IMCA Sport Modifieds, Hobby Stocks Headline Show At Merced S

As the warm days of summer begin, the action on the fast quarter-mile clay oval at Merced Speedway is even hotter. This Saturday night, IMCA Sport Modifieds return with a close championship battle in full swing. Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and a special Box Stock Kart race on the inside race track will also be on the card.


When 2014 IMCA Sport Modified champion Rick Diaz lost his ride in the number #9d car to speedway veteran Bobby Smith, there might have been some people writing him off. However, he came into this year intending to win a championship in honor of his fallen friend John Fore Jr., and he wasn't about to give up. Rick secured another ride to keep things going.


Last week, Diaz kept the pressure on incoming point leader Steve Stone as he finished fourth in the Main Event, but Stone was fifth. This has the makings of a championship battle that may go down to the final checkered flag of the season. Mike Drake debuted another ride in the most recent race, but unfortunately his luck didn't hold up very well. Saturday night will be an opportunity for him to turn things around.


There are several drivers in the Sport Modified division hoping to pick up their first wins, and just making the Main Event wasn't easy for everybody last week as 24 cars were there to try to qualify. To tell you how tough the competition was last week, two time Street Stock champion Tim Ragsdale had to win the B Main to get into the Main Event. Gary Tucker has driven Street Stocks and Sportsman cars at the track through the years, and he remains one of the top Sport Modified racers. After joining his son Nick Tucker as a heat race winner last time out, Gary had one of his best finishes of the year in third.


Fred Ryland might have been the driver people would have expected to win that race, but the reigning IMCA State champion settled for second behind Bakersfield visitor Levi Kiefer. The talent level is pretty deep in this division, and racers like Chris Falkenberg, reigning champion Josh Hensley, Dwayne Short, Top 5 ranked Tim Elias and Alex Odishoo are other top racers anticipated for the coming race.


Darren Miguel knew that he would have a challenge moving up from the Mini Stock division into the Hobby Stocks. He picked up a feature win last year in his limited starts, but he got his own ride this year and has found just getting a Top 5 finish a difficult task. In one of the bigger races of the year last week, The Timmy Post Memorial Race, Miguel made a charge to the front and won a three car battle for his first win of the season. He will be out to see if he can make it two in a row this week.


There is lots of buzz centered around the #70L car of Robbie Loquaci, who gave it a good run before finishing a season best second last week. People are talking about the past Chowchilla Speedway Mini Stock champion, and they're saying he is going to get a win before the season is up. Another driver you know will not likely be shut out of the win column this year is the reigning champion, Kevin Joaquin. Kevin had one of his best finishes of the year in fourth last week.


The battle in the points right now continues to be between the husband and wife team of Michael and Kristie Shearer. Unfortunately for both of them, last week was not a very good race for either of them. However, the two won heat races earlier that evening and served notice that they will continue to be major factors in the quest for victory.


The fact is, the talent pool is just as deep in the Hobby Stock division as it is in the Sport Modified division. You really do not know who will win on any given week, and other drivers who will be gunning for victory this week could include past Chowchilla Sport Modified champion Gary Hildebrand, Kodie Dean, Garrett Corn, Dexter Long, George Silva, Chris Williams and Austin Van Hoff. If the Corn name sounds familiar, it should. Garrett Corn is the son of past Chowchilla champion Nathan Corn, and his family has been racing at Merced Speedway going back to when it opened up in the 1950's.


Chris Corder continues to be the driver to beat in the Mini Stock division. Corder is the 2014 champion and only lost last year's title by a couple points to Darren Miguel. He will probably be the man to beat this week, but they are lining up behind them for that opportunity. Not the least of which are his own teammates, Joy Alger and his sister Jennifer Corder. Jennifer has won Main Events in the past in this division and is the 2014 point runner up.


Teammates James Stockton and Mike Germait are high on the list of drivers who could pick up a win this week. Other drivers to watch this week include the #13x car of Paul Lauretti, Curtis Thornhill, Tony Peffer and Jason Lewis, who is a feature winner this year. Rookie Destiny Caster is reportedly returning to action this week as well.


When it comes to getting drivers started in racing, many families choose the path of Outlaw Kart racing. Tracks near Merced for these Karts include Atwater and Chowchilla. Merced Speedway is beginning an experiment with a track cut in the infield for the Karts. California has seen some good drivers moving all the way up from the Beginners Box Stock division, including recent Wild West Series Speedweek champion Kellen Chadwick and two time reigning Petaluma Speedway champion Nick DeCarlo. We're not sure who will be showing up for this race, but they definitely have a good stage on which to perform on Saturday night.


So if you're looking for some great racing action, Merced Speedway will have you covered on Saturday night with the IMCA Sport Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and Box Stock Karts. For further information, go to www.racemerced.com


Merced Speedway


IMCA Modified

Bill Egleston 246

Randy Brown 241

Ramie Stone 240

Bruce Nelson 219

Ricky Thatcher 214


IMCA Sport Modified

Rick Diaz 256

Steve Stone 256

Josh Hensley 234

Mike Drake 232

Tim Elias 231


Hobby Stock

Michael Shearer 151

Kristie Shearer 126

Robbie Loquaci 117

Kevin Joaquin 116

Kodie Dean 112


Mini Stock

Chris Corder 89

Joy Alger 66

James Stockton 59

Paul Lauretti 59

Mike Germait 57