LAKEPORT, CA--With only five laps to go in the modified feature, David Furia of Kelseyville inherited the lead after a confrontation with first and second place runners Jeremy Nowlin and Derrick Crayford, and went on to win the final NCRA points race at the Lakeport Speedway Saturday night. It was Furia's first victory of the 2005 season.
Late model star Jeremy Hopkins of Lakeport increased his points lead in the Airport Auto Brokers late model series by setting fast time and then coming from the back to claim the main event win in that division. Billy Shaul of Kelseyville held off the challenges of 2005 mini stock champion Kelly Gray to capture his second feature event. And Rick Bryant of Lucerne beat Bob Strauss to the finish line to lay claim to his fifth L.A. Cruiser victory.
Twelve modifieds took the green flag in their 30 lapper with Nowlin pulling ahead of Jerold Christensen at the start. Lance Blacker passed Christensen on the outside on three and Crayford picked of Christensen on lap four. As Nowlin pulled away from the pack, Aaron Hicks, Furia and 2005 modified champion Terry McIntire made their ways to the front. The first of two cautions came on lap 13 when Todd Coburn was attempting to pass Mike Linnell. Linnell's car drifted high, made contact with Coburn sending cars hard into the back-stretch concrete.
When racing resumed it was Nowlin, Crayford, Furia, Hicks and McIntire. Bob Stauss took his #11L to the outside and made progress, settling into fifth place on the 20th circuit.
On lap 25 Nowlin's car broke loose and slid up on the track. Crayford tried to get under him, but there was not enough room, their wheels locked up, and Nowlin's car spun around to stop the action.
With Nowlin and Crayford restarting at the back, Furia found himself in the lead with Hicks in second and Strauss third. Furia held off Hicks the final laps to claim the win. Strauss inched under Hicks to finish second, Hicks was third, McIntire fourth and Blacker fifth.
Hicks won the dash and Nowlin and Mike Smithhart shared heat race wins.
Andrew Snider lead the first half of the late model race, holding off first Kevin Estep and then Dustin Knight. Hopkin's car was working in the high groove, and he passed Knight for second on 11 and won a four-lap side-by-side battle with Snider for the lead on lap 16.
Knight was next to try Snider, but when Snider continued to block Knight, track officials stopped the race and penalized Snider one position. Three laps later Estep tagged Snider in an attempt to pass, but the contact saw Estep lose control and spin to bring out the final yellow flag.
Hopkins drove the final eight laps to take the win with Knight in second. Estep passed Snider in the last laps to finish third with Snider fourth and Kevin Ostern fifth. Snider won the heat race and Estep took the trophy dash.
The mini stock feature went wire-to-wire without a caution with Shaul taking the lead away from Richie Schramm on the fourth lap. Gray passed Jonathon Reynolds for second on five and spent the rest of the event waiting for Shaul to make a mistake. But that mistake never happened and Shaul drove his car flawlessly to his second win. Gray settled for second and the 2005 mini stock championship. Reynolds was third with Schramm fourth and Davey Coyne fifth. Schramm and Reynolds claimed the heat races and Reynolds won the dash.
L.A, Cruiser action once again saw seven leader changes as the rules only allow the leader to run one lap before moving to the outside lane. Colby Hicks led one and two, but was passed on three by grandpa Paul Lauenroth. Trophy dash winner Mike Smithhart stole the number one spot away to lead laps five and six, but lost it to Bob Strauss on seven. Lauenroth was back in front on lap 10 and Smithhart took contol on 13. But it was Bryant waiting for the right moment, and on lap 16 he took the lead and never let go. Strauss nosed under Bryant but did not have the power to pass and settled for second place. Lauenroth finished third with Smithhart fourth and Hicks fifth. Bryant also won the cruiser heat race.
Auto racing takes a three-week break but returns to action on September 17 for the 3rd annual Marlene Baker Memorial Bomber Bash #10, pro-4 modifieds, plus the final round of the Goofy boat races.
KOLENE POTTER PHOTO - David Furia climbs out of his #67 modified after his main event win at the Lakeport Speedway Saturday night
8/27/2005 _ Lakeport Speedway Results...
NCRA MODIFIEDS
Heat 1 Jeremy Nowlin, Derrick Crayford, Mike Linnell, Todd Coburn, Lance Blacker, Jerold Christensen.
Heat 2 Mike Smithhart, Aaron Hicks, David Furia, Terry McIntire, Bob Strauss, Chuck Smithhart.
Main Event "A"_ David Furia, Bob Strauss, Aaron Hicks, Terry McIntire, Lance Blacker, Mike Smithhart, Jeremy Nowlin, Derrick Crayford, Chuck Smithhart, Jerold Christensen, Mike Linnell, Todd Coburn.
Time Trial_ Terry McIntire (12.869), David Furia, Bob Strauss, Aaron Hicks, Chuck Smithhart.
Trophy Dash _ Aaron Hicks, David Furia, Terry McIntire, Bob Strauss.
AAB LATE MODELS
Heat _ Andrew Snider, Dustin Knight, Kevin Estep, Kevin Ostern, Jeremy Hopkins, Dale Preston.
Main Event "A"_ Jeremy Hopkins, Dustin Knight, Kevin Estep, Andrew Snider, Kevin Ostern, Dale Preston.
Time Trial_ Jeremy Hopkins (12.723), Kevin Ostern, Dustin Knight, Kevin Estep, Andrew Snider.
Trophy Dash _ Kevin Estep, Dustin Knight, Kevin Ostern, Jeremy Hopkins.
NCRA MINI STOCKS
Heat 1_ Rich Schramm Jr., Robert Schmidt, David Aceves, Fred Schmidt, Mike Bray.
Heat 2_ Jonathon Reynolds, Kelly Gray, Billy Shaul, Davey Coyne.
Main Event "A"_ Billy Shaul, Kelly Gray, Jonathon Reynolds, Rich Schramm Jr., Davey Coyne, David Aceves, Robert Schmidt, Fred Schmidt, Mike Bray.
Time Trial_ Mitchell Preston (13.844), Kelly Gray, Billy Shaul, Jonathon Reynolds, Davey Coyne.
Trophy Dash _ Jonathon Reynolds, Kelly Gray, Billy Shaul, Mitchell Preston.
CRUISERS
Heat _ Rick Bryant, Paul Lauenroth, Bob Strauss, Mike Smithhart, Colby Hicks.
Main Event "A"_ Rick Bryant, Bob Strauss, Paul Lauenroth, Mike Smithhart, Colby Hicks.
Trophy Dash _ Mike Smithhart, Rick Bryant, Paul Lauenroth, Colby Hicks.
