mercedspeedway Archives

Hagio hits Merced pay dirt

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. (Sept. 14, 2024) – Matthew Hagio’s Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod victory at the Merced Speedway was not just a win but a significant achievement in front of a packed house. His fantastic run started by getting the lead on the opening lap and mastering three restarts. The Prunedale pilot’s victory, his fourth in 2024, was particularly special as it was his first win at Merced this season. The race kicked off with an intense battle between Hagio and Chris Falkenberg. Hagio managed to outpace his rival and take the lead. As the race progressed, Hagio’s skill and determination allowed him to pull away from the pack. The race’s midpoint saw fierce competition for the second position between Jason Bannister and Danny Wagner, adding to the thrill of the event. Despite Bannister’s relentless efforts, Wagner held on to the runner-up position. The yellow flag waved for the final time with 14 circuits scored complete. Again, Hagio was masterclass on the restart, as Bannister attempted to snatch second. Yet again, the fight behind [Read More]

Foulger is double winner at Merced’s Central California Clash show

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. (Aug. 10, 2024) – Troy Foulger celebrated his first win this season at Merced Speedway with fireworks. The Oakley flyer celebrated twice when he returned to the Central Valley oval Saturday night for the latest installment of the Central California Clash. Foulger, first to the checkers in the July 3 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified headliner at Merced, topped both the Modified and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car features at Merced. The Modified feature paid $1,000 to win with Foulger already Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible. Jason Bannister was the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod victor. Cody Burke led the Modified pack in the early stages, challenged around the sixth lap by Foulger, who got around for the lead on the next circuit, with the lap scored complete just before what proved to be the only caution of the contest came out. On the restart, Burke was under fire from Paul Stone, a fight that Stone would win on the eighth circuit. Bobby Hogge followed, putting his machine into third [Read More]

Green flag flies Wednesday for IMCA Central California Clash

ANTIOCH, Calif. (May 1, 2023) – Wednesday night is opening night for the fourth annual IMCA Central California Clash. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $750 to win and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying eligibility, and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods for $750 to win each night of the May 3-7 tour. Following the opening night show at Antioch Speedway are dates Thursday, May 4 at Merced Speedway; Friday, May 5 at Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford; Saturday, May 6 at Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway; and Sunday, May 7 at Bakersfield Speedway. IMCA.TV broadcasts each night of the tour and the top drivers in point standings for each division also become eligible to qualify for their respective race of champions event during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western Region and EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region and California State points will be awarded all five [Read More]

Central California Clash set for May 3-7, IMCA.TV broadcasts each night of tour

ANTIOCH, Calif. (March 21, 2023) – Three champions will be crowned in the upcoming IMCA Central California Clash May 3-7. IMCA.TV broadcasts each night of the fourth annual tour, which features Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. Opening night is Wednesday, May 3 at Antioch Speedway. The Central California Clash travels to Merced Speedway on Thursday, May 4, to Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford on Friday, May 5 and to Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway on Saturday, May 6 before concluding Sunday, May 7 at Bakersfield Speedway. Modifieds run for $1,000 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility, Stock Cars for $750 to win and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying eligibility, and Northern SportMods for $750 to win each night. Top drivers in point standings for each division also become eligible to qualify for their respective race of champions event during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western Region and EQ [Read More]

Laney, Partain, Jernagan close IMCA Clash with wins at Merced

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. (May 7, 2022) – Cody Laney raced his way into the record book on the sixth and final night of the IMCA Central California Clash Saturday evening. Laney won a second straight Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Merced Speedway, and for the record fourth time in wrapping up the series crown. Opening salvos had Bobby Hogge go toe to toe with Troy Morris III, with Laney joining them to make it three-wide before the first circuit was scored. A pair of early cautions prevented Hogge from getting away from the rest of the pack and he’d trade a couple sliders with Laney before falling to second on lap five. Laney had a couple cautions to deal with himself but kept an even keel on both restarts and won ahead of Morris, Hogge, Jerry Flippo and Kyle Heckman. It was a barnburner of an IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature. Bo Partain maintained a firm grip on the lead despite three early restarts before Dakota Schweitzer closed the gap during [Read More]

Laney, Foulger, Bannister collect California Clash checkers at Merced

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]

Kings, Thunderbowl, Merced all prepped for May 2-7 IMCA Central California Clash dates

HANFORD, Calif. (April 26, 2022) – Three IMCA divisions fill the card each of six nights in the May 2-7 Central California Clash. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility each night, Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods vie for $750 to win and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $600 to win. The Clash is at Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds in Hanford on Monday and Tuesday, May 2 and 3; at Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway Wednesday and Thursday, May 4 and 5; and at Merced Speedway Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7. Kings opens the pits at 2 p.m. and grandstand at 4 p.m. with the drivers’ meeting at 5:15 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m. Grandstand admission is $20 for adults and $15 for seniors, military and students. Tulare opens at pits at 2 p.m. and grandstand at 4 p.m. The drivers’ meeting is at 4:45 p.m. and racing is at 6 p.m. Adult ticket prices are $20 for the grandstands and $15 for [Read More]

Big money for Jernagan at West Coast marquee event

MERCED, Calif. (April 9, 2022) – Garrett Jernagan turned a marquee event into a career-best payday Saturday night. He led the last 26 of 30 laps in winning Merced Speedway’s Al Miller Memorial special for IMCA Northern SportMods, taking home a $5,000 check. “This win ranks right up there, knowing the Miller family and racing one night for five grand,” the Bakersfield driver said, adding plugs for the dual heat format as well as track officials and sponsors. “This is one of the marquee events on the West Coast and it’s nice to only have to go 2-1/2 hours from home and race for $5,000.” Kenny Shrader got the jump on the 20 car field before Jernagan found the fast bottom groove. “I stayed there until right around lap 14 when we had a caution. I’d heard another car (Jacob Mallet Jr.), glanced at the top and saw it was getting pretty clean,” he said. “We got the yellow, I went to the top and while I was never really challenged from there, it wasn’t [Read More]

$5,000 to win for IMCA Northern SportMods at Merced’s fifth annual Al Miller Memorial

MERCED, Calif. (April 5, 2022) – IMCA Northern SportMod drivers chase a $5,000 top check at Merced Speedway’s fifth annual Al Miller Memorial. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. and the grandstands open at 5 p.m. this Saturday, April 9. The pill draw closes and the drivers’ meeting starts at 5:15 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Grandstand admission is $17 for adults, $15 for seniors ages 55 and up, and free for kids 11 and under. The Al Miller Memorial will be broadcast by IMCA.TV.

Laney repeats, Ryland wins two at Merced’s Jerry Shannon Memorial

MERCED, Calif. (March 26, 2022) – Cody Laney was back in victory lane with another big check at Merced Speedway’s Jerry Shannon Memorial. Laney led the last 24 of 30 laps to repeat as IMCA Modified winner at the spring special, earning $5,000. Pole sitter Jake Pike led the first four laps before the first yellow. The fourth starting Laney, already Fast Shaft All-Star Invitational qualifying eligible, was quickly on the prowl and took over on lap six. Three more yellows slowed the 22-car field but Laney was not to be denied. Jerry Flippo pursued to no avail and finished second, followed by Pike, D.J. Shannon and 12th starting Rick Diaz. Fred Ryland was a double winner in IMCA Northern SportMod and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car action. Youngster Andrew Pearce started on the pole and led through the caution eight laps into the Northern SportMod main. Ryland started in the fifth row and moved up quickly and took first place on lap 10 and led to the finish. Pearce and last year’s national rookie of the year and [Read More]