Thursday, July 30, 2015

Terry Phillips Wins $100,000 Dirt Modified Feature At Batesville



By Gary Jacob

Batesville, AR -- After earning the 9th starting spot with a third place finish on Friday night, dirt late model super star Terry Phillips drove his GRT dirt modified to a $100,000 win in the second annual big money special at Batesville Speedway on Saturday night. Phillips had tuned up for the summer’s big dirt modified shows by racing his car in several events at the annual Early Thaw action in Casa Grande AZ back in January. He only led the final 3 laps of the big 100 lapper after being Tucson AZ teenager Jeremy Payne to a yellow flag late in the action. Payne had won the pole for the 100 lapper with his Wednesday night feature win in his Shaw by Taylor mount. Payne moved to the Midwest this summer to chase the USMTS Series, but began racing the Batesville races and living with Jeff Taylor when the traveling series had so many early season rainouts. Payne was the 2004 Barnett Harley Davidson Dirt Modified Series champion when he raced in El Paso TX and Las Cruces NM. Payne had led from lap 12 to lap 97 with his Ford, but settled for the $20,000 runnerup prize. Friday night feature winner B J Robinson from Shreveport Louisiana led the first 11 laps on Saturday night from an outside front row start, but settled for 19th place in the 100 lapper. Defending race champion Scott Bloomquist, another dirt late model star, put his Taylor built car in the middle of the front row with his Thursday night feature win, but settled for the $10,000 third place money in the 100 lapper. Track regular Shawn Walsh from Ash Flat ARK was a $5000 fourth ahead of dirt late model racers Wendell Wallace and Jeff Taylor. Wallace won $2500 and J Taylor $2000 as a last place finish in the 31 car feature paid $1500. NEXTEL Cup racer Kasey Kahne joined the action on Saturday night and thrilled the crowd by racing from 31st starting to a 9th place finish. Bill Elliott also started at the rear of the grid, but only completed 58 laps and ran 26th.

Just under 130 cars entered this year’s action and time trials on Tuesday night guaranteed the two fastest qualifiers starting spots in the 100 lapper. Illinois car builder Bob Pierce was quick time at 16.266 and Oregon’s Jon DeBenedetti won a tie breaker with USMTS dominator Kelly Shryock for that second spot. Each ran a 16.445 best, but DeBenedetti’s slow lap was faster. Minnesota’s Tommy Myer ranked fourth ahead of track regular Jared Landers. Payne was 9th quick, California’s Dustin Jenks ranked 10th, El Paso TX charger Troy Godwin was 17th and Curt Barnett ranked 25th. Tony Leiker from Gillette WY was 64th, California’s Darin Hawks 80th and California car builder Joe Carr 83th. Also representing the west was Medford OR promoter John Skinner, California’s John Pierce, Bakersfield’s Robert Sanders and Arizona’s Joe Parmeley. The top 9 finishers from the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night cards earned the starting spots in the 100 lapper. The feature was lined up three abreast on the wide racing surface with the Wednesday night teams on the inside, the Thursday qualifiers in the middle and the Friday qualifiers on the outside. Payne won the pole with his Wednesday night feature win. He was originally disqualified for taking a cool down lap before driving to the scales, but the officials later restored him to the win. Landers ran second on Wednesday ahead of Myers, South Dakota’s Jon Tesch, GRT’s Jack Sullivan, Little Rock’s Michael Murphree, car builder and dirt late model star Jimmy Owens, California’s Kellen Chadwick in another Taylor mount and Canada’s Steve Arpin. Bloomquist broke a rear end in his Wednesday night heat. The draw that was used for Wednesday night’s heats was completely inverted for the Thursday night action. Bloomquist easily won his heat and the feature on Thursday night with Peyton Taylor, younger brother to J Taylor, in second ahead of J Taylor, Tennessee’s Mike Marlar, Wisconsin’s Mike Mashl, dirt late model star Bill Frye, Texas super star George White, Tennessee’s Kenny Holt and Louisiana’s Garrett Durrett. Friday night’s feature went to Robinson in front of Walsh, Phillips, Batesville’s own Kevin Salter and Greg Waugh, W Wallace, Andy Milliken, Minnesota’s Jason Krohn and Chad Mallett. Behind those 27 cars came Pierce and DeBenedetti from time trials and the two NEXTEL Cup racers.

