oceanspeedway Archives

Wagner Hustles to Late-Race SportMod Score at Ocean

By Steven Blakesley WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Jun. 27, 2025) — Bay Point’s Danny Wagner snagged the lead on lap 18 of the 20-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature and drove away to victory Friday night at Ocean Speedway. Connor Sollis took the initial lead from the outside pole after starting alongside rookie Shane Freeman. Sixth-starting Rob Gallaher quickly carved through the field, passing 2024 track champion Emali Van Hoff for second, then overtaking Sollis for the lead on lap four. Championship contender Bo Crebs slowed on the front stretch to bring out a caution on lap 12. On the ensuing restart, Van Hoff spun in turn one and was hit hard by 14-year-old Landon King, ending both drivers’ evenings. Wagner tracked down Gallaher and made his move to the inside on lap 16. After a spirited side-by-side battle, Wagner completed the pass on lap 18 and never looked back. He topped Gallaher and Steven Allee at the finish for his seventh overall win of 2025 and fifth at Ocean Speedway this season. Marsh Masters Modified Mayhem [Read More]

Pettit Powers to Late-Race Modified Win at Ocean

By Steven Blakesley WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Jun. 20, 2025) — Jim Pettit II of Prunedale soared around the outside of Cody Burke with two laps remaining to win the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Ocean Speedway — his second Shaw Race Cars Western Region victory of the season, both at the track. Burke led the action from the pole position. Dustin Canale spun to set up a restart on just the first lap of competition. An accordion effect on the restart caught out Bobby Hogge and Todd Hermosillo, requiring another caution to separate the two vehicles. Cole Szlauko spun from third on lap 17, erasing a 1.6 second lead for Burke over Pettit and setting up a three-lap shootout. Pettit took full advantage, driving to the top side to lead lap 19. Burke battled back on the bottom in turn four coming to the checkered flag to no avail. Pettit scored the win followed by Burke and Jonathan Hagio. Wagner Outduels Golden for Sixth SportMod Victory of ‘25 The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod 20-lap feature [Read More]

Gallaher Charges to First SportMod Victory of Season at Ocean

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Jun. 13, 2025) — The Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods once again brought out the best car count of the night at Ocean Speedway, with 16 total racers on hand. A trio of different leaders were seen in another outstanding main event. Jim DiGiovanni led the opening laps before Max Baggett made the move around him on lap three. San Jose’s Rob Gallaher, however, would not be denied. The driver of the X mount blasted into the top spot on lap six and never looked back—despite a late green-white-checkered restart. Danny Wagner and Bo Crebs stayed close, but Gallaher held strong to collect the win—his first of the season. Wagner and Crebs completed the podium. Hogge Rallies Late for Fourth Ocean Modified Win The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature delivered wild moments throughout the 25-lap contest. Jonathan Hagio claimed the early lead and maintained command for much of the race while the action behind him remained intense. Katelyn Robertson and Jim Pettit II put on an excellent battle for second, trading [Read More]

Bobby Hogge Tops All-Star Modified Race At Ocean

By Steven Blakesley WATSONVILLE, Calif. (May 30, 2025) – Salinas’ Bobby Hogge topped the second round of the All-Star Challenge in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds at Ocean Speedway. It was his fifth win of 2025 in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Troy Foulger led the opening lap of the 25-lap IMCA Modified feature. Robert Marsh mounted a challenge on the high side to seize the lead on lap three. Foulger slid Marsh in turn four and the duo ran side-by-side on lap five. Hogge edged into the battling, looking to the inside of Foulger as well. The furious battling was halted when Todd Hermosillo spun in turn four. Marsh pitted with a flat left front tire as well. Hogge pounced on the restart, diving inside to lead lap eight over Foulger. Hogge accumulated a 4.2 second advantage that was nullified by Kyle Bryan stopping in turn four on lap 23. Hogge persevered over a green-white-checked finish to nab the victory, followed by Jim Pettit II and Foulger in second and third. Wagner Controls Ocean [Read More]

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.

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]

Ryan Jr. Rallies From 10th for Ocean SportMod Victory

By Steven Blakesley WATSONVILLE, Calif. (May 2, 2025) — Tenth-starting Jason Ryan Jr. of Oakley rolled the bottom to perfection to take the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod 20-lap victory at Ocean Speedway. Polesitter Trent Golden withstood multiple challenges from Rob Gallaher in lapped traffic to maintain the lead throughout the event. Ryan edged forward throughout the race, then finally was in position to pounce, taking the lead on the inside on lap 14. It marked Ryan’s first triumph of 2025. Golden finished second, followed by Gallaher. The event was broadcast on IMCA TV affiliate Stars On Dirt TV. Missed the action? Catch every lap with the IMCA TV Replay Subscription for just $24.99/month. The Boone Docuseries Season 2 is now streaming exclusively on IMCA TV.

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]

Marsh Holds Off Hogge for Modified Glory at Ocean

By Gary Thomas WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Apr. 11, 2025) — The 25-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified finale at Ocean Speedway featured a fantastic race that saw Robert Marsh of Salinas end up in victory lane. Jonathan Hagio took the lead at the waving of the green flag and set a fast pace over the early stages. Side-by-side racing and battles were seen all over the track during the main event. Marsh reeled in Hagio and hounded his rear before taking command on lap eight. Marsh proceeded to pull away but had to run some perfect laps towards the end as Bobby Hogge closed. The Salinas legend moved into second with six laps left and cut down a wide margin between the pair. Hogge would run out of time, however, as Marsh claimed the win by just over half a second — his first of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Hogge and Jim Pettit II rounded out the podium. Crebs Captures Wild SportMod Main The Karl Chevrolet IMCA SportMods also provided an ultra-entertaining 20-lap [Read More]

Burke Battles from Eighth to Win IMCA Modified Opener at Ocean

By Steven Blakesley WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Mar. 28, 2025) — Cody Burke of Salinas drove from the eighth starting position to win the season opening 25-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. Robert Marsh of Salinas fended off some tough customers for the first half of the event. A caution for both Jonathan Hagio and Kyle Bryan each in separate spins, set up the key restart for Burke. Burke drove inside Marsh on the backstretch to take the lead on lap 15. Bobby Hogge followed him into second as well. Hogge hounded Burke to no avail over the final ten laps. Burke earned the victory over Hogge, Marsh, Bakersfield’s Robby Sawyer, and Prunedale’s Jim Pettit II. It is Burke’s first win of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Wagner Slices Through Field for SportMod Triumph Baypoint’s Danny Wagner took home the win in the 20-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA SportMod main event from a scheduled ninth starting position. Cody Bryan, Matthew Frazier, and Rob Gallaher each took turns at the lead over the first four laps. [Read More]