STANFORD, THOMAS SHARE MERCED SPOTLIGHT

Source: Don Martin II
Date: 04/21/2003

The IMCA Modified field included the season debut of two time Limited Sprint champion Tim Porter and Hank Silva. Jimmy Lust's bid to join brother Phillip in the Trophy Dash winner's circle fell just short as point leader Bob Williamson claimed the four lap event. 2000 champion Stanford showed that he remains a force in the division by scoring the feature victory with defending champion Ramie Stone and Bill Saltzman in second and third, respectively. Porter and Silva rounded out the top five, and Troy Stone's bid for his first top five finish of the season fell just short in sixth. Steven Williams, Ray Lasswell, Gary Buckingham and Williamson rounded out the top ten at the finish.

Phillip Lust grabbed the honors in the four lap Trophy Dash. Ragsdale was gunning for his third straight Main Event triumph, but Thomas was standing in his way. Thomas displayed the moves that made him a three time champion as he scored the satisfying victory ahead of point leader Ragsdale and 2002 "Rookie Of The Year" Phil Priddy. Rookie Mark Funkhouser stayed in the rookie and championship battle with his fourth place finish ahead of second generation racer Ricky Thatcher and Ricky's father, Buddy Thatcher. Willie Livingston, title hopeful Randy Brewer, Frank Machado Jr. and Bill Davis rounded out the top ten finishers.

Marshall Weaver held off rookie Pat Preseley to win the four lap Hobby Stock Trophy Dash. Krumm has been in the hunt for feature victory all season, but this time, he wouldn't settle for second. The talented teen out raced second generation racer Garrett Steitz and the rapidly improving Scott Van Gelder to score a much needed victory. Incomiong point leader Mike Hamilton scored a fourth place finish ahead of a season best fifth for Presley, two time winner Andy Welch and Weaver. Chowchilla's Craig Tatum made another appearance and scored an eighth place finish ahead of Russell Wells and the debuting Don Davis.

Ford bested rookie Shane Hausmann to win the four lap Pure Stock Trophy Dash. In the Main Event, Ford had his hands full with the two top point competitors running behind him, but Ford would prevail at the checkered flag. Dan Holcomb would settle for second ahead of incoming point leader Aaron Widick. Hausmann finished fourth ahead of Jake Ebersole, in his season debut, and the always entertaining Deak Sherrell.

In Central Valley Sportsman competition, it was Freitas holding off rival Robb Schropp to win the four lap Trophy Dash. Freitas won the Main Event with former top five Street Stock racer Gary Tucker picking up his division best second place finish. The much improved Tim Goodson brought it home third ahead of Schropp, Jason Belton, Tim Leidich and Brad Goodson.

DASH

Bob Williamson, Jimmy Lust, Steven Williams

MAIN EVENT

Jack Stanford, Ramie Stone, Bill Saltzman, Tim Porter, Hank Silva, Troy Stone, Williams, Ray Lasswell, Gary Buckingham, Williamson, Aaron Barnell, Mike Gillard, Lust, Mark Hamblin

DASH

Philip Lust, Frank Machado Jr., Ramon Neilson

MAIN EVENT

Darren Thomas, Tim Ragsdale, Philip Priddy, Mark Funkhouser, Ricky Thatcher, Buddy Thatcher, Willie Livingston, Randy Brewer, Machado, William Davis, Ty Shelton, Lust, Steve Lord, John Clarke, Ramon Neilson

DASH

Marshall Weaver, Pat Presley, George Davis

MAIN EVENT

Andrew Krumm, Garrett Steitz, Scott Van Gelder, Mike Hamilton, Presley, Andy Welch, Weaver, Craig Tatum, Russ Wells, Donald Davis, Dave Parker, Cliff Daniels, Lester Beavers, George Davis

DASH

Jim Ford, Shane Hausmann, Aaron Widick

MAIN EVENT

Ford, Dan Holcomb, Widick, Hausmann, Jake Ebersole, Deak Sherrell

DASH

Kevin Freitas, Robb Schropp, Jason Belton

MAIN

Freitas, Gary Tucker, Tim Goodson, Schropp, Belton, Tim Leidich, Brad Goodson

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