petalumaspeedway Archives

Paul scores big win at Petaluma

By Ben Deatherage PETALUMA, Calif. (April 9, 2022) – Michael Paul Jr., paced a healthy field of Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds Saturday night at Petaluma Speedway. Raymond Lindeman had a fast hot rod from the drop of the first green flag before having to deal with restarts as three cautions happened in the first five circuits. After the third restart, Lindeman received company in the likes of hometown driver Paul, who battled with the leader for several laps before capturing the top spot on the 13th lap. Paul had to deal with a pair of stoppages himself in the later stages of the feature, as he held on through a green, white, checkered finish to win ahead of Cody Burke and Jim Pettit II. Racing in the Josh Combs-owned entry, Anthony Slaney placed fourth with fifth going to Lindeman.

Pettit opens Petaluma winning account

By Ben Deatherage PETALUMA, Calif. (April 2) – Saturday was a thriller of an IMCA Modified main event at Petaluma Speedway. The 25-lap feature saw Jeffrey Faulkner storm to P1. Faulkner, on several occasions, was under pressure from Jim Pettit II, attempting to overtake him for the win. Pettit was placed in check on every occasion. Two toppages occurred in the last few laps, setting up a late-race shootout. On the final restart, Pettit managed to successfully navigate around Faulkner on lap twenty and won the race. Faulkner and Garrett Brady were second and third. Michelle Paul and Oreste Gonella wrapped up the top five finishing positions.

Machado masters IMCA Modifieds at Petaluma

By Stephanie Deatherage PETALUMA, Calif. (May 22) – Mitch Machado became the latest IMCA Modified feature winner at Petaluma Speedway Saturday night. Taking advantage of his inside front row starting position, Machado charged to the lead at the start of the 25-lap main event. The veteran felt some brief pressure from Michael Paul Jr. but was able to temper his advances as the race continued. Four cautions took place, but one thing remained the same, Machado was the leader. Despite the occasional bid to overtake him, Machado set the pace for the rest of the distance to secure his first win of the season at Petaluma. Paul was the runner-up with third going to Anthony Slaney. Terry Kaiser was fourth while Jake Dewsbury ended the race fifth.

Petaluma California IMCA Speedweek feature wins to Morris, Tyler Bannister

By Stephanie Deatherage PETALUMA, Calif. (May 6) – Troy Morris III raced to his first California IMCA Speedweek presented by Hoppes Motorsports feature victory while Tyler Bannister won for the second time in as many nights Thursday at Petaluma Speedway. Morris topped the $1,000 to win, Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier for IMCA Modifieds while Bannister followed his Wednesday checkers at Antioch with the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main event win. “I was speechless when it happened,” said Morris, acknowledging the caliber of the competition he beat for his first win in the division. “I feel like I’m on top of the world. It was a stacked field of cars on a technical track and it was fun. I had a blast.” Buddy Kniss was on a rail at the drop of the green in the 25-lap Modified main, pulling away from the pack before what proved to be a fateful lap four caution. Kniss had an incredible start when things returned to green but briefly lost control in on the sixth circuit and [Read More]

Paul prevails in opener at Petaluma

By Ben Deatherage PETALUMA, Calif. (April 17) – IMCA Modifieds made their 2021 debut at Petaluma Speedway on Saturday and Michael Paul Jr. was the driver showing the fastest way around the historic Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds adobe clay facility. Bobby Montalvo opened the main event up by procuring the lead on the opening start before being forced to deal with a restart after a caution on lap three. On the ensuing restart, it was Paul bringing the heat on the leader. Paul captured the top spot, on lap four. The Petaluma veteran had to worry about handling two restarts once he took over the lead. After some brief heavy pressure briefly after one of the returns to green flag action, it was pretty much pure dominance by Paul in the 20-lap affair. Tim Balding ended his night second while Anthony Slaney placed third. The rest of the top five consisted of Montalvo and Paul’s wife Michelle.

Speedweek night two sees Foulger pace Petaluma show

By Stephanie Deatherage PETALUMA, Calif. (Aug. 11) – The second leg of the California IMCA Speedweek presented by Hoppes Motorsports saw Troy Foulger parked in victory lane following the Modified main event at Petaluma Speedway. Foulger picked up $1,000 and a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth for the big win atop the 3/8-mile adobe clay oval. The third starting Foulger had been quick to the lead and stayed in front through long green flag action. Lapped traffic did become a factor but Foulger avoided all obstacles on his way to the checkers. Paul Stone again charged out of a “B” feature, started last in the main and rocketed to a second-place result. Night one winner Bobby Hogge IV placed third while fourth went to New Mexico standout Zane DeVilbiss. Veteran Paul Gugliomoni was fifth via a consolation feature. In the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod main event, Garrett Jernagan picked up from where left off from the previous evening This time the Bakersfield driver seized the lead on the initial start, mastered each restart and didn’t [Read More]

Six tracks host California IMCA Speedweek shows

MERCED, Calif. – California is the place Modified and Northern SportMod drivers will want to be, for the inaugural California IMCA Speedweek Aug. 10-15. IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000 to win their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying features while Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods chase $750 top checks each night. The inaugural California IMCA Speedweek presented by Hoppes Motorsports opens next Monday at Placerville Speedway, then travels to Petaluma Speedway on Aug. 11; to Antioch Speedway on Aug. 12; to Merced Speedway on Aug. 13; to Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford on Aug. 14; and to Bakersfield Speedway for the Aug. 15 finale. All events are draw/redraw. Modified features pay $100 to start, Northern SportMod features $75, with IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western Region and KMJ Performance State points, in addition to series points at stake. Top five drivers in standings for each division receive point fund shares, in increments of $1,000, $400, $200, $100 and $100 for the Modifieds and $700, $300, $200, $100 and $100 for the Northern [Read More]

Inaugural California IMCA Modified Speedweek dates announced

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. – Something exciting is around the bend in the California IMCA Modified scene. Doug Lockwood, promoter at Merced Speedway, has put together the first-ever Modified Speedweek in the State of California. The series will race from Monday, Aug. 10 to Saturday, Aug. 15 at six different racetracks in as many nights. The racing extravaganza will be open to both IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. Each race will feature a 20-car main event for $1,000 to win and $50 to start for the Modifieds while SportMods will race for $600 to the winner and $40 to start. Modified features are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. Point funds will be up for grabs in both divisions, with $1,000-$400-$200-$100-$100 shares being paid in the Modifieds and $600-$300-$200-$100-$100 shares paid in the SportMods. The whole party kicks off at Placerville Speedway on Aug. 10, before the tour travels west to Petaluma Speedway on Tuesday. Wednesday will be spent at Antioch Speedway while the Thursday date is reserved for Merced Speedway. The series continues its southern [Read More]