SCHMIDT’S DRIVE FOR FIVE? YES!

Source: All American Speedway Staff
Date: 06/06/2007

ROSEVILLE, California -- Eric Schmidt and Golden State Racing won The JM Environmental 75 - their fifth consecutive race at the All American Speedway, last Saturday night, June 2nd.

With an invert of 8, Harold Long, driving the #5 car for Golden State Racing, started from the pole and was strong early. He battled Harold Rieker Jr. lap for lap for the first thirteen. Paul Harraka challenged for the lead on lap fourteen. John Moore made a great pass for second on lap sixteen then took the lead from Long on lap 26 and held on to it for seven laps. Eric Schmidt picked off car by car as he slowly and methodically worked his way to the front using the patience of a veteran. Once there on lap 34, he could not be caught. Not even restarts could slow him down from his quest for victory. Schmidt brought home the checkers for the fifth consecutive time this season. The win now gives him five in six attempts in his championship campaign.

“He may win every race the rest of the season,” said John Moore of Granite Bay who finished second to his teammate Schmidt. “He’s that strong!”

Schmidt was humbled after his victory. “I really have to thank my team. They work so hard every week to give me such a great car. Thanks to my crew chief Eric Snyder and team owner Frank Jordan. We’ve won two in a row before but never anything like this!”

In spite of a carburetion problem that plagued him for most of the day, Paul Harraka of Wayne, N.J. brought home a third place finish with Mike Beeler fourth, and Jessica Helberg fifth.

Rounding out the top ten: Rookie Jonathan Hale sixth, veteran Chuck Glick seventh, Guy Gabor eight, Harold Rieker Jr. ninth, Scott Woessner tenth.

Earlier in the day, Schmidt had fast time in qualifying at 13.646/ 87.937mph. Sammy Solari of Solida was second fast at 13.696/ 87.616mph and John Moore was third at 13.723/ 87.444mph.

In the Late Model Trophy Dash your winner was Jim Courage Jr. over Moore, Schmidt and Mike Beeler.

The Late Models return to The All American Speedway Saturday, June 16th, for The A-All Mini Storage 50. Don’t miss one lap as Eric Schmidt goes for his sixth victory in a row!

After a blown motor ended his best run of the season two weeks ago, Christopher Lambert was back and better than ever, winning the 75-lap event for the Street Stocks division.

Doug Wade started from the pole and battled Matt Cockrum early. Cochrum took the lead on lap six and looked as though he might drive away from the field. For the second time in a row, his car was hindered by a mechanical problem that took him out of the lead. Lambert took the point on lap twenty-four and it was clear sailing to the finish from there.

Ryan Steele had his best run of the year and came home second, Cockrum fought back to finish third, Wade was fourth, Mike Willet was fifth.

In qualifying, Jeff Ahl, who broke the track record two weeks ago, only to be DQ’d based on an illegal camshaft, set a new All American Speedway track record this week with a fast time of 14.999/ 80.005mph. Ahl was inspected after the race was found to be legal.

Mickey Owens was second fast with a 15.013/ 79.930mph. Josh Whitfield was third at 15.015/ 79.919mph.

In the Trophy Dash it was Jeff Ahl first, then Josh Whitfield, Mickie Owens and Mike Willet respectively. In the post-dash interview, Ahl said “the camshaft we had two weeks ago was the same one we raced with at The Stockton 99 Speedway last year. We pulled the illegal one out after our DQ, put the new legal one in, and to our surprise, it gave us more speed! Thanks for bringing that to our attention!”

The Street Stocks are back at AAS for fifty laps on June 9th.

Keith Hopkinson Jr. drove his best race of the season bringing home the 50 lap win. Hopkinson Jr. started fifth and worked his way slowly through the field and to the point on lap seventeen. Randy Owens gave chase but came up a bit short to finish second. Last week’s winner Todd Clapham was strong again and came home third with Johnny Vega and Eric Bocksberger fourth and fifth.

Johnny Vega had fast time in Bomber qualifying with a 16.176/ 74.183mph. Todd Clapham was next at 16.214/ 74.009mph. Dana Kelly had the best qualifying effort of her career with a 16.285/ 73.687mph. The time was good enough to put her in the first trophy dash of her racing career.

Hopkinson Jr. won the Bomber Dash by out-dueling Vega, Dana Kelly, and Todd Clapham.

“Making the Trophy Dash was a huge thrill! Finishing third was huge for us! We continue to take baby steps!” Kelly said in a post race interview.

The Bombers return to The All American Speedway this Saturday night for fifty laps of bumper-to-bumper, door to door action! Don’t miss it!

In one of the best races of the evening, Jake Gomes beat Michael Ray to the line to win the 25 lap Main event.

“He raced me cleanly the whole race. I’m really happy for Jake! It was his night!” Ray said showing maturity and true sportsmanship after his second place finish.

The rest of the top 5 were: a solid Jake Smith third, Justin Henry who led early finished fourth, and Cole Farrow was fifth.

In qualifying, Jake Smith had fast time with a 14.671/ 81.793mph, Henry was second at 14.686/ 81.710mph, and Michael Ray was third at 14.730/ 81.466mph.

Ray won the six cars/ six laps Trophy Dash for the Baby Grands. Smith was second followed by: Gomes, Michael Sandoval, Henry, and Farrow.

Tyler Thomas had the car to beat in the A-Main. Thomas, in his “Earnhart-esque” paint scheme # 3, started second and quickly took the lead on lap three. From there to the finish it was “nothin’ but the tail lights” for the rest of the field. Dylan Hutchison, owned second place and brought his #88 Mini home second. Dylan is the grandson of the legendary Rex Hutchison and a chip off the ol’ engine block. John Bowman had a strong third place run. Josh Gomes came home fourth with Shane Lawrence fifth.

Gomes had fast time in qualifying at 16.503/ 72.713mph. Thomas was right behind at 16.641/72.110mph and then it was Shane Lawrence at 16.728/71.735mph. These times and speeds are even more impressive when you consider that these kids are between the ages of 9 and 14!

Like the Baby Grands, the Minicup Trophy Dash is six cars and six laps. Thomas looked as if he might drive away from the field until an excellent pass by Mychal Tripoli on lap five changed everything. Tripoli held off Lawrence for the win. Thomas was third, Bowman fourth, Hutchison was fifth, and Gomes crossed fifth.

In the Minicup Qualifier, a race that mixes some of the younger and older drivers and is designed to get them seat time, your winner was Jarrett Kelly. Charlotte Wood, who had one of her best finishes this year, came home second. William Camara had a good showing and finished third. Tyler Johnson, in just his second race at AAS was fourth. Max Unterbach rounded out the top five.

Great racing guys and girl! Shout out to Charlotte Wood for her top ten finish in the A Main!

The WSRA come back to the AAS June 16th.

See Also .:

• All American Speedway Track Page

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