News

WATSONVILLE, CALIF. (June 25, 2022) – Sacramento’s Justyn Cox earned his first-career Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo win at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, Calif., winning Friday’s action in his first appearance at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds quarter-mile this year. Cox overcame several challengers including Concord’s Joey Ancona to get the win. “It’s awesome to win. You hate to kind of get gift wrapped it. Joey’s one heck of a young driver. I wish we would have gone green the...more

DJ Netto wins a wild Ocean Sprints feature in Watsonville Friday night By Gary Thomas Watsonville, CA…A main event that featured a little bit of everything on Friday saw Hanford’s DJ Netto come out on top to score his first Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo victory of the season. Sharing victory lane with Netto during the event were Robbie Sawyer with the IMCA Modifieds, Jacob Mallet Jr. with the IMCA Sport Mods, Kenny Stragalinos with the 4-Bangers, Shawn Jones with the Dwarf Cars and...more

WATSONVILLE, CALIF. (July 15, 2022) – With nearly half a dozen challengers for the top position, the Friday night Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo portion of the 12th Howard Kaeding Classic in Watsonville did not disappoint, as current NARC points leader Dominic Scelzi of Fresno earned his first career HK Classic win. The victory opens the weekend at the Ocean Speedway at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds with Saturday’s conclusion to feature the NARC Fujitsu 410 Sprint Cars battling for...more

WATSONVILLE, CALIF. (July 16, 2022) – Multi-time Ocean Sprints champion Justin Sanders of Aromas knocked another big victory off the checklist, winning the $6900-to-win 12th Annual Howard Kaeding Classic at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville on Saturday night. Sanders topped Lincoln’s Blake Carrick in a tight duel in the NARC Fujitsu General USA Sprint Car Series action. Sanders had to lead the way through ferocious lapped traffic, leaning on his veteran experience at the quarter-mile at the Santa...more

WATSONVILLE, CALIF. (July 22, 2022) – Bud Kaeding drove back to victory lane for the first time in 2022, taking Friday’s Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo feature in Watsonville, Calif. Kaeding topped 17-year-old Joey Ancona from Concord on the dirt track at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. “You guys have no idea. We’ve been working – it’s been a year since we’ve won here. Won period. My guys work as hard as any guys in the pits. I’ve worked less hard against 108 cars and won. This kid...more

WATSONVILLE, CALIF. (July 29, 2022) – Fresno’s Caeden Steele won his first career Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo feature on Friday night in Watsonville, leading a podium of teenagers across the line at Ocean Speedway. Steele went back-and-forth with fast-time qualifier and dash winner Chase Johnson of Penngrove for the lead before Johnson spun in lapped traffic in the decisive moment of the event. “It feels awesome. First sprint car (win). I knew it was coming this season,” Steele said....more

DJ Netto, Bobby Hogge IV, Jacob Mallet Jr., Terry Campion and Danny Wagner claim Hall of Fame Night features at Ocean Speedway Watsonville, CA…Hanford’s DJ Netto has been gaining steam with the season wearing on and last night put together a dominating performance for his second Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo win of the season. Sharing victory lane during Hall of Fame Night were Bobby Hogge IV with the IMCA Modifieds, Jacob Mallet Jr. with the IMCA Sport Mods, Terry Campion with the...more

WATSONVILLE, CALIF. (August 12, 2022) – Watsonville’s Rickey Sanders continued his hunt for the 2022 Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo championship, scoring his first-career series win in the penultimate weekend of action for the 360 Sprint Car Series on Friday night. Sanders held off Bud Kaeding through lapped traffic on several occasions en route to the 30-lap triumph. “Bud’s been racing for a ton of years. He’s won a million a races. He’s really good in lapped traffic. I’ve watched him...more

Sprint Car Challenge Tour ventures to Ocean Speedway for the 62nd Key Classic Saturday By Gary Thomas Watsonville, CA…The cool confines of Ocean Speedway in Watsonville will be the destination for the Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards this Saturday August 20th. The 62nd running of the “Johnny Key Classic” is co-sanctioned with the Ocean Sprints presented by Taco Bravo and marks the lone SCCT appearance of the season at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds...more

Former Johnny Key Classic winners going into the 62nd running this Saturday night at Ocean Speedway 1954 Danny Graves 1955 Al Pombo 1956 Clyde Palmer 1957 Ray Raineri 1958 Rick Henderson 1959 George Benson 1960 Marshall Sargent 1961 Clyde Palmer 1962 Clyde Palmer(3) 1963 Marshall Sargent 1964 George Snider 1965 Burt Foland 1966 Burt Foland(2) 1967 Bill Scott 1968 Howard Kaeding 1969 Bill Scott(2) 1970 Don Epperson 1971 Everett Edlund 1972 Nick Rescino 1973 Howard Kaeding 1974 Nick Rescino 1975...more