SALAMACHA WINS MESA MARIN SPEC TRUCK MAIN EVENT

In the second day of the 23rd Annual October Classic, Jeremy Salamacha of Bakersfield made his way from midway through a field of thirty race trucks to celebrate his first career win in the Ultra Wheels SPEC Truck Series "Rio Bravo Resort 100."

Qualifying fourteenth Salamacha picked his way through the field making it to 4th place by lap 49. Meanwhile, Joe Herold of Poway, who qualified 4th took control of the lead by lap 4. Herold lost the lead only two times during the 100-lap event. DJ Ferriera of San Jacinto stole the lead on lap 10, but Ferriera couldn’t hold it spinning out on lap 17 into the turn one wall. Then while working his way back to the front, he and Steve Stanton of Glendale got together on the front straight sending Ferriera’s #31 SPEC Truck end over end into the winner’s circle on lap 36.

After safely dodging a lapped traffic incident between Community Recycling’s guest driver Steve McCord of Galpin Ford and Scott Calvin of Moreno Valley, Salamacha watched Jon Campbell of Laguna Hills press Dave Blankenship of Stevenson Ranch for the 2nd place position until both of them went around on lap 74.

But the hometown boy was ready to show he had the stuff by taking away Herold’s lead on lap 85. Salamacha didn’t stop until he completed his Polish Victory lap and joined one of his sponsors, Rio Bravo Resort, in the winner’s circle.

Herold had to settle for 2nd followed by Michael Brusco of Chino, Nathan Wulff of Escondido and Frank Steiner of Perris. Ultra Wheel SPEC Truck Series points leader Steve Smith of Escondido had mechanical problems early in the race and finished twenty-sixth.

In other action, the California Asphalt SuperModifieds started their 10-lap main event with a crash in turn 4, then they settled into racing hard and very fast. Jim Burges, currently running 4th in the points series challenged the points leader Jimmy Tartagila throughout the race, but Tartagila had the final say about who was to go to victory lane and he decided his #83 would earn the special Mesa Marin October Classic Trophy filled Dewars Candy Chews.

Another Bakersfield competitor in a field of out-of-towners won the Super TT Motorcycle main event. Rick Pearce, running 2nd in the points series has traded wins with points leader Don Canet of Newport Beach all season. But in the first of two motorcycle shows during this year’s October Classic, Pearce was the won to beat. Canet tried, but couldn’t do it. Pearce jumped to the front of the pack right from the start and took all the turns and the turn-4 jump with ease. Canet would almost gain on Pearce at various points of the course, but then Pearce would shoot ahead. Canet had to settle for 2nd followed by Casey Yarrow of Fairfield.

In the Mesa Marin Women’s Racing Series Season Finale, Mary Vernon controlled the lead by lap 3. The battle for 2nd became the contest. Points leader Sally Irwin had the position until Michelle Kelley decided she should take it on lap 7. Fighting for the spot, Kelley spun and had to come from the back of the field to regain 3rd by lap 10, but Irwin spun coming out of turn 4 and Kelley couldn’t stop in time and plowed into the #11 causing heavy damage to both Street Stocks.

Vernon won the Season Finale event, but Irwin will reign as the 1st champion in the Women’s Racing Series Inaugural season.

The season finale for another first year series - 911 Race for Youth saw the last place team, the Kern County Fire Department race hard for a main event win with Jerry Frederick and the California Highway Patrol cruise to a championship driven by Rick Campbell. Chief Ron Fraze gave it his all leading until lap 5 then the Bakersfield Fire Dept. #1 couldn’t fight the battle and Fraze had to settle for 3rd place for the night and 2nd place for the season.

Saturday night is the 3rd day of the 4-day festival of speed. The NASCAR Southwest Series Community Recycling 200, plus another 100-lap Ultra Wheels SPEC Truck event and the final Super TT Motorcycle event of the October Classic will begin at 7:30pm. Tickets are still available.