oceanspeedway Archives

Pettit, Golden take IMCA checkers at Ocean

By Steven Blakesley Blakesley Sports Media WATSONVILLE, Calif. (June 14, 2024) – Grassroots stock car racing action hit the dirt track at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville on Friday night, highlighted by victory in the 25-lap IMCA Modified feature for the Hall of Famer Jim Pettit II. Raymond Kjeldsen, Jr. drove around the outside of polesitter Kyle Bryant at the start of the Modified nightcap, swooping into the lead on lap one. Robert Marsh and Pettit used the outside line to drive into second and third, respectively. Pettit hounded Marsh but was unable to pass him for second, until Marsh spun in turn four. Marsh continued but surrendered several positions. Keldsen had a nearly 2.5 second advantage on Pettit at that stage on lap 10, but Pettit went to work reeling him in. By lap 16, Pettit drove underneath him in turn four to take the lead position. The caution flew a lap later for Bryan spinning out of the top five in turn four. Pettit fended off a nose to tail line of Cody and Austin [Read More]

Burke, Mead top IMCA features at Ocean

Steven Blakesley Blakesley Sports Media WATSONVILLE, Calif. (May 31, 2024) – Ocean Speedway in Watsonville hosted a special Friday night show with Cody Burke and Jeff Mead earning exciting wins at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds dirt track. After a winless 2023 season, former track champion Burke prevailed for the second time in 2024 in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds. Robert Marsh jumped ahead of Burke to lead the opening lap of the 25-lap feature. Marsh built up a large lead before approaching lapped traffic. The caution flew for a spinning car in turn two. Burke marched towards Marsh on the restart and took the lead from car no. 22 on lap 22. Burke led the final three laps for victory followed by seventh-starting Bobby Hogge IV, Marsh, Austin Burke and Jim Pettit II. Jeff Mead led all 20 laps for the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod win. Emali VanHoff prevailed in a fast-paced race for second followed by 2023 track champion Chuck Golden, TJ Etchison and Brian Baggett.

Marsh, Allee sail to IMCA wins at Ocean

By Steven Blakesley Blakesley Sports Media WATSONVILLE, Calif. (May 10, 2024) – Robert Marsh and Steven Allee were IMCA feature winners on Friday night during round five at Ocean Speedway. Marsh led all 25 laps for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified victory. Outside polesitter Todd Hermosillo drifted outside the top five within the first two laps of action. Eighth starting Jim Pettit II, aiming for his third consecutive track championship, drove up to second by lap six and brought along Jacob Mallett, Jr. into third on lap seven. Pettit ran on Marsh’s bumper through traffic before the caution flew on lap 19 for debris in turn four. Pettit drove inside of Marsh twice in turn three to no avail. Marsh and Pettit raced side-by-side down the front stretch on lap 24 but Marsh edged ahead. Robert Marsh scored the win followed by Pettit, Mallet, Bobby Hogge IV and Raymond Keldsen. Allee earned his first career Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature win in a 20-lap contest. Mike Kofnovec Jr. led from the pole position and [Read More]

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]