mercedspeedway

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]

MERCED, Calif. (April 14) – It had been a few years since Danny Lauer turned laps at Merced Speedway but it didn’t take him long to find the fastest way the oval at Saturday’s Bill Egleston Trib­ute. Lauer led all 50 laps of the evening’s IMCA Modified feature, earning $4,015 along with a spot on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. “We were stoked. We unloaded the car and never touched a thing. It was fast all night,” Lauer said after pocketing the biggest check of his career in the class. “I took the lead going into (turn) one on the first lap and ran the bottom. I figured if anyone was going to pass they’d have to go around me.” The last yellow came out with nine circuits left. Lauer kept Austin Burke at bay to win for the first time this season and the first time he’s entered a 50-lapper that didn’t have a pit stop at midway. “We haven’t won that many races the last few years. The sport evolved and we [Read More]

MERCED, Calif. – Inclement weather gets the blame for postponement of the Bill Egleston Tribute originally schedule for this Saturday at Merced Speedway. IMCA Modifieds now race for $3,000 to win and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods for $1,800 to win at the rescheduled event Saturday, April 14. Pit gates open at 1 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 4 p.m. Racing follows 4:45 p.m. hot laps. Car and driver is $50. Pit passes are $40. Spectator admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 62 and over, military personnel and students with ID, $5 for children ages 6-12 and free for five and under. The Egleston Tribute is a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. Modifieds and Northern SportMods chase IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, California State and track points; Modifieds also contend for Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region points. Fellow racers and friends contributed to the purse for the event, held in honor of the late IMCA Modified driver. More information is on Facebook.