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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Short Track History Project at Gofundme
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DCRR Racing Radio Show
Weekend Preview Edition
DCRR Racing Radio Show: Episode 48 by GenWhat
Kyle Wilson Grabs Third Win, Luck On Miguel’s Side
Weekend Preview Edition
DCRR Racing Radio Show: Episode 48 by GenWhat
Kyle Wilson Grabs Third Win, Luck On Miguel’s Side
At Merced Speedway
Holding off a late threat from his brother Alex, Kyle Wilson scored the victory in the 20 lap IMCA Modified Main Event Sunday night at Merced Speedway. It was K. Wilson’s third win of the season at Merced Speedway, and the 2014 IMCA State champion is currently second in that race this season. Taking advantage of the late race motor issues that slowed down leader Chris Corder, point leader Darren Miguel won his tenth 20 lap Mini Stock Main Event of the season.
The IMCA Modifieds ran two heat races with Kyle Wilson beating brother Alex Wilson to win their race. Jeff Streeter won the second heat ahead of Paul Stone. Dereck Colvin raced into the early Main Event lead ahead of K. Wilson. A low move in Turn 3 of the fifth lap gained K. Wilson the lead. Point leader Alex Wilson settled into second a lap later as Troy Foulger followed into third. A Turn 4 pass gained J. Streeter third from Foulger as Kyle Wilson held a straightaway advantage on his brother Alex by then. A yellow flag flew on lap 13 for Josh Combs in Turn 1. K. Wilson continued to lead A. Wilson on the restart as 2014 champion Paul Stone briefly gained third. Foulger made a Turn 3 pass on Stone to gain third on lap 16 before a yellow flag flew for a Streeter spin in Turn 1. K. Wilson stayed with the outside on the restart, but A. Wilson made a low pass in Turn 4 to lead the lap. K. Wilson came roaring back on the outside to regain the lead a lap later. Foulger made a Turn 2 pass on A. Wilson for second on the last lap as Colvin got by for third. K. Wilson went on to collect the victory ahead of Foulger, Colvin, A. Wilson, Ricky Thatcher, J. Steeter, Combs, Stone, Steve Streeter and Bill Egleston.
Darren Miguel won the lone Mini Stock heat race ahead of Chris Corder. Matt Shlessinger had the pole for the Main Event and set the pace for two laps as sixth starter Corder settled into third. An inside move on the back stretch of the third lap gained Corder second, and he made a similar move a lap later to take the lead. Miguel made an inside pass on the back stretch of the fourth lap to take third and passed Shlessinger in the same spot a lap later for second. A lap 11 yellow flag.flew when newcomer Jeff Amos got into Shlessinger, who hit the front wall. Both Kelly Campanile and Brian Widdowson suffered damage in the incident and were eliminated. Amos was black flagged from the event. Corder led the restart from the inside with Miguel pressuring him hard as Natalie Waldrop settled into third. Corder was driving the Alex Odishoo car that has had motor issues all season long, and the motor began misfiring on lap 17 as Miguel raced by on the back stretch. Miguel brought it home to another victory as Corder nursed his car home to a second place finish. Waldrop was a career best third ahead of Shlessinger, Widdowson, Campanile and Amos.
Racing returns to Merced Speedway next Sunday with IMCA Modfieds and Sport Mods headlining a five division show that will also include the Northern All Stars Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and Limited Late Models. For further information, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.
Nelson Outruns Ryland For Win,
15 Year Old Parker Wins Hobby Stocks At Merced
Battling IMCA National Championship contender Fred Ryland down the stretch, Bruce Nelson scored the victory in the 20 lap IMCA Sport Mod Main Event Sunday night at Merced Speedway. It was the second win for Nelson in the last three races, and he finished second in last week’s race. After an incident that saw the leader spin and the new leader penalized to the rear for his part in the spin, 15 year old Cody Parker won his first career 20 lap Northern All Stars Hobby Stock Main Event. Danny Wagner bested a short field of Dwarf Cars for the 15 lap feature win.
