Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
Moderators: StuDeedooo

After looking on a map, Chowchilla and Merced are only 15 miles apart. Can both tracks exist so close together? You also have Madera (asphalt) another 15 miles down the road.

Why doesn't Merced run any big sprint shows?

NARC ran 2 or 3 times at Merced about 15 years ago. It was a pretty flat track with rectangular corners the first time they went there. The next time they ran a different configuation that was pretty different then anywhere else we ran. I don't know that the track is anything like it was then but if it isn't different, I don't think you'd like it.

Too bad all the dirt tracks are not utilized in northern California for winged sprint cars. It would be very cool if GSC and/or CW used them all. I know there are logistical and monetary issues involved with that, it'd just be great to see.

Not to put Merced down because it has been more than 30 years since I visited, but it was a fairground/high school football field surrounded by a 1/4 mile track (used for running) originally. It probably has been improved upon since then, but as I recall they ran the door slammers exclusively.

As for Madera and Chow being in competition - won't happen as one is dirt the other asphalt. And both are promoted by the same individual, who by the way is top notch. The Wright One sprinters and the Bandit series should provide some good entertainment for the locals. Good luck to Chowcilla this year!

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

Ah, Merced....

With the track set up with a choice of which backstretch to use; that's right, when NARC raced there, there were two back straightaways, one in front of the scoreboard, and one that ran behind the scoreboard.... But you could only use one or the other on a given night. When NARC did race there on a Friday night, there were probably less than 500 people in the stands.

Although I did see a great midget race there back in the mid-90's; seems to me I remember Ronnie Day winning.

The car I was working on, driven by Bobby McMahan, literally ventilated the motor - holes in both sides of the block!

Chuck.....

I know people who didn't even know Merced Speedway existed! But, Chuck has done a good job running Merced for a long time. He does have the NCMA sometimes and also the vintage cars. I don't know about this year. His website is hard to find.

I don't know for a fact, but he seems to like the stocks and modifieds only. Not a big open wheeel track. We ran quads and motorcycles there in 2003 and 2004. It is fairly narrow. Corners are all right. The Merced clay is really good and the track usually stays good. He usually does good prep.

He is a cool, grumpy , old racer I wish he'd run some sprinters there.

82j

I went there (merced) about 4 years ago with the BCRA midget lites. The track is D shaped as they use the "back" backstretch that was mentioned before. The track seemed kinda narrow as i recall, but the biggest problem was the pits are TINY, there is no way to get a sprint car rig in there. I talked to one of the pit stewards and he said they used to put them across the street, but it's an open road that was a hassel to close off, and the lot had to be rented. The grandstand was HUGE, and i would like to see what a sprinter could do to that place.... Maybe someday

The outlaws ran there about 15 years ago, did they not?

the "outlaws" might have played there (the band) but i don't remember the outlaws (woo) ever racing there!

to indy and beyond!!

Tripcrwn, you are right about Kenny Shepherd being top notch. I have met with him regarding Altamont and crewed on a team at Madera that reqired Kenny to take some special actions with Nascar in Daytona and he was above board and always shooting straight. I am very happy to see him getting involved with dirt and open wheels.

For those of you that think the name is familiar, he is a racer, most recently with Nascar at Sears Point I believe. He was a pretty good wheel man in the Lates on the blacktop for a lot of years at Stockton and other tracks in California. But, when I talked to him after he was given a chance to wheel a Super Mod around Altamont a couple of years ago, his eyes lit up and I think he was behind most of the open wheel stuff that came there. And he sure trys to keep the open wheel tradition going at Madera with the 360 Supers and the big blocks.

If you live in the valley, you've probably heard the radio spots for Madera... you can bet he will "promote" Chow!

He will be very good for Chowchilla and I hope a top notch sprint team offers him a chance to hot lap their car.. he always has his helmet bag with him.

the one narc race race was won by tim green .

I checked Chuck's schedule for 2009 and it only features IMCA, Street Stock, Hobby Stock, and Sportsman. A couple of times it lists the WRA. Is that the vintage cars?