EUREKA, California -- Howard Ford collected the win in the North State Challenge Series opener at Redwood Acres Raceway on Saturday night. The Crescent City veteran led from flag to flag in the 75 lapper that was slowed by just three brief caution periods. Randy Houston spent much of the race on Ford's bumper and finished second ahead of defending series champ Mike Doss, dash winner Eric Graham, and series rookie Gary Glenn.
Fast timer Jeremy Hopkins drew an invert of 6 putting Ford on the pole beside Luke Hall with Houston and C.J.Bawden in the second row and Graham and Hopkins in the third. The most serious incident of the night occurred on lap 9 when the yellow flew for a solo spin by Neil Gordon. As the field was getting slowed down, there was contact between Hall and Bawden. Both became early retirees. After the restart, the top five of Ford, Houston, Graham, Hopkins, and Doss put some distance on the rest of the field over the next 44 green flag laps. A quick caution flew on lap 53 when Jim Stillman Jr. slowed on the track with the running order now Ford, Houston, Hopkins, Doss, Graham and the surprising charge of Derek Thorn.
Thorn, the 2005 Rookie of the Year, running in the lead pack surprises no one, what was unusual was the circumstance. He suffered engine problems in Saturday afternoon practice and was not expecting to start the first point race. Enter NSCS Ironman Junior Roddy. Roddy had brought 2 cars to the race, intending to shake down his new RCR powered Lefthander in Friday's practice session, opting to race his familiar "Phoenix" which was quick in practice. Roddy quickly offered his new car to Thorn who initially intended to take the green flag and park it, minimizing the hit he'd take in the points. Roddy told him to race it! Thorn elected to give up his 11th place starting spot on the grid and started the race at the back of the pack.
As the race unfolded, Thorn carefully picked off one car at a time and found himself in the 6th spot for the lap 53 restart. He quickly got around Graham who was struggling with handling and two laps later got around Doss to claim 4th. While attempting to pass Hopkins for 3rd, with 4 laps to go, they made contact on the front stretch and both went around. Neither suffered significant damage and they restarted at the tail end of the lead lap. Thorn would finish 6th and Hopkins 7th.
The always competitive Ford easily led the final laps to end his winless streak dating back to 2004. "The car was great! I never had to push it, I was just cruising," said the happy winner. Runner up Houston wasn't unhappy with second. "I was better than Howard on the restarts but I just couldn't get enough of a run to get beside him." Victory Circle Rookie of the Race, Gary Glenn, was happy to round out the top five. "I like this series! I'll tell you, these guys are real competitive! To come here with our stock front clip car and get a top 5 is great, and I'd never seen this track before yesterday! I had a lot of fun and I can't wait 'til Ukiah!"
As for Thorn, he couldn't say enough nice things about Roddy. "Junior's a great guy! I can't believe he loaned me his new car, and I can't thank him enough. He really helped us a lot and I owe him one. We had a lot of fun. That car is awesome! It's a great car! I couldn't believe I could just get in someone else's car and have it be so good! We made very few changes. Junior's set-up was great!" Roddy will be driving his new car at the May 20th race in Ukiah as he lost the engine in his older car on lap nine. "I'm glad Derek got to race. I wasn't too worried, he's a good driver," Roddy said later.
Congratulations to Howard Ford and his Rumiano Cheese sponsored team!
Fast Time- Hopkins 15.684
Dash- Graham, Houston, Hopkins, Bawden
Main- Ford, Houston, Doss, Graham, Glenn, Thorn, Hopkins, Andrew Snider, Stillman Jr. Gary Lowblad, Berndt Akerstrom, Larry Bayless, Joe McDonald, Dennis Del Biaggio, Hall, Bawden, Miller, Gordon, Roddy, Steve Dekeyser.