Mesa Marin played host to another great evening of racing, and the night is still young!
In the Street Stock Division an ever-increasing field saw 17 cars take the green for a qualifying run. Powering his way to quicktime was Tony Alvarez with a Lap of 23.006. In the Late Models the two NASCAR Winston West regulars Jason Small and Mike Duncan were out raced by local racer, Kevin Small. Not liking that one bit, Winston West regular Mike Duncan went on to win the Trophy Dash.
The Super TT Motorcycles have a rider joining them all the way from France, Fabian Roland. And what a show he put on; surviving two qualifying runs and winning the trophy dash.
The Super TTs ran two heat events on the asphalt at 100 mph down the front stretch through the pit lane jumping a special TT jump in the turn four area. Want excitement, this is it! The first heat went to Don Canet, as Ricky Pearce was handlebar-to-handlebar with him over the jumps and straight down to the finish, in one of the closest finishes to be seen.
Mesa Marin is one of only a handful of short tracks that provides TV coverage for its short track racing. If you miss the action at the track, or if you were at the track and want to see if you are on TV, tune in to Time Warner Cable on channel 52 Sunday or Tuesday night.
Larry Naston has made his return to the announcer's booth at Mesa Marin while David "Sully" Sullivan is pitside interviewing the drivers as the action happens.
There is a definite increase in attendance and why not! The nights are warm and Mesa is one of very few tracks that allow fans to few ALL the live pit action right in front of the grandstands!
The Late Models are preparing to start the first of two twin -50s. Starting on the pole, after an inversion of the top-qualifiers for the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Exide Batteries presented by Pyrenees Bread is Bobby Aldrich. Taking on the outside is the No. 2 car of Brian Branson. Row two is made up of Dan Holtz and Charlie Watler. Third row is made up of the two NASCAR Winston West Regulars Mike Duncan and Jason Small. Then it is Barry Bradshaw, quick time Kevin Small, Lance Wilson, Les Denherder, Kristi Schmitt, Brandon Loverock, Leslie Lipscomb, Jeff Wright, Steve Allison, Craig Trefz and shotgun is the No. 24 of Rex Calderwood.
The drivers have been given the start your engines command. The cars are warming their tires; it is now two at the line. One to go lights off on the pace car…get ready….GREEN! Aldrich is leading them off; Branson and Aldrich are side by side with Holtz making it three wide down the front and then the back.
Lap Two and it is Branson with the lead. Holtz is battling Aldrich for the 2nd place.
Lap Three the yellow flies for the No. 48 of Rob Cain out of Ventura. He did not make contact. Lights are out on pace car…green!
Brian Branson leads them off on Lap two, Dan Holtz is hunting down the leader and the two front runners are pulling away on
Lap 6 Holtz goes to the inside of Branson on the back stretch and takes the no. 16 to the lead.
Lap 8 - running order Holtz, Branson, Aldrich, and Mike Duncan Barry Bradshaw.
Lap 10 Holtz has pulled away and
Laps the no. 78 and 48 cars.
Lap 12 Running order is Holtz, Branson, Duncan, Aldrich, and Bradshaw.
Lap 15 Holtz has about a 7 car lead over the 2nd place car of Branson, Duncan is closing in on the front two while Jason Small is challenging the fifth place car of Farry Bradshaw.
Lap 16 The No. 78 slowing on the front stretch
Lap 17 Yellow for the No. 78 of Craig Trefz.
Lap 18 2nd caution so far race has had 3 leaders and 4 lead changes. Dan Holtz has led since Lap number 9.
Lap 19 it is one at the line.
Lap 21 just as the green comes out so comes the yellow. Huge crash as the No. 4 of Kevin Small hits hard into the turn four wall. No one else is involved. This is not the way the quick time car wanted to end the first twin event.
Lap 24 Jason Small enters the pit. Still Yellow
Lap 25 Charlie Watler pits.
Lap 27, 28 Still Yellow
Lap 29 Green, Holtz leads them off and Jason Small is in the pits again.
Lap 31 Again Holtz, leads them off. The No. 73 spins between three and four.
Lap 32 Yellow out
Lap 33 Yellow
Lap 34 Green…It once again is Holtz followed by Duncan,
Lap 35 Duncan is all over the backside of the No. 16 of Dan Holtz, Leslie Lipscomb and Charlie Walter both spin going into two.
Lap 36 Yellow is out.
Lap 38 Lights out on the pace car
Lap 39 Green. Holtz, Duncan and Bradshaw are nose to tail.
Lap 40 Cars spacing out giving each other some racing room.
Lap 45 It's Holtz, Duncan, Bradshaw, Branson and DenHerder.
Lap 47 Kristi Schmitt spins in turn two. Yellow is out. It will be green, white, checkered for the finish.
Lap 49 Duncan right on the tail of the No. 16 of Holtz, Bradshaw on Duncan; Holtz and Duncan get loose, contact between Duncan and Bradshaw, Holtz wins the first of the Twin events.