The 100 lapper was slowed 13 times by yellow flags and the last proved to the decider as Payne didn’t race as hard to the flag as Phillips did and Phillips emerged as the race leader with just 2 laps left to race. The top 17 finishers were all on the lead lap with Payne settling for the rich second place payoff ahead of Bloomquist, Walsh, W Wallace, J Taylor, Salter, Krohn, Kahne, Murphree, White, Chadwick, Owens, Mashl, Arpin, DeBenedetti and Frye. Pierce only lasted 9 laps, Sullivan 33, Elliott 58 and P Taylor 90. Owens builds the Loose Gruff Chassis that DeBenedetti runs.

Other action on Saturday night included a race of states for the fastest qualifier from each state to not make the 100 lapper. Wayne Brooks from Arkansas won ahead of Minnesota’s Trent Follmer, Bart Richardson from Tennessee, Iowa’s Shryock and California’s Jenks. A manufacturers dash was won by the GRT of Jon Mitchell ahead of Brandon Smith’s Shaw, the Dirt Works of Texan Vince Ogle, Dustin Duncan in an IRP and Phil Dixon’s FastOne. Shryock had finished 10th on Friday night and all the 10th place qualifying night finishers were awarded $750.

Feature Finish-Terry Phillips, Jeremy Payne, Scott Bloomquist, Shawn Walsh, Wendell Wallace, Jeff Taylor, Kevin Salter, Jason Krohn, Kasey Kahne, Michael Murphree, George White, Kellen Chadwick, Jimmy Owens, Mike Mashl, Steve Arpin, Jon DeBenedetti, Bill Frye, Tommy Myers, B J Robinson, Jared Landers, Jon Tesch, Peyton Taylor, Chad Mallett, Mike Marlar, Greg Waugh, Jack Sullivan, Andy Milliken, Garrett Durrett, Kenny Holt, Bob Pierce.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Top 100+ NASCAR Southwest Tour Drivers Of All-Time (90-81)

The countdown continues with drivers ranked from 81 to 90.

90. Kevin Clark - 33 starts, 1 top 5, 12 top 10s, 17.6 average finish, best finish 4th (2004 United Power/Touchstone Energy 150 @ Colorado National Speedway)

89. Glen Cummings - 46 starts, 3 top 5s, 9 top 10s, 16.9 average finish, best finish 2nd (1990 Coors Light/Ormsby 100 @ Silver State Raceway)

88. Bryan Brown - 62 starts, 21 top 10s, 14.3 average finish, best finish 6th (twice)

87. Terry Henry - 46 starts, 3 top 5s, 11 top 10s, 17.5 average finish, best finish 3rd (1994 Wrangler Firecracker 100 @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

86. Will Harper - 45 starts, 1 top 5, 17 top 10s, 15.6 average finish, best finish 3rd (1993 Miller Genuine Draft 100 @ Las Vegas Bullring)

85. Steve Smith - 20 starts, 2 top 5s, 6 top 10s, 17.0 average finish, best finish 5th (twice)

84. Rocky Nash - 61 starts, 1 win (2000 Food 4 Less 150 @ Irwindale Speedway [July]), 3 top 5s, 14 top 10s, 18.3 average finish

83. Keith Van Houten - 42 starts, 1 top 5, 15 top 10s, 12.9 average finish, best finish 4th (1986 Spears Manufacturing 100 @ Stockton 99 Speedway)

82. Chris Shannon - 24 starts, 3 top 5s, 6 top 10s, 18.9 average finish, best finish 4th (twice)

81. Ben Walker - 38 starts, 3 top 5s, 8 top 10s, 17.1 average finish, best finish 2nd (2001 Food 4 Less 150 @ Irwindale Speedway [June])

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Top 100+ NASCAR Southwest Tour Drivers Of All-Time (100-91)

The list continues with drivers ranked positions 91 through 100.

