UKIAH, California -- The Ukiah Speedway hosted the Bay Cities Racing Association Midget cars last Saturday night. Justin Grant, the current points leader, set the fast time of 12.180s. Shane Golobic won the main event.
For the “King of the Hill Challenge Series” regulars, it was an exciting night of aggressive racing with no main event finishing under the green flag.
The Bomber fast time of 15.776s was set by Shelby Helm of Ukiah. Three-wide racing, side-by-side lapped traffic, and final lap spin-outs could not stop George Abella of Lakeport from pulling out his first main event win this season.
The Modified fast time of 13.335s was set by Ron Connor of Redwood Valley. Finishing under the yellow through a blocked frontstretch, Jeremy Nowlin of Kelseyville won his first main event of the season.
The Bonus Bomber fast time of 14.757s was set by Andy Vander Veer of Santa Rosa. Finishing under the yellow, and despite a smoking and dying engine, Terry Pitman stayed clear of cars spinning behind him to win the Bonus Bomber main.
The Modified main event started with a 16 car field, including the 67 of David Furia returning from a long injury recovery. Drew Foster and Scott Feil started the field, which immediately tangled causing two cautions in two laps. Clay Caturegli and Furia tangled in turn one collecting Mike Linnell, Noel McCormack Jr., and Ron Connor. Then Codi Barba spun in turn two.
Foster and Feil restarted the field which finally settled down to race. Feil fell back through the pack as Foster extended his lead by four car lengths in front of Darrin Snider. Terry McIntire worked his way up to third as Jeremy Nowlin, Steve Taylor, Derrick Crayford, and Connor freight-trained Rick Rose on the outside.
In lap 20, McIntire and Snider were battling for second when they touched and spun in turn two collecting Crayford and Connor. Snider was black-flagged for brake failure.
After two bad restarts, Foster and Nowlin get the field running again. However, one lap later Foster ran out of gas into the turn three infield for another caution.
Nowlin and Caturegli tried to restart the field, but Furia and Connor spun in turn two sending Connor over the berm and off the track. It took a while to clean up the mess and time was running out.
Nowlin and Caturegli restarted again, but in two laps Linnell also ran out of gas into the turn one infield. The reaction spun some cars, partially blocking the frontstretch. Since time had run out, a yellow-checker was thrown and the field threaded their way through to the finish.
Nowlin finished first, followed by Caturegli, Barba, Feil, and Crayford. Taylor won the trophy dash, and Barba and McCormack Jr. the heat races.
The 12 car Bonus Bomber field was started by Jodi Snider and Ray Rosales ahead of Eric Johnson and Manuel Antonio, but Antonio and Rosales tangled in turn four sending Rosales over the track edge, into, and then on top of the wall of tires. Rosales had to retire and Antonio was black-flagged.
Snider and Johnson restarted the field, but Johnson started slow on the outside and then shot past Snider for the lead. Snider fell back through the pack as Terry Pittman, Keith Nelson, Andy Vander Veer, and Jared Martin ran the outside to gain second through fifth.
In lap seven, Nelson had just knocked Pittman loose allowing him and Vander Veer to pass on the inside, when Snider hit the turn four wall bringing out a caution and resetting the order to the last lap.
Johnson and Pittman restarted and battled for the lead as Nelson and Vander Veer battled for second followed by Martin, George Mavrakis, and Bill Mucci. In lap 12, Nelson and Vander Veer spun in turn two throwing up a dense cloud of dust. Both seem to get moving again, but Vander Veer stalled on the track in the cloud just as the field came around again. As the field dodged around him, Martin spun bringing out another yellow and Mavrakis had to visit the pits.
Mavrakis and Martin brought the restart to a halt by tangling in the back. Pittman and Johnson finally got everyone started again ahead of Nelson and Casey Sanders. Johnson tried to advance from the outside as Nelson worked over the rear of a now smoking Pittman. Mucci and Vander Veer passed Sanders and Brandon Szymczak on the outside for fourth and fifth.
In lap 23, Nelson and Johnson touched and spun in turn two in front of the rest of the field. During the yellow, Pittman's engine finally gave out spilling oil all around the track, but time had already run out and the checkered flag was thrown for Pittman.
Mucci finished second followed by Vander Veer, Sanders, and Martin. Nelson won both the trophy dash and a heat race, and Mavrakis the other heat race.
Jimmy Sorrels and Andy Norton led the 17 car pack to the Bomber main event green flag. Jerry Crapo, Robert Byers, and Chris Gamble had advanced from the B-main. Norton wiggled loose allowing John Saunders to take second. Richie Schwarm fell back through the field as Mike Bray, George Abella, Jon Waner, and Randy Portlock advanced to fourth through seventh.
