Murrell Survives Last-Lap Tangle To Win

#65 Tim Ratzlaff took the in in the second roadrunner main event

Eureka, CA (June 24, 2018) – A special Friday night event took place this past week at Redwood Acres Raceway. It was day two of the Redwood Acres Fair and the excitement could be felt throughout the entire fairgrounds including the 3/8-mile paved oval.

While the Fortuna Wheel & Brake bombers and the Mid-City Motor World late models were not in action, all four other divisions took to the track on Fair Night at the Races presented by Pepsi, Del Reka Distributing and Humboldt Lighting. In addition, the night finished with a boat race which has become a big hit with fans in the past several years.

Nick Ford was fast time in the Compass Community Credit Union roadrunner division with a 20.525. The first main was run in normal fashion and was a thriller from start to finish. Ford and Tim Ratzlaff traded the lead 10 times in the 20-lap main event. Ford was able to take the lead from Ratzlaff on the final lap to take the victory. Ronnie Crump was third with Jennifer Murrell fourth and Austin Peterson fifth.

The second main event was run backwards and proved to be a completely different race. Ratzlaff dominated only losing the lead to Steve Kimberling with three laps left to go. Ratzlaff was able to retake the lead and crossed the line first. Kimberling was second followed by Crump, Andy Savage and Shawna Estes.

Lane Anderson has displayed terrific pace in the first season for the Bandoleros. Anderson was fast time with a 21.706. Anderson took the trophy dash while Maleesa Miles hung on to win the heat. Kadence Mace led the first lap of the 15-lap main event. Lap two saw Anderson take over. From that point on, Anderson was able to run away from the rest of the field to victory lane. Miles placed second followed by Mace, Trey Daniels and Aiden Kimberling.

The NorthCoast Lighting & Electric Legends division had a great turnout for the evening. Chris Lawrence has become the main to beat in the division this season. His qualifying time of 18.133 was fastest of all. Tyler Peach was the heat race winner while the two heat races were won by Katina Baker and Lawrence.

The main event was a race to see how fast the quicker qualifiers would be able to maneuver through the field. Kylie Daniels showed great speed and led the majority of the race. Lawrence quickly sliced through the field to get second on lap five. Daniels and Lawrence had a fantastic battle for the lead with both drivers displaying great patience. On lap 19, Lawrence took the lead and was able to pull away. At the finish it was Lawrence beating Daniels, Peach, Tyler Krupa and Katina Baker.

The Humboldt Hydroponics mini stocks had a special 40-lap main event on the night. Brian Murrell, Sr. was quickest in qualifying with a time of 18.846. Gary Klientobe took the trophy dash win. Heat race victories were claimed by Jordan Paiment and Klientobe. Paiment took the lead at the start of the main event. Things got jumbled five laps into the race when Brett Murrell’s hood got loose and blocked his windshield. While he was able to get to the pits, Paiment was able to put a major gap on the field while faster qualifiers like Murrell, Sr. and Eugene Palmer lost significant track position.

It appeared as nobody had a chance of catching Paiment but a caution flag on lap 20 completely changed the complexion of the race. Klientobe cut a tire and spun out. Then a battle for second between Trevor Eacret and Scott Taylor resulted in Eacret’s truck being disabled, bringing out the caution. Paiment still held the lead on the restart but had Taylor and Palmer right on his heels. As the race drew closer to the checkered flag, things tightened up at the front. On the last lap, Paiment and Taylor were nose-to-tail going into the first turn. Coming off turn two, Taylor got into the back of Paiment who spun. Third place Palmer also got collected. Murrell, Sr. was able to get through the mess and was able to cross the finish line first after being in the fourth position on the white flag lap. Klientobe was able to recover from his flat tire to get second. The next three positions were determined by scoring on the previous lap as none of the drivers were able to make it back to the line. Paiment was credited with third over Palmer and Taylor.

Following the mini stock main event was the crowd-pleasing boat race. At the end of the carnage, the top three finishers were winner Armand Deny, second place Matt Taylor and third place Mark Murray.

The next race in the 2018 season for Redwood Acres Raceway is Saturday July 7th. The big event for the evening will be the Don Graham Memorial Firecracker 100 for the Mid-City Motor World late models. There will be a test and tune on Friday July 6th. Another big event will happen after the races with a spectacular fireworks display.

