Monday, July 13, 2015

Shearer Wins Stofle Classic At Merced, Foulger Antioch Winner

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Just A Kid From The Grandstands:  My Time In Auto Racing

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DCRR Racing Radio Show: Episode 46 by GenWhat


  
Shearer Wins Ted Stofle Classic At Merced Speedway 

Michael Shearer recorded the biggest victory of his career with his win the 89 Lap Ted Stofle Classic Sunday night at Merced Speedway.  Shearer took the lead from Tommy Bostic during the final 39 lap segment and recorded the $500 victory.  The honor of running this race went to the Hobby Stocks, and third place point runner Kristie Shearer was the final lead lap finisher in second.

The Hobby Stocks ran two heat races to determine the lineup for the Ted Stofle Classic.  Shannon Nelson won the first heat race ahead of John Hensley.  Last’s years winner of the 39 lap Hobby Stock portion of this race, Syd Finn, won the other heat race ahead of George Silva.  The second place heat race finishers had the front row for the the Main Event, but the race had to be restarted after Hensley crashed in Turn 3.  Nelson led the first two laps of the race before being passed by Finn.  Marshall Weaver settled into third on lap nine.  Running fifth, George Silva stalled with a flat tire on lap 19.  On the restart, Weaver quickly got past Nelson and used a low pass in Turn 4 to take the lead from Finn.  Finn reclaimed first on lap 27.  At the same time, Nelson got sideways on the back stretch and lost third to M. Shearer.  A lap 30 caution flag flew for Jennifer Corder.  Finn continued to lead the restart.  Weaver began to fall off the pace as K. Shearer grabbed second.  An inside move on the front stretch gained M.  Shearer second from K. Shearer, and Weaver retired from the race.  An inside move on the front stretch of the 35th lap gained Tommy Bostic third from K. Shearer.  Finn had a straightaway lead over a four car battle for second.  K. Shearer got sideways on the back stretch on lap 44, and Nelson made contact, resulting in front end for Nelson. At the lap 50 break, Finn led M. Shearer, Bostic, K. Shearer and Nelson, who lost a lap as she tried to keep her damaged car on the track until the break.

In the early stages of the final 39 laps, the battle for the lead heated up.  Finn led the 51st lap, but Bostic got a good run on the outside and made an outside pass on the front stretch to take the lead from Finn.  M. Shearer made this a close three car battle for the lead.  Nelson spun in front of Bostic in Turn 4 of the 65th lap, and the caution flag flew.  Bostic chose the inside, only to lose the lead to M. Shearer.  K. Shearer settled into second, and Bostic retired from the race on lap 69.  At that point, third place Finn was the final lead lap car.  When he stalled with a flat tire, he lost a lap.  Despite three caution flags in the last ten laps and a couple scary moments with Finn, who was trying to unlap himself, M. Shearer kept his cool up front.  Finn crashed on the back stretch on lap 86 to end his race.  M. Shearer collected the biggest win of his career with K. Shearer still a lead lap second place.  Finn was still scored in third as Nelson and Silva rounded out the Top 5.  The rookie Bobby Williams grabbed a checkered flag in sixth as Steve Torres, Bostic, Corder  and Weaver rounded out the Top 10

Racing returns to Merced Speedway next week with a five division show that will feature IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Dwarf Cars and Mini Stocks.  For further information, check out the official Oval Motorsports Website.


Porter, Diaz Prevail At Merced Speedway

Leading all the way from his front row starting position, third generation racer Ryan Porter won his third 20 lap IMCA Modified Main Event of the season Sunday night at Merced Speedway,  After a brief duel with Bruce Nelson, Rick Diaz won the time limit shortened 17 lap IMCA Sport Mod Main Event.  Point leader Darren Miguel won his ninth 15 lap Mini Stock Main Event.

