Merced starts season with Jerry Shannon tribute race

By Ben Deatherage  MERCED, Calif. – Something exciting is around the bend in the California IMCA Modified scene. Doug Lockwood, promoter at Merced Speedway, has put together the first-ever Modified Speedweek in the State of California.  The series will race from Monday, Aug. 10 to Saturday, Aug. 15 at six different racetracks in as many nights.  The racing extravaganza will be open to both IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. Each race will feature a 20-car main event for $1,000 to win and $50 to start for the Modifieds while SportMods will race for $600 to the winner and $40 to start. Modified features are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. Point funds will be up for grabs in both divisions, with $1,000-$400-$200-$100-$100 shares being paid in the Modifieds and $600-$300-$200-$100-$100 shares paid in the SportMods. The whole party kicks off at Placerville Speedway on Aug. 10, before the tour travels west to Petaluma Speedway on Tuesday.  Wednesday will be spent at Antioch Speedway while the Thursday date is reserved for Merced Speedway.  The series continues its southern [Read More]

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. (May 6, 2022) – Night five of the IMCA Central California Clash saw Cody Laney put another $1,000 in his racing account. The Torrance standout won his third Friesen Performance IMCA Modified start of the week when the Clash shifted locations to Merced Speedway Friday evening. Ryan Porter paced the competition on the initial start and held down the front position being overtaken on lap five by Laney. A series of six stoppages slowed things down, but Laney, already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, kept his mount ahead of all challengers, equaling Ethan Dotson’s 2021 feat for the most wins in a single season with the series. Bobby Hogge was second over Kyle Heckman, Cody Burke and Troy Foulger. The IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars had a thriller of a main event. Dakota Schweitzer marshaled the field on the opening start with double-duty driver Foulger in second.  Mid-race cautions kept the competitors close. Schweitzer battled Anthony Guiliani before the two briefly touched and the contact allowed Foulger to pass both [Read More]

MERCED, Calif. (April 6) – Grant Champlin had a pair of top four finishes to show for his first two Western RaceSaver Sprint Series outings of the season. He had his career first IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Series victory to show from his third, Saturday night at Merced Speedway.  Champlin chased Grant Duinkerken most of the 30-lapper, gaining ground in traffic and finally taking the lead coming out of turn four with six circuits left.  “All the tough guys were here tonight. There was no lack of talent,” said Champlin, who beat defend­ing series champion Duinkerken to the checkers by four car lengths. “It’s good to get this win. It gives you a bump up in your confidence.” He’d run fourth and third in the first two series events of the season, both at Keller Auto Speed­way.  Kyle Rasmussen, Rob Solomon and Brendan Warmerdam completed Saturday’s top five.  Feature results – 1. Grant Champlin; 2. Grant Duinkerken; 3. Kyle Rasmussen; 4. Rob Solomon; 5. Brendan Warmerdam; 6. Ryan Delisle; 7. Monty Ferriera; 8. Brandon Emmett; 9. Mauro [Read More]