For more information for Redwood Acres Raceway’s 2018 season can be found at www.RedwoodAcresRacing.com or by visiting the track’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/RedwoodAcresRaceway

Moulton Wins Third Race In A Row

#10 Mic Moulton made it three-for-three in the Super Six Challenge Series main event

Eureka, CA (June 10, 2018) – Racing returned to Redwood Acres Raceway on Saturday for the fourth race of the 2018 season. All six divisions were in action for Renner Petroleum Night at the Races including the Super Six Late Model Challenge Series cars which last raced on May 12th.

Fast time for the Compass Community Credit Union roadrunners was Daniel Buell with a 20.565. Main event one was dominated by Buell. Tim Ratzlaff got past Buell on lap eight but had to surrender the lead on lap 10 as he broke the 21-second barrier. Buell was able to pull out a substantial lead while Ratzlaff had to do all he could to close in on the leader. Ratzlaff finally caught up to Buell with three laps remaining and maneuvered by to take the lead. At the checkered flag it was Ratzlaff winning over Buell, Ronny Crump, Lindsey Zito and Allan Anderson.

Zito led the field to the green in the second main but Nick Ford quickly took over. Ford led up to lap 11 until he broke the 21-second rule and had to give up the lead to Ratzlaff. The three cars of Ratzlaff, Buell and Ford had a great battle for the lead. With four laps remaining, Buell was able to take over the lead. He was able to maintain that lead from that point on to take the victory. Ratzlaff took second while Crump, Ford and Jacob Wilkinson rounded out the top five.

Lane Anderson set fast time for the Bandolero cars. Anderson took the trophy dash win while Maleesa Miles was the heat race winner. Miles and Anderson had a spectacular race from the drop of the green flag. Anderson dogged Miles all race long. Miles got loose on a few occasions but was able to maintain the lead on Anderson. The two drivers were never more than less than a car-length apart. At the finish it was Miles winning flag-to-flag just narrowly over Anderson and Kimberling.

Qualifying for the NorthCoast Lighting & Electric was paced by Chris Lawrence at a 18.241. The trophy dash was won by Tyler Peach while the two head races went to Brandon White and Lawrence. Katina Baker took over the lead for the first four laps before giving way to Lawrence. His closest competition came from White. Lapped traffic played a role in the last half of the race. White was able to close in on Lawrence several times, including finding himself inside of Lawrence. In spite of White’s pressure, Lawrence kept his cool and was able to cross the line first at the finish. White placed second while Aiden Daniels, Wyatt Hobart and Baker finished the top five.

Ryan Walters was the fastest in qualifying for the Fortuna Wheel & Brake bombers at a 18.332. Sam Brown won the trophy dash after Walters and Jim Redd got together. Walters recovered to take the heat race win. Wyatt Roach took the lead and he and Walters had a race-long fight for the lead. Walters stayed on Roach’s bumper and with less than five laps remaining it appeared as thought he was going to make a serious challenge for the lead. With three laps to go, Walters got loose coming off turn four allowing Roach to pull away. At the finish it was Roach winning. Walters, Redd, Bethany Rapp and Brown rounded out the top five finishers.

In the Humboldt Hydroponics mini stocks, Brian Murrell, Sr. was quick time setting an 18.899 qualifying effort. The trophy dash was won by Gary Klientobe while the heat race victors were Trevor Eacret and Eugene Palmer. Several caution flags slowed the feature event. The most notable when it appeared Klinetobe hit the wall between turns one and two. Eacret led most of the race but had his hands full with Murrell, Sr. who was right in his mirror. Murrell, Sr. swept into the lead with five laps remaining. Murrell, Sr. was able to hang on to the lead and take the win over Palmer, Eacret, Brian Murrell, Jr. and Jordan Paiment.

Fast time for the Mid-City Motor World Super Six Challenge Series late model cars was David Henderson 15.874. The first heat was won by Kenny Demello while Marty Walsh’s win in the second heat granted him pole position for the main event. The 60-lap feature event presented by NorthCoast Lighting & Electric was slowed from the start when Scott Baker got loose crossing the start line and sliding into the mud created by rain earlier in the day. The restart was clean and Walsh immediately jumped to the lead. David Henderson slotted into the second position and did his best to try and chase down Walsh. As the laps clicked off, it appeared as though Walsh had the race-winning car. He had a substantial advantage over Henderson and the rest of the field. Mic Moulton passed Henderson on lap 30 and made his try to challenge Walsh.

