mercedspeedway Archives

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]

IMCA Stock Cars have four Saturday dates at Merced

MERCED, Calif. – Four Saturday dates for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars are on the 2020 schedule at Merced Speedway. The full-bodied class runs May 9, June 27 and Aug. 1 and 22 at the quarter-mile clay California venue. “We have had a number of drivers ask about adding Stock Cars here. If they support us, we’ll add more dates next season,” promoter Doug Lockwood said. “We really like IMCA. Their rules make everybody’s job easier and guys who have been racing at other tracks in California can come to Merced and know their cars will be legal when they get here.” Merced will be part of IMCA’s EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region. Stock Cars points earned there also figure toward IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National and E3 Spark Plugs California State standings. The IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods return to regular weekly programs at Merced. Both divisions headline the June 10 fair special, the June 20 Ed Parker Memorial and the pre-holiday special on July 3, which features free grandstand admission and [Read More]

Foulger figuring out Merced, IMCA Modified checkers at Ed Parker Memorial pay $2,028

MERCED, Calif. (June 15) – Slowly but surely, Troy Foulger is figuring out the nuances at Merced Speedway. Foulger raced from sixth starting to win Saturday’s Ed Parker Memorial IMCA Modified main event. His third victory of the season at the Central Valley oval paid $2,028, plus lap money, and landed him on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “It was awesome,” said Foulger, who split leader Randy Brown and a lapped car to take the front spot on the 19th of 30 circuits. “We ran in traffic most of the way and I tried to get through it as quick as I could.” After an early caution, the race stayed green all the way to lap 27. Foulger pulled away again in beating Brown and Robby Sawyer to the checkers. “I ran the top side most of the way,” he said following his ninth start of 2019 at Merced, “but I could go about anywhere to get through traffic.” Cody Burke and hard charger Trevor Fitz-Gibbon, who’d started 13th, rounded out the top [Read More]

Merced Speedway preps for June 15 Ed Parker Memorial

MERCED, Calif. – IMCA Modifieds race for $1,700 to win, Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods for $1,000 to win at Merced Speedway’s Saturday, June 15 Ed Parker Memorial. A Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot berth is at stake for the Modifieds, who race for a minimum of $100 to start. SportMods taking the feature green earn a minimum of $60. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, E3 Spark Plugs State and track points will be awarded in both divisions. Modifieds also contend for Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region points. There is no entry fee for the draw/redraw show. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 5:45 p.m. with racing to follow. Spectator admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and military, $5 for students ages six to 12 and free for five and under. Pit passes are $40. More information about the second annual event is posted on the www.mercedspeedway.net website.

Merced RaceSaver checkers are career first for Champlin

MERCED, Calif. (April 6) – Grant Champlin had a pair of top four finishes to show for his first two Western RaceSaver Sprint Series outings of the season. He had his career first IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Series victory to show from his third, Saturday night at Merced Speedway. Champlin chased Grant Duinkerken most of the 30-lapper, gaining ground in traffic and finally taking the lead coming out of turn four with six circuits left. “All the tough guys were here tonight. There was no lack of talent,” said Champlin, who beat defending series champion Duinkerken to the checkers by four car lengths. “It’s good to get this win. It gives you a bump up in your confidence.” He’d run fourth and third in the first two series events of the season, both at Keller Auto Speedway. Kyle Rasmussen, Rob Solomon and Brendan Warmerdam completed Saturday’s top five. Feature results – 1. Grant Champlin; 2. Grant Duinkerken; 3. Kyle Rasmussen; 4. Rob Solomon; 5. Brendan Warmerdam; 6. Ryan Delisle; 7. Monty Ferriera; 8. Brandon Emmett; 9. Mauro [Read More]

Lauer dominates IMCA Modifieds at Merced’s Bill Egleston Tribute

MERCED, Calif. (April 14) – It had been a few years since Danny Lauer turned laps at Merced Speedway but it didn’t take him long to find the fastest way the oval at Saturday’s Bill Egleston Tribute. Lauer led all 50 laps of the evening’s IMCA Modified feature, earning $4,015 along with a spot on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. “We were stoked. We unloaded the car and never touched a thing. It was fast all night,” Lauer said after pocketing the biggest check of his career in the class. “I took the lead going into (turn) one on the first lap and ran the bottom. I figured if anyone was going to pass they’d have to go around me.” The last yellow came out with nine circuits left. Lauer kept Austin Burke at bay to win for the first time this season and the first time he’s entered a 50-lapper that didn’t have a pit stop at midway. “We haven’t won that many races the last few years. The sport evolved and we [Read More]

Egleston Tribute at Merced postponed to April 14

MERCED, Calif. – Inclement weather gets the blame for postponement of the Bill Egleston Tribute originally schedule for this Saturday at Merced Speedway. IMCA Modifieds now race for $3,000 to win and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods for $1,800 to win at the rescheduled event Saturday, April 14. Pit gates open at 1 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 4 p.m. Racing follows 4:45 p.m. hot laps. Car and driver is $50. Pit passes are $40. Spectator admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 62 and over, military personnel and students with ID, $5 for children ages 6-12 and free for five and under. The Egleston Tribute is a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifier. Modifieds and Northern SportMods chase IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, California State and track points; Modifieds also contend for Larry Shaw Race Cars Western Region points. Fellow racers and friends contributed to the purse for the event, held in honor of the late IMCA Modified driver. More information is on Facebook.