Brown, Ryland Win Third Merced Speedway Features

Merced, CA. July 16... A great turnout of over 60 cars filled the pits at Merced Speedway Saturday night for a four division program. It was a night for three time winners in the two Modified divisions as Randy Brown took a step into the IMCA Modified point lead with his third 20 lap Main Event victory, and reigning California IMCA Sport Modified champion Fred Ryland won his third Main Event. Fourth generation racer Garrett Corn held off multi time Hobby Stock champion Raul Rodriguez Sr. for his first career Main Event win, while two time Sportsman division champion Mike Friesen won their 12 Main Event.


The IMCA Modified division ran two 9 lap heat races with rookie Bruce "Bubba" Nelson winning his heat race ahead of incoming point leader Bill Egleston. Karl Rose held off Ricky Thatcher to score the win in his heat race. Past Chowchilla Speedway IMCA Modified champion Randy Brown has been on a roll lately. Brown started back in the third row and was third behind D.J. Shannon and Karl Rose on lap two. A low pass in Turn 2 of the third lap gained Brown second, and he made an inside pass in Turn 4 of the seventh lap to take the lead from Shannon. Ryan Porter, himself a three time event winner last season, gave it a good run from ninth starting. Porter grabbed second from Shannon on lap 13 and chased the flying Brown to the checkered flag for a second place finish. Mike Villanueva settled into third on lap 16 and would finish there. Past Watsonville champion Robert Marsh finished fourth ahead of Rose, Thatcher, Troy Stone, Mike Meazell, Shannon and Nelson. With both Ramie Stone and Egleston finishing outside the Top 10, Brown emerged from the evening with the point lead.


Last week, Fred Ryland gained the IMCA Sport Modified Main Event win with the disqualification of a Mark Squadrito for coming in light at the scales. Ryland started the evening off by winning his nine lap heat race ahead of Jared Tickel. Dwayne Short began a good evening with a win in his heat race ahead of Gary Tucker while Alex Odishoo won his heat race ahead of Rick Diaz. Ryland remains a force in California IMCA Sport Modified racing, but he had to earn this one. Short grabbed the lead from Odishoo early on, and Mark Odgers took third from rookie Tanner Thomas on lap six. An inside move on the front stretch on lap nine gained Odgers second from Thomas. Ryland finally made his first Top 3 appearance from 11th starting on lap 11, and a low move in Tun 4 of the 12th lap put Ryland into second. Ryland made a Turn 4 pass on Short to take the lead as point leader Diaz moved by Odgers for third on lap 15. Diaz made a lap 19 pass on Short for second, but Ryland was a straightaway in front by then. Ryland sped to his third victory ahead of Diaz. With Steve Stone suffering his second straight non finish, Diaz increased his point lead. Short still had his best finish of the season as he finished third ahead of the 2015 point runner up Odgers. Mike Drake continues to be in the title hunt aboard the George Medeiros owned car as he finished fifth, followed by defending champion Josh Hensley, G. Tucker, Odishoo, Tickel and Marysville regular Jerry Bartlett.


The Hobby Stocks ran three nine lap heat races with Phil Vaughn beginning a strong night with his heat race victory ahead of George Silva. Kristie Shearer held off Mike Stockton to prevail in her heat race, while Raul Rodriguez Sr. won the third heat race ahead of Donnie Shearer. Rodriguez was gunning for his fourth Main Event win of the year, but the surprising Garrett Corn was there to keep that from happening. The fourth generation racer Corn won a hard fought battle to grab the checkered flag ahead of Rodriguez. Rodriguez took the lead from Donnie Shearer on lap two. Corn was third on a lap four restart, and he made an inside pass in Turn 2 of the fifth lap to take second from D. Shearer. Kristie Shearer suffered mechanical problems and stalled on the track for a lap 12 yellow flag. Rodriguez led one more lap before a high move in Turn 2 put Corn into the lead. Corn sped to his first Hobby Stock win with Rodriguez an apparent second. Unfortunately for Rodriguez, he was disqualified in tech for having an illegal rim. This moved point leader Michael Shearer into second and Vaughn into the final podium position. With Michael's wife Kristie Shearer failing to finish, he will add more points to his lead in the championship battle. Reigning track champion Kevin Joaquin finished fourth as D. Shearer rounded out the Top 5. Stockton placed sixth ahead of Robbie Loquaci, Kodie Dean, Cody Parker and Darren Miguel.