The IMCA Sport Mods ran three heat races, and Bruce Nelson won the first six lapper ahead of Josh Hensley. Mark Odgers captured the second heat in front of Rick Diaz and John Fore Jr. won the third heat ahead of IMCA National title hopeful Fred Ryland. The Main Event was restarted when front row starter Dwayne Short got sideways entering the back stretch out of Turn 2, causing a three car crash. Short and Neill Barcellos tangled in Turn 1 on the restart attempt. Fore led the race when it finally started ahead of Nelson, but spins by Mark Odgers, Kelly Wilkinson and Ryland in Turn 2 forced a lap two caution flag. Diaz retired from the race, and Nelson took the lead from Fore on the restart. Gary Tucker settled into third. George Medeiros spun off the back stretch and into the infield. He rejoined the race two laps down and was lapped one more time by Nelson. As Fore was coming up on Medeiros, the lapped car spun in front of Fore, triggering a hard crash in Turn 4 that eliminated Danny Roe and Nastasia Dodd. Officials again called time limit on the race with a checkered flag to fly at the next yellow flag. However, that was the last slowdown of the race. Nelson led the single file restart as Fred Ryland made an outside pass on Gary Tucker for second. Ryland tried working the outside on Nelson for a pass, but Nelson made his car wide on the front stretch. Ryland tried the inside on the final lap, but Nelson would not be denied the victory. Nelson won ahead of Ryland, Tucker, Wilkinson, Odgers, Fore, Hensley, Dwayne Short, George Medeiros and Roe.
The Hobby Stocks had two heat races with Kevin Joaquin winning the first heat ahead of Cody Parker. Raul Rodriguez Sr. won the second head ahead of Tommy Bostic. Joaquin and Rodriguez had the front row for the Main Event and began a great battle up front at the drop of the green flag. Rodriguez led two laps before an inside move on the front stretch gained Joaquin the lead. Parker was running a solid third. A low move in Turn 4 of the 11th lap gained Rodriguez the lead, but Joaquin ran a close second. When Rodriguez got sideways in Turn 3, Joaquin lifted but still spun him for a lap 14 yellow flag. Joaquin was put to the back for his part in the incident, handing Parker the lead. Parker chose the inside for the restart and continued to lead hard charger Kristie Shearer and Austin Van Hoff. Joaquin made a late pass on Van Hoff for third. Parker stayed smooth over the remaining laps for a satisfying victory. Shearer settled for second ahead of Joaquin, Van Hoff, Shannon Nelson, Rodriguez, Jeff Lacy, Phil Vaughn, Jennifer Corder and Bostic.
Two time Antioch champion Danny Wagner led from from flag to flag to win the Dwarf Car Main Event. Wagner had earlier won the heat race. Wagner’s win was never in doubt as he built up a half lap advantage by the checkered flag. Mike Drake had Chris Kenner. right behind him at the checkered flag as Toby Brown rounded out the finishing order.
Racing returns to Merced Speedway next Sunday with IMCA Modifieds and Sport Mods headlining a five division show that will also include the Northern All Stars Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and Limited Late Models. For further information, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.
DeForest, Sorensen Share Winner‘s Circle
At Antioch Speedway
Leading all the way from his front row starting spot, Shawn DeForest, won the 20 lap IMCA Modified Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. The win was the first of the season for DeForest aboard the Jim Reid owned Modified. Winning a thrilling three car battle with Jim Robbins and point leader Kimo Oreta, Chris Sorsensen won his second 20 lap Northern All Stars Hobby Stock Main Event of the season.
There were two eight lap heat races for the IMCA Modifieds, and DeForest won his heat race ahead of Bobby Motts Jr. Kyle Wilson won his heat race ahead of Michael Paul Jr. Paul and DeForest shared the front row for the Main Event, and DeForest raced into the early lead ahead of Paul and Carl Berendsen II. An inside move on the front stretch gained K. Wilson third from Berendsen, and Berendsen beat him to the line a lap later. This battle continued until Berendsen washed out in the turn and fell back several spots on lap nine. DeForest built a good lead by then and started lapping slower cars with five laps to go. DeForest won by a straightaway in the non stop event. When Paul made contact with a slower car in the final turn trying to lap him, K. Wilson moved by to grab the second place finish. Paul settled for third ahead of Bobby Motts Jr., point leader Scott Busby, Brian Cass, Berendsen, Josh Combs, IMCA State point leader Alex Wilson and Chris Elby.
