9/14/2025
Santa Maria Speedway
Pombo, Johnson and Jackson Victorious on Saturday Night
Santa Maria Speedway was back on the track Saturday night with an action packed card of racing. California Regional 305 Sprint Cars, IMCA SportMods, Hobby Stocks and Coastal Creation Financial Mini Stocks were on hand. The night featured some first time winners and important championship points' race battles.
California Regional 305 Sprint Cars took the third-mile clay oval for the sixth time this season and saw a first time winner of the series' 2025 campaign. Kevin Barnes Sr and Anthony Pombo set the pace for the twenty-five lap feature. It did not take long for previous race winner George Tristao Jr. to take over the lead from his third place starting position. The Tulare native set a rapid pace and had a six second lead with three laps to go when he suffered from a right rear flat tire. Series' points leader Davey Pombo took advantage of the mishap and took the checkered flag for his first feature event victory of the season. Tylor Henson and Barnes completed the podium.
IMCA Northern SportMods appeared for their second to final event in 2025. Landon King and Nicholas Johnson led the sixteen car field to the green flag for twenty laps. Johnson, in only his third career start in the division, slipped back to third on the initial start but mounted his charge forward. He took the lead from King on lap four and withheld the strong charges behind him to score his first career victory in IMCA SportMod action. Santa Maria's Matthew Frazier crossed the line second with previous race winner Chris McKellar completing the podium
Hobby Stocks completed the night for the Johnson family. Nicholas' younger brother Ethan Johnson found victory lane on the Central Coast for the second time in 2025, completing the family sweep of the night. Ethan led wire-to-wire in the twenty lap feature with a competitive field behind him. Taking over his sister's driver seat, Eric Cimental stalked Johnson the closing laps but was unable to mount a successful challenge, he took the checkered flag second ahead of Markus Frazier, division points' leader Dakota Brown and multi-track champion Tom Grznicic.
Going into the second to last race of the 2025 season for Coastal Creational Financial Mini Stocks, Justin Jackson held a slim two point advantage over previous race winner Levi Burgett. The two both won their heat races and with a zero invert drawn for the feature event, they lined up side-by-side for twenty laps of racing. Jackson quickly jumped to the point and Burgett faced mechanical difficulties throughout the feature event. Jackson took the checkered flag first, securing his sixth feature event victory of the season. Kris Gilbertson and Justin Trammell completed the podium.
For complete results visit: https://www.santamariaspeedway.net/schedules/event/554046
Santa Maria Speedway will be back in action on Saturday, September 27th featuring IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, American Stocks and Mini Stocks. The night will be "Championship Night" for IMCA Divisions. Event information and tickets can be found at www.SantaMariaSpeeway.net
Article Credit: Stephanie Odom