BAKERSFIELD, California -- Richard Papenhausen used the high groove and the presence of lapped traffic to dominate a special Sunday Western Late Model Tour event at the Bakersfield Speedway May 29th. The race was part of a big Memorial Day weekend at the one-third mile clay oval located in Oildale, California.
Papenhausen and Mike Johnson led the 20 starters under the initial green flag with Johnson jumping into the lead. Steve "the snake" Drake came out of the second row to take over second. Papenhausen let them go to until the 13th lap when he took over second. On lap 16 he took over the command of the race for good.
The dry slick surface of the Bakersfield Speedway was a perfect match for the set up on Papenhausen's car and the race leader made quick work of establishing a dominating lead by running on the extreme high groove. He also made quick work of getting around the lapped traffic much to the frustration of his nearest competitor. In fact, the closest the competition got to him was restarts during the three caution flags that flew after he took the lead.
In victory lane the Chico, California driver said, "Bakersfield is my favorite track, I seem to run good here and the slicker the track the better it is for us. The top of the track was perfect for us tonight but the traffic got a little tough. Most of the lapped cars were running up top also but I knew as long as I was careful up there we would be okay."
Drake, a full straightaway behind, finished second, Johnson was third while Bobby Hogge IV and Ron Bartels completed the top five. In the preliminary events Johnson, Papenhausen and Brad Pounds won the heat races. Johnson also set the fast time in qualifying touring the one-third mile oval at 14.436 seconds.
The Super Street Stocks were also a very big part of this night at the Bakersfield Speedway. Brad Pounds took the checkers in the 30-lap feature and recorded his second consecutive win. Pounds took the lead on lap 7 for good but had to fend off a late race challenge from Mike Corwin who finished approximately two car lengths behind him. Larry Hood, Lonnie Welch and Tim Randolph completed the top five.
In the preliminary events Corwin, Welch and Rich Denman won the heat races. Corwin also set the fast time in qualifying with a lap of 19.945 seconds.
The Super Street Stock event was the second race in the California State Championship Series, which involves four different tracks. The remaining two events of the series will be held at the Antioch Speedway on June 11th and Kings Speedway, in Hanford, on July 9th.
In mini stock action Kevin Herring completely dominated the 20-lap feature for his third victory of the season. Jim Evans, David Peterson, Patrick Kelly and Jessica Rust completed the top five. In the preliminary events Peterson, Sydney Payne and Herring won the heat races while Rust won the semi main.
