LAKEPORT, California -- In round one of the “Red / White / Blue” modified mini series, Thomas Wright of Kelseyville took the lead at the drop of the green flag and held off the 17 car charging pack for 30 laps for a $600 win at the Lakeport Speedway on Saturday night.
The season opener also saw defending champion Ken Gifford of Cobb pass Jake Tillman in the closing laps to capture the Pro-4 modified feature.
And as a special bonus, 10 cars from the Nostalgic Race Car Group entertained the crowd with two separate appearances.
The modified feature saw Wright and Allen Gibney side-by-side the first four laps until the race was halted for an incident involving David Furia, Mike Sullivan and Mike Smithhart. When racing resumed Lance Blacker tucked in under Gibney, and as Gibney lost ground, Danny Bishop and Jeremy Nowlin gained ground.
The second yellow flew on lap 10 when Sullivan spun in turn two. Bishop challenged Wright the next 14 laps, but then developed an oil leak and sprayed water the entire circumference of the track to slow the proceedings again. Bishop retired to the pits, leaving Blacker in the runner-up slot, Todd Coburn running third and Gary Lowblad moving up to fourth.
Wright held on to win the race and Coburn nipped Blacker at the line to finish second. Blacker settled for third with Lowblad fourth and Hicks fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Terry McIntire, Nowlin, Derrick Crayford, Bob Strauss and Sullivan.
David Furia set fast time of 13.040 with defending champ McIntire next in line with 13.060. Heat race wins went to Mike Smithhart and Coburn. Lowblad won the trophy dash, and Hick's #9 was voted the best appearing modified.
Twelve Pro-4 modified clocked in for their first points race with Andy Leuzinger running the fastest lap at 13.437 seconds. Their 30 lap feature saw the father-son team of Codi and Kevin Barba side-by-side on the front row. Codi Barba pulled ahead at the start with father Kevin fading in the outside lane. Joe Sloan pulled into second with Jake Tillman third and K. Gifford fourth.
Barba lost the #1 spot when the leaders caught slower traffic and Tillman took the lead. Gifford passed Barba for second on lap 6 and set his sights on Tillman. The remaining laps saw Gifford set up Tillman until he made the winning pass on the 26th circuit. Gifford was declared the winner over Tillman, Leuzinger, C. Barba and Robbie Robinson.
Heat race winners were Sloan and Zach Gifford. Tillman won the trophy dash and Robbie Robinson's #23 was selected as the best appearing car.
An array of Nostalgic race cars thrilled the crowd at speeds too fast for comfort on the tight one-quarter mile oval. In attendance were Bob Neilson of Ukiah in Deake Lyndall's 1971 super modified, Tom Pfeiffer of Sutter Creek in a 1933 Chevy coupe, BCRA midget driver Ken Bonnema of Turlock in a 1938 Chevy coupe, Mike Donaldson of Pleasant Hill in a 1969 Chevy II midget, Danny Feifer of Middletown in a 1941 Ford Coupe, Stu Donaldson of El Sobrante in a Hemi V8 powered vintage midget, Bryan Yates of Lakeport in a 1922 Maxwell racer, Denise Smith of San Jose in a 1964 Buick Skylark, and John Grey from New Zealand in a 1938 Dodge coupe.
Auto racing resumes at the Lakeport Speedway this Saturday night with the Legends Cars of the Pacific and the Airport Auto Brokers late models joining the NCRA modifieds, mini stocks, bombers and modified bombers. The next “Red / White / Blue” modified race at Lakeport will be on June 4.
NCRA MODIFIEDS
A-Main - Thomas Wright, Todd Coburn, Lance Blacker, Gary Lowblad, Aaron Hicks, Terry McIntire, Jeremy Nowlin, Derrick Crayford, Bob
Strauss, Mike Sullivan, Allen Gibney, Michael Smithhart, Guy Young, Mike Linnell, David Furia, Danny Bishop, Rick Pardini.
Heat 1- Michael Smithhart, Guy Young, Jeremy Nowlin, Lance Blacker, Danny Bishop, Thomas Wright, Allen Gibney, Mike Linnell, Rick Pardini.
Heat 2- Todd Coburn, Derrick Crayford, Bob Strauss, Terry McIntire, Gary Lowblad, Mike Sullivan, Aaron Hicks, David Furia.
Time Trial- David Furia (13.040), Terry McIntire (13.060), Aaron Hicks (13.089), Gary Lowblad (13.117.
Trophy Dash - Gary Lowblad, Terry McIntire, Aaron Hicks, David Furia.
Best Appearing Car - #9, Aaron Hicks
PRO-4 MODIFIEDS
A-Main – Ken Gifford, Jake Tillman, Andy Leuzinger, Codi Barba, Robbie Robinson, Kevin Barba, Zach Gifford, Joe Sloan, Patty Bertram, Greg Van Cleave, Sarah Figueroa, Bob Luck
Heat 1 – Sloan, C Barba, K Barba, Bertram, Figueroa, Van Cleave
Heat 2 – Z Gifford, Tillman, Leuzinger, K Gifford, Robinson
Fast Time – Andy Leuzinger 13.437
Trophy Dash – Tillman, Leuzinger, K Gifford, Robinson
Best Appearing Car - #23, Robbie Robinson
