By Ben Deatherage
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Oct. 3, 2026) — Shawn Natenstedt came from outside the top five at the lap 40 fuel break to capture Saturday night’s $3,006-to-win 16th annual Pettit Shootout for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds at Watsonville Speedway, becoming the first driver since Bobby Hogge in 2020-21 to win consecutive editions.
Natenstedt, the three-time Nevada State champion from Fernley, remains the only non-California driver to win the event in the Modified division.
Hogge put the Paul Guglielmoni-owned No. 2H out front on lap one before Gavyn Manning used a lap seven restart to make a double overtake around the high side and take command in the Don Clark-provided No. 51G. Manning remained out front through challenges from 2026 IMCA Wild West Speedweek champion Matt Sanders and 2026 Merced Speedway champion Paul Stone before Natenstedt worked his way into contention.
Natenstedt, who started seventh, completed his charge to the lead on lap 51 and began pulling away after encountering traffic four laps later. A lap 67 caution erased his advantage, and Manning capitalized on the restart to regain the top spot. Natenstedt responded by running him back down and retaking the lead on lap 70 before staying there the rest of the way.
The victory was Natenstedt’s ninth DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region win of 2026 and his first outside Nevada this season.
Manning finished second, while two-time Pettit Shootout champion and 2020 California State champion Troy Foulger charged from 19th to third in the Bill Bowers-owned No. 49. Defending IMCA National and DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region Rookie of the Year Ethan Killingsworth was fourth, and two-time Santa Maria Speedway track champion Logan Drake finished fifth.
Foulger shared hard charger honors with four-time Watsonville track champion Cody Burke, who raced from 23rd to seventh.
Saturday’s feature was a qualifier for the 2027 Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational, putting Natenstedt on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify at next September’s Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
Friday night’s $1,003-to-win feature belonged to Manning. He took the lead on the opening circuit and remained in command through several early cautions before encountering traffic on lap 13. Sanders battled for second behind him, but Manning continued to control the race.
The final caution on lap 20 gave Foulger an opportunity. Foulger moved into second on the restart and began closing on Manning before the leaders reached traffic on lap 30, but Manning held him off for his ninth DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of 2026 and first at Watsonville this season. Manning’s victory was also a Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational qualifier, putting him on the eligibility list to attempt to qualify in 2027.
Foulger finished second after starting seventh, with Hogge third, six-time and reigning Watsonville track champion and two-time California State champion Jim Pettit II fourth, and Sanders fifth. Killingsworth earned hard charger honors with a 17th-to-sixth run.
Thirty-eight IMCA Modifieds were on hand for the weekend.
Ryland Wins Showdown for Record Third Pettit Shootout SportMod Crown
Fred Ryland emerged from a slider-filled battle with 15-year-old Landon King to win Saturday night’s $1,006-to-win Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature and become the first three-time SportMod winner in Pettit Shootout history. The Brentwood driver broke a tie with Brian Cooper and Cale Kanke, who each have two victories.
Defending Marysville Raceway champion Mark Garner led the opening lap before King took command on lap two. Ethan Johnson applied pressure during the early stages before Ryland moved into second and began challenging King following a lap 14 caution.
The two traded sliders for several laps, with the lead changing at the stripe three times. Ryland took the lead on lap 17, King answered the next time around, and Ryland reclaimed the position before a lap 20 caution set up the final restart. King made one last attempt, but Ryland held him off for his record third Pettit Shootout victory.
It was Ryland’s sixth SportMod win of 2026 and his first away from Antioch Speedway this year, where he earned his fourth career track championship in the division this season.
King finished second, followed by Ethan Johnson, 2026 Bill Bowers Memorial winner and defending Merced Dirt Nationals champion Bo Crebs in the Jerry Movrich-owned No. 168, and Tyler Irwin. Paul Brown advanced from 16th to ninth, while defending Sunoco IMCA Stock Car California State champion Austin Van Hoff went from 20th to 13th.
Friday night belonged to Bakersfield’s Nicholas Johnson, who grabbed the early lead and remained strong through a handful of cautions. Johnson built an advantage during the longer green-flag stretches and reached traffic on lap 12 before another caution again bunched the field.
Johnson remained in command through the ensuing restarts and drove to his seventh victory of 2026 and first at Watsonville this season.
Ryland finished second and Brown was third. Defending Merced Speedway champion Tanner Thomas, now residing in North Augusta, S.C., advanced from ninth to fourth, while 2018 Merced Speedway and 2013 Antioch Speedway track champion Jeremy Hoff charged from 12th to fifth to earn hard charger honors.
A total of 39 IMCA Northern SportMods were on tap for the two-day event.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Stars On Dirt TV. Catch every lap again with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, available for just $25.99/month. Don’t miss Season 3 of the Boone docuseries, now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.
