MERCED, California — Alex Stanford fought off a non stop challenge from
Merced’s famous flying UPS driver, Aaron Barnell, in the modified stock carfeature event Sunday evening at Merced Speedway.
For Stanford, it was the 13th main event win in California modified
racing this year, and he has won the last five features he entered.
“I made some changes on the car and tried some new stuff out,” said
Stanford. “Now, I know what to do and not do for this track.”
Barnell kept the pressure on throughout the entire event, running so
close to Stanford only the width of a sheet of paper separated them.
“He didn’t get away from me,” said Barnell. “I was hoping we could go a few more rounds.”
Both drivers want more competition from outside drivers.
“Spread the word, bring on the competition,” said Stanford.
Barnell agreed. “The more cars, the better the racing is,” he said. “We want to race against the best in the state.”
For Hausmann, running up high on the track has brought him success two weeks in a row. Raul Rodriguez chased him lap after lap. “I just set the car up for tacky and run up high,” he said. “For me its the place to be.”
Adriane de Sousa of Gilroy was a surprise visitor to the new quarter mile dirt oval. She added Merced Speedway to her long list of conquered tracks as she won Merced Speedway’s “Four-Banger” feature event. “I never raced here, and decided to check it out,” she said in victory lane. “My key to success is keeping a positive attitude.” She’s been so positive that she has won feature events this year at five Central California race tracks.
Second place Dustin Donathan of Merced couldn’t catch her. “Who are you? You were hauling,” said Donathan as he pulled next to Sousa in victory lane. “I gained on her in the turns, but when she hit the straight away she was just gone.”
TOP FIVE FINISHERS:
Modifieds: 1.) Alex Stanford 2.) Aaron Barnell 3.) Vance Beltran 4.) Bill Wesenberg 5.) George Lefler, Sr.
Four Bangers: 1.) Adriane de Sousa 2.) Dustin Donathan 3.) Dan McCabe 4.) Joshua Strickland 5.) David Coleman.
Hobby Stocks: 1.) Shane Hausmann 2.) Raul Rodriguez 3.) Ryan Hart 4.) Aaron Widick 5.) Jacob Owens.