100. Joe Herold - 56 starts, 1 top 5, 13 top 10s, 16.0 average finish, best finish 2nd (2004 Coors Light 125 @ Cajon Speedway)

99. Brandon Whitt - 23 starts, 1 top 5, 6 top 10s, 16.0 average finish, best finish 5th (2002 Coors Light 125 @ Cajon Speedway)

98. Blair Aiken - 14 starts, 5 top 10s, 13.8 average finish, best finish 6th (1992 Emporium Western/Wrangler Firecracker 100 @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

97. J.R. Patton - 18 starts, 1 top 5, 5 top 10s, 17.3 average finish, best finish 3rd (2003 King Taco 150 @ Irwindale Speedway)

96. Tom Price - 24 starts, 1 top 5, 6 top 10s, 13.6 average finish, best finish 5th (1988 Coors Light 100 @ Silver State Raceway)

95. Greg Scheidecker - 47 starts, 2 top 5s, 11 top 10s, 16.4 average finish, best finish 4th (1987 Vons 200 @ Riverside International Raceway)

94. John Walsh - 38 starts, 2 top 5s, 9 top 10s, 17.4 average finish, best finish 2nd (1995 Coors 100 @ Orange Show Speedway)

93. Kevin Vernon - 32 starts, 1 win (2003 Lucas Oil 150 @ Mesa Marin Raceway), 2 top 5s, 4 top 10s, 19.3 average finish

92. John Krebs - 16 starts, 1 top 5, 4 top 10s, 14.8 average finish, best finish 5th (1986 Suncrest Motorhomes 100 @ Willow Springs Raceway)

91. Tony Toste - 46 starts, 16 top 10s, 15.2 average finish, 6th (four times)

Friday, July 24, 2015

Top 100+ NASCAR Southwest Tour Drivers Of All-Time (129-101)

For more information on this list, please refer to the preview that I posted several weeks ago. This will tell you how I made the rankings. To get a better sense of where each driver ranked, I weighted each category. It's too complicated to put down at this time but I think the final results help make the rankings more truthful to where each driver should be placed. Remember, these rankings are based solely on what these drivers accomplished in the NASCAR Southwest Tour Series.

With that, here are drivers 129 through 101.

#129: Scott Lee - 22 starts, 23.4 average finish, best finish 11th (1990 Coors 100 @ Cajon Speedway)

#128: Eddie Bryans - 39 starts, 20.8 average finish, best finish 12th (1987 Miller 100 @ Saugus Speedway [September])

#127: Richard Johnson - 30 starts, 1 top 10, 21.4 average finish, best finish 9th (2006 Southwest Series 150 @ Altamont Motorsports Park [July])

#126: Steve Teets - 26 starts, 18.1 average finish, best finish 14th (three times)

#125: Alan Brown - 22 starts, 1 top 10, 18.3 average finish, best finish 10th (1992 Coors 100 @ Orange Show Speedway)

#124: Dan O'Donnell - 24 starts, 2 top 10s, 19.6 average finish, best finish 10th (two times)

#123: Darrel Krentz - 51 starts, 4 top 10s, 21.1 average finish, best finish 8th (1994 Coors 100 @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

#122: Al Sadler - 48 starts, 1 top 10, 17.3 average finish, best finish 10th (1989 Coors 100 @ Orange Show Speedway)

#121: Steve Petty - 29 starts, 3 top 10s, 22.3 average finish, best finish 6th (1999 Snap-On 200 @ Sonoma Raceway)

#120: Ray Neveau - 48 starts, 4 top 10s, 20.0 average finish, best finish 7th (1989 Budwesier 100 @ Cajon Speedway)

#119: Jeff Hill - 22 starts, 3 top 10s, 22.3 average finish, best finish 7th (2000 Snap-On Tools/AAA 200 @ Sonoma Raceway)

#118: Don Campbell - 20 starts, 3 top 10s, 19.2 average finish, best finish 8th (2006 Southwest Series 150 @ Altamont Motorsports Park [July])

#117: Greg Fowler - 49 starts, 5 top 10s, 18.5 average finish, best finish 8th (two times)