The Hobby Stocks also ran two heat races, and Oreta won the first heat ahead of last week’s feature winner, Chase Templeton. Cameron Swank won his second straight heat race with incoming point runner up Danny Jones blowing a motor in his second place finish. Sorensen had the pole for the Main Event and raced into the lead ahead of Robbins and rookie point leader Jordan Swank. An inside move on the front stretch of the fourth lap gained Oreta third. Robert Niven crashed in Turn 2 while trying to pass Frank Furtado, bringing out a lap seven caution flag. After a botched restart for a bumper on the track, Sorensen continued to lead Robbins and Oreta on the restart. Michael Cooper settled into fourth as the final 13 laps ran without a caution flag. During the final five laps, Robbins continued trying to make moves around Sorensen on the inside. Sorensen had the preferred outside line and remained the leader. Oreta rejoined the lead battle after nearly spinning in his attempt to try to get underneath Robbins. At the checkered flag, it was Sorensen scoring a well earned victory over Robbins and Oreta. Cooper ran a strong fourth ahead of Templeton, Russell Shearer and J. Swank. Niven was scored eighth ahead of Furtado and Cameron Swank.
Racing resumes at Antioch Speedway next Saturday night with DIRTcar Late Models headlining the show along with the IMCA Sport Mods, Northern All Stats Wingless Spec Sprints, Hobby Stocks and Dwarf Cars. For further information, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.
Garner Wins, Dedicates It To His Ailing Father
At Antioch Speedway
Holding off the late threat of point leader Larry Damitz, Mark Garner won his second 20 lap Northern All Stars Limited late Model Main Event of the season Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. Afterwards, Garner dedicated the win to his ailing father, 1969 State Stock Car Champion Jerry “The Maverick” Garner, who was in attendance. Taking the lead from Rick Panfili, Jimmy Perry III won his third 20 lap Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event of the season.
The Limited Late Models ran two six lap heat races, and Mike Hynes won the first heat race ahead of Garner. Damitz won the second heat race ahead of Jim Freethy. Hynes and Garner shared the front row of the Main Event while previous winner Damitz started in the fourth row. John Evans was a feature scratch. Garner led the opening lap before Jeff Kendrick hit the back wall and then crashed in the Turn 1 exit gate. Garner led Freethy and Mike Gustafson on the restart, but he made a mistake in Turn 2 that allowed Freethy to gain the lead on lap six. Freethy’s lead was short lived as he got a flat tire on lap nine with Garner slipping by in Turn 2. Damitz was now third, and he moved into second ahead of Gustafson a lap later. Garner had a pretty good lead by then, but Damitz continued to chip away at it. Damitz gave Garner some pressure during the final few laps, but Garner brought it home to a satisfying victory. Damitz settled for second ahead of Gustafson. Ricky Thatcher beat Hynes to the line for a fourth place finish. Freethy, John Keith and Kendrick rounded out the finishing order.
Alan Miranda won the Wingless Spec Sprint heat race ahead of Perry. Celebrating his 65th birthday, Keith Shipherd shared the front row of the Main Event with title contender Rick Panfili. The two drivers were on the original Spec Sprint roster when the class made its Antioch debut in 1999. Shipherd beat Panfili through Turns 1 and 2 and set sail to a commanding lead. Panfili ran second ahead of Miranda. Perry briefly locked nerfs with previous feature winner James East in Turns 1 and 2, but they broke free and continued at the back without a yellow. Problems with a slower car saw Shipherd’s brilliant run up front come to an abrupt end as he hit the Turn 2 wall for a caution flag after 13 laps. Suddenly, Panfili had the lead. Perry had just made a high move in Turn 4 of the 13th lap to gain third from Miranda. Perry was now second on the restart as he began to put serious pressure on Panfili. A low move as they exited Turn 2 of the 16th lap gained Perry the lead. Perry pulled away to a big lead from there as Panfili had the dueling Miranda and rookie Marcus Smith right behind him. Smith gained third on lap 18. Perry cruised to victory with Panfili still a career beset second ahead of Smith, Miranda, East, point leader Kyle Bakkie, Chase Wood Jr. and Shipherd.
Racing resumes at Antioch Speedway next Saturday night with DIRTcar Late Models headlining the show along with the IMCA Sport Mods, Northern All Stats Wingless Spec Sprints, Hobby Stocks and Dwarf Cars. For further information, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.
