
Late arrival Cleveland is first to IMCA West Coast Nationals finish at Merced
MERCED, Calif. (Jan. 3) – Duane Cleveland opened his trailer Saturday morning for the first time since racing in Las Vegas two months ago and unloaded the car that won the IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modified feature on night two of the West Coast Nationals at Merced Speedway. “At seven this morning, I decided to race today and took the car out of its trailer and scaled it,” Cleveland said from victory lane. “I got to Merced just in time for the show.” The win paid $2,500 and put Cleveland on the ballot for September’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Cleveland took the lead early in the 30-lap feature after battling Oregon traveler Tom Berry Jr. Cleveland was never to be challenged for the rest of the distance. Berry, who had never before raced at Merced, held off Kellen Chadwick until the waning moments of the race. Chadwick took up the chase of Cleveland but time ran out before he could catch him. “It was a good time out there. The track was great,” Cleveland said. [Read More]