WATSONVILLE — “Tricky” Troy Foulger made a late-race move to repeat as the IMCA Modifieds winner on the opening night of the 14th annual Pettit Shootout to thrill the crowd at Ocean Speedway on Friday night. Other Shootout winners included Pacheco’s Kenny Shrader in IMCA Sport Mods and Bakersfield’s Nicholas Johnson in Hobby Stocks. A robust field of 122 cars filled the pit area among the three divisions.
Bakersfield ace Robbie Sawyer made a wild move from the inside of row two to open the 33-lap IMCA Modified feature race. He sliced his way under the front row and take the lead by the time they completed lap one. Gavyn Manning, the Bakersfield Speedway track champion and Friday’s fast qualifier, stayed within striking distance of Sawyer as drivers battled it out behind them.
Troy Foulger started 11th on the grid and picked off cars one by one, while trying a few different lines on the quarter mile. Foulger took over fourth on lap 14, before he carved his way to third on lap 20. With the race winding down, the top three cars began to bunch up as the crowd rose to its feet.
Sawyer continued to hold command but had Manning and Foulger were right there. Coming to the line to complete lap 29 they proceeded to go three wide in thrilling fashion, which saw Manning come out with the lead. Foulger assumed the runner-up position and then blasted by Manning for the top spot one circuit later.
Foulger claimed the victory over Manning, Winton’s Paul Stone, Sawyer and Hollis.
