Mike Duncan and Rex Calderwood lead the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Models to the checkers tonight at Mesa Marin Raceway. Each scored his victory in one of the two 50 lap main events.
Duncan entered Saturday nights Late Model Stock Car event leading the points championship by one point over Dan Holtz. Duncan felt his point lead slipping away after a spin during the days first practice session put Duncan’s Cal Organic Farms Monte Carlo car on the trailer with excessive damage. Kevin Small of Small Motorsport sent his crew to their shop and delivered to Duncan a race ready Small Motorsports Monte Carlo. Duncan’s first laps in the unfamiliar car were his qualifying laps where he was sixth best, with Holtz and Calderwood the best on the day both qualifying at a 18.99. Calderwood would then go on to claim the trophy dash win.
In the first 50 lap main event, Kevin Small lead early followed by Duncan Brian Branson, the Calderwood brothers Shawn and Rex, then Holtz. When Small slipped up the track Duncan made his move for the lead followed by Holtz. As Holtz began to apply pressure to Duncan, Holtz’s car soon began to fad as a broken header slowed the 16 car’s pursuit of his seventh main event win of 2000. Duncan then made the most of his opportunity and went on to his fifth main event win of the year and extending his points lead. Holtz was second followed by Rex Calderwood, then Shawn, and Small.
At the start of the second 50 lap main event, a first lap second turn incident involved Branson, Small, Holtz, Jeremy Salamacha and Shawn Calderwood. Holtz, Branson and Salamacha were able to rejoin the field.
After the lap one multi-car crash, Rex Calderwood and Duncan found themselves at the front of the field. Holtz who restarted at the rear of the field moved up to third by lap 17, but was soon in the pits with a blown engine which ended his night. Claderwood held off Duncan to score his first career win, by leading wire-to-wire. Rodney Peacher, Branson and Jeff Latimer rounded out the top five.
The Ultra Wheels SPEC Truck Series returns to Mesa Marin Raceway next Saturday night.
In the Street Stocks, Mike Riale won his 6th main event taking over the lead by lap #2 of the 20-lap feature. Billy Tucker gave it his all to challenge Riale and got close, but could never pass the fast #11. The battle of the night was between John Balfanz and Mike White for the 3rd place position. Balfanz took the high line while White held down the inside. For several laps they were side-by-sdie and Balfanz was holding and pulling White in the turns, but on the checkered lap Balfanz lost it in turn 4 and White took 3rd followed by Lloyd Wren, Jr. and J.R. Garcia.
In the Women’s Racing Series, Michelle Kelley took home the trophy in the 12-lap main event followed by Carol Jordan and Dawn Sevenich. Jennifer Holbert, co-owner of JoRonCo Rentals and sponsor of the evening felt good about trying the event and surviving, while husband Ron Holbert drove in the Street Stock event and pick up two positions and finished the race bettering his effort from 1999.
The Kern County Rangers picked up their 4th win of the season with Matt Pontes driving. It was a wild night for the District Attorneys, Sheriffs and Bakersfield City Fire Dept. and Kern Superintendents 911 Race for Youth cars – all with lots of spins before the finish. But they all came to the winner’s circle with smiles. Mike Cottle of BPD, Jeff Fahsbender for the Sheriffs, and Dale Kamline of the Superintendents office finished 2nd through 4th followed by Bakersfield City Fireman’s John Patterson.
Campus Motorsports the High School Series saw a new winner for the first time this season. South High was able to get past a hard charging Shafter and maintain the lead, but when the top cars were checked by officials after their race, irregularities disqualified four cars and changed the finish. North High was credited with the win followed by Porterville, Kern Valley, Valley and Visalia.
Next week the Ultra Wheels SPEC Trucks return.