In lap six, Corey Carlson broke a tie rod and retired to the infield. By lap 14, Abella had moved past Norton to make an outside challenge on Saunders for second, and Portlock was racing Norton for fourth, when Crapo and Nickolie Rhodes spun in turn two for a yellow. Crapo halted the restart when he spun in turn four.
Sorrels and Abella brought the field to the green flag, and Abella took off on the outside for the lead. Two laps later, behind third place Bray, Shelby Helm, Norton, and Waner went three-wide on the frontstretch. Norton slowed, and Helm and Waner collided in turn one sending both over the turn one berm.
Abella and Sorrels led the restart ahead of Bray and Portlock. Ron Duke Jr., Jerry Wilkins, and Manya Tenney vied for fifth. In lap 17, eighth place Byers spun but the rest of the pack avoided him and continued on.
In lap 20, Bray and Portlock were racing for third when Duke Jr. tapped him loose under Portlock and went three-wide to pass him for third. Before Bray can recover, Portlock, Wilkins, and Tenney also made it past. One lap later, Duke Jr. passed Sorrels on the outside for second and started chasing Abella.
By lap 24, Abella caught up to Crapo and Byers, but could not lap them since they were running side-by-side. Two laps later, he finally made it under Crapo and around Byers, but this allowed Duke Jr. to make up a lot of distance.
As the lapped cars of Crapo and Byers ran side-by-side in front of Wilkins, Helm made a quick run around Tenney, Portlock, and Sorrels for fourth. As the laps and time ran down, Duke Jr. piled on the coals to catch Abella. On the white-flag lap, the back of the field tangled and spun bringing out the yellow-checker.
Abella out-ran Duke Jr. for the win. Wilkins came in third, followed by Helm and Sorrels. Duke Jr. won the trophy dash and a heat race. Sorrels and Crapo won the other two heat races.
| B.C.R.A. Midgets |
|---|
| Time Trial (12.180) 30 Justin Grant, 2C Levi Roberts, 11D Paul Zimmerly, 31 Ralph Cortez, 8 Gary Dickenson, 12 Eric Mostin, 31D Justin Melton, 63 Michael Binswanger, 32 John Sarale, 11 Travis Berryhill, 60 Laura Porter, 10 Shane Golobic, 87 Mike Donaldson, 61 Bill Lindsey, 18 Floyd Alvis, 15 David Prickett Trophy Dash 11D Paul Zimmerly, 31 Ralph Cortez, 2C Levi Roberts, 30 Justin Grant Heat 1 15 David Prickett, 32 John Sarale, 18 Floyd Alvis, 61 Bill Lindsey, 10 Shane Golobic, 60 Laura Porter, 11 Travis Berryhill Heat 2 31D Justin Melton, 8 Gary Dickenson, 11D Paul Zimmerly, 12 Eric Mostin, 30 Justin Grant, 31 Ralph Cortez, 63 Michael Binswanger A-Main 10 Shane Golobic, 11D Paul Zimmerly, 2C Levi Roberts, 15 David Prickett, 63 Michael Binswanger, 31 Ralph Cortez, 8 Gary Dickenson, 11 Travis Berryhill, 18 Floyd Alvis, 31D Justin Melton, 32 John Sarale, 30 Justin Grant, 61 Bill Lindsey |
| Modifieds |
