FITZGERALD ROARS FOR CAREER WIN #100 AT WRR

Source: Crowley
Date: 06/06/2006

So, once more, the huge lead fashioned by Delaney was now a distant memory for him; he had more important things to think about: what line to take on the restart having Fitzgerald on his tail. One more thing to think about was a small rut earlier in the race had now became a factor. Jimmy knew that he had to avoid it, and so mould Dan. The green reappeared and Delaney moved up a little to clear the hole; but by doing that he left Fitzgerald’s BMS car just enough space to squeeze underneath the leader. Fitzgerald roared out of two and down the back chute into the lead. Natenstedt moved past Mazour in third, followed by Ellsworth as Mazour was fading. Natenstedt, the 2005 Mini Mod track champ, took second from Delaney with five to go. Yellow flag, again. It was Natenstedt. A fine performance by the young man had rear end gear problems earlier in the heat races, may have revisited him. His raced at the end of a tow rig, finishing a disappointed 11th place. Five to go. Last week, Fitzgerald lost a tire with five to go. Will the car last five more laps?

The green was displayed and Fitzgerald led Delaney down the backstretch, with Mazour, back to full song again, got by Farstveet and Ellsworth for fourth. White flag lap, one lap to go! As he went into three/four turn, Fitzgerald set out for the checkered flag with a seven-car length lead over runner-up Delaney. It was win number 100 for Fitzgerald in his IMCA career, win number five at WRR this season, and his 14th overall this season. Starter Lincoln Litchfield presented the happy winner with a special checkered flag, signed by drivers for the milestone, and he took a victory lap.

After the race, Fitzgerald reflected, “I’m very happy to win it tonight. It was a pressure cooker, thinking about it. Sponsors, family, and friends kept talking about the win. I’m happy it’s over. If it didn’t happen tonight, I probably would have turned gray with pressure. I thank everybody for their support…and especially the fans that came out each week to see us race. The win is for them and my parents.” Fitzgerald also won his heat race, as did Farstveet.

Making his first race here this year, Fernley ace Richard Scott didn’t forget how to drive the track in the off-season. He took the lead from Ron Wagner on the fifth lap of the WRR Mini Mod 25-lap feature race, and was never headed. Gary Ogborn, Jr. won his last two times out, but Scott, a three-time winner last season, had too much to offer. Casey Katzenmeyer and Ogborn however ran head-to-head most of the race, exchanging the thee/four position several times. Katzenmeyer won the battle for third and Ogborn had to settle for the four spot. Former champions Ken Knight and Tim Garner had their problems and finished down. Mike Wogan was in contention early, but hit the tire wall leaving turn two. Scott and Knight divided the heat wins.

The WRR Pro Stock and the Pure Stock divisions ran a little different format in the feature events: they combined them. With only three cars in each division, the officials combined the cars on the track, with the three Pro Stocks in the first half of the line-up, with the next positions going to the Pure Stocks. This writer last saw this format since witnessing a SCCA sports car event at Sears Point Raceway years ago in California. The problem with the sports car events is that too many cars have a tendency for fans not to know who are the leaders. That was not a problem here. Walt Frazier won his third feature of the season, even though he hit a light standard in turn two. The yellow flag allowed him to replace a blown tire, and make it back out to the track before the restart took place. Mindy Gardner finished second over Keith Armstrong. Frazier also won the heat race. The Pro Stock portion, which was contested at the same time, saw two-time champion Brandon Vandermay pass Dave Jenkins during the third lap on route to his three win of the year. It was a mini sweep for the winner, as Vandermay also took command of the heat race.

With the next races for the WRR driver will be this next weekend at Elko’s Summit Raceway. Points there will count toward Winnemucca’s point standings. A big shake-up in the WRR point standings might come out of that one. The next race here will be Friday June 16.

IMCA MODIFIEDS

Heat one: Dan Fitzgerald, Jimmy Delaney, David Ellsworth, Tim Mazour, Rob Creamer, Cory Sample

Heat two: Chad Farstveet, Nick Keller, Shawn Natenstedt, Bill Smith III, Sue Eckert

Feature: Dan Fitzgerald, Jimmy Delaney, Tim Mazour, Chad Farstveet, David Ellsworth, Nick Keller, Byron Hutchinson, Cory Sample, Rob Creamer, Debbie Mock, Shawn Natenstedt, Sue Eckert, Bill Smith

WRR PRO STOCKS

Heat: Brandon Vandermay, Dave Jenkins, Kevin Mertens, Jim Long

Feature: Brandon Vandermay, Dave Jenkins, Kevin Mertens, Jim Long DNS

WRR PURE STOCKS

Heat: Walt Frazier, Mindy Gardner, Keith Armstrong

Feature: Walt Frazier, Mindy Gardner, Keith Armstrong

WRR MINI MODS

Heat one: Ken Knight, Mike Wogan, Ron Wagner, Doug Morgan, Clyde Andress

Heat two: Richard Scott, Tim Garner, Lee Bosch, Gary Ogborn, Jr., C. Katzenmeyer

Feature: Richard Scott, Ron Wagner, Casey Katzenmeyer, Gary Ogborn, Jr., Mike Wogan, Lee Bosch, Doug Morgan, Clyde Andress, Ken Knight, Tim Garner

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