Miguel, Sawyer and Keifer Score Timmy Post Memorial Winners

Merced, CA...July 2 ...There are a few races on every track's schedule that the drivers really want to win. Merced Speedway is lucky to have a few of those on their schedule, and one very important race was brought back this year. It was the Timmy Poat Memorial Race, which remembers a member of the racing family who died in a tragic car accident on graduation night in 1999. The drivers would flock to run this race through the years until it was discontinued at the end of the 2009 season.

Promoter Ed Parker returned this race to the Merced Speedway schedule with the blessing of Tmmy's family, and it was also a night of fireworks and free admission for the fans.


There was a 34 lap Main Event for Hobby Stocks held in Timmy's honor since he would have been 34 years old this year. Rookie Darren Miguel scored his first feature win of the season in that race. Miguel was last season's Mini Stock champion. Other winners on the night came from the Bakersfield area as Robby Sawyer won the IMCA Modified 25 lap feature and Levi Keifer picked up the win in the 25 lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event.


Darren Miguel blistered the speedway last season in winning the Mini Stock championship and scoring about a dozen wins in the process. So far this year, the Hobby Stock rookie has struggled and had yet to earn a Top 5 feature finish until this big event. The night started off with the three heat race wins going to Garrett Corn, Kristie Shearer and point leader Michael Shearer. Miguel was stuck back in the ninth starting position and had to work his way to the front. When he got there, he had to battle with another driver who was hungry for victory. Robbie Loqauaci has been a Top 5 finisher this year on multiple occasions, but he really gave it a good run on this night. However, it was Miguel prevailing at the checkered flag with Loquaci a season best second. Enduro specialist Ken Winland made a surprise visit from Santa Clara and grabbed the final podium position in third. To do it, he had to charge from 14th starting, and he even managed to lead a couple laps before settling for third. Reigning track champion Kevin Joaquin grabbed his best finish of the year in fourth as speedway veteran Gary Hildebrand rounded out the Top 5. Young Cody Parker finished sixth ahead of John Hensley, Jeff Lacy in the Miami Dolphins Dan Marino tribute car, M. Shearer and his wife K. Shearer.


One of the more exciting drivers to watch in the IMCA Modified division at Bakersfield Speedway is Robbie Sawyer. It's never a boring race with the #198 car on the track. The IMCA Modified field had a solid 18 car turn out, and Sawyer was a heat race winner along with title contender Randy Brown and two time reigning Petaluma Speedway champion Nick DeCarlo. Sawyer started up near the front, and a good battle began between he, Randy Brown and third generation racer Darrell Hughes II. In the end, it was Sawyer grabbing the checkers for the feature win. Brown still finished a strong second with Hughes third ahead of fourth generation racer Ryan Porter and Harley Turner. It was not a good night for the point runners as leader Bill Egleston was a disappointing ninth and second ranked Ramie Stone ended up 14th, meaning Brown gained some points in the battle. Mike Villanueva in the Shearer Racing Team Modified drove to a sixth place finish ahead of DeCarlo, Alex Stanford, Egleston and Ricky Thatcher.


A big car count was again turned in by the IMCA Sport Modifieds with an amazing 24 cars in town to compete. The heat race wins went to reigning IMCA State champion Fred Ryland, Levi Keifer, Nick Tucker and his father Gary Tucker. Two time Street Stock champion Tim Ragdale found himself in the 12 lap B Main, but he rode the pole to victory ahead of Chase Thomas and Alex Odishoo. In the ride that had been driven by Rick Diaz to start the season, Bob Smith had a pole position start for the Main Event as G. Tucker and Levi Keifer battled early while Ryland came up from eighth starting. Keefer would get the lead as Ryland worked his way to second. As fast as Ryland is, Keifer was just a bit faster as he prevailed at the checkered flag. Ryland settled for second ahead of Gary Tucker in his best finish of the year. Losing his ride three weeks ago, Diaz has managed to secure another ride as he tries to win this championship in the name of his friend John Fore Jr., who passed away prior to the season. Diaz would finish fourth ahead of point leader Steve Stone as their close battle will continue. Tim Elias ended up sixth ahead of Bob Smith, Danny Roe, Mark Odgers and reigning champion Josh Hensley.


Racing will return next Saturday night with the IMCA Sport Modifieds holding headline status along with the Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks. The track crew has cut a smaller track in the infield and plans to run a Box Stock Kart Racing program that evening as well. For further information, go to

www.racemerced.com.