WATSONVILLE — Nicholas Johnson won the 40-lap Hobby Stock race Saturday during the second night of the Mike Cecil Memorial event at Ocean Speedway.
Johnson, who made an impressive charge from 19th starting after a bad effort in his heat race, also took home a $600 pot.
Three-time champion Billy Nelson had the outside front row for the main event and charged into an early lead.
Sam Kennedy, who’s a six-time champion, wasted little time moving into the second position and he enjoyed an early battle with point leader Rob Gallaher.
During the second half of the race, Johnson found his way into third and he battled Kennedy before taking over second.
Johnson began to pressure Nelson during the final 10 laps and Nelson got a bit sideways entering Turn 3 on lap 37.
Johnson moved to the inside and gained the lead. He led the rest of the pack for the remaining three laps for the victory.
Nelson settled for second, followed by Kennedy, Matt Kile, Rob Gallaher, Kevin Joaquin, Joe Gallaher, Chris McCabe, Bobby Huckaby Sr and Austin Van Hoff.
Kennedy, Joe Gallaher and Kile Eight each won their eight-lap heat race.
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IMCA Modified >> Bobby Hogge IV won the 30-lap IMCA Modified main event. It was the fifth win of the season for Hogge, who got a $1,000 payout for the victory.
The redraw format saw Hogge get the pole position. He charged into the lead at the drop of the green flag ahead of Derek Nance.
However, Nance was passed early on by Alex Stanford.
Kellen Chadwick got into a battle with Nance for third before grabbing the position, while Merced Speedway point leader Troy Foulger had to work his way up from the 11th starting pole position.
Both Foulger and Chadwick moved around Stanford in an intense, three-car battle for second place.
But Hogge set a rapid pace up front and took the checkered flag a half straightaway ahead of Foulger.
Chadwick settled for third, followed by Stanford, point leader Cody Burke, Shane DeVolder, Austin Burke, Brian Pearce, Tim Balding and Jim Pettit II.
The IMCA Modifieds had a strong 30-car turnout for the race. Stanford, Hogge, Nick DeCarlo and Cody Burke each won their eight-lap heat race.
Darrell Hughes II outran Robert Marsh for the victory in the 15-lap B Main race, while DeVolder finished third ahead of Carl Berendsen II.
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IMCA Sport Modified >> Guy Ahlwardt won the 20-lap IMCA Sport Modified main event to capture his third win of the season. The current IMCA State point leader also walked away with a $700 purse.
Ahlwardt was able to get a pole position start in the redraw format and charged into the lead at the start.
Point leader Jarrod Mounce battled Todd Gomez early on before taking over second.
By the halfway point of the race, Kevin Johnson found his way into third and had a good battle with Mounce.
Mounce fell back a few spots in the waning laps and Johnson had a solid hold for second place.
However, nobody was stopping Ahlwardt as he won ahead of Johnson, Bruce Nelson, Fred Ryland, Mounce, Randy Miller, Gomez, Dennis Simunovich, Tanner Thomas and Nick Spainhoward.
The IMCA Sport Modifieds had a 30-car turnout. Johnson, Miller, Spainhoward and Mounce each won their eight-lap heat race.
Kenny Shrader won the 12-lap B Main ahead of KC Keller, Tyler Thomas and TJ Etchison III.
Guy Ahlwardt won the 20-lap IMCA Sport Modified main event to capture his third win of the season. (contributed)
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Up Next >> The 360 Sprint Cars are back in action on Friday along with Hobby Stocks, Four Bangers and Police N’ Pursuit. The gates open at 4:30 p.m. and qualifying begins at 6 p.m.
