EUREKA, California -- 2005 NSCS champion Mike Doss came away with the victory, on Friday night, as the North State Challenge Series visited Redwood Acres Raceway for the annual twin Fair races in conjunction with the Redwood Acres Fair. 2002 champ Eric Graham took the runner-up spot ahead of Crescent City's Howard Ford, while Lakeport's Derek Thorn finished fourth after fighting his way from the back of the pack. Redding's Kyle Cattanach made his first NSCS appearance since 2004 and rounded out the top five, driving the Melo Gordon Motorsports #5 Crystal Geyser car.
Sydney, British Columbia's Darrell Midgley topped the qualifying charts with an impressive 15.495 on RAR's 3/8-mile. Coquille Oregon's David Miller was second quick at 15.634, barely nipping Thorn's 15.635. Carson City Nevadan CJ Bawden filled the dash field with his 15.704. Graham just missed the dash, posting a 15.715. Bawden would take the dash win over Midgley, Miller and Thorn.
Midgley drew an inversion of eight for the 75-lap feature, handing the pole to Doss with Jeremy Hopkins on the outside. Local favorite Jimmy Walker lined up third next to Graham followed by the dash cars. Hopkins jumped to the early lead and was strong in the early going, ahead of Doss, Graham, Walker, Midgley and Thorn. Top rookie contender Gary Glenn fought gremlins in his new Perry car, all day long, and seemed to have things working well until his transmission expired on lap 8 and he stopped on the track, bringing out a yellow flag. On the restart, Doss worked hard on Hopkins while the very quick cars of Midgley and Thorn worked their way by Walker and toward the front. After a brief lap 10 caution the running order was Hopkins, Doss, Graham, Midgley and Thorn.
Shasta Raceway Park late model point leader Steven Gannon got up in the marbles on lap 13 and backed into the wall, forcing another yellow flag. The duo of Midgley and Thorn got by Doss on the restart and set their sights on Hopkins. On lap 24, Hopkins broke a valve spring and retired. Midgley assumed the lead ahead of Thorn, Doss, Graham and Bawden. Over the next 20 laps, Thorn doggedly pursued Midgley as the two pulled away from the pack. After lap 44 contact, they spun and would wage their battle from the back of the pack. Doss was the leader, once again, over Graham, Bawden, Miller and Randy Houston. Miller had a tire going down, pitted on lap 56 and did not return. Junior Roddy retired with engine woes 4 laps later.
Walker's rear end expired on lap 62 and he and several others spun in the oil. After the clean up and restart, Midgley climbed the left rear of Luke Hall and launched himself into the turn 2 wall. He left on the hook with extensive damage while Hall was able to continue. Over the final 13 laps, Graham tried repeatedly to get by Doss. After the final caution period, when Houston and Bawden tangled, as Bawden ran out of fuel, Graham made a final charge at Doss and it looked, for a moment, that it might work but it was not to be, and Doss took the checkers.
"Our car was a little better than Mike's on the restarts and I thought we might get by him," the runner-up said later. " I was sure trying! We're happy with this finish because the car really wasn't that good. I think we'll be better tomorrow night!"
While happy with the win Doss wasn't entirely happy with his car. " It never felt right to me all day and then I lost the power steering with about 15 laps to go and it became a real handful! I hope we can get it more comfortable for tomorrow's race."
Racing resumes Saturday night at 6PM at Redwood Acres Raceway.
Fast Time - Midgley 15.495
Dash - Bawden, Midgley, Miller, Thorn
Main - Doss, Graham, Ford, Thorn, Cattanach, Jim Stillman Jr, Joe McDonald, Andrew Snider, Hall, Houston, Randy Hvall, Bawden, Berndt Akerstrom, Roddy, Walker, Midgley, Miller, Brad Wasmund, Dennis Del Biaggio, Hopkins, Hank Hilton, Gannon, Glenn
