Jernagan Is Merced Modified Ace

MERCED, Calif. — Garrett Jernagan won the 20-lap IMCA Sport Mod feature at the Merced Speedway on Friday night. 

The track opened its season with the NOS Energy World of Outlaw sprint xars in front of a huge crowd at the fairgrounds site.

After starting on the front row, Jernagan jumped to an early lead over pole sitter Kelly Campanile who lead a 25-car field to the green. The caution flag waved early as before a second lap could be completed there was a tangle between Emali VanHoff and Kodie Dean at the north end of the track. Both cars had to be towed off, ending each’s race.

The race would restart and go to lap five before Tony Pefer spun.  Jernagan would be leading Tyler Bannister, Jacob Mallett, Jr., Jason Bannister, Fred Ryland and a fast-fading Campanile. By the ninth circuit slow traffic on the Central California bullring slowed the pace of the top two runners allowing a fast-advancing Ryland to close in. 

The race would slow again on the 16th lap, as Todd Carlock spun around in the second turn. This would cause a late race five lap shootout amongst race long leader Jernagan, Mallet and Ryland. 

The feature got down to the final lap before once again, the yellow caution lights would slow the action, causing a two-lap duel for top prize. 

With a single-file restart, Jernagan had no problems pulling away, but it would be a rim riding Ryland who would make the pass at the finish line and take the second spot by not more than 3 feet.

Jernagan made the tow up Route 99 from Bakersfield to beat all 25 cars in the main event.

Tate Loftis won the 20-lap hobby stock feature.