Kyle Wilson won the first IMCA Modified heat race ahead of Ryan Porter.  The other heat race win went to Ricky Thatcher ahead of Harley Turner.  Porter had the pole for the Main Event and raced into the early lead ahead of Bob Williamson.  An inside move on the back stretch of the second lap gained Rose the second spot.  K. Wilson was pressuring Rose for second and made a low move in Turn 4 of the eighth lap to gain the position.  Point leader Alex Wilson pitted with a flat tire during a lap 11 caution period. Porter chose the outside on the leader's restart option and continued to lead with K. Wilson not far behind.  Porter drove a flawless race to earn the victory just ahead of K. Wilson.  Rose was a solid third ahead of Jeff Streeter, Bill Egleston, A. Wilson, Turner, Thatcher, Williamson and Crowell rounded out the Top 10.

The IMCA Sport Mods ran three heat races with Anthony Giuliani winning his eighth lapper ahead of Rick Diaz,  Matt Hagio held off Fred Ryland to win his heat race, while Nick Tucker won his heat over Jared Tickel.  Pole sitter Giuliani led at the start of the Main Event ahead of Hagio and Gary Tucker.  John Fore Jr. gained second on lap 2, and a lap three caution flag flew for debris.  Giuliani stayed with the outside on the restart and continued to lead Hagio with G. Tucker reclaiming third on a lap five restart.  A high move in Turn 2 of the seventh lap gained Hagio the lead from Giuliani.  Diaz made a low pass in Turn 4 of the eighth lap to claim second as G. Tucker was third.  A lap 14 restart provided Diaz the opportunity he needed to grab the lead with Bruce Nelson following in second.   Nelson briefly took the lead on a lap 15 restart, only to lose it back to Diaz a lap later.  The division hit the time limit, and a spin on lap 17 forced a yellow and checkered flag finish.  Diaz won ahead of Nelson, Hagio, Giuliani, Danny Roe, Gary Tucker, Fore, Darren Thomas, Mark Odgers and Hensley.

Point leader Darren Miguel won the six lap Mini Stock heat race ahead of Kelly Campanile.  Miguel and Campanile shared the front row of the Main Event and raced into the 1-2 positions with Natalie Waldrop third.  Recent Alameda County Fair Mini Stock Figure 8 winner Matt Shlessinger and Chris Corder got together on the back stretch, and both pitted.  An inside move on the back stretch of the fifth lap put Alex Odishoo into third. Odishoo and teammate Corder switched cars at the start of the night.  Miguel led the rest of the race, but he never did shake Campanile from his back bumper.  Miguel stretched his point lead with that win as Campanile enjoyed her second runner up finish.  Odishoo settled for third ahead of Campanile, Corder and Shlessinger.

Racing returns to Merced Speedway next week with a five division show that will feature IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Dwarf Cars and Mini Stocks.  For further information, check out the official Oval Motorsports Website.


Foulger, Ryland, Templeton Antioch Speedway Winners

After taking the lead from Paul Guglielmoni halfway through the race, Troy Foulger won his second 20 lap DIRTcar Late Model Main Event of the season Saturday night at Antioch Speedway.  Foulger was wheeling the Bowers Racing owned entry and was coming off of an impressive $2500 win two weeks ago in the Summer Nationals.  Rebounding from an early spin, point leader Fred Ryland won his sixth 20 lap IMCA Sport Mod Main Event with a late pass on Trevor Clymens.  Chase Templelon made an impressive season debut by leading all 20 laps to win the Hobby Stock Main Event.  Jake Haulot won his second 15 lap Winged 360 Sprint Car Main Event.

The Late Models ran two heat races, and Foulger won his six lapper ahead of point leader Jeff Decker.  Richard Papenhausen won the other heat ahead of Chester Kniss.  Guglielmoni had a front row start for the Main Event and raced into the early lead ahead of second row starter Decker.  Kniss made a back stretch pass on Dennis Souza to grab third on lap two.  Terry Kuntz spun in Turn 2 and collected Rob Norris for a lap three caution flag.  Guglielmoni chose outside on the leader’s restart option and led Foulger into the second position.  Decker, Kniss and Papenhausen made this a close five car battle up front, and Papenhausen grabbed fourth from Kniss on lap five.  A high move in Turn 3 of the tenth lap moved Foulger into the lead.  A lap 11 caution flag flew for a Rob Norris spin in Turn 1.  Foulger chose the outside and continued to lead as Decker, Kniss and Papenhausen shuffled Guglielmoni back to fifth.  Papenhausen slipped past Kniss for third on lap 13.  Kniss capitalized on a Papenhausen mistake to grab third on lap 19, but Papenhausen made a last turn pass on the inside to reclaim the spot.  Foulger stayed smooth down the stretch and grabbed the win ahead of Decker, Papenhausen, Kniss, Guglielmoni, Danny Mafatti and Terry Kuntz.  David Newquist, John Soares Jr. and Norris completed the Top 10.

