Ocean Speedway


Ocean Speedway, formerly known as Watsonville Speedway, is a dirt oval located in Watsonville, California, United States at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.

History

The track was the brainchild of retired driver Bert Moreland and a small group of others in the winter of 1959. They came up with a plan to put a 1/4 mile race track in the infield of the existing 1/2 mile horse track. The first race took place May 27, 1960 and was won by Art Eaton. Figure 8 racing was introduced to the area at the speedway in 1964 and was popular with fans and drivers. Ray Elder was one of the most notable drivers to compete at Watsonville Speedway in its early days. The track then turned to stock cars in the '70s. Future NASCAR driver and Daytona 500 winner Ernie Irvan was turned away by the track for having illegal parts on his car, so he turned his attention to pavement racing elsewhere. In the '80s, the NASCAR Late Model Stock Cars were the feature division and were a part of the Winston Racing Series, where drivers could compete for National and Regional points. Another NASCAR legend, Bobby Allison, raced at the track once in 1983 in the Late Models. The Grand American Modifieds made their debut in 1990. Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace, Geoff Bodine, Ernie Irvan and his father, Vic, ran a "Race of Champions" against each other in the Modifieds in 1999 while they were in the area for the NASCAR race in Sonoma. A year later, Mike Skinner, Sterling Marlin, Jimmy Spencer, Vic Irvan, and track sponsor John Prentice competed in the second edition of the event. Super Modifieds made sporadic appearances at the speedway in the 60s and 70s. Sprint Cars also made appearances at the track on a staggered basis with local series, including the Northern Auto Racing Club and the Golden State Challenge/King of California series. The annual Trophy Cup was held once at the speedway in 2000.

Ocean Speedway Era

Former street stock and dwarf car driver John Prentice took over operation of the track in 2006 and renamed it Ocean Speedway, in alliance with the Ocean Chevrolet and Honda dealerships located in Santa Cruz County, where he worked as the General Manager. Several years after Prentice acquired the track, a lawsuit was filed against the speedway and the fairgrounds by a neighborhood group called the Community Alliance for Fairgrounds Accountability, or CAFA, alleging the track was a nuisance due to the noise the cars produced. After being stayed three times while both parties looked for common ground, the lawsuit was dropped and races were allowed to continue with stricter sound rules and an earlier curfew. The track currently hosts a weekly 360 Sprint Car championship along with other divisions including IMCA Modifieds and SportMods, Midgets, Dwarf Cars, Hobby Stocks, and 4-cylinders, affectionately called "4-Bangers." The track also holds six "Police-N-Pursuit" races a year, in which police officers, detectives, and other officials representing local agencies compete to raise money for Special Olympics of Northern California. In 2017, the group raised $34,000 for the charity. Travelling series that visit the track include the World of Outlaws, NARC/King of the West 410 Sprint Cars, Sprint Car Challenge Tour, and the IMCA All Star Modified Tour. The start of the 2020 season was delayed until June 19th due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notable drivers

Some notable drivers who have made appearances at Ocean Speedway over the years include World of Outlaws champions Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Danny Lasoski, and Donny Schatz. Indianapolis 500 competitor, Bryan Clauson made his winged sprint car debut at the track in 2011. Former NASCAR drivers Kyle Larson, Kasey Kahne, Rico Abreu, Kraig Kinser, Brad Sweet, and Tyler Walker have also raced at the track, along with Cheryl Linn Glass, Doug McCoun, Ron Shuman, James Bondurant, Jac Haudenschild, Kerry Madsen, Joey Saldana, Lucas Wolfe, Dale Blaney, Johnny Herrera, Cory Kruseman, Brady Bacon, Michael Pickens, and Olympic athlete Josh Lakatos. Cole Custer won at the track in a USAC Jr. Ford Focus Midget in 2011. Super Bowl XXIII champion Linebacker, Sam Kennedy, races at the track in the Hobby Stocks on a now-and-then basis.

