MERCED, California -- The CCMR Food 4 Less Series Merced Speedway ran a Mothers Day special event that featured 40 lap Main Events for all Divisions. In the IMCA Modifieds, Bob Williamson drove his D & M Performance Chassis to his second win of the season, but defeding champion Ramie Stone finished second in the 40 lapper. Meanwhile, three time champion Darren Thomas continued to roll with his third straight win in the 40 lap Street Stock feature. Point leader Andrew Krumm followed Thomas' lead with his third straight win in the Hobby Stock 40 lapper before Dan Holcomb capped the evening with his second Pure Stock feature win of the season.
The IMCA Modifieds produced another stellar field, including the season debut for 2002 "Rookie Of The Year" Bobby Williamson and 2001 IMCA State champion Johnnie Baptista. Stanford kicked things off by holding off Mark Hamblin to win his six lap heat race, while R. Stone held off brother Troy Stone to win the second qualifying heat race. Stanford was an early leader as fellow D & M Chassis racer Bob Williamson made an outside groove effort towards the front. Williamson grabbed the lead on the 23rd lap. 2003 "Rookie Of The Year" hopeful Garrett Steitz, in his best effort of the season, soon followed Bob Williamson into second, but R. Stone claimed second from Steitz on lap 36. However, there was no stopping Bob Williamson as he scored the victory ahead of R. Stone, Steitz, T. Stone, Baptista, Bill Saltzman, Bobby Williamson, Stanford, George Nevatt and Hamblin. R. Stone holds a three point lead over Bob Williamson after six races with Saltzman 17 points back in third.
The Street Stock field included 16 top notch racers competing for the honors in the Main Event. Defending champion John Clarke tuned up for the big race by holding off Randy Brewer to win the four lap Trophy Dash. Hoping to snap Thomas' two race winning streek, point leader Tim Ragsdale led most of the Main Event as Brewer and Clarke charged into second and third. Thomas worked his way into third by passing Clarke on lap 28. However, Ragsdale appeared to be headed for the victory until, while working slower traffic on lap 32, he was involved in a four car crash that also claimed Brewer and Johnny O'Brien Jr. Thomas suddenly found himself in the lead and paced Jack Chapman Jr. and "Rookie Of The Year" hopeful Mark Funkhouser on the restart. Ragsdale slipped past Funkhouser late, but it was Thomas collecting the victory ahead of Chapman Jr., Ragsdale, Funkhouser, Brewer, Jack Chapman Sr., Ramon Neilson, Ricky Thatcher, Phillip Lust and Frank Machado Jr. Ragsdale still holds a 40 point lead over over Funkhouser as Brewer trails Funkhouser by 24 points in the battle for second.
After winning the four lap Hobby Stock Trophy Dash ahead of Krumm, Welch seemed poised to win the extra distance feature as well. Welch led much of the Main Event, while Krumm worked his way to the front, slipping into second on lap 27. Top five point runner Scott Van Gelder brought out a lap 36 red flag when he flipped into the infield. Fortunately, he was uninjured. Krumm challenged Welch hard on the restart and made his move on the last lap. Krumm edged Welch at the line for the victory. Marshall Weaver finished third ahead of Sydney Finn, Mike Stockton, Cliff Daniels, Mike Hamilton, Pat Presley, Van Gelder and Raul Rodriguez Sr. Krumm now leads Hamilton by 26 points as Welch is 22 tallkis behind Hamilton for second.
It would be a double win night for Holcomb in the Pure Stock division. Holcomb started the night off with a four lap Trophy Dash win ahead of Aaron Widick. Holcomb took the Main Event lead from the start and stretched his lead to about half a lap over point leader Jim Ford and Widick before a lap 28 caution flag slowed the pace. However, Holcomb was not to be denied as he led the restart and sped home to victory. Ford finished second as rookie Shane Hausman, Deak Sherrell, Widick and Raul Rodriguez Jr. rounded out the finish. In a hotly contested championship battle, Ford still holds a slim lead over Widick and Holcomb.
- H 1
- Jack Stanford, Mark Hamblin, Bob Williamson, Aaron Barnell, Bobby Williamson
- H 2
- Troy Stone, Ramie Stone, Johnnie Baptista, Mike Gillard, Garrett Steitz
- MAIN EVENT
- Bob Williamson, R. Stone, Steitz, T. Stone, Baptista, Bill Saltzman, Bobby Williamson, Stanford, George Nevatt, Hamblin, Barnell, Hank Silva, Gillard, Gary Buckingham, Tim Porter
- DASH
- John Clarke, Randy Brewer, Mark Funkhouser
- MAIN EVENT
- Darren Thomas, Jack Chapman Jr., Ragsdale, Funkhouser, Brewer, Jack Chapman Sr., Ramon Neilson, Ricky Thatcher, Phillip Lust, Frank Machado Jr., Johnny O'Brien Jr., John Clarke, Willie Livingston, Dennis Corn, Chris Shelton, Steven Lord.
- DASH
- Andy Welch, Andrew Krumm, Mike Hamilton
- MAIN EVENT
- Krumm, Welch, Marshall Weaver, Sydney Finn, Mike Stockton, Cliff Daniels, Hamilton, Pat Presley, Scott Van Gelder, Raul Rodriguez Sr., Garrett Steitz
- DASH
- Dan Holcomb, Aaron Widick, Jim Ford
- MAIN EVENT
- Holcomb, Ford, Hausmann, Deak Sherrell, Widick, Raul Rodriguez Jr
