ANDERSON, California-- The USAC Western Sprint Cars highlighted an exciting night of racing at Shasta Raceway Park on Saturday night, with Meridian, Idaho’s Mike Murgoitio scoring a dominating victory in the feature, taking the lead on lap one, and never looking back. Joining him on the night’s list of winners were David Braund in the Schmitt Equipment Sales Bombers and Zachery Kavert in the Legends.
After a rain-out in April, the USAC Western Sprint Cars arrived at Shasta Raceway Park under sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 80s, a beautiful day for racing by any standards. The light breeze over the fast 3/8 mile paved oval at the fairgrounds in Anderson was a bonus, in no way blowing out the fans like Mike Murgoitio blew out the field. Kory Swanson, the second place man in points, scored fast time on the day, with Cody Veenstra winning the first 10 lap heat race, and Michael Trimble winning the second. Murgoitio had a reasonably good qualifying run with the fourth fastest time, but finished sixth, and last, in the second 10 lap heat race. Points leader Tony Hunt had the third fastest car in qualifying, finished third in his heat race, and finished third in the main event, making his night extremely consistent. But, while many drivers had a good night, nobody had a night like that of Mike Murgoitio, who leaves Shasta Raceway Park making quite a statement by leading every lap in the main. Tim Barber finished second in the feature, followed by Tony Hunt, Kody Swanson, and Brian McClish.
Entering this race at Shasta Raceway Park, Kyle Borden had a 64 point lead over David Braund in the championship hunt. That changed in a big way Saturday night. In what was a surprise to many in the "A" heat race, Borden suddenly shot up the race track in turns three and four, hitting the wall and damaging the front end of his car. By the time the main event rolled around, his 39 car was nowhere to be seen, leaving Braund, who started 14th in the 16 car field, with a golden opportunity to make up points in his hunt for the championship. He would seize that opportunity. Nine laps into the race, Braund had already worked his way into the top five, and by lap 13, he was hounding Mike Schanuth for the lead. Scanuth would hold him off for five laps, but Braund would get the lead on lap 18, with Dave Lewallen sliding into second. Lewallen would challenge Braund for the rest of the race, but Braund had enough to hold him off, taking a win that will provide a definite points swing. Unofficially at the finish, Braund and Lewallen were first and second, followed by Randy File, Mike Schanuth, and Larry Leach.
One word describes the main event for the Legend division: Redemption. Last time the Legends raced at Shasta Raceway Park, the crowd was silenced when Zachery Kavert took a hard hit into the turn one wall, his car catching fire while he struggled to get out. Though he may have been seeing stars last time, this time he saw checkers after a very impressive performance. Kavert set fast time in the division as well, and finished second in his trophy dash and heat race. Starting fifth in the feature, Kavert was up to second by lap three, hounding Micah Parmer for the lead. He would do so until lap 11, when Kavert made a slick move around Parmer to take the top spot. Parmer would stay right on his back bumper through the rest of the 25 lap main event, but much to the delight of many in the crowd, Kavert would take the victory when all was said and done. Michah Parmer was second, followed by Jason Schuppert, John Duckett, Jr., and Bruce Jorgenson.
Results:
USAC Western Sprint Cars
Fast Time: 75-Kody Swanson 14.884
Heat 1: 07-Cody Veenstra, 18-Cris Peterson, 94-Tony Hunt, 75-Kory Swanson, 44-Brian Geiszler, 3F-Scott Hansen
Heat 2: 15-Michael Trimble, 88-Brad Bumgarner, 14-Tim Barber, 04-Brian McClish, 23-Chuck Maddox, 80-Mike Murgoitio
Main: 80-Mike Murgoitio, 14-Tim Barber, 94-Tony Hunt, 75-Kody Swanson, 04-Brian McClish, 07-Cody Veenstra, 15-Michael Trimble, 88-Brad Bumgarner, 3F-Scott Hansen, 18-Chris Peterson, 44-Brian Geiszler, 23-Chuck Maddox
Schmitt Equipment Sales Bombers-UNOFFICIAL
Fast Time: 48-Dave Lewallen 19.332
Trophy Dash B: 13-David Parks, 22-Mike Schanuth, 2-Wayne Lowe, 89-Bobby Crowell, 15-Larry Leach
Trophy Dash A: 37-David Braund, 48-Dave Lewallen, 54-Randy File, 39-Kyle Borden
Heat B: 5-Rick Gibbs, 15-Larry Leach, 10-Randy Riggins, 89-Bobby Crowell, 22-Mike Schanuth, 97-Brian Smith, 68-John Tirri, 33-Crystal Friermood
Heat A: 54-Randy File, 37-David Braund, 13-David parks, 2-Wayne Lowe, 1-Lee Welch, 67-Will Foster, 11-Rich Rivas, 48-Dave Lewallen, 39-Kyle Borden
Main: 37-David Braund, 48-Dave Lewallen, 54-Randy File, 22-Mike Schanuth, 15-Larry Leach, 2-Wayne Lowe, 5-Rick Gibbs, 10-Randy Riggins, 89-Bobby Crowell, 67-Will Foster, 33-Crystal Friermjood, 68-John Tirri, 13-David Parks, 97-Brian Smith, 1-Lee Welch, 11-Rich Rivas –DNS: 39-Kyle Borden
Legends
Fast Time: 2-Zachery Kavert 18.179
Trophy Dash B: 8-Gary Ninman, 92-Eric Thibodeau, 46-Bruce Jorgenson, 16-Greg Garcia
Trophy Dash A: 96-Micah Parmer, 2-Zachery Kavert, 76-John Duckett, Jr., 12-Jason Schuppert
Heat B: 46-Bruce Jorgenson, 16-Greg Garcia, 92-Eric Thibodeau, 8-Gary Ninman, 05-Jim O’Brian III
Heat A: 96-Micah Parmer, 2-Zachery Kavert, 12-Jason Schuppert, 76-John Duckett, Jr., 24-Derek Copeland
Main: 2-Zachery Kavert, 96-Micah Parmer, 12-Jason Schuppert, 76-John Duckett, Jr., 46-Bruce Jorgenson, 24-Derek Copeland, 16-Greg Garcia, 92-Eric Thibodeau, 8-Gary Ninman
