LAKEPORT, California -- After setting a new track record in the North State tour car division, Mike Doss of Upper Lake came from eighth starting, passed leader Josh Bews of Roseville on a lap 30 restart, and paced the field the remaining 45 laps to collect the $1500 first place prize in the Robinson Rancheria Casino and Bingo North State Challenge at the Lakeport Speedway Saturday night.

Doss’ new track record replaced last year’s time of 11.812 second set by Upper Lake’s Bill Binns on August 14. Joining Doss in the 11 second bracket were rookie driver Derek Thorn with a 11.974, Howard Ford with 11.994 and Darin Snider with a 11.997 second lap. The other 10 times ranged from 12.015 to 12.192 seconds. Snider beat out Thorn in the four-lap trophy dash.

The eight-car inversion saw local modified drivers Danny Bishop and David Furia lined up in the front row in their tour cars, but when Bishop discovered an engine miss in pre-race hot laps, he elected to start in the rear. The inside lane moved ahead giving the pole to Bews. Bews pulled ahead at the drop of the green flag and as Furia lost ground, Snider and Thorn settled into second and third. Bishop dropped out after only three laps. Junior Roddy swapped places with Furia on lap three and Doss passed Furia on four.

Roddy’s car pushed slightly on the 10th round allowing Doss to fill the hole and move into fourth.

Two rounds later Thorn’s car pushed and once again Doss gained position. Then on lap 13 Randy Houston and Jimmy Stillman came together causing Stillman to spin on the front stretch. Thorn pitted under the caution to make adjustments and all three drivers restarted at the back of the field.

Bews continued to lead the way with Snider in second and Doss up to third. Lap 15 saw Binns pull to the outside of Snider where he ran for two rounds before settling into the second slot. Meanwhile the action was in mid field with Randy Houston working his way back through traffic. The race was slowed on lap 27 when Stillman and Thorn made contact with Thorn tapping the turn three concrete. Thorn pitted for repairs and did not make it back before green.

The restart saw Doss immediately move to the outside of Bews where he powered into the lead on lap 27. Two laps later the yellow flew again when Furia spun on the front stretch. Houston was still on the move behind the front runners, and at the half way point it was Doss, Bews, Snider, Ford, Roddy, Binns, Houston and Blair Aiken. Houston drove under Binns for sixth on 44, but when he tried to same maneuver on Roddy five laps later, the two cars made contact resulting in Roddy spinning in turn three.

The next ten circuits saw Roddy and Houston picking off cars from the back. Snider’s car began to slow and with only ten laps to go the Snider car stalled on the back stretch to stop the action again. On the restart, Jeremy Hopkins lost control, spun and hit the front stretch wall just in front of the start-finish line ending his run.

The restart saw Roddy tap Aiken, and when Aiken’s car pushed high, Houston, Roddy, Furia and Stillman all dove under Aiken. The remaining nine laps went without incident with Doss the big winner over Bews, Ford, Binns, Houston and Roddy. Furia, Stillman, Aiken and Hopkins rounded out the top ten. Nevada’s C.J. Bawden lost an engine in hot laps and was unable to start the feature.

Doss and crew accepted the victory trophy from Robinson Rancheria Casino and Bingo general manamer Scott Sirois.

Round two of the Robinson Rancheria Casino and Bingo North State Challenge series at the Lakeport Speedway will be on August 13.

Lakeport Speedway Results -- June 11, 2005

North State Tour Cars

Trophy Dash: Darin Snider, Derek Thorn, Mike Doss, Howard Ford.

Time Trial: Mike Doss (11.695 NTR) , Derek Thorn, Howard Ford, Darin Snider, Bill Binns.

Main Event "A": Mike Doss, Josh Bews, Howard Ford, Bill Binns, Randy Houston, Junior Roddy, David Furia, Jim Stillman, Jr., Blair Aiken, Jeremy Hopkins, Darin Snider, Derek Thorn, Danny Bishop.