#116: Harry Brady - 73 starts, 8 top 10s, 18.7 average finish, best finish 6th (1989 President's Cup 100 @ Orange Show Speedway)
#3 Harry Brady leads #17 Randy Olson in the heat race
for the Hamm's 100 at Redwood Acres Raceway in 1995

#115: Mark Wilson - 20 starts, 1 top 5, 1 top 10, best finish 5th (1996 Bakersfield Classic 300k @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

#114: Dan Bishop - 19 starts, 3 top 10s, 16.4 average finish, best finish 10th (twice)

#113: Mike Ledbetter - 53 starts, 8 top 10s, 18.9 average finish, best finish 6th (2003 John Baker 150 @ Tucson Raceway Park)

#112: Davy Lee Liniger - 20 starts, 1 top 5, 2 top 10s, 19.6 average finish, best finish 4th (1998 NAPA 125 @ Colorado National Speedway)

#111: Roy Pruett - 18 starts, 3 top 10s, 15.0 average finish, best finish 8th (1986 Motorcraft/Carquest 300 @ Riverside International Raceway)

#110: Ray Lawson, Jr. - 29 starts, 5 top 10s, 15.8 average finish, best finish 7th (three times)

#109: Doug Renno - 37 starts, 7 top 10s, 16.6 average finish, best finish 7th (1996 Colorado's Best Chevrolet/Geo Dealers 125 @ Colorado National Speedway)

#108: Bruce Bechtel - 22 starts, 1 top 5, 3 top 10s, 17.6 average finish, best finish 5th (1999 Phoenix 125 @ Phoenix International Raceway)

#107: Gary Tamborelli - 29 starts, 1 top 5, 5 top 10s, 17.7 average finish, best finish 5th (1990 Coors 100 @ Orange Show Speedway [September])

#106: Stephen Sadler - 22 starts, 1 top 5, 5 top 10s, 19.2 average finish, best finish 5th (2005 AutoZone 125 @ Stockton 99 Speedway)

#105: Dean Huss, Jr. - 13 starts, 4 top 10s, 14.6 average finish, best finish 6th (1986 Miller 100 @ Saugus Speedway)

#104: Mark Perry - 86 starts, 2 top 5s, 13 top 10s, 17.3 average finish, best finish 3rd (1988 Budwesier 100 @ Cajon Speedway)

#103: Thomas Martin - 54 starts, 3 top 5s, 7 top 10s, 19.0 average finish, best finish 4th (2006 Stock Building Supply 100 @ Irwindale Speedway)

#102: John Baker - 42 starts, 2 top 5s, 8 top 10s, 18.2 average finish, best finish 4th (2001 StarNursery.com 250 @ The Las Vegas Bullring)

#101: Scott Busby - 73 starts, 2 top 5s, 13 top 10s, 18.5 average finish, best finish 5th (two times)

Thursday, July 23, 2015

SRL stars return to the Acres

NTS Motorsports teammates, Parker Stephens (28) and Blaine Rocha (21)
test at Redwood Acres Raceway for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour event

By Matthew J. Sullivan

One of the most anticipated events of the 2015 season at Redwood Acres Raceway is on the horizon as the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will race this Saturday August 1st. The top super late model drivers on the west coast will go head-to-head on the 3/8-mile paved oval for the second time in series history, the first since 2013. The SRL series will be joining the Acres’ local divisions of roadrunners, bombers, mini stocks and Thunder Roadsters while the local late models will have the evening off.

Dylan Ford is coming off his sixth main event win in a row in the Humboldt Hydroponics roadrunner division and will look to take his seventh feature this weekend. Ford has a stranglehold on the championship standings as he leads Daniel Buell by 78 points. R.C. Brown has been impressive in his rookie season in the division and sits third, only four points behind Buell. Steve Paiment is fourth, a point behind Brown. Paiment was the winner of the main event on April 25th. Another rookie, Shawn Malloy holds down fifth in the standings.

Dustin Walters has been the favorite throughout the season in the bomber division and the point standings reflect it. Walters has four main event wins, two of them in a row and leads James Moore by 14 points. Moore has won two main events this season. The rest of the top five consists of Michael Knight, the team of Lance Martins and Joseph Phares and Ryan Walters however those drivers are more than 80 points in arrears to the point leader.

