ANDERSON, California -- Shasta Raceway Park made a triumphant return to action on Saturday night, as six classes took to the track for the opening race of the 2006 season. After weeks of rain delays, the drivers were primed and ready for racing, and at the night’s end, Alan Pyszora, Jack Epperson, Al Stelt, Zachery Kavert, Kyle Borden, and Sean Valladon all came out victorious in their respective divisions.
On a night that debuted new colors, new cars, and different drivers, the racing was still as fantastic as ever for the NASCAR Coors Light Late Models. The Hirschbock brothers of Klamath Falls, Oregon made the most of their drive, with Randy winning a Heat Race (and Bobby finishing second), and Bobby winning a trophy dash. Gary Pyszora, driving a ride-along truck this year, came out victorious in the other heat race. Once main event time rolled around, the adrenaline was up and the cars were fast. Most of the race was run single file, with Jason Browne leading the first 38 laps before being spun after contact from Alan Pyszora. That caution gave Eric Gannon the lead with two laps to go. The only multi-car incident of the race happened on lap 31, and involved three of the series’ top drivers: Jerry Nichols, Steve Gannon, and Rich Oller. Nichols and Oller made contact heading into turn one, and both drivers spun, with Oller coming to rest in traffic. Gannon was just a bystander, but wound up being collected. In fact, he was even hit again by Oller while the 106x driver attempted to move his truck and drive away. Both Oller and Gannon would be done for the day, while Nichols would move on to finish fourth. The major excitement came on the last lap of the 40 lap event, as Alan Pyszora ducked under Eric Gannon out of turn number four. Gannon got loose, Pyszora pulled alongside, and suddently, at the line, Gannon’s car slowed and Pyszora took the win. Gannon recovered to finish second, Bobby Hirschbock was third, followed by Nichols and Jason Browne.
The Auto City Modifieds took to the track as well on Saturday, bringing with them some close quarters racing. Kelly Peacock took the trophy dash victory, with Gene Fitzsimmons and Jack Epperson splitting the heat races. As the 30 lap feature began, Epperson quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with, as defending champion Guy Young fell back. This race featured excellent side by side action in the middle of the field to the back, with drivers going three wide on more than one occasion. Impressively, by the end of the race, Young was a contender for the victory. There were no major incidents, and at the end of thirty laps, Epperson would sail away to victory by about a half second over Douglas County Speedway champion Tom Berry. Young was third, followed by Kelly Peacock and Gene Fitzsimmons.
Six drivers battled it out in the NASCAR Mini Stock division, and only two of them were not related to another driver. Al and Dale Stelt made their presence felt again, as did Greg and Paul Sabourin. In the trophy dash, Al Stelt quickly made it known that he would once again be a powerhouse in the Mini-Stock field, winning handily. By main event time, it was obvious he would be hard to beat, and indeed, in the end, it would come down to a battle of brothers. Al and Dale Stelt put on their usual bumper to bumper tango, and in the end, it was the younger of the two who came out on top. Al Stelt took the win, followed by brother Dale, Paul Sabourin, Scotty Murphy, Greg Sabourin, and Rob Pearsall.
It was a traditional rivalry in the Legend division as young guns Micah Parmer, Zachery Kavert, and Derek Copeland were battling all through the night. It started in the heat races as Parmer came out on top, and continued through the dash, which was won by Kavert. Howard Hammers came out on top in the other heat race. During the 30 lap main event, there was much side by side action, something that has become very common in the Legend division. Once Zachery Kavert got out front, though, there was no looking back. No major incidents in this race either, just some intense racing action. Kavert comes away with the victory, followed by George Sheldon, Jr., Derek Copeland, Howard Hammers, and Micah Parmer.
A large field of bombers came to play on Saturday, which made for a lot of exciting action. Dave Lewallen, John Pedersen (driving Lee Welch’s car), and David Braund were victorious in their heat races, with Randy "Showboat" File coming out on top in the Dash. A "B" main event was run to determine the final two transfers into the race, with Rich Rivas and David Parks making it happen. A total of eighteen cars started the main event, which had some intensity of its own . . . at least behind the leader. Kyle Borden, the 2004 champion at SRP, put on a clinic for the 30 lap feature, leading multiple laps en route to victory. It was a huge points day for him, as defending champion David Braund lost an engine, and wound up finishing 18th and last. In the end though, a younger Braund by the name of Cody wound up second, followed by Dave Lewallen, Randy File, and Brian King.
The Hornets were in action as well, with Sean Valladon making it his own show. He ran away with the victory in the main event, followed by Kevin Walker and Jake Vanpool, who won the heat race and trophy dash.
