oceanspeedway Archives

Hogge, Kniss win IMCA openers at Ocean

By Steven Blakesley Blakesley Sports Media WATSONVILLE, Calif. (April 13, 2024) – Tenth starting Bobby Hogge IV put on a master class of passing, then dominated the rest of the way in winning Saturday’s Friesen Performance IMCA Modified nightcap at Ocean Speedway. Multiple track champions from across California were scattered throughout the main event field. Hogge charged from tenth to second in the first few laps, avoiding a crash involving Jacob Mallet Jr., Cody Burke and Robert Marsh. Hogge then drove up the inside of Andy Obertello on lap eight to take the lead, accumulating a 6.4 second advantage at the stripe followed by Obertello, Jim Pettit II, Andrew Peckham and Austin Burke. Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod action saw Buddy Kniss fend off Fred Ryland in a classic 20-lap duel to start the season. The pair went side-by-side on lap 16 but Kniss held court once again. Kniss saw the checkered flag with a three car length advantage followed by Ryland, Mark Garner, Emali VanHoff and 2023 champion Chuck Golden.

Foulger wins 103 lap IMCA Modified feature, sweeps Pettit Shootout

By Steven BlakesleyBlakesley Sports Media WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Sept. 30, 2023) – Troy Foulger completed the sweep of the Pat and Jim Pettit Memorial Shootout at Ocean Speedway in Saturday’s 103-lap finale, grabbing the 13th annual Friesen Performance IMCA Modified event in Watsonville. The victory paid $3,006 to win in the extra distance affair at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds after Foulger snared $1,003 and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility on Friday night. “Thank you to the Pettit family for everything they do. They are a wonderful family and give us a great race,” Foulger said. “Hats off to the track crew and hopefully that was a good show for the fans. I saw (Nick DeCarlo’s) nose down there and I didn’t know what pace to set. Lapped traffic was thick so I just started sliding people. So I kind of moved my line down there in three and four and was able to get away.” Hall of Famer Jim Pettit II led the 22 starters from the pole position before Foulger took over the lead [Read More]

Format for Pettit Shootout released, IMCA Modifieds to race 103 laps

By Steven Blakesley WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Sept. 15, 2023) – Details have been unveiled for the prestigious 13th annual Pat and Jim Pettit Memorial Shootout on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 29 and 30 from Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif. The annual event pays tribute to the parents of Hall of Famer Jim Pettit II and features Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods racing in complete programs each night at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds dirt track. The main event is Saturday’s 103-lap IMCA Modified blockbuster, paying $3,006 to win and $206 to start. SportMods race for $1,006 to win that evening. Friday action pays $1,003 in the Modifieds and $553 in the SportMods. Both Modified feature winners become eligible to qualify for the 2024 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. During Saturday’s 103 lap Modified feature, caution flag laps will not count and all drivers a single lap down will receive a lucky dog during caution flags (except for during the lap 50 break). The lap 50 break will be a seven-minute break for fuel [Read More]

Morris has whale of a weekend at Ocean with Pettit Shootout IMCA Modified sweep

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Sept. 23-24, 2022) – Troy Morris III had a pair of DNQ’s to show for his first Pettit Shootout outings in 2020. He has a pair of Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature wins to show from his second trip to Ocean Speedway’s season-ending special. The Bakersfield driver led every lap of Friday’s $1,003 to win main event and the last 18 circuits while checking out in Saturday’s $3,006 to win 53-lapper. “I was super pumped,” said Morris, who won ahead of Bobby Hogge IV and Cody Burke on night one, and was six seconds in front of Nick DeCarlo and then Burke on night two. “I was feeling good after Friday but to be able to win again on Saturday was really special.” “I grew up watching my dad race there and his birthday is the week after the Pettit,” continued Morris, who celebrates his 19th birthday in early October. “It was fun to go up there and win for him.” Morris started outside row one on Friday and had Hogge, a double winner [Read More]

Ocean Speedway Pettit Shootout shows to feature IMCA Modifieds, Northern SportMods Sept. 23, 24

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Aug. 26, 2022) – Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods are on the card for both nights of Ocean Speedway’s 12th annual Pettit Shootout. The West Coast’s premier shootout honors Pat and Jim Pettit Friday, Sept. 23 and Saturday, Sept. 24. Modifieds race for $1,003 to win and a minimum of $103 to start, Northern SportMods for $553 to win and a minimum of $103 to start on opening night. On night two, Modifieds chase a $3,006 top check and $206 start money while Northern SportMods run for $1,006 to win and $156 to start. The added Northern SportMod purse is presented by All Spec Metals of Pittsburg. The total purse for all division is more than $30,000, plus contingency awards and prizes will be given during the weekend. There is no entry fee and IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and state points will be awarded both nights in both divisions; Modifieds also earn Shaw Race Cars Western Region points. Pit passes are $50. Grandstand admission is $25 for [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.

