ANDERSON, California -- What a finale it was. In the final appearance for the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division Southwest Series at Shasta Raceway Park, it was Auggie Vidovich who emerged victorious for the second year in a row, taking the second race of the 2006 Southwest Series season. Locally, Rich Oller won in the Coors Light Late Models, Jeremy Ammon came away with a strong victory in the Auto City Modifieds, and Dale Stelt dominated the NASCAR Mini-Stocks.
After the command to fire engines was given by Nari Records recording artist Becca, there was a definite aura of excitement in the air, as fans, drivers, and crews prepared for 125 laps of intense racing action. The race started off relatively smooth, with Rip Michels holding on the early lead after starting first because of an eight car invert. Around lap 20 however, the race would see it’s first caution after a crash involving Cody Pruitt and Stephen Sadler. Pruitt would eventually wind up over 100 laps down after repeated attempts to get the car fixed. Sadler, however, would finish the race five laps down after suffering only cosmetic damage. As the green flew again it was Michels still leading followed by MK Kanke. On lap 25, however, Kanke slowed and on lap 27, he pitted with carburetor troubles. Around lap 40, Michels began to fall back as well, handing the lead to Jason Fensler on the 44th circuit. The leaders encountered lapped traffic at lap 57, and on lap 71, Auggie Vidovich took the lead from Fensler on the back straightaway. It was smooth sailing from that point on, as Vidovich was victorious, followed by Eddy McKean, Fensler, Eric Holmes, and Thomas Martin. There was a hard crash on the last lap between Terry Lawrence and Darrell LaMoure, but both drivers were okay.
The usual frontrunners were leading the field early in the Coors Light Late Models. Alan Pyszora won the first heat race, with Bobby Hirschbock taking the second and Eric Gannon winning the trophy dash. It was an early end to the night for Pyszora and Hirschbock in the main event, however, as they tangled on the first lap with Jason Browne. Browne would have two more spins by lap six, but amazingly would finish on the lead lap. At lap seven, it was Gary Pyszora who was holding the lead over Rich Oller, as two trucks led the field. On lap 11, however, Pyszora suddenly pulled off and was done for the day. That left the door open for Rich Oller, who took the victory over Randy Hirschbock, Eric Gannon, Scott McLeod, and Jerry Nichols.
The Auto City Modifieds were in action as well, with Jeremy Ammon taking a victory in the heat race, and Guy Young coming out on top in the trophy dash. As the main event rolled around, three drivers clearly showed their strength-Jeremy Ammon, Wes Taylor, and Guy Young. Those drivers would finish first, second, and third, and would be over four seconds in front of the next car in the field-Kevin Brink. Kelly Peacock rounded out the top five.
It was all Dale Stelt all the time in the NASCAR Mini-Stocks, as he dominated the night winning the heat race, trophy dash, and main event. His brother Al finished second in the main, with both drivers nearly ten seconds in front of the next car. Greg Sabourin was third, followed by Scotty Murphy and Robert Piersall.
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION SOUTHWEST SERIES
Bud Pole Award: 11- Auggie Vidovich 15.611
B-Main (Top two transferred): 3-Bobby Latham III, 31-Greg Potts, 07-Kevin Clark, 21-Eric Richardson, 4-Danny Mientka
Nari Records 125 Presented by Becca: 11-Auggie Vidovich, 19-Eddy McKean, 63-Jason Fensler, 62-Eric Holmes, 28-Thomas Martin, 12-Rip Michels, 46-Jeff Barkshire, 03-Jim Pettit II, 26-David Mayhew, 9-Greg Voigt, 65-Stan Silva, Jr., 3-Bobby Latham III, 57-Terry Lawrence, 94-Darrell LaMoure, 36-Kevin Vernon, 31-Greg Potts, 5-Don Campbell, 98-Brandon Loverock, 04-Stephen Sadler, 44-Bob Lyon, 47-Richard Johnson, 23-Dan Holtz, 33- MK Kanke, 1-Cody Pruitt
NASCAR COORS LIGHT LATE MODELS
Heat Race 2: 78-Bobby Hirschbock, 14-Eric Gannon, 11-Garth Pedrotti, 3-Jason Bgrowne, K9-Randy Hirschbock
Heat Race 1: 8-Alan Pyszora, 7-Scott McLeod, 15-Jerry Nichols, 106x-Rich Oller, 16-Pennie Ayers, 77-Steven Gannon
Trophy Dash: 14-Eric Gannon, 8-Alan Pyszora, 78-Bobby Hirschbock, 7-Scott McLeod
Main: 106x-Rich Oller, K9-Randy Hirschbock, 14-Eric Gannon, 7-Scott McLeod, 15-Jerry Nichols, 3-Jason Browne, 11-Garth Pedrotti, 16-Pennie Ayers, 77-Steven Gannon, 55-Gary Pyszora, 78-Bobby Hirschbock, 8-Alan Pyszora
NASCAR AUTO CITY MODIFIEDS
Heat 1: 11-Jeremy Ammon, 18-Jack Epperson, 23-Kevin Brink, 7-Guy Young, 31-Kelly Peacock, 64-Stan Gunderson, 2-Wes Taylor, 81-+Lester Agee
Trophy Dash: 7-Guy Young, 18-Jack Epperson, 23-Kevin Brink, 11-Jeremy Ammon
Main: 11-Jeremy Ammon, 2-Wes Taylor, 7-Guy Young, 23-Kevin Brink, 31-Kelly Peacock, 64-Stan Gunderson, 81-Lester Agee, 18-Jack Epperson
NASCAR MINI-STOCKS
Heat 1: 6-Dale Stelt, 61-Paul Sabourin, 5-Al Stelt, 77-Scotty Murphy, 55-Greg Sabourin, 47-Robert Piersall, 26-Bob Garrett, 28-Jeff Collins
Trophy Dash: 6-Dale Stelt, 77-Scotty Murphy, 5-Al Stelt, 55-Gerg Sabourin
Main: 6-Dale Stelt, 5-Al Stelt, 55-Greg Sabourin, 77-Scotty Murphy, 47-Robert Piersall, 61-Paul Sabourin, 26-Bob Garrett
