Rain cancels racing at the Acres
By Matthew J. Sullivan
For the second time in the 2007 season, rain prevailed over racing at Redwood Acres Raceway cancelling the events this past Saturday night. Fans were able to watch trophy dash races in the real stock, mini stock and limited street stock divisions before a heavy fog quickly rolled over the track just as the thunder roadsters took to the track. This was the first time in recent memory that the races were canceled during the actual running of the events.
Steve Kimberling set the quick time for the real stocks with a 19.532 lap time. Orion Mosher was fastest in the limited street stock class with a 17.571. Jason Shaha set the fast lap in mini stock qualifying at 18.900. David Henderson took his first fast time in qualifying with a 17.111, while Brandon Barnwell was the fastest sportsman driver timing in at 16.485. Marvin Savage won the real stock trophy dash ahead of Kimberling, Ryan Peeples and Barry Barnwell. Mosher won the limited street dash narrowly edging Kenny Demello, Stan Young and Scott Lyons. Brian Murrell won the mini stock dash over Shaha, Byron McIntosh and Max Capps. Of course because of the cancellation of the rest of the night’s events, these races were not scored as being official therefore making the results more or less meaningless.
Racing resumes at the Acres June 22nd and 23rd at the Acres for the Redwood Acres Fair Classic. All five local classes will run both nights with the North State Challenge Series late models joining the action on Saturday night for their 100 lap feature.
Qualifying Times
Limited Street Stocks: Orion Mosher 17.571, Kenny Demello 17.996, Scott Lyons 18.245, Stan Young 18.654, Duane Mayo 18.902, Romeo Venza 24.040
Mini Stocks: Jason Shaha 18.900, Brian Murrell 18.999, Byron McIntosh 19.022, Max Capps 19.100, Scott Baker 19.166, Glenn Bernald 19.678, Nick Karanopoulos 19.797, Brian McIntosh 20.703
Real Stocks: Steve Kimberling 19.532, Ryan Peeples 19.567, Barry Barnwell 19.713, Marvin Savage 19.717, Troy Wood 19.896, Chuck Essex 19.897, Jim Redd 19.949, Nick Mitchell 20.138, Mark Mullan 20.189
Thunder Roadsters: David Henderson 17.111, Mark Arroyo 17.130, Gerhy Foster 17.159, Ray Elliott 17.215, Dave McMurray 17.270, Leroy Marsh, Jr. 17.318, Chris Banfill 17.332, Thomas Payne 17.341, Jay Bahner 17.356, Bill O’Neill 17.426, Troy Combs 17.439, Donn Cole 17.462, Mike Ward 17.496, Bruce Ziemer 17.522, Rob Nelson 17.801, Ron Borges 17.857, Belinda Ward 17.951, Chris Sarvinski 18.048, Paul Peeples, Jr. no time
Sportsman: Brandon Barnwell 16.485, Larry Pries 16.753, Angelo Marcelli 16.809, Aaron Byers 16.881, Rick Fox 17.040, Lissa Uselton 17.092, Jerry Peterson 17.180.
Historic videos, race reports and race results from various Northern California race tracks
Gary Jacob Archives
Showing posts with label Mark Arroyo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Arroyo. Show all posts
Monday, June 11, 2007
Friday, February 2, 2007
2006 Thunder Roadster Season: A Look Back
2006 Thunder Roadster Season: A Look Back
By Matthew J. Sullivan
The 2006 season marked the beginning of a new division at Redwood Acres Raceway; the thunder roadsters. These new cars were highly anticipated because of their open-wheel look, the number of cars and drivers and the various experience levels of every driver. Suffice to say, the new class did not disappoint. The roadsters provided some of the most memorable races of the season.
David Henderson won the 2006 thunder roadster championship by 120 points, but it never appeared as if he was running away with the title. Henderson only had one win, however he was almost always among the top three finishers when the checkered flag fell. Henderson’s lone win proved to be in the very first race of the season where he held off a number of drivers to take a hard fought victory.
Paul Peeples, Jr. proved to be Henderson’s toughest points competitor. Peeples notched four wins, three in a row at one point. Peeples four victories proved to be the most in the division, but he was not able to maintain the consistency that Henderson was able to. Troy Combs proved to be one of the drivers to beat on a weekly basis despite the 2006 season being his first at the Acres. Combs took two main event victories and third in the points.
Another Acres newcomer was Chris Sarvinski. Sarvinski was always among the quicker cars, and was able to be among the top finishers on a regular basis. Acres veteran Bill O’Neill returned to racing after several years away from the oval. O’Neill was able to dial in his car during the season, scoring several strong runs and finishing fifth in points.
