Just A Kid From The Grandstands: My Time In Auto Racing
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Don's California Racing Recollections: Best Of The Blog And Beyond
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DCRR Racing Radio Show Catches Up On Merced Results And More
Kyle Wilson, Gary Tucker Merced Feature Winners
IMCA Modifieds returned to action as part of the five division program at Merced Speedway Saturday night. When the checkered flag flew on the 20 lap Main Event, it was Kyle Wilson collecting the victory in his first start of the season. A long time Street Stock and Sportsman competitor at the track, Gary Tucker scored the win in the IMCA Sport Mod 20 lap feature. Another driver with Sportsman experience, Gary Hildebrand, won the 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event. With the Mini Stock feature being run in the opposite direction, Darren Miguel won his second straight Main Event, and point leader Mark Garner won the Limited Late Model feature.
Two heat races were run for the IMCA Modifieds, and K. Wilson won his race ahead of Ricky Thatcher. A past Chowchilla champion, Randy Brown won his heat race ahead of Joel Myers. Attrition took its toll in the heat races as past Petaluma Super Stock competitor Willie Frykman and Mark Rose were Main Event scratches. Brown and IMCA State point leader Alex Wilson had the front row for the feature, but it was Kyle Wilson coming up from the third row outside and John MacDougall following from the fourth row outside. At the checkered flag, it was K. Wilson getting his season started off on the right note with a victory. Title contender MacDougall capped a solid point night with a second with Meyers on the podium in third. A. Wilson and Harley Turner completed the Top 5 at the line as two time champion Bob Williamson was sixth.
The IMCA Sport Mods also had two heat races, and Tim Cecil won his heat ahead of Duane Short. Tucker grabbed the other win ahead of point leader Josh Hensley. However, Hensley's bad luck continued as he ended up last in the Main Event. Tucker had a front row start, and pole sitter Cecil finished outside the Top 5. With Tucker driving to victory, D.C. Brown was making a charge from ninth starting for a career best second place finish. John Fore Jr., Eric Rose and Duane Short rounded out the Top 5 finishers.
The nine Hobby Stocks were run in one heat race, and Austin Van Hoff grabbed the win in that race ahead of past Top 3 point runner George Silva. Van Hoff had the pole for the Main Event and figured to be a double winner, but last starter Hildebrand had other ideas. Hildebrand mounted a charge to the front that would give him the victory. Van Hoff settled for second with double division racer Duane Short enjoying his second Top 5 of the night in third. Current second ranked driver and "Rookie Of The Year" hopeful Jennifer Corder took fourth, but she gained little ground on point leader Kevin Joaquin, who finished fifth.
The top point runners enjoyed success in the two Mini Stock heat races as point leader Chris Corder won his heat race ahead of third ranked Kevin Lockerby. Darren Miguel thwarted Petaluma visitor Kelly Campanile's attempt at a second heat win as he held her off for the victory. This was to be a double win night for Miguel, but with Corder and Lockerby also starting up front, it was no gimme. At the checkered flag, however, Miguel maintained second in points with his victory ahead of Corder and Lockerby. George "Speedy" Davis and Chad Matthias rounded out the Top 5 ahead of Joy Alger and Natalie Waldrop.
A point list was finally released for the Limited Late Models. Not surprisingly, Mark Garner is shown as the leader. The Antioch leadfoot battled Buddy Thatcher to win both the heat race and the Main Event with Scott Van Gender placing third in both races. The win was the third of the season for Garner at Merced.
Racing continues at Merced Speedway next Saturday night with a lineup consisting of IMCA Sport Mods and the Northern All Stars Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and the Valley Sportsman division. On Sunday, Chowchilla Speedway returns with IMCA Modifieds and Sport Mods and the Northern All Stars Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks. For further information, see the official Oval Motorsports Website.