Hagio, Burke score Friday Ocean Speedway IMCA victories

By Ben Deatherage WATSONVILLE, Calif. (April 1, 2022) – Ocean Speedway returned to racing on Friday for their third race on the campaign, with IMCA feature wins going to Cody Burke and Jonathan Hagio. At the release of the green flag for the 20-lap IMCA Northern SportMod main, Igor Gandzuk took the reins on the opening lap and set a rapid pace but was eventually caught by the completion of the seventh circuit. The driver to catch Gandzuk was Jonathan Hagio. However, Hagio was by no means out of the proverbial woods as he got bottled up in lapped traffic that brought the entire top five into contention for the lead. Shortly after Hagio passed the last car on the lead lap, a multi-car incident, including two top-five runners, occurred on the 12th circuit. Hagio got up to speed but felt some brief heat a few circuits later. Richard Ragsdale got close to getting around Hagio, but the leader kept Ragsdale in check and scored his first win of 2022. Ragsdale was second, followed by Fred [Read More]

Hogge, Ryland top opening night features at Ocean

By Don Martin II WATSONVILLE, Calif. (March 11, 2022) – Bobby Hogge IV opened the 63rd season of racing at Ocean Speedway with a dominant IMCA Modified feature win Friday night. One early tangle proved to be the only slowdown of the race. Hogge led the restart ahead of reigning KMJ Performance State champion Jim Pettit II and four-time and defending track champion Cody Burke. Burke took second from Pettit on the fourth lap and Pettit fell back to fifth on lap six as Matthew Hagio settled into third. Hogge held a half-lap lead over Burke by the 11th circuit. Burke fell out on lap 12 as Hagio was now second ahead of Anthony Copeland. Pettit slipped past Copeland for third on lap 18 but was a lap down as Hogge won ahead of Hagio and Pettit. Fred Ryland won the 20-lap IMCA Northern SportMod main event. The race got a complete restart before Ryland led past Jim DiGiovanni and Igor Grandzjuk on the restart. Grandzjuk took second on lap four, only to surrender the [Read More]

Hogge, Kanke both bring brooms to Ocean Speedway’s Pettit Shootout

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (Sept. 24-25) – Bobby Hogge IV added to his collection of Pettit Shootout trophies while Cale Kanke started his. Both drivers swept weekend events at Ocean Speedway, with Hogge picking up $1,003 and $3,006 IMCA Modified victories, his career sixth and seventh at the event. Kanke earned $503 for Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod career win number one on Friday and $1,003 for win number two the next night. “It was a pretty amazing weekend for us,” said Hogge, who wheeled the Rage by Precision Performance ride he’d debuted at the Prelude and IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. “We started our venture in California with this car really well. Things couldn’t have gone any better for us.” Newly eligible to qualify for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational, he won from 10th starting on opening night and from outside row one on Saturday. “We floundered around mid-pack for a while before we found our way toward the front and battled with Paul Stone,” he said, “and got the lead around midway of the [Read More]

Ocean Speedway primed for 11th annual Pettit Shootout

WATSONVILLE, Calif. – IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods headline both nights of Ocean Speedway’s 11th annual Pettit Shootout Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24 and 25. Modifieds race for $1,003 to win and a minimum of $103 to start on Friday, and for $3,006 to win and a minimum of $206 to start Saturday. Winners of both features become eligible to qualify for the 2022 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. SportMods race for $503 to win on Friday and $1,006 to win on Saturday. Both divisions earn IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and KMJ Performance State points both nights; Modifieds also earn Shaw Race Cars Western Region points. The pit gate opens at 10 a.m. and pill draw is from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. both days. The drivers’ meeting is at 2:45 p.m. with qualifying to follow at approximately 3:30 p.m. Pit passes are $55 each night or a two-day pass for $100. Transponders and RACEceivers are required. All drivers and fans are invited to join to kick-off the race weekend, bring their polished cars and [Read More]