THORNTON, MORIARTY AND CAMPBELL WIN MANZANITA MAINS FRI. NITE

Source: W McDonald
Date: 06/22/2008

Ricky Thornton, Jr. held off Anthony Madrid for most of Friday night’s 20 lap BRA dirt modified feature and was still a couple of car lengths in front of the current points leader at the green flag. Thornton, the defending champion grabbed the lead in the first turn with Madrid, who started seventh, on the move. He took over the second spot on the fifth lap and the chase began. Madrid finally took the lead on the 14th lap but Thornton was back in front on lap 15. He then used the low groove to hold Madrid at bay and scored his first win of the year, denying Madrid his 5th win of the year. Mark Harrison, a two time champion came out of the sixth row to finish third, Kenny Wyman took fourth and Chuck Kuehl was fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Greg Bedia, Dave Dulceak, Tim Ward, Sammy Schoolcraft and Chris McCurdy, Jr.

The feature took about 40 minutes to complete with six caution periods and two race stopping red flags prolongin the race. The first major crash come when Jason Noll tried an outside line pass on Madrid as they raced in turn one and spun, maybe with a little help, and was hit by Aaron Mari and Rich Shumate.

While under red in the closing laps Terry Belcher had a right front go down and he took it to the pits ending his great run that had carried him into the top five after starting 17th. The red was out for another multicar crash in which Lance Mari rolled in turn two. Art Lacy was also involved and both cars were through for the night.

The 21 car field ran three eight lap heat races with wins going to Madrid, Tony Steele and Jason Noll. Madrid scored his sixth win in heat race competition when he beat Harrison, McCurdy and Wyman after starting last. Steele had a front row starting berth and easily won the second heat over Kuehl, Dan Collinsworth and Bedia. The final heat went to Noll who went wire to wire in beating Thornton, Aaron Mari and Terry Belcher, Jr.

Steve Moriarty scored his second straight win in the 15 lap Sands Chevrolet Southwest Modlite feature. Patrick Stevens led the first five laps but yielded to Moriarity who went on to outdistance the field. Bud Grossenbacher slipped past Stevens for second with Stevens finishing ahead of Gerry Glenn and Greg Loper. The rest of the top ten, in order, were Tony Evans, John Priest, Mike Martin, Scott Gannett and Rick Gamble.

With 31 cars on hand the modlites ran four heat races with 6 laps the scheduled distance. Justin Randall went wire to wire in the first heat with Evans, Gannett and David Hokanson in pursuit. Tony Martin chased down Terry Belcher for the win in the second heat. Belcher finished a close second ahead of Mark Julian and Rick Gamble. The third heat was won by Partick Stevens over Glenn, Moriarity and Josh Witwiski. The final six lapper went to Jimmy Webster who held off Grossenbacher, Martin and Brian Dervage.

Priest, winner of the first Southwest Modlite feature at Manzy, won the 12 lap semi main after starting in the third row. Loper came out of the sixth row to finish second, Nicky Escobedo was third and Gamble was fourth.

Dervage won the four lap trophy dash as he beat A.J. Martin, Escobedo, Anthony Platt, Nick Gann and Ronald Webster.

Garrett Funk’s four race win streak came to an end in the SCRA sport modified feature as he finished third behind first time winner Kerry Campbell and Keith Krenklis. Behind the top three were Chris Rhein and James Webster who led the first four laps before giving way to Campbell. Rounding out the top ten were Steve Bender, Shannon Ray Williams, Shannon Campbell, Rick Stephenson and Justin Thornton.

Campbell began his night by winning the four lap trophy dash in record time. His clocking of 1:12.99 shattered the old standard of 1:17.12 set by Robin Boomgaarden on March 14th.

Krenklis beat Kerry Campbell in the first eight lap heat race with Rhein and Shannon Campbell giving chase. Funk chased down Webster in the second heat and scored his second heat race win of the year.. Thornton beat Stephenson for third. Herzner, Jr. (time-1:12.99, new track record)

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