By Ben Deatherage
MERCED, Calif. (Apr. 12, 2025) — Bobby Hogge wasted no time taking command when the 25-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature got up to speed Saturday night at Merced Speedway. The 2020 California Speedweek titleholder from Salinas, wheeled the Paul Guglielmoni-owned entry into the lead early, then maintained his edge through traffic and restarts.
A caution on lap seven temporarily slowed the field, but once green flag racing resumed, Hogge stayed committed to the low line while the two-defending track champion Jim Pettit II and two-time Bakersfield Speedway titlist Gavyn Manning battled for second.
Manning eventually cleared Pettit and began to close in on Hogge, testing the high groove to mount a challenge. With three laps to go, both drivers worked through heavy traffic, but Hogge made the right moves at the right time and held off Manning for the win.
It marked Hogge’s second victory of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region and his first triumph at Merced in 2025. Manning settled for a close runner-up finish, while Josh Combs completed the podium in third.
Stone Survives Foulger’s Late Charge in Stock Car Thriller
Jason Robles surged to the lead at the drop of the green in Saturday’s 20-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature and led through a string of early cautions.
Each restart gave Robles another shot to control the pace, but eventual winner Paul Stone—starting third—found his rhythm up high and charged to the lead on lap 10. Stone, the two-time reigning Merced Stock Car track king, began to pull away until a yellow with seven laps to go bunched the field back up.
Robles, fighting back on the inside, fell into a fierce scrap with Chris Lewis and reigning Central California Clash Stock Car champion Troy Foulger. Both got by Robles, but mechanical issues soon forced Lewis to the infield.
A final caution with three laps left set up a dramatic finish between the two double-duty drivers. Foulger worked underneath Stone and momentarily edged ahead, but Stone regrouped and reclaimed the lead on the final circuit to score his first EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region win of the year.
Foulger, who rolled off from 10th and claimed second. Mike Shepherd rounded out the top three.
Thomas Dominates SportMod Main on Friday Night
Tanner Thomas made the high side work to perfection in Friday’s Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod main event, rocketing to the lead early and never looking back.
The Atwater racer opened up a comfortable margin and navigated lapped traffic cleanly in the closing laps, cruising to his second win of the year and first at Merced this season.
Buddy Kniss finished second, while 15-year-old up-and-comer Ryder Jeppesen impressed with a strong third-place effort.