The Maxwell’s Custom Automobiles mini stocks have put on some of the best racing at the Acres this year. Chris Champagne leads the standings with three main event wins, one of those coming in the first race when his car was driven by Leonard Ward. Second in points is division rookie, Eugene Palmer who won the June 20th race. Palmer is only 12 points behind Champagne. Rick Estes has a main event win and is third, 24 points behind Champagne. Defending mini stock track champion, Brian Murrell, Jr. has had rough luck in 2015 but still sits fourth, 38 behind the leader. Another division rookie, Tim Abeyta is fifth, 68 in arrears to Champagne.

It has been another season of dominance for Paul Peeples, Jr. in the Bear River Casino Hotel Thunder Roadster division. Peeples has won the past four main events in a row and five in total in 2015 and leads Robbie Nelson by 31 points. Nelson is the only other driver to win a main event in the division this year which came in the May 9th race. Thomas Payne is third, 50 points behind Peeples. Chris Lawrence sits fourth and is 61 markers behind Peeples while Belinda Ward is fifth and nine points behind Lawrence.

The fight for the Mid City Motor World late model track championship could very well come down to the last lap of the season. Ryun Leazer and Jedd Ambrosini sit atop the standings tied with 205 points apiece. Marty Walsh missed the first two races of the season but has won two features including the most recent race on July 18th. Walsh is only 29 points behind Leazer and Ambrosini, well within striking distance. Richard Knight is fourth, 32 behind the leaders and David Henderson is fifth, four points behind Knight. Henderson won the May 9th main event. Other main event winners in the division this season are David Miller who won on opening night, April 25th, Mic Moulton who won on May 24th and June 6th and Brandon White who won the Firecracker 100 race on July 4th.

As mentioned earlier, the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will be returning to Redwood Acres Raceway this weekend for the first time since 2013. Jacob Gomes holds the SRL track record at the Acres with a 15.478. Veteran super late model racer, Jim Pettit, II won the inaugural SRL event which was held on June 1st of 2013. In the 2015 point standings, Greg Voig
t leads Ryan Cansdale by 30 points. Eureka native, Brandon White is third, 49 points behind Voight. Tracy Bolin is fourth, only three points behind White while Jeff Bishofberger is fifth a single point behind Bolin. White will certainly be one of the favorites for local fans. Another fan favorite, Jim Walker will also be in action.

The Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will have a practice date on Friday July 30th from 4:30PM to 7:30PM. On Saturday, gates open at 4:30PM while racing will begin at 6:00PM. More information on this weekend’s big event can be found on Redwood Acres Raceway’s official website, www.racingtheacres.com .

Stephens, Rocha prepare for Bear River Casino Hotel 125

Blaine Rocha tests at Redwood Acres Raceway in preparation for next weekend's
Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series Bear River Casino Hotel 125

By Matthew J. Sullivan

NTS Motorsports drivers Blaine Rocha and Parker Stephens took to the track Wednesday Redwood Acres Raceway. The two drivers were testing in preparation for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series Bear River Casino Hotel 125 on August 1st.

Stephens hails from Olympia, Washington and is the son of former NASCAR Northwest Tour Series champion, Dirk Stephens. Parker turned 18 in June and won the most recent Tri-Track Super Late Model Series race at Evergreen Speedway on July 11th. Stephens also finished fifth in the Coors Light Summer Showdown at Evergreen which attracted some of the top late model drivers in the country. He is a rookie in the SRL series this year and currently sits 10th in the point standings.

Blaine Rocha is only 17 years old and is an Oakdale, California resident. Rocha put in an impressive performance in the Winter Showdown event at Kern County Raceway with a fourth place effort. Rocha also raced in the Coors Light Summer Showdown but was the victim of a multi-car pileup that ruined his race after only two laps. Rocha is in his second season in the SRL Series and is 11th in the standings.

Greg Voight is teammate to both drivers and currently sits atop the Spears SRL Southwest Tour point standings by 30 markers over rookie, Ryan Cansdale. Eureka driver, Brandon White is third and was the winner of the big Firecracker 100 event at the Acres on July 4th. Tracy Bolin and Jeff Bishofberger round out the top five in SRL standings.

The Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series joins the roadrunners, bombers, mini stocks and Thunder Roadsters for the event on August 1st. Joining Rocha and Stephens will be some of the top super late model drivers on the west coast will in what will be the SRL’s second visit to the track, the first since 2013. A limited amount of pre-sale tickets for the Bear River Casino Hotel 125 can be purchased at Humboldt Motorsports. More information for the race can be found on the track’s official website, www.racingtheacres.com .

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Champagne wins in a thriller

Chris Champagne took the mini stock feature win on Saturday night

By Matthew J. Sullivan

The 2015 season at Redwood Acres Raceway resumed this past weekend for another exciting night of racing presented by Maxwell’s Custom Automobiles. As always, the five local classes of roadrunners, bombers, mini stocks, Thunder Roadsters and late models were in action. The night was capped off with boat races which delighted the packed house at the 3/8-mile paved oval.

Steve Paiment was the winner of the Humboldt Hydroponics roadrunner trophy dash. Paiment followed his dash win with a win in the first heat for the division while Dylan Ford took first in the second heat race. The roadrunners have provided exciting racing throughout 2015 and this night was no different as the racing at the front of the field in the 20-lap main event was exceptional. Paiment moved by Bethany Rapp to the lead on lap one but he was quickly overtaken by Daniel Buell the next lap. Dylan Hagman moved past Buell on lap three just as Ford, R.C. Brown and Michael Lawrence moved into third, fourth and fifth.

Every lap seemed to have a different leader between Hagman, Ford, Lawrence, Shawn Malloy and Jett Taylor. Hagman looked to be the strongest competitor to Ford’s five-race win streak as he was able to stay near the front better than the rest of the competition. The two raced side-by-side in the final laps of the race with Ford gaining the advantage on the last lap. Going into the third turn, Hagman drove as hard as he could to try to get by Ford. The two touched slightly coming off four but it was good, clean racing to the line with Ford winning his sixth feature in a row just ahead of Hagman. Lawrence placed third in his first race of the year driving Ken Barrett’s car. Malloy crossed the line fourth and Taylor took fifth.

The bomber division trophy dash win was taken by James Moore. Division point leader, Dustin Walters took the heat race and proved dominant in the 25-lap feature. Moore wrestled the lead away from Eddie Klein on the second lap but on lap six, Walters moved to the inside of Moore coming off turn two to take the lead. Walters pulled away to an insurmountable lead in what proved to be a clean and green race. At the finish it was Walters winning followed by Moore, Klein, Rick Jelton and Matt Simon.

The Maxwell’s Custom Automobiles mini stock division has arguably had the most exciting racing the past few races and tonight proved to be another example. Rick Estes narrowly took the win and trophy in the dash. Ted Henry won his first race ever in the first heat race while Gary Klinetobe showed muscle in the second heat, taking the victory. Henry got the lead at the start but quickly had to deal with the faster qualifiers of Brian Murrell, Jr., Chris Champagne, Estes, Klinetobe and Eugene Palmer. Estes got to the lead on lap three and led until a caution brought out by a spin by Tim Abeyta.

Racing resumed for a few laps before another caution. After the restart Champagne, Murrell, Jr. and Palmer really began to apply pressure to Estes for the lead. The top four cars raced side-by-side for first & second and third & fourth. Palmer was able to get by Murrell, Jr. while Estes and Champagne continued their fight for the lead. Estes eventually got loose under Champagne between the first and second turns which broke his momentum and cost him first and second positions. Palmer and Champagne began a fight for the lead that ended when the two made slight contact in the third and fourth turns. Champagne got loose and was able to save his car while Palmer slid into the infield. Champagne was far enough ahead of the rest of the field that he was able to withstand the brief scare and take the race win. Estes finished second followed by Murrell, Jr., Klinetobe and Henry.

Paul Peeples, Jr. did what he’s done throughout most of the 2015 season in the Bear River Hotel and Casino Thunder Roadster division by dominating and winning races left and right. Peeples took the trophy dash win and passed Thomas Payne on the last lap to win the heat race. Belinda Ward held the lead at the start of the 30-lap feature but by the end of lap one, Peeples was in the lead. While Peeples pulled away, Payne and Robbie Nelson did what they could to maneuver their way into the second position. Nelson eventually got to second and was able to close in on Peeples as the laps wound down. It wasn’t enough however as Peeples took his fifth win in a row over Nelson, Payne, Chris Lawrence and Ward.

