WATSONVILLE — Justin Sanders won the 30-lap Taco Bravo Ocean Sprint car main event Friday night at Ocean Speedway.
Sanders took advantage of his front-row starting position for his fifth win of the season.
James Ringo placed fifth, which moved him to within a point of Bud Kaeding in the Ocean Speedway standings. Kaeding won a King of the West Series race at Stockton that same night.
Sanders set himself up in a good position in the main event by outrunning Brent Kaeding to win the six-lap Trophy Dash.
Sanders set the pace from the drop of the green flag with Kaeding in pursuit. Sanders led through six laps and on lap seven a yellow flag was waved.
Landon Hurst slipped past Kaeding for the second position on lap 10, while Sanders was beginning to build a good lead when a lap 18 yellow flag bunched up the field.
Sanders held on to the lead in front of Hurst and Kaeding on the restart. He maintained his fast pace and stretched his advantage over Hurst on the straightaway for the victory.
Kaeding settled for third, followed by Grant Duinkerken, Ringo, Koen Shaw, Jayson Bright, Tucker Worth, Keith Day Jr. and Jason Chisum.
Of the 19 Sprint Cars, Day managed to set the quick time of 11.747 seconds on the quarter-mile clay oval, while Sanders clocked in the second-best time with an 11.778-second lap.
The eight-lap heat race wins went to Duinkerken, Bright and Kaeding. But Kaeding was outrun by Sanders in the six-lap Trophy Dash.
•••
DeCarlo makes late move for IMCA Modified win: Nick DeCarlo won the 25-lap IMCA Modified main event for his second win of the season.
Jerry Movrich led a lap before being passed by Robert Marsh, while Jeff Decker settled into second place after a restart on lap four.
DeCarlo, the reigning champion at Antioch Speedway, moved up to third on lap seven.
Following a lap nine yellow flag, Decker maneuvered into the lead and began a duel with DeCarlo.
DeCarlo took the lead on lap 15 but Decker regained the advantage a lap later as they ran side-by-side. DeCarlo again nudged ahead on lap 17 and on the following lap a yellow flag slowed the pace.
Decker was able to regain the lead on the restart and held the point until DeCarlo passed him again on lap 22.
DeCarlo won the hard-fought battle ahead of Austin Burke, Decker, Bobby Hogge IV, Jim Pettit II, Cody Burke, Trevor Fitzgibbon, Anthony Copeland, Marsh and Raymond Keldsen Jr.
Marsh and DeCarlo won their eight-lap heat races.
•••
Johnson prevails in IMCA Sport Modifieds: Kevin Johnson won the 20-lap IMCA Sport Modified main event for his third win of the season. He currently ranks second in the state point race.
Championship hopeful Adriane Frost led state point leader Guy Ahlwardt early in the race. But Justin McPherson moved into second after a lap five restart, while Johnson followed closely into third.
Johnson jumped into second place on lap eight and Frost continued to lead after another yellow flag was waved, prompting a restart on lap nine.
But Johnson was persistent and made his winning pass on lap 12.
Point leader Jarrod Mounce took over second place after a lap 15 restart. But all he could do was chase Johnson who flew across the finish line for the win.
McPherson finished third, followed by Randy Miller, Frost, Kelly Campanile, Haley Gomez, Matt Hagio, Charlie Hunter and Fred Ryland.
Gomez and Frost won their eight-lap heat races.
•••
Biscardi claims fourth Dwarf Car victory: Mark Biscardi won the 20-lap South Bay Dwarf Car main event. It was the fourth win for Biscardi as he continues to stay in serious contention for the championship.
Biscardi had the pole for the main event and led previous winner Ryan Amlen from the start.
A single yellow flag flew on lap three but Biscardi continued to lead every lap in victory.
Amlen finished second, followed by reigning champion Gene “Punky” Pires, Trafton Chandler, Eric Weisler, Barry Waddell, Jimmy Damron, Mack Aceves, Eddy Claessen and Keith Costas. Biscardi and Amlen won the eight-lap heat races.
•••
Grilli gets fourth Mini Stock win: John Grilli won the 15-lap Mini Stock main event for the rookie’s fourth win of the season as he led the race from the drop of the green flag.
Ryan McClelland and Roy Iler battled for the second position for a few laps before McClelland took over the spot for good.
McClelland moved in to challenge Grilli briefly, however, Grilli began to stretch his advantage in the final five laps on the straightaway in victory.
McClelland settled for second, followed by Iler, Chuck Kissinger, Nicole Beardsley, Bill Beardsley, Kate Beardsley and Jeff Finsand. Grilli was the eight-lap heat race winner.
•••
Up next: Racing will return to Ocean Speedway on September 20th for the Lady Police Night. A group of women will be competing in the Police N Pursuit event. IMCA Modifieds will also be back along with the IMCA Sport Modifieds, Hobby Stocks and the Ocean Midgets.
For information, go to www.racepmg.com.
