MADRID, FUNK AND CZOKA WIN MANZANITA FEATURES FRIDAY NIGHT

Source: W McDonald
Date: 05/03/2008

Former winners captured all three feature races Friday night at Manzanita Speedway. Anthony Madrid, a two time Barnett Dirt Modified champion scored his third win of the year after a wheel to wheel battle with Tony Steele. Rookie driver Garrett Funk won his second straight main event in the sport modifieds and Jeff Czoka also became a two time winner.

Madrid entered the sixth dirt modified race of the year with a one point advantage over Jay Foster. However Foster had problems in his heat race and needed some spare parts to compete in the feature. Madrid loaned him the parts he needed but Jay did not finish and although he stayed second in points he trails Madrid by 14 points and is only two points up on Steele who finished second. Although Jason Noll, the 2006 driving champion, was able to take a close third, his car, and many others, looked as if it had recently ran in a destruction derby.

Art Lacy finished fourth just ahead of Kenny Wyman. Only ten cars finished the 20 lap race as there were mechanical problems and crashes that took out the other nine cars. Rounding out the top ten were Chuck Kuehl, Tim Ward, Chris McCurdy and Wade Reeder. The win marked main even win #115 for Madrid.

Madrid showed his power early as he came out of the third row to beat Steele, Noll and Wyman in the first eight lap heat race. Mark Harrison, a former two time champion, also came out of the third row to win the second heat over Lacy, Terry Belcher, Jr. and Greg Bedia.

Funk, whose Father Ron won 12 main events in stock cars, was racing a sport modified for only the third time at Manzy and led all 15 laps in their feature as he held off verteran Chris Rhein for the win. Garrett started on the poll and was not challenged until the final laps when Rhein mounted a late charge. Keith Krenklis crossed the finish line in third with Robin Boomgaarden beating Jim Herzner for fourth. Behind the top five were Rick Stephenson, James Webster, Bud Hamblen, Bob Sauqek and Shannon Campbell.

Funk got off to and early start as he passed Krenklis for the win in the first heat. Behind the two front runners were Webster, Herzner and Boomgaarden. . The second heat was won by the pole sitter Shannon Campbell as he got out front and held off his brother Kerry to take a hotly contested win. Rhein finished third, Justin Thornton was fourth and Hamblen flashed under the checkered flag in fifth. Herzner won the trophy dash.

Czoka became only the second bomber driver to win twice this season. His job was made a little easier when his chief competition, Toby Webito and Mike Bray, blew right front tires.

Webito blew the tire on his bomber while leading the race on the sixth lap. That gave the lead to Czoka who started in the second row. Jeff built a comfortable lead but Bray was on the move from his third row starting position and was closing fast when his tire let go.

Chuck Thornton, winner of the trophy dash, was the fastest driver on the track as he came from the back of the 22 car field to take second. Mike Donick was near the front for the entire distance and finished third with Randy Allen and Daniel Romero who shared the fourth row at the green flag next across the finish line. Rounding out the top ten were Bray, Russ Odman, Bill Lewis, Rex Hasley and Jim Miller.

The race was red flagged when Tara Odman, making her first start at Manzy, flipped on the third lap. She climbed from the upside down car under her own power and then was checked over by the paramedics. She was not seriously injured.

David Page won the first six lap heat race as he beat Romero who started last in the seven car field. Czoka took third, Lewis was fourth and Tara Odman crossed the line in fifth.

The second heat went to Russ Odman who went wire to wire for the win. Behind him at the checkered flag were Allen, Bray, Webito and Kyle Paul

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