The Mid City Motor World late model division trophy dash went to Marty Walsh. The heat race featured an incident that knocked out the cars of George Young and Kenny Demello but thankfully both drivers were unharmed. Walsh had the clear-cut fastest car on the night and he proved it by dominating the 35-lap feature and winning handily over Ryun Leazer, Jedd Ambrosini and Ken Hallis.

There were 13 boat racers in all for the featured attraction for the evening. Brian Murrell, Jr.’s “Griswold” car won the $100 best appearing boat racer prior to the start of the event. As expected, the boat race proved to be a real crowd pleaser. Troy Lee’s “School Bus” van was the winner over Murrell, Jr. and Roger Kirkpatrick.

The summer of fun at Redwood Acres Raceway resumes on August 1st with the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series joining the roadrunners, bombers, mini stocks and Thunder Roadsters. The top super late model drivers on the west coast will square off on the Acres pavement in the SRL’s second visit to the track, the first since 2013. A limited amount of pre-sale tickets for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour 125 presented by Bear River Hotel and Casino can be purchased at Humboldt Motorsports.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Championship standings jumble after Independence Day event

Late model rookie, Richard Knight co-leads the championship standings

By Matthew J. Sullivan

The 2015 season at Redwood Acres Raceway has reached its halfway point and the battle for the track championship in each of the five local divisions still hangs in the air. The most recent event on July 4th might prove to be the turning point of the season for many due to several out-of-town drivers participating in the night’s racing action.

Dylan Ford appears to have a clear path to the track championship in the Humboldt Hydroponics roadrunner division. Ford has won the past five main events in a row and is an astounding 75 points ahead of the two drivers tied for second place, Steve Paiment and Daniel Buell. R.C. Brown is fourth in the standings, 77 markers behind Ford while rookie, Shawn Malloy is fifth 101 points behind Ford.

The bomber division point lead returned to Dustin Walters after he won the main event on Independence Day. Walters leads James Moore by 10 points. Moore had held a nearly 30-point gap on Walters going into the previous race but was unable to race. Michael Knight is third in points, Lance Martins & Joseph Phares fourth and Ryan Walters fifth.

It’s a very close battle at the front of the mini stock division. Chris Champagne holds a three point lead over Eugene Palmer. Rick Estes lies third in points, 22 behind Champagne with an outside shot at the title. Brian Murrell, Jr. has a much harder road to go than Estes as he’s 42 points behind Champagne while 58 points behind in fifth is Dylan Ford.

Paul Peeples, Jr. extended his point lead in the Bear River Hotel and Casino Thunder Roadsters by sweeping the trophy dash, heat race and main event on July 4th. Peeples leads Robbie Nelson by 26 points. Thomas Payne is 43 points behind Peeples in the third position, Chris Lawrence is fourth and Belinda Ward is fifth.

Coming off the second Tri-Holiday Classic race of 2015, the championship for the Mid City Motor World late models tightened up even more than it was before. Richard Knight and Jedd Ambrosini are tied atop the standings. Ryun Leazer is third in points, a single marker behind the leaders. Fourth is David Henderson who is only four points behind first while Tyler Avelar is fifth and 11 points behind.

The next race at the Acres on July 18th will feature boat races to go along with the roadrunners, bombers, mini stocks, Thunder Roadsters and late models. Grandstands open at 5:00PM while racing begins at 6:30PM. On August 1st, the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will return to RAR for the first time since 2013. More information on the upcoming events at Redwood Acres Raceway can be found on the track’s official website, www.racingtheacres.com .

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

White survives to win Firecracker 100

Brandon White avoided the carnage to win the Firecracker 100

By Matthew J. Sullivan

It was a wild and exciting night at Redwood Acres Raceway for Patriotic Night at the Races this past Saturday evening. There were numerous incidents in all five of the Acres’ divisions including the late models which were holding the second Tri-Holiday Classic race on the night, the Firecracker 100 sponsored by Danielson Construction and North Coast Lighting And Electric. At the end of the night, the fireworks on track gave way to fireworks in the night sky as fans were treated to a spectacular display.

