JEFF RUSSELL BAGS POMBO FEATURE

Source: SMRA Media Relations/gl
Date: 07/20/2008

The SMRA Supermodifieds joined with the Madera Speedway 360 Supermodifieds for an exciting five race event in the Annual Al Pombo Classic. Jeff Russell pulled off his third victory of the season, but only after a tremendous run at the front by fellow Idahoan Bryan Warf. More on that later.

The evening started with two lap time trials on the 1/3 mile banking. Kenny Kinchen posted fast time for the 360 Supers with a lap of 13.698 followed by Lance Tatro at 13.761, David Tuey at 13.807, Lance Jackson at 13.835, and Donnie Large at 13.972. Top SMRA qualifier was Troy Regier at 12.715 followed by Jeff Russell at 12.784, Bryan Warf at 12.951, Bobby Dalton at 13.238 and Whitey Janssen at 13.369.

The 360 Trophy Dash lined up with Donnie Large and Lance Jackson on the front row pursued by David Tuey and Kenny Kinchen. At the drop of the green flag, Large lead from the outside followed by Tuey, Jackson, and Kinchen. Jackson brought out the yellow on lap two with a spin in turn two. On the restart, Tuey and Kinchen soared around Large who was passed by Jackson a lap later. Tuey won the four lapper over Kinchen, Jackson, and Large.

The SMRA trophy dash featured Bryan Warf on the pole followed by Jeff Russell, Troy Regier and Bobby Dalton. Warf and Regier forged out front over Dalton and Russell who slowed dramatically with an engine misfire. Warf just pulled out a commanding lead in the short sprint and no one challenged for the lead. Finishing order was Warf, Regier, Dalton, and Russell.

The 360 Supermodified Heat lined up with Donnie Large on the pole with Lance Jackson, David Tuey, Kenny Kinchen, Lance Tatro, and Larry Hinz in pursuit. Large and Jackson went into turn one side by side with large pulling out the lead on the backstretch. Tuey got around Jackson in turn four and the lap one order was Large, Tuey, Jackson, Kinchen, and Tatro. Kinchen passed Jackson on lap two and Tuey took the lead on lap four. The yellow flew on the sixth circuit when Kinchen blew a power steering line and belched smoke down the front straight. Kinchen retired to the pits with Jackson and Tatro benefiting from his exit. At lap eight checkers, Tuey won over Large Jackson, Tatro, and Hinz.

The Supermodified Racing Association cars lined up for their eight lap heat with Whitey Janssen and Bobby Dalton on row one. The remaining runners were Bryan Warf, Jeff Russell, and Troy Regier. Dalton took the lead from the outside to beat Janssen to the line followed by Russell, Warf, and Regier. Russell faded badly on lap two with Warf moving to second, Janssen to third and Regier to fourth. Regier moved to third on lap five. Warf finally managed to take the lead from Dalton on lap six while Russell took fourth from Janssen. And that was the race. Warf took the checkers over Dalton, Regier, Russell, and Janssen.

The fifty lap feature event included cars from both the 360 ranks and the SMRA. Donnie Large and Lance Jackson led the parade followed by Kenny Kinchen, David Tuey, Bobby Dalton, Whitey Janssen, Brian Warf, Jeff Russell, and Troy Regier. Lance Tatro and Larry Hinz elected to start in the rear of the field due to engine woes and handling difficulties respectively. The cars pretty much lined out in order as Large and Jackson ran the first lap side by side. Janssen move d to second on lap two with Tuey, Kinchen, and Warf rounding out the top five. Lap three saw Janssen take the lead over Large, Warf, Tuey, and Russell. Large fell to third on lap four, fourth on lap five, and fifth on lap six. The yellow waved on lap six when Jackson spun in turn four. On the restart, Warf was working the inside of Janssen and finally completed the pass on the backstretch on lap seven. Russell took second on lap eight making the order Warf, Russell, Janssen, Regier and Large. Dalton moved into the top five on lap nine. Warf began pulling away from the field and utterly dominated the next segment of the race. Regier passed Janssen for third on lap nine and Warf began lapping cars consistently on lap twelve. Warf was extremely smooth and concise as he took the inside line and passed cars at will. Regier and David Tuey had contact on lap thirty seven sending Tuey to the infield with drive train problems. Russell and Regier could not keep pace with the flying Warf through lap twenty five.

Both Russell and Regier began to press the issue in the last half of the fifty lapper and although both were gaining slightly on Warf, he was still maintaining a sizeable lead. Dalton finally took fourth from Janssen on lap forty making the order Warf, Russell, Regier, Dalton, and Janssen. Then Warf’s engine went up in smoke going into turn one on lap forty five. Russell, Large, and Regier all got into the oil, but managed to slow enough to avoid Warf who came to halt in turn two. Russell managed to get past on the infield grass while Large and Regier went high and just managed to stay out of the wall. On the restart, Russell after inheriting the lead began to pull away from Regier and Dalton and motored on to his third win of the season, matching Regier’s win total. Final finishing order was Russell over, Regier, Dalton, Janssen, Kinchen, Large, Tatro, Jackson, Warf and Tuey.

Although the car count left something to be desired, the racing was quite exciting and entertaining. Bryan Warf was very impressive in his drive to the front and his ability to slice through lapped traffic. He really did have the field covered. Although Jeff Russell was gaining a bit on him, he was not going to catch Bryan in the last six laps had not the crankshaft broken on Warf’s mount. With several wounded cars slated to return to the wars and least two new entries scheduled for Madera Speedway’s fifth Super Saturday in August, the next show should feature nearly double the count of the Pombo Classic. From the Sunnyside of Fresno, California, I am the Racing Widow’s Husband.

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