TWIN FALLS, Idaho -- Steve Jones did it his way, patiently waiting for the rest of the field to take themselves out of contention en route to his third win of the season in the Pepsi Premier division main event race Saturday night at the Magic Valley Speedway. Jones cashed in on the win after working his way up from ninth starting position, quietly sneaking his way up to second by lap 13 but then Jones had to contend with Bruce Quale, who was driving the number 19 car of McKean Motorsports for the night. Jones was able to take over the lead from Quale on lap 18 and held on for the remainder of the race despite five more caution flags which forced restarts putting Quale right back up with Jones.
"I was going to hang out there and just ride for awhile but I knew there was going to be some wrecks coming - so I just wanted to get away," Jones said. "I got mired up in those the last couple of weeks so I just wanted to get out of it," he added.
Stay out of it he did, and with the win, Jones closed in to just four points in the point standings on leader Bobby Latham, who finished third just behind Quale.
Mike Greco and Rick Van Vooren, who each had a particularly difficult weekend last time out, finished fifth and ninth respectively. Van Vooren showed off the No. 6 car which received a complete make-over during the past two weeks and avoided any major mishaps during the race.
Jones also announced that he will be driving in the Pepsi 125 Northwest Tour Series race at the Magic Valley Speedway June 10.
Intermountain Pro Truck driver Mel Radmall made the trip to the winner’s circle after passing Kevan Larson in the final laps of the 40 lap main event race.
Early in the race, Larson assumed the lead and was able to pull away from the rest of the field leaving a pack of trucks behind him fighting for position.
Although a couple of cautions drew the pack back together for restarts, Larson was able to get out in front once again and looked to have the win sewn up. Radmall, however, had other ideas. Radmall kept the pressure on Larson throughout the final five laps until he was able to make the pass on Larson at lap 38, capturing his first win of the season.
Alan Larson, father of Kevan Larson, was able to pull out a third place finish which will keep him in the lead in the overall point standings with their next race scheduled for June 17, again at the Magic Valley Speedway.
Jason Whited started from ninth position in the NAPA Pony Stocks 30-lap main event but determinedly fought his way towards the front to win his second race of the season. Whited was able to get up to second by lap 16 which then triggered a fierce battle with leader John Urie. The two fought neck-and-neck for the remainder of the race as Whited did everything he could to get around Urie, who was not about to give an inch.
"He (Urie) put up a heck-of a fight," Whited said. "I was a little quicker through the corners but he sure didn’t want to give up first - and I can’t blame him, I would want to either."
Whited finally was able to make the pass on the front stretch with just two laps to go in the race and held on for the win. With the victory, Whited has narrowed the gap in the point standings to only two behind leader Lou Andersen who finished fifth in the race.
Another new driver made it into Victory Lane in the Magic Valley Pipe Thunder Stocks as Louis Lopez, who took over driving duties for son Brian for the night, overtook Vinny Evans in another race in which saw a last minute pass for the win.
Evans quickly found himself all alone in the lead early in the race as the rest of the field struggled to get around the cars of Steve Edens and Mike Dawson. As Evans seemed to be zeroing in on the win - Lopez made a bold move the front stretch with three laps to go, passing Evans to take over the lead. Craig Nuthak, who had carefully worked his way through the field by this time, edged out Evans for second.
RESULTS:
Pepsi Premier – 1. Steve Jones; 2. Bruce Quale; 3. Bobby Latham; 4. Mike Buddenhagen; 5. Mike Greco; 6. TJ Woodhall; 7. Rob Vest; 8. Sam Harris, Jr., 9. Rick Van Vooren; 10. Harold Wartluft.
NAPA Pony Stocks – 1. Jason Whited; 2. John Urie; 3. Randy Grubbs; 4. Brent Fehringer; 5. Lou Andersen; 6. Kristi Fehringer; 7. Oliver Phipps; 8. Josh Pitz; 9. Wade Henslee; 10. Shawn Nice.
Magic Valley Pipe Thunder Stocks – 1. Louis Lopez; 2. Craig Nuthak; 3. Vinny Evans; 4. Steve Edens; 5. Jim Howard; 6. Desi Ahrens; 7. Michelle Rouse; 8. Mike Dawson; 9. John Hoogendoorn; 10. Sheila Harms.
InterMountain Pro Trucks – 1. Mel Radmall; 2, Kevan Larson; 3. Alan Larson; 4. Ralph Kincheloe; 5. Dan Koyle; 6. Kenny Vanderham; 7. Dan Pehrson; 8. Drew Reitsma; 9. Eric Jensen; 10. Doc Stevens.
