MCCLISH, ZIMMERLY BIG WINNERS IN USAC PACIFIC COAST NATIONALS AT ALTAMONT

Source: AMP Media Relations
Date: 04/21/2008

TRACY, California – Brian McClish of Santa Rosa, CA made the most of his new car, in a race that resembled a former CASA race, as McClish led San Francisco’s Nick Rescino Jr. to the finish in the USAC Pacific Coast Spring Nationals, Saturday.

Saturday’s racing at Altamont Motorsports Park featured USAC Sprints, Midgets, and Ford Focus, along with NCMA Limited Sprints and Altamont Formula-4s. The event marked the first of seven appearances by USAC at Altamont for the 2008 racing season.

McClish made winning look easy after taking the lead from 2007 USAC Western Sprint champion Ryan Kaplan of Chico, CA on lap 14. McClish cruised home to win the 50 lap-feature on the half-mile asphalt oval.

USAC Silver Crown veteran Tim Barber of San Francisco, CA led the 16 car field to green, with Kaplan assuming the point for the third starting position on lap three.

McClish and Kaplan dueled for six laps side-by-side before McClish took control.

Antelope’s Greg Anderson battled with Rescino throughout the first half of the race for second, before Anderson faded late.

Eighth-place starter and two-time Altamont winner Tanner Swanson of Kingsburg, CA methodically worked his way forward to fight it out with Anderson for third position. The entertaining duel came down to the final turn, with Swanson holding out for third.

The top-five at the finish were: McClish, by four seconds, over Rescino, Swanson, Anderson, and a hard-charging Chase Scott who started 11th.

Three-time series champion Tony Hunt of Lincoln, CA continued his tough start to the season, dropping out of the race with mechanical problems after just 14 laps.

Swanson set the fast-time in qualifying, covering the oval in 17.052 seconds for a 105.559 mph average.

An outstanding field of USAC Western Midgets also took were in competition, with racers from Canada, Washington, Colorado, Indiana, and Florida all competing.

USAC National Midget driver Ricky Ehrgott of Riverview, FL was eliminated in a crash on lap 11 that also involved Steven Matthews of Ontario, Canada.

Western Speed Racing driver Paul Zimmerly of Ridgefield, WA took the lead from fellow Washington driver Evan Margeson on a lap 16 restart.

The following lap, Garrett Hansen of Manhattan Beach, CA made contact with Alfred Galedrige of Los Altos, CA in turn three to bring out the caution. Galedrige stalled on the ensuing restart, collecting Tony Hunt and Robby Jossett of Santa Clarita, CA in a chain-reaction crash.

Once racing went green, Hansen and Matthews went to work, with Hansen crawling all the way up to fifth position.

Meanwhile, Michael Faccinto of Hanford, CA was involved in a heavy battle for second with Nic Faas.

Faccinto and Faas made contact in turn one on lap 23, while simultaneously Hansen moved to the outside of Daniel Bedford for fourth.

Hansen slammed into the spinning Faas, resulting an oil fire and two badly damaged race cars. USAC officials ended the race under a red-checkered for the lengthy clean-up.

Zimmerly was credited with the win, followed by Faccinto, Bedford, Levi Roberts of Broomfield, CO, and Matthews.

Heat race wins went to Mark Atkinson of Seattle, Shannon McQueen of Bakersfield, and Bedford.

Fast-time went to Scott Peirovich of Alamo, CA, with a time of 16.848 at 106.838 miles per hour.

USAC Ford Focus racing on the quarter-mile saw a close battle between the top-three cars for much of the race.

Garrett Peterson of West Sacramento, CA led the first 22 laps of the 30 lap feature, with 14 year-old Alex Bowman of Tuscon, AZ and Mike Maier in tow.

Maier picked off Bowman on lap 19 and passed Peterson just three laps later.

Local favorite Jessica Brunelli of Hayward, CA was eliminated in a crash with Tommy Astone III on lap six.

The top-five were: Maier, Peterson, Bowman, Charles Maier, and Pleasanton’s Ian Millie.

Heat race wins went to: Charles Maier and Peterson. Mike Maier stopped the clock at 13.386 to lead time trials.

NCMA Limited Sprint’s 20 lap feature on the half-mile started only six cars, but an exciting battle between the top-three cars came down the finish.

Ageless Gary Koster held off Ed Amador for the popular win, with David Goodwill of Napa a car-length behind. Jeff Burrows and Burt Silverling rounded out the top-five.

A great field of 15 Formula-4’s competing in two 10 lap features on the 1.1 mile Altamont road-course. Each race for the stock four-cylinder cars was fast-paced and caution free.

Bob Wilson won the first feature, with Doug Foreman, Jr., rookie Rod Deridon, 2007 runner-up Richard Hull, and Jake Morgenstern the top-five.

A fully-inverted second feature allowed Jim Robbins to take home a convincing win, holding off Dan Durbin. The remaining top-five were Ken Riley, Hull, and Wilson, who started 14th.

Next Saturday, Altamont Motorsports Park returns with the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action. The NASCAR Western Late Models will compete in twin-50 lap features. Grand American Modifieds will also compete on the half-mile. Quarter-mile action will include American Limited Stock Cars, Future Champions Development Series youth Late Models, and Spectator Racing Series. Formula 4’s will return for twin-10s on the road course.

Qualifying will take place at 12:30 with racing at 2 p.m. The new family friendly racing program will be completed by sundown.

Race fans can also enjoy award-winning Kinder’s BBQ throughout 2008.

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