Knight takes the crown at the Acres
By Matthew J.
Sullivan
It was another thrilling night of racing this past Sunday
evening at Eureka, California’s Redwood Acres Raceway. Joining the five local
divisions of roadrunners, bombers, mini stocks, Thunder Roadsters and late
models for Salute the Troops night presented by Renner Petroleum were the North
State Modified Series which like the local Acres racers were also running their
second race of 2014.
A fantastic crowd packed the stands on what proved to be a
clear and comfortable night weather-wise. Gary Klinetobe was the dominant force
in the Roadrunner division for the second straight weekend. Klinetobe took the
victories in the trophy dash and heat races and ran away with the race in the
main event, taking the lead on lap seven and never looking back. Steve Paiment
finished second ahead of Rick Estes, Eugene Palmer and Tim Abeyta.
It looked as though Leonard Ward III was going to be the man
to beat the second straight week in the bomber division as he was victorious in
the trophy dash and heat races. Unfortunately, Ward suffered issues early in
the feature which took him off the track and out of the race. Rookie driver,
James Moore showed surprising speed in only his second ever race. Moore grabbed
the race lead on the third lap and was never seriously challenged afterward as
he crossed the line first. Matt Simon and Brian Murrell, Sr. were scored
finishing second and third after Tyler Avelar and Donnie Hyman failed post-race
technical inspection.
After suffering issues which prevented him from racing the
previous weekend, Brian Murrell, Jr. returned to the mini stock division in
style. Murrell took the trophy in the dash race, won the heat race and
obliterated the field in the main event, winning handily over second place,
Craig Baker. Brian McIntosh placed third while Brett Murrell was fourth but
unable to finish after his vehicle broke in the early going of the main event.
Paul Peeples, Jr. was in top form in the Thunder Roadster
class as he took wins in the dash and heat races. Peeples was in the lead by
lap six of the 30 lap feature and was followed the majority of the way by David
Henderson. The two raced nose-to-tail with Peeples maintaining just enough of a
lead on Henderson to prevent him from making a serious challenge for the lead.
At the checkered flag it was Peeples winning over Henderson, Chris Sarvinski,
Robbie Nelson and Thomas Payne.
The late model trophy dash win was taken by Jerry Peterson
while the heat race victory went to Luke Hall. Just like the first race of the
year, the main event featured spectacular racing between Hall and Mic Moulton.
Hall moved to the race lead by lap two of the 35 lap affair and held the lead
until lap 25 when Moulton was able to utilize the low line to take the pass.
Hall maintained a close gap on Moulton but was never able to make a run to the
lead again as Moulton crossed the line first over Hall, Peterson, Al Acuna and
Joe Bonomini.
The North State Modifed Series made their second start of
the season at the Acres. Citrus Heights, California racer, Jay Linstroth set
the pace in qualifying with at 16.234 effort. The Lucas Oil A Dash for Cash win
was taken by Corey James of Laytonville, California. Longtime veteran, Richie
Potts of Petaluma, California won the Scrubba Bub’s B Dash for Cash.
Kelseyville, California’s Darrin Knight was the victor in the Road Safety C
Dash for Cash. The winner of all three dashes was awarded a 100 dollar bill for
winning. Knight donated his 100 dollar bill to two members of the armed forces
who were in attendance.
The 15-car field was brought to the green of the 60-lap
feature by Richard Knight and Michael Morrison, Jr. Things got crazy in a hurry
when Morrison and Linstroth came together off the second turn on lap two which
collected Kyle Borden in the process. Morrison fell out of the event, Linstroth
was sent to the rear and Borden pitted and returned to the field. Richard
Knight held the lead on the restart until lap eight when Darrin Knight took the
low line coming off the fourth turn for the lead.
The top three cars raced closely up front while Linstroth
and Borden tried to battle their way back into contention. Richard Knight was
able to stick to Darrin Knight’s bumper for most of the race but Cody Braund
began aggravating him for second allowing Darrin Knight to pull away. With
nearly ¾ of the race finished, an odor began emitting from one of the cars on
the track. Coming down the front stretch, Richard Knight’s rear end let go
sending off a shower of sparks and dumping fluid on the track. Fortunately,
there was no serious damage but Knight’s race was done from that point.
