Miller Holds Off Henderson In Epic Late Model Duel

Bomber division main event winner, #96x Mike Sullivan leads #88 Sam Brown in the heat race

Eureka, CA (May 1, 2019) – The 2019 season for Redwood Acres Raceway kicked off this past Saturday, April 27. Mid-City Motor World helped present the evening’s events which provided some great moments that will be remembered at the end of the season.

Unfortunately, the Anderson Logging Bandoleros were not in action for the night however the Compass Community Credit Union mini stocks were. Brett Murrell took the trophy dash victory with Nick Ford and Rick Estes took the wins in the heat races. The first ten laps of the feature saw a fantastic duel between Brett Murrell and Jarett Mayo. The two raced clean until Mayo was able to make a move under Murrell for the lead.

The next lap, the throttle stuck on Murrell’s car going into the third turn resulting in a very hard hit in the wall. Thankfully Murrell was able to walk out of his car unharmed. Mayo had his hands full with Estes the rest of the event but was able to hold the challenge off. At the finish it was Mayo winning over Estes, Gary Klinetobe, Tim Abeyta and Ford.

The Four-Star Realty bomber trophy dash went to Mike Sullivan. Sullivan followed up with a victory in the heat race. The bomber feature was now different as Sullivan maneuvered to the race lead early and never lost the position. Sullivan was able to take the win followed by Tyler Avaler, Sam Brown, Doug Way and Raquel Krupa.

Derek Copeland was victorious in the North Coast Lighting & Electric Legends division. In the heat race, it was Copeland again taking the win. Copeland was able to slice his way to the front quickly at the start of the main event as he led a majority of the laps. Chris Lawrence didn’t make Copeland’s race easy as he was on the leader’s bumper all race long. It appeared that Lawrence had the chance to maneuver under Copeland but it didn’t work out. Copeland fought off Lawrence to win. Leonard Ward placed third.

The first heat for the Mid-City Motor World late models was won by Keith Nelson. Marty Walsh won the second heat which gave him pole position in the main event. Lap one in the feature proved to be a disaster for several drivers. Coming off the second turn, several drivers slid in fluid that came from Shawn Andrews’ car. Luke Hall and Dennis DelBiaggio hit the wall and both suffered severe damage which ended their race prematurely. Mic Moulton also had major damage on the left side of his car but he was able to continue.

Several cautions slowed the first 2/3 of the main event. Walsh looked to have the car to beat but he was forced to the pits under the caution flag which essentially ended his race. The last 1/3 of the race was clean to the finish. David Henderson led David Miller as the race restarted. Miller took to the high side of Henderson and the two ran side-by-side for several laps. Miller was able to get the upper hand but wasn’t able to pull away from Henderson.

With the laps ticking off and the tires warmed, it was clear that Miller’s handling was going away while Henderson’s car was dialed in. As the finish loomed, Miller did all he could to hold off Henderson while Henderson did all he could to find a way under Miller. Henderson was driving his car in the high line going into the third turn while coming off turn four at the bottom. At several points it looked as if Henderson was going to get the run he needed to pass Miller. Unfortunately for Henderson, time ran out. At the checkered flag it was Miller taking the victory over Henderson. Dustin Walters, Chris Sarvinski and Nelson rounded out the top five.

The next race on the docket is Saturday May 11. The late models will not be in action but the highly competitive North State Modified Series will be visiting for the first time of three this season. The Upstate Bomber Series will also be in action for its debut. The event will be a non-points race for the local bombers. All other local divisions will be in action as well. For more information visit www.RacinTheAcres.com. You can also find Redwood Acres Raceway on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RedwoodAcresRaceway2019/ or Twitter @RacingTheAcres.

Darrin Sullivan Survives To Win NSMS Feature

#21 Darrin Sullivan took the NSMS win

Eureka, CA (May 29, 2017) – For the first time in the 2017 season, the North State Modified Series visited Redwood Acres Raceway. It was O’Reilly Auto Parts Night at the Races as the popular touring series joined the Acres’ local divisions of roadrunners, Legends, bombers, mini stocks and Thunder Roadsters.

Track officials decided to make an adjustment to the California State and Federal Employees Credit Union roadrunner division. The class ran two 20-lap feature events, one clockwise and the other counter-clockwise. Nick Ford set fast time for the class with a 20.442. Natya Dawn dominated the first half of the first feature as she led the opening 12 laps. On lap 13, Tim Ratzlaff entered the lead but not for long. Two laps later, Daniel Buell took the lead. Buell held on the rest of the way to take the victory over Ratzlaff, Dawn, Ford and Jake Keeling.