In the popular Valley Sportsman division, title hopeful Jeff Bristow battled Mike Friesen to score the win in the heat race. That was the last time Friesen would settle for second. Coming off a runner up finish in the previous Main Event, the two time champion Friesen impressed with his first win of the season. Bristow led two laps before Friesen used a low pass in Turn 3 of the third lap to take over. Contact between point leader Kenny Birdsong and Bristow saw Bristow spin in Turn 1, and his race was over. After rearend problems sidelined him for a few races, Tim Prothro rebounded in a big way. Prothro was second on the restart and challenged Friesen the rest of the way. However, Friesen grabbed his first win with Prothro a close second ahead of Birdsong. Watsonville Speedway Sportsman division legend Jerry Cecil finished fourth ahead of rookie Shannon Fry, Bristow and Jeff Amos.


When racing resumes next weekend, the IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sport Modifieds will be back in action along with the Mini Stocks and a Kart event on the smaller track in the infield. The track then takes two weeks off before coming back for Legend's Night on August 13th. For further information, go to www.racemerced.com.


Race Results

Hobby Stocks

Heat Winners-Phil Vaughn, Kristie Shearer, Raul Rodriguez Sr. Main Event-Garrett Corn, Michael Shearer, Vaughn, Kevin Joaquin, Donnie Shearer, Mike Stockton, Robbie Loquaci, Kodie Dean, Cody Parker, Darren Miguel


IMCA Modifieds

Heat Winners-Bruce Nelson, Karl Rose. Main Event-Randy Brown, Ryan Porter, Mike Villanueva, Robert Marsh, Karl Rose, Ricky Thatcher, Troy Stone, Mike Meazel, D.J. Shanon, Nelson.


Valley Sportsman

Heat Winner-Jeff Bristow. Main Event-Mike Friesen, Tim Prothro, Kenny Birdsong, Jerry Cecil, Shannon Frye, Bristow, Jeff Amos.


IMCA Sport Modifieds


Heat Winners-Dwayne Short, Fred Ryland, Alex Odishoo. Main Event-Ryland, Rick Dias, Dwayne Short, Mark Odgers, Mike Drake, Josh Hensley, Gary Tucker, Odishoo, Jared Tickel, Jerry Bartlett.I'm unofficial, just trying to help get the word out for the track...

Brown, Ryland Win Third Merced Speedway Features

Merced, CA. July 16... A great turnout of over 60 cars filled the pits at Merced Speedway Saturday night for a four division program. It was a night for three time winners in the two Modified divisions as Randy Brown took a step into the IMCA Modified point lead with his third 20 lap Main Event victory, and reigning California IMCA Sport Modified champion Fred Ryland won his third Main Event. Fourth generation racer Garrett Corn held off multi time Hobby Stock champion Raul Rodriguez Sr. for his first career Main Event win, while two time Sportsman division champion Mike Friesen won their 12 Main Event.


The IMCA Modified division ran two 9 lap heat races with rookie Bruce "Bubba" Nelson winning his heat race ahead of incoming point leader Bill Egleston. Karl Rose held off Ricky Thatcher to score the win in his heat race. Past Chowchilla Speedway IMCA Modified champion Randy Brown has been on a roll lately. Brown started back in the third row and was third behind D.J. Shannon and Karl Rose on lap two. A low pass in Turn 2 of the third lap gained Brown second, and he made an inside pass in Turn 4 of the seventh lap to take the lead from Shannon. Ryan Porter, himself a three time event winner last season, gave it a good run from ninth starting. Porter grabbed second from Shannon on lap 13 and chased the flying Brown to the checkered flag for a second place finish. Mike Villanueva settled into third on lap 16 and would finish there. Past Watsonville champion Robert Marsh finished fourth ahead of Rose, Thatcher, Troy Stone, Mike Meazell, Shannon and Nelson. With both Ramie Stone and Egleston finishing outside the Top 10, Brown emerged from the evening with the point lead.