List of Track Champions

Track championships have been awarded since the track opened in 1960 in the Claimer division. The division was discontinued in 1964 in favor of the Sportsman class. The Micro 600s were a short-lived division at the track, awarding championships 2008-2012. Champions in the division were: Devon Ostheimer in 2008, Orval Burke Jr. in 2009-10, Tomas Bray in 2011, and Alexander Mead in 2012.
SeasonSprint CarWingless SprintModifiedSportModSportsmanClaimer/Stock CarStreet Stock/Late ModelFigure 8Dwarf CarAmerican/Hobby Stock4-Banger
1960Hap Barber
1961Art LaCost
1962Art LaCost
1963Lloyd Beard
1964Lloyd Beard
1965Ray Elder
1966Vic Irvan
1967Art LaCostDave Alonzo
1968Vic IrvanDave Snyder
1969Dennis MoomjeanCecil IrvanCecil Irvan
1970Jerry CecilJoe EsperancaLloyd Keldsen Sr.
1971Ron GravelleDave TannahillLloyd Keldsen Sr.
1972Vern WillhoiteJohnny Brazil Jr.Lloyd Keldsen Jr.
1973John HarperRay JohnsonJohnny Brazil Jr.
1974Jerry CecilDennis WilsonKen Nott
1975Roy PruettDoug McCounBob Benge
1976George SteitzRay JohnsonKen Naber
1977Duane NoeDave BrightwellKen Nott
1978Jerry CecilRay MorganJerry Cutler
1979Duane NoeRay MorganJohn Keldsen
1980Duane NoeTed StofleJim RenoJohnny Brazil Jr.
1981Jerry CecilRay MorganBobby LargeKen Nott
1982Doug McCounKevin PylantJohn Keldsen
1983Dave ByrdKevin PylantLloyd Keldsen Jr.
1984Doug McCounKim BeardJim Pettit
1985Kevin PylantKen MorganPeter Gates
1986Ray MorganTodd SouzaJohn Keldsen
1987Ed Sans Jr.Lloyd Antonetti Jr.John Keldsen
1988Ed Sans Jr.Mike BrumitJim Gillespie
1989Jim Pettit IILloyd Antonetti Jr.Jim Gillespie
1990Scott BusbyJeff SilvaBobby LargeGreg McGregor
1991Mike BrumitJeff SilvaBart ReidPaul Larsen
1992Scott BusbyBobby Scott Jr.Ron Parker
1993Scott BusbyRobert MillerKurt Slama
1994Dave ByrdDon SilvaFred Lind
1995Dave ByrdMike CecilJim Gillespie
1996Kenny NottRicky SandersJohn KeldsenKen Jepsen
1997Bobby Hogge IVDoug HagioJohn KeldsenMike Meazell
1998Bobby Hogge IVDave SoitoJim GillespieJimmy Bowman
1999Bobby Hogge IVTim Clark Sr.Mike Finlen Sr.Sam Kennedy
2000Bobby ScottDennis PelphreyDoug SnodgrassSam Kennedy
2001Bobby ScottKen GreggJim GillespieRick Ray
2002Bobby ScottDennis PelphreyDoug SnodgrassSam Kennedy
2003Bobby Hogge IVDennis PelphreyJohn KeldsenJohn PrenticeSam Kennedy
2004Kenny NottDennis PelphreyJim GillespieHoward FergersonSam Kennedy
2005Steve PembertonGarrett SteitzDennis PelphreyKeith TrussoTodd DamronSam KennedyAndrew Camperud
2006Steve PembertonTim BaldingJeff DeckerJim GillespieMatt SargentTim Clark Sr.Andrew Camperud
2007Brent KaedingN/AKenny NottJeff DeckerN/ABilly NelsonKyle Thorne
2008Brent KaedingRyan BernalRobert MarshBobby Hogge IVRyan DiatteAustin BurkeJeff Wilson
2009Tommy TarltonBilly AtonKenny NottJeff DeckerGilbert TosteWilliam KennedyMatt Sotomayor
2010Tommy TarltonRyan BernalKenny NottBobby ScottRyan DiatteBilly NelsonAdriane deSousa
2011Ronnie DayJim ChristianBrian CassClay DalyShawn JonesNick SilvaAdriane deSousa
2012Shane GolobicJim ChristianJim Pettit IIMatt SotomayorClay DalyTerre RothweilerMatt KileDan McCabe
2013Brad FurrTommy LaliberteAndy ObertelloStephen HopfCamron DiatteTerry CampionAl Sotomayor
2014Shane GolobicBryan GrierKenny NottNick SpainhowardTerre RothweilerBilly NelsonJustin McPherson
2015Justin SandersBobby Hogge IVMatthew HagioGene Pires Jr.Terry CampionLuke Babcock
2016Brad FurrBobby Hogge IVJim DiGiovanniDavid TevesRobert GallaherDJ Keldsen
2017Geoff EnsignNick DeCarloMatthew HagioCamron DiatteRobert GallaherBill Beardsley
2018Brad FurrCody BurkeJim DiGiovanniGene Pires Jr.Matt KileKate Beardsley
2019JJ RingoAustin BurkeJarrod MounceMark BiscardiRobert GallaherNicole Beardsley
2020*

*Season in progress, denotes current points leader.