The Humboldt Hydroponics roadrunner trophy dash was won by Jordan Paiment. The first heat race was won by Chris Appleton while Dylan Ford took the second heat win. The feature which was scheduled for 20 laps got off to a slow start. Several drivers swapped the lead including Shawn Malloy, Ford, Jett Taylor and Daniel Buell. Ford entered the lead just past the halfway mark before the race was marred by cautions. Due to the race going over the 20-minute time limit, Ford was awarded the win, his fifth in a row.

Former Acres racer, Dan Maxwell was kind enough to put $500 on the line for the winner of the Maxwell’s Custom Automobiles bomber division main event and as a result, several out-of-town drivers were in attendance on the evening. Brian King was the winner of the four lap trophy dash while Dustin Walters took the heat race win. The bomber feature got off to a slow start due to a couple incidents, one of which included Lance Martins and Ryan Walters that resulted in Martins getting the black flag. When racing got going, it was clear Dustin Walters had the superior car. Walters was able to muscle by David Dillinger for the lead and he was able to cruise to the checkered flag and the $500 victory. Dillinger took second followed by Erick Ray, King and Rick Jelton.

Chris Champagne was victorious in the Danielson Construction mini stock division trophy dash. The first heat race was won by Paul Baker while the Champagne claimed the second heat. Brett Murrell took the lead at the start of the 25-lap main but got loose in turn four on lap two collecting his older brother Brian. Eugene Palmer took the lead after the restart but it was Billy Shaul who looked to have the superior handling vehicle. With only a few laps remaining, Shaul took the lead from Palmer and was able to hold on the rest of the way for the win followed by Palmer, Champagne, Rick Estes and Cole Peterson.

Mike Ward’s night in the Bear River Hotel and Casino Thunder Roadster division was cut short in the trophy dash when he got loose and hit the turn two wall nose first. Fortunately Ward was okay. Paul Peeples took the dash win then went on to claim the heat race victory. The main event proved to be no different. Although Chris Sarvinski took the lead early on, he was forced to give way to Peeples. It was another dominant performance as Peeples was able to take his fourth straight win over Sarvinski, Thomas Payne, Robbie Nelson and Belinda Ward.

Brandon White set fast time for the field of 16 Mid City Motor World Firecracker 100 late models with a 15.924. The winner of the trophy dash was veteran driver, Mike Sackett which awarded him pole position in the 100-lap feature. White used his outside front row starting position to his advantage as he took the lead at the drop of the green. Jim Walker looked to have the only car capable of contending with White as he moved into second on lap 12. The race was slowed twice early due to spins by George Young, Ryun Leazer and Kenny Demello. On lap 28, Leazer appeared to cut a right front tire going into the third turn. Leazer collected Mic Moulton and the two drivers slammed into the turn three wall. The race went green for a long 30-lap stretch with White pulling out to a large lead that Walker was able to chip away at thanks to slower traffic. On lap 56, the caution dropped for oil on the track from Alan Cress’ car. After a long cleanup, racing resumed and White went back to dominating over Walker and Sackett.

The race resumed green for another semi-long run before a caution from an incident between David Henderson and Tyler Avelar. Under the caution, Henderson stopped to speak to officials on the backstretch. Behind him, Richard Knight and Avelar ran into Henderson’s stopped car. Knight’s car climbed over the side of Henderson’s and flipped onto its top. Nobody was injured but the incident was enough for officials to call the race official before its scheduled end. This gave White the win over Walker, Sackett, Marty Walsh and Leonard Ward.

The next race on the docket will feature the return of the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series to the Acres. The SRL Series is the top late model touring series in the west and features the top talent in the region. Firecracker 100 winner, Brandon White will certainly be one of the favorites to take the win. In addition, the roadrunners, bombers, mini stocks and Thunder Roadsters will be in action. For more on the upcoming SRL event, please visit the Acres’ official website www.racingtheacres.com .