5/17/2025
Santa Maria Speedway
Conway, Wiley, Sarale, Tuttle Shine Bright on Action Packed Night
Santa Maria Speedway played host for the first time in 2025 to four series and or divisions and saw plentiful action. USCS Sprint Cars, USAC Western States Midgets, SoCal Dwarf Cars and American Stocks all were on the bright lit third-mile clay oval in front of a large crowd.
American Stocks drew in seven cars with Bakersfield's Carson Conway taking the heat race win. The feature event, presented by Bakersfield's Motor City Buick/GMC, saw a complete invert with Conway starting at the tail of the field. He quickly made his way to the front, trailing early race leader Jon McKinley. A mistake by McKinley brought out the yellow with Conway inheriting the lead. Sunnie Simkins had methodically moved her way forward, now sitting in second she pressured Conway however could not make the pass in the closing laps. Conway took the checkered flags ahead of Simkins, Spencer Vasquez, McKinley and Tyler Weeks.
SoCal Dwarf Cars drew in twenty-four cars. The field was split into three heat races with Brandon Wiley, Zack Chavez and Trent Morley picking up heat race wins. Dominic Maldonado and Scotty Preast led the field to the green for twenty laps with Preast jumping to the early lead before Wiley took over the top spot. Nick Velasquez challenged Wiley, however came up short when the checkered flags flew. Wiley, Velasquez, Morley, Preast and Daniel Peters crossed the line top five.
USAC Western States Midgets returned with Jett Yantis topping the charts in qualifying. The fifteen year old go-kart track graduate also went from sixth to first in heat race one. Caden Sarale picked up the second heat race win. Todd Hawse and Preston Norbury led the field to the green for thirty laps, but it was not long before Sarale made his way to the front and dominated the thirty lap feature event. Yantis started the feature sixth and settled for second. TJ Smith, Dane Culver and Randi Pankratz completed the top five.
USCS Sprint Cars drew in twenty two cars with Blake Bower, Cole Wakim and Adam Christian picking up heat race wins. Jeremy Stout and TJ smith led the field to the green. Wakim took over the lead early on with series' points leader Jacob Tuttle taking it over and walking away with the victory. Connor Speir, Bower, Cody Majors and Smith completed the top five.
For complete results for the night visit: https://www.santamariaspeedway.net/schedules/event/576123
Santa Maria Speedway will be back in action in a few short days on Friday, May 23rd for Round Two of the Central California IMCA Clash featuring IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks. For tickets and more information visit www.SantaMariaSpeeway.net
Article Credit: Stephanie Odom
