Sanders Wins 33rd Annual Pombo/Sargent Classic At Ocean Spee

Watsonville, CA...June 22...Justin Sanders won the 33rd running of the Pombo/Sargent Classic Friday night at Ocean Speedway. This King of the West/NARC Sprint Car Series event pays tribute to San Jose Speedway Hall of Fame racers Marshall Sargent and Al Pombo. Sanders becomes the fifth different winner in the eight Series races held so far.

Australian Jamie Cobby teamed up with car owner or Ted Finkenbinder for the first time in about 25 years and earned the pole with his victory in the six lap Trophy Dash. Cobby charged into the lead at the start of the 30 lap race. Cobby led the way throughout the first half of the race, but Sanders was giving him pressure as they caught traffic on lap 14. Contact sent Cobby spinning in Turn 2, and reigning Series champion Bud Kaeding was collected in the incident. The race was over for both drivers as Sanders led Colby Copeland and point leader Kyle Hirst on the restart. Copeland began to pressure Sanders in the waning laps, but he did a complete 360 in Turn 4 on lap 27. He kept going, but the caution flag flew anyway. Sanders led to a pair of late-race restarts to collect the win ahead of Hirst. Shane Golobic came from 12th starting to finish third, followed by Chase Johnson, DJ. Netto, Matthew Moles, Willie Croft, Jeremy Chisum, Copeland and Billy Aton.

A good field of 26 Sprinters came to compete, and Hirst set the fast time of 11.502 on the Tom Sagmiller prepared quarter-mile clay oval. Kaeding was a close second at 11.505. Cobby earned the pole for the feature with his six lap Trophy Dash win ahead of Sanders. Ten lap heat race wins were earned by Hirst, Copeland and Sanders. Chisum won the 15 lap B Main ahead of Aton and Taco Bravo Sprint Car point leader Koen Shaw.

Reigning IMCA Modified champion Nick DeCarlo returned and scored the victory in the 25 lap Main Event. DeCarlo had a pole position start for the race and led every lap. Alex Wilson ran second in the early stages before spinning to hand the position to Austin Burke. DeCarlo ran a fast pace and built a good lead over Burke. As DeCarlo went on to pick up the win, Troy Foulger moved the Bowers Racing Modified into second in the waning laps. Many time champion Bobby Hogge IV also made the pass on Burke before the checkered flag. Austin finished fourth head of brother Cody Burke, state point leader Shane DeVolder, Steven Hopf, Danny Wagner, Brian Cass and Wilson. DeCarlo and Hogge each won eight lap heat races.

Two-time IMCA Sport Modified champion Matthew Hagio won the 20 lap Main Event for his division. Hagio took the lead from pole sitter Jason Pugh on a lap three restart and led the rest of the way for the victory. KC Keller battled from ninth starting to get as high as second, but point leader Jim DiGiovanni made the move around him for the position on a lap nine restart to grab the finish. Keller settled for third, followed by Anthony Giuliani, Tanner Thomas, Pugh, Adrienne Frost, Jack Aguilar, Mark Squadrito and Dave Smart. Keller and Thomas won eight lap heat races.

Zach Price won the 20 lap South Bay Dwarf Car feature. The battle continues between Price and Gene "Punky" Pines for the championship. The two drivers started on the front row with Price coming out just ahead of Pires at the finish. Recent winner Terre Rothweiler finished a solid third, followed by Mark Biscardi, Eric Wiesler, Joe Barkett, Trafton Chandler, Kyle Jones, Alan Heeney and John Harris. Pires and Price won the eight lap heat races.

After a one-week break, the action resumes at Ocean Speedway on July 6th with the return of the Taco Bravo Sprint Cars. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, American Stocks and 4 Bangers will also be a part of the program. For further information, go to www.racepmg.com.

Ocean Speedway Unofficial Race Results June 23, 2018
Pombo/Sargent Classic
King Of The West/NARC Sprint Cars
A Main
Kyle Hirst
Shane Golobic
Chase Johnson
D.J. Netto
Mathew Moles
Willie Croft
Jeremy Chisum
Colby Copeland
Billy Aton
Dustin Golobic
Kyle Offill
Koen Shaw
Kurt Nelson
Mark Barroso
Jenna Frazier
Jarrett Soares
Tanner Carrick
Marcus Dumesny
Gary Paulson
Jamie Cobby
Bud Kaeding

B Main
Jeremy Chisum
Billy Aton
Koen Shaw
Mark Barroso
Gary Paulson
Kyle Offill
Jenna Frazier
Nathan Rolfe
Bryan Grier
Richard Fajardo

IMCA Modifieds
Nick Decarlo
Troy Foulger
Bobby Hogge IV
Austin Burke
Cody Burke
Shane DeVolder
Stephen Hopf
Danny Wagner
Brian Cass
Alex Wilson
Raymond Keldsen
Todd Hermosillo
Robert Dias
Jeff McCoun
Randy Brown

IMCA Sport Modifieds
Matthew Hagio
Jim DiGiovanni
KC Keller
Anthony Giuliani
Tanner Thomas
Jason Pugh
Adriane Frost
Jack Aguiar
Mark Squadrito
Dave Smart
Steven Allee
Austin Williams
Charlie Hunter
Tim Ragsdale
Nick Tucker
Mike Kofnovec Sr
Austin Manzella

SBDCA Dwarf Cars
Zach Price
Punky Pires
Terre Rothweiler
Mark Biscardi
Eric Weisler
Joe Barket
Trafton Chandler
Kyle Jones
Alan Heeney
John Harris
Eddy Claessen
Mack Aceves
Greg McKenna
Brady Beck