HOWARD FORD THREE-PEATS AT REDWOOD

Howard Ford was tops again on Saturday night, in the Scottfeild Executive Hotels 100 for the North State Challenge Series at Redwood Acres Raceway. It was the third consecutive win for the Crescent City driver who has been on a roll since late last season. Randy Houston, Mic Moulton and Junior Roddy all took a turn at the front of the field before Ford took the lead for good, just past the midway point of the 100 lap feature.

Eureka’s Mic Moulton came home second after losing the lead when “something let go in the rear-end” around the 40th lap. Dave Miller took third after a spirited battle with series newcomer Riley Watson who was fourth. Both drivers scored their second consecutive top-five finishes. Grant’s Pass veteran Larry Bayless rounded out the top five with his best finish in recent memory.

After a close battle, over the final 50 laps, Junior Roddy spun, off the bumper of CJ Bawden, while they were coming to the checkers running second and third. They were scored sixth and seventh, respectively, the last cars on the lead lap.

Moulton took command early, after an inversion of eight put him on the pole. Houston assumed the point on lap 9 and began to build his lead. Moulton reassumed the lead on lap 32, when Houston’s car “jumped out of gear” and he couldn’t get it back in. Houston went several laps down, fixing his linkage, and would finish eighth.

Roddy made a lap 40 pass for the lead and showed considerable strength, with Ford and Bawden in hot pursuit. Ford got by on lap 53, and cruised to the victory.