Ford quickly raced to the lead of the second feature event. Buell showed strength and looked like a contender for another win but fell out on lap 15. Ford was able to lead flag-to-flag to take the victory. Keeling placed second over Ratzlaff, Jordon Paiment and Jennifer Murrell.

Cody Winchel set fast time for the Nor-Cal Automotive Legends division with a 17.801. Brian Kamisky was the winner of the first heat race while Derek Copeland won the second. MKinzy Uselton led lap one in the 25-lap main but Brent Mack was able to take over on lap two. Rookie driver, Daniel Whitley showed strength and passed Mack for the race lead on lap six. Copeland moved to the lead on lap 15 and had a fantastic duel for the lead with Winchel. On lap 17, Winchel gained the advantage and the race lead. Things remained tight between the top two until the last lap. In turns three and four, Copeland bumped Winchel. The two raced back to the finish line side-by-side with Copeland taking first by 0.031 over Winchel. Whitley placed third followed by Brad Curtice and Robert Miller.

Fast time for the Fortuna Wheel & Brake bomber division was set by R.J. Randall with an 18.190. Randall took the trophy dash victory while Mike Sullivan was the heat race winner. Kolby Jackson used his pole position to his advantage as he shot out to the lead in the 25-lap main event. Jackson led the first 11 laps until Sullivan briefly took the lead. Jackson regained the lead on lap 16 but spun in turns one and two. Sullivan regained the lead and withstood Randall’s late charge. At the finish it was Sullivan taking the victory over Randall, Dave Jones, John Lally and Jim Redd.

In the Humboldt Hydroponics mini stock division, Brian Murrell was the fastest in qualifying with a 18.963. Brett Murrell took the victory in the trophy dash while the heat race was won by Troy Lee. Rick Estes briefly held the lead at the start of the 30-lap main event but gave way to Eugene Palmer. Back in his familiar ride, Palmer was dominant as he pulled away from the field and prevailed unchallenged. At the finish it was Palmer winning by two seconds over Brett Murrell. Gary Klinetobe placed third followed by Trevor Eacret and Troy Lee.

Qualifying for the Lone Star Junction Thunder Roadsters was paced by Paul Peeples, Jr. with a 17.290. Tommy Payne took the trophy dash win while the heat race went to Peeples. Chris Lawrence grabbed the race lead at the start of the 30-lap main event. Payne got to the lead on lap 10 but on lap 11, Peeples maneuvered by to take the race lead. Peeples pulled out to a lead as Payne had his hands full racing with Ronnie O’Neil. At the finish it was Peeples taking his first main event win in 2017. Payne held off O’Neil for second while Chris Sarvinski and Lawrence rounded out the top five finishers.

Darrin Knight set fast time in the North State Modified Series with a 16.130. Dustin DeRosier was the winner of the six-lap Lucas Oil Dash for Cash. Bryan Denton took the lead from pole position in the 60-lap feature event. On lap 10, Herman Pulyear got high in turns one and two and hit the water barrels at the pit road entrance. Pulyear was alright but the race was halted due to the water on the track. Denton led another four laps before Charlie Collins took over followed by Knight. The top two raced nose-to-tail. On lap 29, the leaders entered slower traffic. A lap later, Knight moved to the inside to try to take the lead. Things got tight in turn three as the two tried to pass Simi Tour. Contact was made between Collins and Knight with Knight's right-rear spring being knocked out of his car. Collins regained the lead but had to pit under caution because Knight’s spring had lodged itself in Collins’ chassis.

Denton regained the lead and had his hands full as Cody Braund challenged for the lead. On lap 46, Braund suffered damage to his right front suspension knocking him out of the race. Sullivan used the restart to his advantage as he moved to the lead. Denton ended up falling back to fifth as Richie Potts, Sierra Furia and Collins moved past. Furia briefly got to second in the final 10 laps but Collins powered by to take the second spot. Sullivan was able to hold off a furious late charge by Collins to take the victory. Furia took third while Potts and Denton rounded out the top five.

Racing at the Acres takes a break for a week before returning Saturday June 10th for Harper Motors Night at the Races. Late models will join the other local divisions for the third race of the Super 6 Late Model Challenge series. On Friday June 9th, the outlaw karts will be in action. For more information on everything going on at Redwood Acres Raceway, visit the track’s official website www.RacingTheAcres.com