At lap 40, it was heartbreak for Walsh as his car lost power down the straightaway. Moulton moved to the lead while Walsh had to limp his car to the pits. Henderson made one last run on Moulton in the final five laps but time ran out for him. Moulton was able to take the victory, his third straight of 2018. Henderson was second. Dennis DelBiaggio was third in his first race of the season. Kenny Demello was fourth while Ken Hallis had a solid run with a fifth.

Racing returns to Redwood Acres Raceway in two weeks. The event will be a special one as it will be on Friday June 22nd. The late models and bombers will have the night off while the rest of RAR’s divisions will be in action. The first boat race of the year will conclude the event. More horsepower will be displayed the following night Saturday June 23rd as tractor pulls are the featured event. VIP tickets are available on Redwood Acres Raceway’s website, www.RedwoodAcresRacing.com/tickets More information about the tractor pulls can be found at www.mlm-motorsports.com You can also visit Redwood Acres Raceway on Facebook www.facebook.com/RedwoodAcresRaceway

First time winners, big crashes mark memorable night at RAR

#26 Dane Nissen finished runner-up to Mic Moulton in the Super Six Challenge Series main event

Eureka, CA (May 13, 2018) – It was a wild night of racing at Redwood Acres Raceway this past Saturday on Pepsi Night at the Races. Several major incidences slowed the competition in multiple divisions but there still was some thrilling racing all night long.

Unfortunately, the Fortuna Wheel & Brake bomber division was not in action for the evening due to the car count. In the division championship, Nick Green holds the points lead by three over Ryan Walters. Jim Redd is another point behind Walters in third. Sam Brown is fourth and Kolby Jackson rounds out the top five.

Qualifying for the Compass Community Credit Union roadrunner division was lead by Dylan Ford with a 20.334 time-in. Race one was a battle between brothers Dylan Ford and Nick Ford. Patrick Sproul was a big challenger in the early going but contact with lapped traffic cut his right front tire which sent him into the wall. The Fords continued their fight for the lead all race long but Nick was unable to get by Dylan. At the finish it was Dylan Ford winning over Nick Ford, Amanda Lohr, Lindsey Zito and Sproul.

The second main proved to be more chaotic. The Fords again were the front-runners but the 21-second rule played into the race several times. The rule is in place to ensure fair competition in the division and to keep costs down. Both Fords broke out three times and had to allow third-place Lindsey Zito into the lead. With both Fords trying to regain the lead on lap 15, Nick got into the grass while trying to pass Zito and Dylan. Nick lost control and lost control sending both he and his brother hard into the turn three wall. Both drivers were able to climb out of their cars safely. Zito inherited the lead and was able to go on to win her first-ever main event win. Ronnie Crump placed second, Amanda Lohr third. Dylan Ford was credited with fourth and Nick Ford fifth.

Lane Anderson continued his hot-streak in qualifying for the Bandoleros with fast time, a 21.617. Anderson followed up his trophy dash victory with a win in the heat race. The feature event saw more of the same as Anderson jumped to the lead and pulled away from the rest of the field. Anderson went on to win followed by Aiden Kimberling and Kadence Mace.

Chris Lawrence has made a successful transition from the Thunder Roadster division to the NorthCoast Lighting And Electric Legends division. His 18.167 was good enough to set fast time for the class. Aiden Daniels was the trophy dash winner while the heat went to Lawrence. Wyatt Hobart jumped to the lead initially before being overtaken by Tyler Peach. Lawrence moved to second and the front pair looked to be superior to the rest of the field. They pulled away as the rest of the field sorted out. On lap 10, Tyler Krupa’s left front wheel came off between turns one and two sending him into the wall and ending his night.

After that yellow, another caution flew when Brent Mack’s car broke. Lawrence used the restart to his advantage as he was able to get by Peach on lap 14. It was Lawrence’s race from then on as he took his first main event win in the Legends division. Peach was second followed by Aiden Daniels, Hobart and Brad Henderson.

