramie figured it out in the All Star IMCA Modified Series race by staging one of his patented high groove efforts for the impressive victory. Past Chico champion Ryan McDaniel made Stone work for it with a close second ahead of Austin Burke. Riley Simmons finished fourth as Jeff Streeter completed the Top 5. Track point leader Bill Egleston finished sixth ahead of another past Chico champion, Duane Cleveland, multi time Merced champion Paul Stone, Nick DeCarlo and Josh Combs.


When Mark Funkhouser passed away during the week, good friend Marshall Weaver and the Funkhouser family wanted to do something special to remember him. Mark was part of the successful wave of new Hobby Stock drivers at Chowchilla Speedway in 2001 that led to the addition of the class at Merced, where he won his championship. Over $1000 in additional prize money was donated to the Hobby Stock purse, and the race was increased to 30 laps.


A multi time Hobby Stock champion himself, Raul Rodriguez Sr. got a win earlier this season, but he got it when the apparent winner was disqualified. This time out, the man they call "Showtime" Rodriguez put on a show in holding off point leader Michael Shearer for an impressive victory. Defending track champion Kevin Joaquin earned his best finish of the season in third ahead of Top 5 point competitor Dexter Long and Robbie Loquaci. John Hensley brought it home in sixth as Phil Vaughn, Austin Van Hoff, Gary Hildebrand and Kodie Dean completed the Top 10.


On the heels of his first career win in the Rod Poor Tribute #25m Valley Sportsman, Kenny Birdsong backed it up with another victory. This time, Birdsong held off Jeff Bristow to get that win. Heat race winner and two time division champion Mike Friesen finished third ahead of Eric Sealy.


Racing is off this week, but the track returns on June i8th during the Merced County Fair with IMCA Modifieds and Hobby Stocks. For further information, check the website at www.racemerced.com.