The final 15 laps featured a furious race by Linstroth to
the front which delighted the packed grandstands. Up front, Darrin Knight was
withstanding Braund’s challenges for the race lead. The action was slowed with
five laps remaining when Kyle Borden and Riley Watson tangled off turn four.
After the restart, Knight was able to put a gap on Braund while Linstroth did all
he could to maneuver his way past cars. At the checkered flag it was Knight
winning while Braund narrowly held off Linstroth for the second position.
Dustin DeRosier placed fourth while Potts rounded out the top five finishers.
After two straight weeks to start the season, racing at the
Acres takes a one week break before returning Saturday June 7th.
Grandstands open at 5:00 PM while racing begins at 6:30 PM. You can find more
information on the 2014 season at the Acres by visiting the track’s new and official
website, www.racingtheacres.com.
Redwood Acres Raceway would like to thank the following
sponsors for their help in keeping racing going on the North Coast: Humboldt
Hydroponics for the roadrunners, John’s Used Cars and Wreckers for the bombers,
Renner Petroleum for the mini stocks, Bear River Casino for the Thunder
Roadsters and Mid City Motor World for the late models. Also thank you to
Renner Petroleum for sponsoring Support the Troops night and the North State
Modified Series racing for the weekend.
Results
Roadrunners
Fast Time: Gary Klinetobe 20.356
Trophy Dash: Klinetobe, Eugene Palmer, Rick Estes, Steve
Paiment
Heat Race: Klinetobe, Palmer, Estes, Paiment, Tim Abeyta,
Robbie Robinson, Kayla Foster
Main Event: Klinetobe, Paiment, Estes, Palmer, Abeyta,
Robinson, Foster
Bombers
Fast Time: Leonard Ward III 18.997
Trophy Dash: Ward III, Tyler Avelar, James Moore, Donnie
Hyman
Heat Race: Ward III, Avelar, Moore, Hyman, Brian Murrell,
Sr., Matt Simon
Main Event: Moore, Simon, Murrell, Sr., Ward III, Hyman
(DQ), Avelar (DQ)
Mini Stocks
Fast Time: Craig Baker 19.742
Trophy Dash: Brian Murrell, Jr., Brett Murrell, Brian
McIntosh, Craig Baker
Heat Race: Murrell, Jr., Baker, William Sand, McIntosh,
Murrell
Main Event: Murrell, Jr., Baker, McIntosh, Murrell
Thunder Roadsters
Fast Time: Paul Peeples, Jr. 17.026
Trophy Dash: Peeples, Chris Sarvinski, David Henderson,
Robbie Nelson
Heat Race: Peeples, Bruce Ziemer, Henderson, Thomas Payne,
Sarvinski, Nelson, Belinda Ward, Mike Ward
Main Event: Peeples, Henderson, Sarvinski, Nelson, Payne,
Ziemer, B. Ward, M. Ward
Late Models
Fast Time: Mic Moulton 15.936
Trophy Dash: Jerry Peterson, Al Acuna, Luke Hall, Moulton
Heat Race: Hall, Moulton, Peterson, Kenny Demello, Acuna,
Ryun Leazer, Joe Bonomini
Main Event: Moulton, Hall, Peterson, Acuna, Bonomini,
Leazer, Demello
North State Modified Series
Fast Time: Jay Linstroth 16.324
Lucas Oil A Dash For Cash: Corey James, Don Swartz, Ralph
Borden, Brad Watson, Herman Pulyer
Scrubba Bub’s B Dash For Cash: Richie Potts, Cody Braund,
Dustin DeRosier, Riley Watson, Rich Cobb
Road Safety C Dash For Cash: Darrin Knight, Jay Linstroth,
Richard Knight, Kyle Borden, Michael Morrison
Main Event: D. Knight, Braund, Linstroth, DeRosier, Potts,
K. Borden, Cobb, R. Watson, B. Watson, James, Swartz, Pulyer, R. Knight. R.
Borden, Morrison.