| Time Trial (13.335) 45 Ron Connor, 30 Terry McIntire, 39 Noel McCormack Jr., 5X Steve Taylor, 5D Derrick Crayford, 67 David Furia, 46 Rick Rose, 16M Mark Marek, 55 Clay Caturegli, 77 Jeremy Nowlin, 27L Mike Linnell, 2K Darin Snider, 72 Scott Feil, 90 Codi Barba, 29 Drew Foster, 90P Rick Pardini Trophy Dash 5X Steve Taylor, 39 Noel McCormack Jr., 30 Terry McIntire, 45 Ron Connor Heat 1 90 Codi Barba, 72 Scott Feil, 77 Jeremy Nowlin, 55 Clay Caturegli, 29 Drew Foster, 27L Mike Linnell, 2K Darin Snider Heat 2 39 Noel McCormack Jr., 46 Rick Rose, 5D Derrick Crayford, 67 David Furia, 30 Terry McIntire, 45 Ron Connor, 5X Steve Taylor, 16M Mark Marek A-Main 77 Jeremy Nowlin, 55 Clay Caturegli, 90 Codi Barba, 72 Scott Feil, 5D Derrick Crayford, 30 Terry McIntire, 45 Ron Connor, 27L Mike Linnell, 5X Steve Taylor, 46 Rick Rose, 67 David Furia, 29 Drew Foster, 39 Noel McCormack Jr., 16M Mark Marek, 90P Rick Pardini, 2K Darin Snider |
| Bonus Bombers |
| Time Trial (14.757) 49 Andy Vander Veer, 2U Jared Martin, 6 Keith Nelson, 25X Casey Sanders, 30 Terry Pittman, 45 Manuel Antonio, 57 Eric Johnson, 48 Ray Rosales, 32 Jodi Snider, 87 Bill Mucci, 25 Brandon Szymczak Trophy Dash 6 Keith Nelson, 49 Andy Vander Veer, 2U Jared Martin, 25X Casey Sanders Heat 1 35 George Mavrakis, 57 Eric Johnson, 45 Manuel Antonio, 32 Jodi Snider, 25 Brandon Szymczak, 48 Ray Rosales Heat 2 6 Keith Nelson, 30 Terry Pittman, 49 Andy Vander Veer, 2U Jared Martin, 87 Bill Mucci, 25X Casey Sanders A-Main 30 Terry Pittman, 87 Bill Mucci, 49 Andy Vander Veer, 25X Casey Sanders, 2U Jared Martin, 25 Brandon Szymczak, 35 George Mavrakis, 57 Eric Johnson, 6 Keith Nelson, 32 Jodi Snider, 48 Ray Rosales, 45 Manuel Antonio |
| Bombers |
| Time Trial (15.776) 96 Shelby Helm, 23K Manya Tenney, 48X Wendy Ray Pierce, 7 Ron Duke Jr., 5 Corey Carlson, 50 Jerry Crapo, 9 Jerry Wilkins, 6 Randy Portlock, 07 George Abella, 26 Jon Waner, 38X Nickolie Rhodes, 22 Mike Bray, 68 John Saunders, 30 Richie Schwarm, 69 Andy Norton, 66 Jimmy Sorrels, 17 Robert Byers, 23 Tim Buzzard, 11 Richie Hoven, 81 Chris Gamble, 21 Ronald Portlock, 4 Kevin Brackett, 38 Tommy Nugent, 3X Zach Jenkins, 00 David Gotlin Trophy Dash 7 Ron Duke Jr., 48X Wendy Ray Pierce, 96 Shelby Helm, 23K Manya Tenney Heat 1 3X Zach Jenkins, 38 Tommy Nugent, 21 Ronald Portlock, 4 Kevin Brackett, 11 Richie Hoven, 23 Tim Buzzard, 17 Robert Byers, 81 Chris Gamble, 00 David Gotlin Heat 2 66 Jimmy Sorrels, 30 Richie Schwarm, 22 Mike Bray, 26 Jon Waner, 38X Nickolie Rhodes, 69 Andy Norton, 68 John Saunders Heat 3 7 Ron Duke Jr., 5 Corey Carlson, 6 Randy Portlock, 9 Jerry Wilkins, 96 Shelby Helm, 23K Manya Tenney, 50 Jerry Crapo, 48X Wendy Ray Pierce B-Main 50 Jerry Crapo, 17 Robert Byers, 81 Chris Gamble, 21 Ronald Portlock, 38 Tommy Nugent, 4 Kevin Brackett, 23 Tim Buzzard, 00 David Gotlin, 11 Richie Hoven, 3X Zach Jenkins A-Main 07 George Abella, 7 Ron Duke Jr., 9 Jerry Wilkins, 96 Shelby Helm, 66 Jimmy Sorrels, 6 Randy Portlock, 23K Manya Tenney, 22 Mike Bray, 81 Chris Gamble, 30 Richie Schwarm, 26 Jon Waner, 69 Andy Norton, 68 John Saunders, 17 Robert Byers, 50 Jerry Crapo, 38X Nickolie Rhodes, 5 Corey Carlson |
| Bandoleros |
| Time Trial (15.670) 2 Drew Smith, 5K Kyle Tellstrom, 42 Jay Cee McLean, 01 Brenton Smith, 92 Darrin Silva Trophy Heat 2 Drew Smith, 5K Kyle Tellstrom, 42 Jay Cee McLean, 92 Darrin Silva, 01 Brenton Smith A-Main 5K Kyle Tellstrom, 92 Darrin Silva, 01 Brenton Smith, 42 Jay Cee McLean, 2 Drew Smith |