The IMCA Sport Mods had three heat races, and Watsonville point leader Anthony Giuliani won the first six lapper ahead of Clymens.  Al Johnson won his first heat race ahead of Darren Thomas and the final heat win went to Ryland ahead of Ron Brown.  In an effort to get the handling right on the Tim Hammett car, Mark Garner got behind the wheel and set the early pace ahead of Clymens and Giuliani.  Ryland spun to avoid another car in Turn 4 on lap two and kept going instead of bringing out a yellow flag.  Running fifth, Ron Brown lost a right front wheel in Turn 4 for a red flag.  Garner chose the outside and continued to lead with Clymens a close second in front of Giuliani.  At the halfway point of the race, Garner broke a suspension part entering Turn 3 and hit the wall with Clymens involved.  The yellow flag was charged to Garner, and Clymens chose the outside for the restart.  Clymens led Giuliani as Ryland was already into third.  The lead trio ran in close formation, and Ryland used a high pass in Turn 4 of the 15th lap to grab second.  Ryland hounded Clymens for the lead until making an inside move on the back stretch of the 19th lap to grab the spot.  Ryland brought it home to a well earned victory with Clymens settling for second.  Giuliani, Johnson and Paul Mulder completed the the Top 5.  Darren Thomas finished sixth in front of Megan Ponciano, Chuck Golden, Brian Zachary and Danny Roe.

Danny Jones won the first six lap Hobby Stock heat race ahead of Natalie Perry.  Despite taking front end damage in the race, Cameron Swank won the other heat race ahead of Chris Sorensen.  Templeton had a front row starting spot for the Main Event and raced into the early lead ahead of Kimo Oreta and Curran.  Curran got out of shape on the front stretch on lap four and was hit by Perry, who sustained heavy front end damage as Sorensen was now third.  Perry and Swank were early retirees and Curran lost laps making repairs as the race went until lap 11 without a yellow flag.    Sorensen and Robert Niven gained second and third on lap 11 as Oreta got sideways in Turn 2 and fell back to fifth.  Templeton nearly spun in Turn 4 trying to lap Jordan Swank.  Danny Jones was up to fourth, and he gained third from Niven on a lap 12 restart before hitting the Turn 1 wall.  A back stretch tangle between J. Swank and Frank Furtado forced a lap 12 caution flag.  Templeton continued to lead Sorensen through three straight restarts, the first of which was caused when Jones blew a motor.   Templeton led Sorensen and Oreta on the lap 15 restart.  Templeton nearly spun in Turn 4 coming to take the white flag, causing Sorensen, Oreta and Niven to bunch up behind him.  However, Templeton stayed smooth on the final lap to win with the other three following him in that order.  Michael Cooper finished fifth ahead of Furtado, J. Swank, Curran, Jones and C. Swank.

Defending champion Chris Magoon made a last turn pass on Dan Gonderman to win the Winged 360 Sprint Car heat race.  Magoon led two laps of the Main Event before Art McCarthy and point leader Shawn Arriaga got together in Turn 2 with McCarthy losing a wheel.  Magoon pitted during the red flag, and Gonderman now led Haulot on the restart.  Magoon returned but dropped a driveline on the front stretch running third.  Gonderman got sideways in Turn 4 of the eighth lap, allowing Haulot to take the lead.  Haulot won ahead of Gonderman, Magoon, Arriaga and McCarthy.

Racing returns next Saturday night with IMCA Modifieds headlining the show along with Northern All Stars Wingless Spec Sprints, Hobby Stocks and Limited Late Models.  For further information, check out the official Oval Motorsports Website.