Last week, Fred Ryland gained the IMCA Sport Modified Main Event win with the disqualification of a Mark Squadrito for coming in light at the scales. Ryland started the evening off by winning his nine lap heat race ahead of Jared Tickel. Dwayne Short began a good evening with a win in his heat race ahead of Gary Tucker while Alex Odishoo won his heat race ahead of Rick Diaz. Ryland remains a force in California IMCA Sport Modified racing, but he had to earn this one. Short grabbed the lead from Odishoo early on, and Mark Odgers took third from rookie Tanner Thomas on lap six. An inside move on the front stretch on lap nine gained Odgers second from Thomas. Ryland finally made his first Top 3 appearance from 11th starting on lap 11, and a low move in Tun 4 of the 12th lap put Ryland into second. Ryland made a Turn 4 pass on Short to take the lead as point leader Diaz moved by Odgers for third on lap 15. Diaz made a lap 19 pass on Short for second, but Ryland was a straightaway in front by then. Ryland sped to his third victory ahead of Diaz. With Steve Stone suffering his second straight non finish, Diaz increased his point lead. Short still had his best finish of the season as he finished third ahead of the 2015 point runner up Odgers. Mike Drake continues to be in the title hunt aboard the George Medeiros owned car as he finished fifth, followed by defending champion Josh Hensley, G. Tucker, Odishoo, Tickel and Marysville regular Jerry Bartlett.


The Hobby Stocks ran three nine lap heat races with Phil Vaughn beginning a strong night with his heat race victory ahead of George Silva. Kristie Shearer held off Mike Stockton to prevail in her heat race, while Raul Rodriguez Sr. won the third heat race ahead of Donnie Shearer. Rodriguez was gunning for his fourth Main Event win of the year, but the surprising Garrett Corn was there to keep that from happening. The fourth generation racer Corn won a hard fought battle to grab the checkered flag ahead of Rodriguez. Rodriguez took the lead from Donnie Shearer on lap two. Corn was third on a lap four restart, and he made an inside pass in Turn 2 of the fifth lap to take second from D. Shearer. Kristie Shearer suffered mechanical problems and stalled on the track for a lap 12 yellow flag. Rodriguez led one more lap before a high move in Turn 2 put Corn into the lead. Corn sped to his first Hobby Stock win with Rodriguez an apparent second. Unfortunately for Rodriguez, he was disqualified in tech for having an illegal rim. This moved point leader Michael Shearer into second and Vaughn into the final podium position. With Michael's wife Kristie Shearer failing to finish, he will add more points to his lead in the championship battle. Reigning track champion Kevin Joaquin finished fourth as D. Shearer rounded out the Top 5. Stockton placed sixth ahead of Robbie Loquaci, Kodie Dean, Cody Parker and Darren Miguel.


In the popular Valley Sportsman division, title hopeful Jeff Bristow battled Mike Friesen to score the win in the heat race. That was the last time Friesen would settle for second. Coming off a runner up finish in the previous Main Event, the two time champion Friesen impressed with his first win of the season. Bristow led two laps before Friesen used a low pass in Turn 3 of the third lap to take over. Contact between point leader Kenny Birdsong and Bristow saw Bristow spin in Turn 1, and his race was over. After rearend problems sidelined him for a few races, Tim Prothro rebounded in a big way. Prothro was second on the restart and challenged Friesen the rest of the way. However, Friesen grabbed his first win with Prothro a close second ahead of Birdsong. Watsonville Speedway Sportsman division legend Jerry Cecil finished fourth ahead of rookie Shannon Fry, Bristow and Jeff Amos.


When racing resumes next weekend, the IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sport Modifieds will be back in action along with the Mini Stocks and a Kart event on the smaller track in the infield. The track then takes two weeks off before coming back for Legend's Night on August 13th. For further information, go to www.racemerced.com.


Race Results

Hobby Stocks

Heat Winners-Phil Vaughn, Kristie Shearer, Raul Rodriguez Sr. Main Event-Garrett Corn, Michael Shearer, Vaughn, Kevin Joaquin, Donnie Shearer, Mike Stockton, Robbie Loquaci, Kodie Dean, Cody Parker, Darren Miguel


IMCA Modifieds

Heat Winners-Bruce Nelson, Karl Rose. Main Event-Randy Brown, Ryan Porter, Mike Villanueva, Robert Marsh, Karl Rose, Ricky Thatcher, Troy Stone, Mike Meazel, D.J. Shanon, Nelson.


Valley Sportsman

Heat Winner-Jeff Bristow. Main Event-Mike Friesen, Tim Prothro, Kenny Birdsong, Mike Cecil, Shannon Frye, Bristow, Jeff Amos.


IMCA Sport Modifieds


Heat Winners-Dwayne Short, Fred Ryland, Alex Odishoo. Main Event-Ryland, Rick Dias, Dwayne Short, Mark Odgers, Mike Drake, Josh Hensley, Gary Tucker, Odishoo, Jared Tickel, Jerry Bartlett.