By Gary Jacob
Boise, ID -- A solid field of California invaders made the long tow to OMC Speedway to contest the Pepsi Shootout, the richest race for the mini sprints and modified midgets annually in Idaho. Brian Gard from Kelseyville, CA was the $1,000 winner for the Modified Mini Sprint 600's on Sunday night. Saturday night's $400 win had went to Idaho's Rob Grice and he ran second to Gard in the big money Sunday show. For the Modified Midget 250's, Randy Pierce from Meridian, Idaho pocketed $1,400 as he won both the $400 Saturday night show and the $1,000 Sunday night feature. Eagle, Idaho's Casey Taylor ran second on Sunday night with Larry Jackson second on Saturday night. The Stock Mini Sprint 600's also raced both nights and a pair of California drivers dueled for the Saturday night win with Ralph Cortez beating out Rick DeCosta. On Sunday night, it was Delta Speedway star DeCosta from Manteca, CA winning.
The first night action for the modified mini sprint 600's saw female racer Sara Shaffer with fast time at 10.572. Rick Cook II won the first heat over fellow California racer Shawn Wright. DeCosta beat Rick Cook I in the second heat. Grice was chased to his Saturday night win by DeCosta, Shaffer, Cook II and San Jose's Michael Trimble. On Sunday night, Gard posted fast time with a 10.358 lap. Grice was the dash winner and Gard won the first heat in front of Shawn Flagstad. Trimble beat Grice in heat 2. For the $1,000 win, it was Gard in front as DeCosta lost his engine running 3rd on the final lap. Grice placed second ahead of Shaffer, Cortez and Flagstad.
For the Modified Midget 250's, Saturday's fast timer was Pierce with a 10.556 lap. Sid Fuller won the dash and heat 1 went to Taylor over Pierce and Mike Harris. Mike Jackson beat Ryan Hansen in heat 2. Pierce took the $400 win with L Jackson second over M Jackson, Bob Hansen and Harris. Pierce also set fast time on Sunday night at 10.623 and R Hansen was the dash winner. B Hansen took heat 1 over M Jackson and R Hansen won heat 2 with Eric Turner second. For the $1,000 prize, it was again Pierce in front of Taylor, R Hansen, L Jackson and Pat Hoskins.
The Stock Mini Sprint 600's found Sacramento's Cortez posting fast time on Saturday at 10.861. Rick Cook II won the dash and Rod Huggins beat Cook II in the heat race. Cortez won the feature over DeCosta, Huggins, Tyler Mason and Cook II. DeCosta won Sunday's feature ahead of Huggins and Mason.
Both of the big purse classes started full 16 car features.
Summary
May 25
Modified Midget 250 Fast Time-Randy Pierce 10.556 Dash-Sid Fuller. Heat 1-Casey Taylor, Pierce, Mike Harris. Heat 2-Mike Jackson, Ryan Hansen, Larry Jackson. Main-Pierce, L Jackson, M Jackson, Bob Hansen, M Harris. Stock Mini Sprint 600 Fast Time-Ralph Cortez 10.861 Dash-Rick Cook II. Heat-Rod Huggins, Cook II, Rick DeCosta. Main-Cortez, DeCosta, Huggins, Tyler Mason, Cook II. Modified Mini Sprint 600 Fast Time-Sara Shaffer 10.572 Heat 1-Rick Cook II, Shawn Wright, Trevor Miran. Heat 2-Rick DeCosta, Rick Cook I, Shawn Flagstad. Main-Rob Grice, DeCosta, Shaffer, Cook II, Michael Trimble.
May 26
Modified Midget 250 Fast Time-Randy Pierce 10.623 Dash-Ryan Hansen. Heat 1-Bob Hansen, Mike Jackson, Pierce. Heat 2-R Hansen, Eric Turner, Brandon Turner. Main-R Pierce, Casey Taylor, R Hansen, Larry Jackson, Pat Hoskins. Stock 600 Mini Sprint Main-Rick DeCosta, Rod Huggins, Tyler Mason. Modified Mini Sprint 600 Fast Time-Brian Gard 10.358 Dash-Rob Grice. Heat 1-Gard, Shawn Flagstad, Shawn Wright. Heat 2-Michael Trimble, Grice, Sara Shaffer. Main-Gard, Grice, Shaffer, Ralph Cortez, Flagstad.