NARC Sprints Target Spring Fling
Written by I Dig Sports
WATSONVILLE, Calif. After a few weeks off, the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series returns to action when it opens the month of April with a Friday night showdown at Ocean Speedway.
Fridays Spring Fling is the first of a series-high five races scheduled at the quarter-mile Watsonville, Calif., clay oval, which has long been a staple on the NARC tour. This comes after just one NARC race was held in Watsonville last year, when eventual series champion Justin Sanders picked up the big Howard Kaeding Classic victory in July.
In 2025, race fans in the Monterey Bay area will be treated to much more winged 410 sprint car action, and it begins Friday night.
NARC was scheduled to also race this Saturday, April 5 at the Stockton Dirt Track, where the series opened its season on March 8, but a recent electrical fire at the San Joaquin Fairgrounds has left the facility unsafe to use for at least the next couple of weeks, forcing the cancellation of Saturdays event.
Hanford driver D.J. Netto, with his win at Stockton in March, is the NARC points leader going into Fridays event with a four-point advantage over Shane Golobic. Netto knows Ocean Speedway well as he is also a former feature winner there aboard the Netto Ag No. 88n. Golobic and the Matt Wood Racing No. 17w team should be competitive at Ocean Speedway as well, as they were Howard Kaeding Classic winners in Watsonville just two years ago.
Justin Sanders and the Mittry Motorsports No. 2x team is also looking to bounce back in a big way after his untimely spin out while running second in the season opening race at Stockton. Sanders was battling hard, trying to pass Netto for the lead in traffic, when he spun out as he tried to pass a lapped car. He eventually finished 15th and is looking for an immediate turnaround with his Mittry Motorsports team.
One driver that many fans will be keeping an eye on this weekend is Kaleb Montgomery. The young Templeton, California driver turned in a solid performance in the NARC season opener, driving from 15th to finish fourth in the main event at Stockton. Just a couple of weeks later, Montgomery turned a lot of eyes by making the dash and then turned in an impressive fifth place finish in the main event with the High Limit Racing series at Perris Auto Speedway. The strong runs have Montgomery feeling confident as he pursues his first NARC victory aboard his Montgomery Racing No. 3.
A change in philosophy by Montgomery may be a factor as well. Im just having fun with my family, Montgomery said last week. I traded my goals in a race night for standards, and as long as I meet my standards, (I believe) the wins will come.
Another driver and team due to hit it big is Tanner Holmes and the Tarlton Motorsports No. 21 team, who are running a partial schedule together.
After difficulties in the NARC season opener at Stockton, the team found success during High Limits run through California in March, with Holmes earning fourth and fifth place finishes at Thunderbowl Raceway and Kevin Harvicks Kern Raceway, respectively, and then running second place most of the way at Perris Auto Speedway before losing a right rear tire on a rubber down track.
The Tarlton Motorsports team has long been no stranger to success with NARC, winning the series titles in 2015 and 2016, and nearly won the NARC title last year with Cole Macedo (now on the World of Outlaws tour.)
A full field of sprint car teams are expected to fill the pit area. Other drivers expected to compete on Friday night include Sean Becker, Tim Kaeding, Dylan Bloomfield, Tanner Carrick Dominic Gorden, Mariah Ede, Bud Kaeding, Ashton Torgerson, Landon Brooks, Tyler Thompson Caeden Steele, Gauge Garcia and Billy Aton.