Fast Time: 14-Eric Gannon 17.169 (NTR)
Heat B: 55-Gary Pyszora, 3-Jason Browne, 106x-Rich Oller, 7-Scott MacLeod, 8-Alan Pyszora
Heat A: K9-Randy Hirschbock, 78-Bobby Hirschbock, 77-Steven Gannon, 15-Jerry Nichols, 14-Eric Gannon, 16-Pennie Ayers.
Trophy Dash: 78-Bobby Hirschbock, 3-Jason Browne, 106x-Rich Oller, K9-Randy Hirschbock
Main: 8-Alan Pyszora, 14-Eric Gannon, 78-Bobby Hirschbock, 15-Jerry Nichols, 3-Jason Browne, K9-Randy Hirschbock, 16-Pennie Ayers, 11-Garth Pedrotti, 7-Scott MacLeod, 55-Gary Pyszora. (77-Steve Gannon DNF; 106x-Rich Oller DNF).
Fast Time: 7-Guy Young 16.639
Heat B: 97-Gene Fitzsimmons, 31-Kelly Peacock, 64-Stan Gunderson, 11-Jeremy Ammon
Heat A: 18-Jack Epperson, 11x-Tom Berry, 7-Guy Young, 23-Kevin Brinks
Trophy Dash: 31-Kelly Peacock, 97-Gene Fitzsimmons, 11x-Tom Berry, 18-Jack Epperson
Main: 18-Jack Epperson, 11x-Tom Berry, 7-Guy Young, 31-Kelly Peacock, 97-Gene Fitzsimmons, 23-Kevin Brinks, 11-Jeremy Ammon, 64-Stan Gunderson
Fast Time: 61-Paul Sabourin 18.803
Trophy Dash: 5-Al Stelt, 61-Paul Sabourin, 77-Scotty Murphy, 55-Greg Sabourin
Main: 5-Al Stelt, 6-Dale Stelt, 61-Paul Sabourin, 77-Scotty Murphy, 55-Greg Sabourin, 47-Rob Pearsall.
Fast Time: 2-Zachery Kavert 17.951
Heat B: 7-Howard Hammers, 46-George Sheldon, Jr., 12-Jason Schuppert, 08-Brian Kamisky, 90-Alex Podtetenieff
Heat A: 96-Micah Parmer, 2-Zachery Kavert, 24-Derek Copeland, 92-Eric Thibodeau, 99-Kevin Bell
Trophy Dash: 2-Zachery Kavert, 96-Micah Parmer, 7-Howard Hammers, 46-George Sheldon, Jr.
Main: 2-Zachery Kavert, 46-George Sheldon, Jr., 24-Derek Copeland, 7-Howard Hammers, 96-Micah Parmer, 90-Alex Podtetenieff, 12-Jason Schuppert, 99-Kevin Bell, 92-Eric Thibodeau, 08-Brian Kamisky.
Heat: 15- Jake Vanpool, Z3-Bill Swaney, 68-Kevin Walker, 59-Sean Valladon, 11-Jim Campbell, 2-Alvin Gitchell, 5-Bo Nicholson, 21-Ethan Vanpool, 530-Tony Carlisi
Trophy Dash: 15-Jake Vanpool, Z3-Bill Swaney, 68-Kevin Walker, 59-Sean Valladon
Main: 59-Sean Valladon, 68-Kevin Walker, 15-Jake Vanpool, 5-Bo Nicholson, 530-Tony Carlisi, 2-Alvin Gitchell, Z3-Bill Swaney, 21-Ethan Vanpool
Fast Time: 48-Dave Lewallen 19.321
Heat C: 48- Dave Lewallen, 98-Rovert Pacey, 6-Cody Braund, 97-Brian Smith, 10-Randy Riggins, 7-Tim McLeod, 52-David Parks
Heat B: 1-John Pedersen, 54-Randy File, 39-Kyle Borden, 23-Craig Garrett, 06-Shawn Hall, 07-Terry Mathis, 68-Daniel Tirri
Heat A: 37-David Braund, 5-Rick Gibbs, 9-Brian King, 57-Brad Woods, 28-Alan Marymee, 58-Nick Woods, 89-Bobby Crowell
Trophy Dash: 54-Randy File, 5-Rick Gibbs, 1-John Pedersen, 52-David Parks, 98-Robert Pacey
Main: 39-Kyle Borden, 6-Cody Braund, 48-Dave Lewallen, 54-Randy File, 9-Brian King, 52-+David Parks, 97-Brian Smith, 98-Robert Pacey, 11-Rich Rivas, 10-Randy Riggins, 5-Rick Gibbs, 07-Terry Mathis, 23-Craig Garrett, 57-Brad Woods, 28-Alan Marymee, 1-John Pedersen, 7-Tim McLeod, 37-David Braund.
