LAKEPORT, California -- After getting rained out of their first two 2005 events, the Airport Auto Brokers late models finally got in their season debut with Kelseyville’s Dale Preston leading wire to wire for thirty laps to capture the $600 top prize at the Lakeport Speedway Saturday night. Preston also took the 10-lap heat race.
In the modified bomber division defending champ Charlie Collins of Lucerne held off the challenges of past champ Derek Thorn and current points leader Kyle Medina to take his first season victory, breaking Medina’s three-race winning streak.
And from the Nostalgic Race Car Group, 74 year old Bruce MacFarland of Wilton, CA, driving a 1937 Ford 360 V8, beat out Brian Yates and Danny Feifer in the six-lap trophy dash, while BCRA midget veteran Ken Bommena from Turlock was the winner in the 15 lap exhibition main event in his # 18 1938 Chevrolet.
The 10 car late model field was reduced to eight when Derek Bibler blew an engine in hot laps and Kevin Ostern suffered transmission problems. But the short field did not lack in action, and after a lap-two incident that saw Mike Lovell spin collecting Jeremy Hopkins, the event went wire to wire the remaining distance without a caution.
The early laps saw Derek Lovell in second behind Preston until the lap three double-file restart allowed Chris Salmina to drive under D. Lovell for second. Trophy dash winner Dustin Knight swapped places with D. Lovell on four with Hopkins following Knight to the front. Knight moved to the outside in an attempt to get by Salmina, but lost ground to Hopkins and M. Lovell.
Hopkins was next to try the high side, pulling along side of Salmina and setting his sights on Preston. Hopkins drove the car on the outside for 14 laps before his rear end let go, ending his run. Hopkins slowed and retired to the infield on the 22nd circuit.
Kevin Estep moved out and made an outside pass on M. Lovell on lap 25, but two rounds later his car broke loose, and though he collected it up, he was funneled all the way to the rear. The final lap saw Lovell poke his nose under Salmina, the pair got hooked together, and drove across the finish line attached-at-the-hip. Preston was the happy winner with Salmina second, M. Lovell third, Knight fourth, D. Lovell fifth, Mike Doss sixth and Estep seventh.
Hopkins was fast time at 12.633 seconds with Doss second at 12.716 and Estep third quick at 12.764. Other drivers clocking in the 12 second bracket were Knight at 12.810, Salmina at 12.810 and M. Lovell at 12.922. The Airport Auto Brokers late models return to Lakeport Speedway on June 18.
Fourteen cars took the green flag in the modified bomber 30 lapper with Eddie Robinson, George Abella and Darren Tubbs running one-two-three the first six laps. Robinson’s car stalled on seven, and as Tubbs and Abella did a three-wide pass to get by Robinson, Tubb’s car was clipped by Robinson and it shot Tubbs up against the wall. Tubbs slowed and pulled off the track on lap nine, handing the lead over to Abella.
Meanwhile, Derek Thorn, Charlie Collins and Kyle Medina were working their ways to the front. Thorn pulled in line behind Abella while Collins and Medina went to the outside. The top four ran side-by-side for six laps before Collins pulled out in the lead. Medina followed Collins to the front, and on lap 18 Thorn swapped places with Abella.
The non-stop event saw Collins hold off the "Canary Bunch" all the way to the checkers to earn the win. Thorn drove under Medina in the closing laps to finish second with Medina third, Abella fourth and Gary Collins fifth.
Abella and Collins were heat race winners, Tubbs won the trophy dash and Medina set fast time of 14.007.
This weekend Lakeport Speedway hosts the Robinson Rancheria Casino and Bingo INEX Legends Cars Spring Nationals. The event will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Competing will be legends cars, bandoleros, modifieds, bombers, modified bombers and pro-4 modifieds. For more information on the Memorial weekend event, call the speedway office at 707-274-2844.
AAB LATE MODELS
Heat _ Dale Preston, Michael Lovell, Mike Doss, Dustin Knight, Kevin Estep, Chris Salmina, Derek Lovell, Jeremy Hopkins.
Main Event "A"_ Dale Preston, Chris Salmina, Michael Lovell, Dustin Knight, Derek Lovell, Mike Doss, Kevin Estep, Jeremy Hopkins.
Time Trial_ Jeremy Hopkins (12.633) , Mike Doss, Kevin Estep, Dustin Knight, Chris Salmina.
Trophy Dash _ Dustin Knight, Mike Doss, Jeremy Hopkins, Kevin Estep.
MODIFIED BOMBERS
Heat 1_ George Abella, Kevin Waycik, Forrest Kuecker, Bill Mucci, Eddie Robinson, Thomas Asman, Jose Fernandez.
Heat 2_ Gary Collins, Darren Tubbs, Dave Lewallen, Kyle Medina, Derek Thorn, Mike Neilson, Charlie Collins.
Main Event "A"_ Charlie Collins, Derek Thorn, Kyle Medina, George Abella, Gary Collins, Mike Neilson, Jose Fernandez, Dave Lewallen, Forrest Kuecker, Bill Mucci, Kevin Waycik, Darren Tubbs, Eddie Robinson, Thomas Asman.
Time Trial_ Kyle Medina (14.007) , Derek Thorn, Charlie Collins, Darren Tubbs, Mike Neilson.
Trophy Dash _ Darren Tubbs, Derek Thorn, Kyle Medina, Mike Neilson.