Brian Murrell, Sr. was fast time for the Humboldt Hydroponics mini stock class with a 19.001. Murrell followed up with a victory in the dash. Scott Taylor pulled through to win heat race one while the second heat featured a little more excitement than some drivers wanted. Trevor Eacret and Murrell tangled on the front stretch sending Murrell into the wall. Eugene Palmer would take the victory in the race. Dylan Hagmann and C.J. Dalton led the field to the green with Dalton getting the initial lead. Just after the green, Hagmann, Brian Murrell, Jr. and Brian Murrell, Sr. all went into the pits. On lap four Dalton spun in turn four collecting Taylor.

The restart saw Jordan Paiment lead with Nick Ford in second place. Eugene Palmer’s truck lost power forcing him the pits for the duration of the race. The major turning point in the race occurred in turns one and two. Rick Estes was pulling his car into the pits. Behind him, R.C. Brown slowed just as the leaders were gaining at a high rate of speed. The result was Paiment slamming into Brown’s rear bumper. From that point on, Paiment’s car was not the same. On lap 10, Eacret took over as Paiment’s car was definitely off pace compared to earlier in the race. Gary Klinetobe did all he could as he got to within three to four car lengths on Eacret but it was not enough. At the finish it was Eacret winning his first feature over Klinetobe. Ford took third with Paiment placing fourth. Brown placed fifth.

Fast time for the Mid-City Motor World Super Six Challenge Series late models was Mic Moulton with a 15.780. Things got too exciting on the first lap of the heat race. Going into turn three, several cars got together resulting in major damage to Leonard Ward’s car. Fortunately, he was able to make the main event. The heat winner was Dane Nissen. The NorthCoast Lighting and Electric feature was led to the green by Dane Nissen and David Henderson. Things got too wild on the first lap going into the third turn when Tim Crenshaw and Kenny Demello got together. Both drivers hit the wall hard, seriously damaging both of their vehicles. Thankfully both drivers were able to walk away from their badly beaten cars.

Nissen took the lead off the restart. Marty Walsh looked to be Nissen’s main competition in the early going but the handling on his car appeared to fall off after the first 10 laps into the race. Henderson and Moulton were able to get under and past Walsh and the two tried to close in on Nissen. Both drivers were eventually able to close on Nissen and the three raced bumper-to-bumper for several laps. Henderson appeared to have the advantage handling-wise but Nissen was able to use his power down the straights to keep his lead. With 20-laps remaining, Moulton began to make a serious move to the lead. He was able to get by Henderson on lap 40. With 12 laps left, Moulton was able to get under and by Nissen. From that point on, Moulton was able to pull away. At the checkered flag it was Moulton winning over Nissen, Henderson, Marty Walsh and Ward.

Race three for the 2018 season at Redwood Acres Raceway is set to be a big event. It’s a rare Sunday night race on Memorial Day weekend, May 27th The Super Six Challenge Series Late Models will have the night off but the ever-popular North State Modifieds will be making their first visit to the 3/8-mile paved oval for the series’ second race of the year. For more information including race results, points and division rules please visit Redwood Acres Raceway’s official website, www.redwoodacresracing.com You can also find the track on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/RedwoodAcresRaceway

Remaining 2018 Redwood Acres Raceway Schedule
Sunday May 27th – O’Reilly Auto Parts Night At The Races (Featuring North State Modifieds, Late Models off)
Saturday June 9th – Renner Petroleum Night At The Races (Featuring Super 6 Late Models)
Friday June 22nd – Fair Race (Featuring Demolition Derby and Boat Race, Late Models and Bombers off)
Saturday June 23rd – Tractor Pulls (VIP tickets available, no oval racing)
Saturday July 7th – Don Graham Memorial Firecracker 100 (Featuring fireworks, Bandoleros and Legends off)
Saturday July 21st – Harper Ford Night at the Races (Featuring Super 6 Late Models, North State Modifieds, Mustang car show, roadrunners off)
Friday/Saturday August 3rd and 4th – Monster Trucks
Saturday August 18th – Anderson Logging Driver Appreciation Night (Featuring Super 6 Late Models, Murrell 500)
Friday/Saturday September 7/8 – Mid-City Motor World Fall Spectacular (Featuring North State Modifieds on Friday, Super 6 Late Models on Friday and Saturday)