Leroy Marsh missed the first few races of the season, but took to the track in his roadster like a duck to water. Marsh came close to winning several races but wasn’t able to take the checkered flag in first. Despite missing a few races, Marsh placed sixth in points. Randy Olson returned to racing after not driving for a few years. Olson won three main events, set the track record of 16.885 and finished seventh in points despite not racing the full schedule. Acres rookie Ray Elliott drove his colorful 31 car to a number of good runs to finish in eight place in the standings.
Bruce Ziemer had the wildest wreck of all the roadster drivers flipping in a race at Ukiah Speedway. Fortunately Ziemer was okay and was able to continue racing at the Acres finishing ninth in the points. Mark Arroyo looked to be one of the faster competitors as the season concluded, and his steady finishes made him the tenth place points finisher. Over thirty different drivers participated in the thunder roadster class during the 2006 season. During the Fall Spectacular weekend drivers from Nevada and Texas made the trek to race against what is the highest number of roadster cars and drivers in the nation.
The 2007 season should have more of the same kind of action that the 2006 season provided. David Henderson will return to defend his championship, but it won’t be an easy road going against the likes of Peeples, Combs, Olson and Marsh. With more experience, drivers like Sarvinski, Elliott, Ziemer, Arroyo, Donn Cole, Mike Ward, Jay Bahner and Chris Banfill should be strong competition too. Veterans including O’Neill, Dave McMurray and Rusty Olson will be tough to beat along with Mark Baldwin who missed the last half of the 2006 season due to an injury. A variety of drivers can win on any given night, and with that kind of group excitement is sure to be found.
By Matthew J. Sullivan
The 2006 season marked the beginning of a new division at Redwood Acres Raceway; the thunder roadsters. These new cars were highly anticipated because of their open-wheel look, the number of cars and drivers and the various experience levels of every driver. Suffice to say, the new class did not disappoint. The roadsters provided some of the most memorable races of the season.
David Henderson won the 2006 thunder roadster championship by 120 points, but it never appeared as if he was running away with the title. Henderson only had one win, however he was almost always among the top three finishers when the checkered flag fell. Henderson’s lone win proved to be in the very first race of the season where he held off a number of drivers to take a hard fought victory.
Paul Peeples, Jr. proved to be Henderson’s toughest points competitor. Peeples notched four wins, three in a row at one point. Peeples four victories proved to be the most in the division, but he was not able to maintain the consistency that Henderson was able to. Troy Combs proved to be one of the drivers to beat on a weekly basis despite the 2006 season being his first at the Acres. Combs took two main event victories and third in the points.
Another Acres newcomer was Chris Sarvinski. Sarvinski was always among the quicker cars, and was able to be among the top finishers on a regular basis. Acres veteran Bill O’Neill returned to racing after several years away from the oval. O’Neill was able to dial in his car during the season, scoring several strong runs and finishing fifth in points.
Leroy Marsh missed the first few races of the season, but took to the track in his roadster like a duck to water. Marsh came close to winning several races but wasn’t able to take the checkered flag in first. Despite missing a few races, Marsh placed sixth in points. Randy Olson returned to racing after not driving for a few years. Olson won three main events, set the track record of 16.885 and finished seventh in points despite not racing the full schedule. Acres rookie Ray Elliott drove his colorful 31 car to a number of good runs to finish in eight place in the standings.
Bruce Ziemer had the wildest wreck of all the roadster drivers flipping in a race at Ukiah Speedway. Fortunately Ziemer was okay and was able to continue racing at the Acres finishing ninth in the points. Mark Arroyo looked to be one of the faster competitors as the season concluded, and his steady finishes made him the tenth place points finisher. Over thirty different drivers participated in the thunder roadster class during the 2006 season. During the Fall Spectacular weekend drivers from Nevada and Texas made the trek to race against what is the highest number of roadster cars and drivers in the nation.
The 2007 season should have more of the same kind of action that the 2006 season provided. David Henderson will return to defend his championship, but it won’t be an easy road going against the likes of Peeples, Combs, Olson and Marsh. With more experience, drivers like Sarvinski, Elliott, Ziemer, Arroyo, Donn Cole, Mike Ward, Jay Bahner and Chris Banfill should be strong competition too. Veterans including O’Neill, Dave McMurray and Rusty Olson will be tough to beat along with Mark Baldwin who missed the last half of the 2006 season due to an injury. A variety of drivers can win on any given night, and with that kind of group excitement is sure to be found.
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