Walker, Burke, Hagio Winners at Ocean Speedway

Watsonville, CA...July 8...Tyler Walker won the 30 lap Taco Bravo Sprint Car Main Event Friday night at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. The night looked like it would be Tommy Tarlton's after he won his eight lap heat race ahead of Kurt Nelson Jr. and held off Walker to claim six lap Trophy Dash honors. Jerry Bonnema won his heat race ahead of Shane Golobic. Tarlton charged into the lead at the start of the Main Event ahead of Walker and Golobic. The lead trio ran in that order for 27 laps. Walker kept it close with Tarton in traffic before a caution flag flew after 28 laps. On the restart, Walker managed to gain the lead as Tarlton fell back. Walker won ahead of Shane Golobic, Justin Sanders, Ryan Bernal, Jerry Bonnema, Brad Furr, Tarlton, Buddy Kofoid, Nelson and Jeremy Chisum.


Cody Burke won the 25 lap IMCA Modified Main Event. Burke grabbed the lead midway through the race and went on to score the victory. Andy Obertello raced into the lead at the start, but he pitted on lap sixth lap with a flat tire to hand Robert Marsh the lead on the restart. C. Burke stalked Marsh until making his pass for the lead. In the later stages of the race, Obertello made a charge back to second, but he could only chase the flying C. Burke for the second place finish. Alex Wilson finished third ahead of Austin Burke, Todd Hermasillo, Raymond Keldsen, Robert Dias, Anthony Copeland, Marsh and Kyle Bryan. A. Burke won an eight lap heat race ahead of Andy Obertello, while Wilson won his heat in front of Keldsen. Incoming point leader Bobby Hogge IV was a Main Event scratch.


Reigning IMCA Sport Modified champion Matt Hagio won the 20 lap Main Event. The night started with Chris Falkenberg holding off Donny Hampl for the first heat win and Shane DeVolder winning the second eight lapper in front of Hagio. Paul Mulder led the Main Event early before Falkenberg made his move into the lead. Hagio charged into third and took second from Mulder on lap 11. A lap 12 caution flag slowed the pace, and Hagio made his move into the lead on lap 14. Falkenberg was still running second when the last yellow flag fell on lap 15. Mulder found himself in second as Falkenberg retired from the event. Hagio led the rest of the way to win ahead of Mulder. Justin McPherson made a last lap pass to take third from DeVolder. Matt Kile finished fifth ahead of Duane Beiser, Falkenberg, Adrian DeSouza, Aaron Farell and Charlie Hunter.


David Teves won the South Bay Dwarf Car Association 20 lap Main Event. Teves held off Marty Weisler earlier in the evening to win the eight lap heat race. In the Main Event, the reigning Antioch Speedway champion and current Watsonville point leader Teves trailed past champion Nick Squartitto when the yellow flew on lap 12. Teves wasted little time taking the lead on the restart and set sail for another victory. Squatritto settled for second. M. Wesler took third from Mark Biscardi on lap 14 to finish there as Biscardi was fourth, followed by Eric Wesiler, Frankie Politelli, Kyle Jones and Joey Dale.


Two time American Stock champion Terry Campion won the 20 lap American Stock Main Event. Campion won the heat race ahead of William Kennedy. Tony Olivera led the early laps of the Main Event as Campion took second from Nick Triolo on lap seven. Campion chased Olivera before making his winning move on lap 16. Campion went on to victory, and Triolo got by Olivera for second on the last lap. Katie Briggs finished fourth, followed by George Fernandez, John Farrell, William Kennedy and Charlie Hunter.


Dennis Keldsen Jr. finally broke through to the Mini Stock Main Event winner's circle with his 20 lap victory. Keldsen started things off with a six lap heat race win over Jason Womack. Mark Fields set the early Main Event pace before surrendering the lead to Bill Beardsley. Beardsley was being stalked by Keldsen by lap seven, and Keldsen made his winning pass on lap nine. This timme, Keldsen pulled away and did not let it get away. Beardsley was passed late by Paul Laoretti for second as Fields and Womack rounded out the finishing order.