May 17, 2025

Pettit Prevails in Ocean Modified Feature

MOD Jim Pettit II VL PB Top Dawg Photos — Jim Pettit II celebrates his first Friesen Performance IMCA Modified victory of 2025 in Ocean Speedway’s victory lane. (Photo by Top Dawg Photos)

By Steven Blakesley

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (May 16, 2025) — Hall of Famer Jim Pettit II from Prunedale captured his first Ocean Speedway Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win of the 2025 season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region, taking the checkers in a 25-lap main event. Jonathan Hagio jumped out to the early lead from the pole, while Pettit engaged in a spirited battle for second with Nevada Lady Eagle racer Katelynn Robertson.

*Jim Pettit II (6) battles side-by-side with Katelynn Robertson (7) during the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Ocean Speedway. (Photo by Top Dawg Photos)*

Pettit powered past Hagio in turn four to take the lead on lap 13. A few laps later, Hagio’s car erupted in smoke, ending his race on lap 17 and bringing out a caution. On the restart, Pettit’s machine also began to smoke, but he held strong to capture the win, with Robertson finishing second and Cody Burke third.

The event was broadcast on IMCA TV affiliate Stars On Dirt TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $24.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.

oceanspeedway

Hogge Stays Hot with Ocean Modified Win

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calfi. (May 9, 2025) — The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Ocean Speedway saw Jonathan Hagio set the pace early on, until Jim Pettit II drove by after a restart. Bobby Hogge, in the Paul Gugliemoni provided no. 2 entry, then climbed into second and began to hound the rear of the leader. On lap 9 the duo was racing nose to tail, which then saw Pettit get turned to bring out a caution. Hogge, from Salinas, led the remaining distance to grab the win ahead of Robert Marsh and Cody Burke. Hogge’s third win of the season came at his third different track in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. A healthy field of Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods competed on Friday night with 19 total entries signing in. D.J. Keldsen led the opening circuit in the feature, before Trevor Clymens went by the take the point on lap 2. The SportMods put on an entertaining main event once again at Ocean, with cars running high and low. Right around [Read More]

Frazier dominates at Ocean

By Ben Deatherage WATSONVILLE, Calif. (April 8, 2022) – Markus Frazier was the IMCA Northern SportMod winner as Ocean Speedway hosted another great night of racing action on Friday. After two attempts to get a lap in the books, Igor Gandzuk jumped out to the early race lead. However, Gandzuk was overtaken on lap five by Frazier, who set a quick pace while dealing with several restarts. Despite the stop-and-go action, Frazier cruised about the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds ¼-mile oval to win his first race of 2022. Ocean Speedway now has three different winners in three shows in the current season. Jim DiGiovanni was second over Adriane Frost. Gandzuk rallied from an early race spin to place fourth while fifth was Charlie Hunter.

Van Hoff Scores Breakthrough SportMod Win at Ocean

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Apr. 25, 2025) — For the second event in a row the Karl Chevrolet IMCA SportMods put on an action filled 20-lap main feature. Chowchilla’s Emali Van Hoff brought home the Ocean Speedway title last year without winning a main event, while using extreme consistency. On Friday night she was determined to check off a main event win and had some tremendous battles with Trent Golden, K.C. Keller and others. The SportMods ran high and low on the well-prepared Watsonville bullring. Van Hoff led some before falling to second but regained the lead around the halfway point. She went on to claim the big triumph over Keller and previous feature winner Bo Crebs racing the no. 168 for car owner Jerry Movrich. It was the Lady Eagle racer’s first win of 2025. The event was streamed live on IMCA TV affiliate Stars On Dirt TV. Replays are available through the IMCA TV Replay Subscription for $24.99/month. Already subscribed? Be sure to check out Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming [Read More]

Hobby Stock

McDonald Edges Out Rivals in Electrifying CJ Speedway Hobby Stock Showdown

By Jerry Mackey COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (May 16, 2025) — CJ Speedway hosted another action-packed night of racing Friday, with the Sunoco IMCA Hobby Stocks delivering the most thrilling finish of the evening. Preston McDonald emerged victorious in a dramatic three-car battle off turn four, narrowly edging out Austin Stalder and Kyler Burmeister by less than a fender. McDonald’s win, his second consecutive B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region victory, came after a hard-fought 15-lap main event that saw the trio swapping positions multiple times in the closing circuits. The margin of victory was razor-thin, as McDonald executed a perfect run off the final corner to beat Stalder and Burmeister to the line. The Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars put on their usual greatness with Hedrick driver Dustin Griffiths topping a strong field of Stock Cars. Griffiths advanced to the front all the way from the tenth starting position and raced past defending track champion, John Oliver Jr. The two very strong competitors raced several laps side by side before Griffiths was able to secure the top [Read More]

Modified

Pettit Prevails in Ocean Modified Feature

By Steven Blakesley WATSONVILLE, Calif. (May 16, 2025) — Hall of Famer Jim Pettit II from Prunedale captured his first Ocean Speedway Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win of the 2025 season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region, taking the checkers in a 25-lap main event. Jonathan Hagio jumped out to the early lead from the pole, while Pettit engaged in a spirited battle for second with Nevada Lady Eagle racer Katelynn Robertson. Pettit powered past Hagio in turn four to take the lead on lap 13. A few laps later, Hagio’s car erupted in smoke, ending his race on lap 17 and bringing out a caution. On the restart, Pettit’s machine also began to smoke, but he held strong to capture the win, with Robertson finishing second and Cody Burke third. The event was broadcast on IMCA TV affiliate Stars On Dirt TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $24.99/month. And don’t miss Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.

Hobby Stock

Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing National Point Standings through May 15, 2025

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds – 1. Chaz Baca, Mesa, Ariz., 655; 2. Izac Mallicoat, Boone, Iowa, 600; 3. Luke Silber, Laveen, Ariz., 563; 4. Owen Barnhill, Milton, Florida, 543; 5. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, Iowa, 520; 6. Trevor Fitz, Bondurant, Iowa, 503; 7. Todd Shute, Norwalk, Iowa, 489; 8. Katelynn Robertson, Reno, Nev., 457; 9. Tyson Blood, Tumwater, Washington, 456; 10. Logan Anderson, Eddyville, Iowa, and Clifton (C. R.) Eisenzimer, Cascade, Montana, both 451; 12. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev., 442; 13. Eston Whisler, Otis, Oregon, 431; 14. Bryson Yeager, Green River, Wyoming, 413; 15. Troy III Morris, Bakersfield, Calif., 412; 16. Cody Laney, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 391; 17. Michael Egurola, Marana, Ariz., 380; 18. Ian Whisler, Otis, Oregon, 377; 19. Jeremy Mills, Clear Lake, Iowa, 370; 20. Jonathan Mawhinney, Las Vegas, Nev., 364. IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars – 1. Shelby Williams, Bonham, Texas, 606; 2. Mike Albertsen, Audubon, Iowa, 586; 3. Larry Brigner, Apache Junction, Ariz., 516; 4. Trevor Hidalgo, Mesa, Ariz., 503; 5. Kaden Woodie, Milaca, Minn., 497; 6. Casey Murdoch, Surprise, Ariz., 495; 7. [Read More]

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