TWIN FALLS, Idaho -- The first race of the 2007 season got off to a great start for two champions of the 2006 season and for Pepsi Premier series driver Steve Jones, an opening night win gave the driver of the No. 3 car hope for a championship which faded away on the final night of competition last year.
Jones took the feature division main event win Saturday night at Magic Valley Speedway in a car with a complete new look, removing the familiar red and hoping the new paint would be a good omen for this season. With the win, Jones was optimistic the change was for the best.
"Yeah, it can stay gold for a couple more weeks," he said.
When the green flag fell for the main event race in the Premier Series, Rob Vest took the lead in the No. 27 modified, but 15-laps into the race Jones was able to take advantage of several re-starts after cautions and powered his way into first position. Jones was able to maintain the lead for the remainder of the event and pulled into victory lane, taking the first main event win of the season in the feature division series.
Jones also captured the win in the first main event of 2006 and was in the points lead going into the final race of the season, but was sidelined with emergency surgery and could not make the event.
"It was disappointing," Jones said. "This year I’d just like to finish - and not under the knife. I really want an Idaho State Champion’s jacket."
Jones admitted the cautions played into his favor throughout the race.
"Rob Vest is always one of the harder guys to pass, he said. "I kind-of got lucky on some of the yellow flags and kind-of got a nose ahead."
Mike Greco had an excellent run in the No.70 late model car, finishing third after TJ Woodhall was able to make the pass on Greco with about 10-laps remaining in the race.
"I replaced the whole front of the car," Greco said. "It’s the best handling car I’ve had since my pony stock car - with about five times the horse power."
"He did do really well tonight - he’s a good driver," Jones said of Greco. "He got his car over to Eddy’s (McKean) shop and got it all fixed up over the winter. He’s got my set-up on it now."
The NAPA Pony Stocks main event race was won by Jason Whited, one of the two 2006 track champions who started off with an opening night win. Whited was on the pole for the start of the race and even though Billi Miles gave it her best to catch Whited after making her way through the field, it was Whited who took the checkered flag. Jonathon Gomez placed third in his inaugural Pony Stocks race, holding off Josh Pitz and Randy Grubbs for the position.
The Intermountain Pro Trucks main event saw former Premier and Grand Nationals driver Dan Doan in Victory Lane once again, this time climbing out of a race truck. Doan has not raced at MVS for a couple of seasons, but was offered a ride in the No. 9 truck owned by competitor Alan Larson.
"I miss racing - period," Doan said. "It was fun to be out here -especially with the Larson crew - they’re a bunch of goof-balls - they’re fun to be around. It was really nice of Alan (Larson) to give me the truck to drive. He told me earlier that if I was in the lead I had to pull over and let him by. But I didn’t know where he was so I left it at that. But it was a blast. He (Larson) gave me a thumbs-up after the race."
The Budweiser Grand Nationals race was won by another 2006 champion, Louis Lopez. One race truck, driven by Kenny Hatke, competed in the event and finished second.
RESULTS:
Pepsi Premier: 1. Steve Jones; 2. TJ Woodhall; 3. Mike Greco; 4. Rob Vest; 5. David Patrick; 6. Steve Fisher; 7. Dan Pehrson; 8. Sam Harris, Jr.; 9. Dale Rogers; 10. Rick Fowble; 11. Daryl Wert; 12. Mike Buddenhagen; 13. Allen Williams; 14. Rick Van Vooren; 15. Travis Monett; 16. Sam Harris, Sr..
Budweiser Grand Nationals: Louis Lopez; 2. Kenny Hatke; 3. Kris McKean; 4. Willie Dalton; 5. Bill Manker.
NAPA Pony Stocks: 1. Jason Whited; 2. Billi Miles; 3. Jonathon Gomez; 4. Josh Pitz; 5. Randy Grubbs; 6. Shawn Nice; 7. Trent Champlin; 8. Wade Hanslee; 9. Kevin Grubbs; 10. Marshall Bishop; 11. Louis Aguilar; 12. Michelle Rouse; 13. Mark King; 14. Ashley McKean.
Intermountain Race Trucks: 1. Dan Doan; 2. Kenny Vanderham; 3. John Newhouse; 4. Kevan Larson; 5. Alan Larson; 6. Jerry Rice; 7. Johnny Pierre; 8. Lou Andersen; 9. Ken Kennedy; 10. Doc Stevens; 11. Drew Reitsma.
