TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Shelby Stroebel added an exclamation mark to his 2008 Pepsi Premier Series championship by capturing a win in the final main event races of the season Saturday night at Magic Valley Speedway.
As the program began under erratic weather conditions, Kris McKean, second in the race for the championship points standings coming into the night made up some ground by winning the heat race while Stroebel managed a fifth place finish.
For the scheduled 100-lap main event race a massive field of 31 cars rounded the one-third mile track caution-free up until lap 19. The yellow then came out for the 25 car of Lonnie Lowder, who slowed on the front stretch with mechanical issues. It was just after the restart when all heck broke loose in turn four, resulting in extensive damage to the 71 car of Scott Gilligan. Among others Sam Harris, Jr., Mike Greco and Stevie Fisher also received damage which would handicap them for the remainder of the race.
Soon Louis Lopez took over the lead from David Patrick and held on through lap 38 when Bruce Quale decided he wanted the clear view from the front of the pack. However Jonathon Gomez, fresh off a main event win in the Super Stocks division to go along with his championship, had the same thought and was able to get around Quale at lap 54. Six laps later the caution was displayed once again, this time eliminating the cars of Rick Fowble and Louis Lopez from the night’s competition.
For the next several laps Gomez and Quale took turns as front runners but Stroebel, who was holding the patience card for just the right time, laid it out at lap 77 and by lap 90 maintained a four car-length cushion over the also shrewd Norm Hatke.
“As soon as Gomez got by Bruce (Quale) that opened the door for me,” Stroebel said. “He went high because his car wasn’t that great on the bottom and then I had an open shot to the front.”
Three laps later Dan Pehrson settled into the infield after slowing in the front stretch. With Stroebel in the lead with Hatke and Gomez right behind the race was called as excessive cautions and fuel issues got the upper hand.
Stroebel was grateful to have claim to the title after challenges throughout the season left him doubting his chances at the championship.
“At the beginning of the season this is how I pictured it,” Stroebel said. “But about midway through the season this wasn’t how I pictured it. Up through tonight I knew that if I at least stayed out of the wrecks I’d be in the top four or five. It just panned out to where we kept our nose clean and the car was actually better than that at the end - and we were able to pull off the win.”
Budweiser Super Stocks
Jonathon Gomez and Jerry McKean battled once again for the win but it was Gomez who was able to come through once more, completing his domination of the division and accepting the championship for 2008. Jerry and Kris McKean wound out tying for second in the points for the season and John Hoogendoorn captured Rookie of the Year honors.
NAPA Pony Stocks
In the final lap of the heat race Josh Pitz was avoiding a car in turn four and veered right, striking the tires and the barrier and shortening the front of the No. 47 car by a couple of feet.
What would have been a disaster in his bid for the championship was adverted however with his commanding lead in the points coming into the night.
“I was very, very happy with that,” Pitz said knowing of his secure point margin over Jeff Couch. “It made me comfortable knowing it didn’t matter what spot I ended up in the main - I was still going to win the championship. It took all the pressure off and I didn’t have to worry about if something blew up or hit the wall – like I did.”
For the main event Brent Abbott loaned him the No. 21 car and Pitz’ fifth place finish was more than enough to tie down the title.
Quale’s Electronics Hornets
Despite the smoke trail behind him, Brandon Thurber rolled out his first main event win of the season.
Thurber and Brennen Vandermeer jockeyed back-and-forth for the lead for most of the 20-lap main event race with Brian Helm close in the mix. Vandermeer spun with just three laps remaining and Brian Helm was then shown as the leader when the white flag flew. Coming to the checkered however, Thurber had what turned out to be the favorable position on the low side finishing .028 seconds over Helm.
RESULTS:
Pepsi Premier: 1. Shelby Stroebel, 2. Norm Hatke, 3. Jonathon Gomez, 4. Lynn Hardee, 5. Tim Lawrence, 6. Rob Vest, 7. Bruce Quale, 8. Russ Ward, 9. Stevie Fisher, 10. Mark Ith.
Budweiser Super Stocks: 1. Jonathon Gomez. 2. Jerry McKean, 3. Norm Hatke, 4. Kris McKean, 5. John Hoogendoorn.
NAPA Pony Stocks: 1. Jeff Couch, 2. Jason Abbott, 3. Randy Grubbs, 4. Kevin Grubbs, 5. Josh Pitz.
Quale’s Electronics Hornets: 1. Brandon Thurber, 2. Brian Helm, 3. John Cabral, 4. Jeff Peck, 5. Frank Potter.
FINAL STANDINGS:
Pepsi Premier: 1. Shelby Stroebel, 2. Jonathon Gomez, 3. Rob Vest, 4. Kris McKean, 5. Stevie Fisher, 6. Cliff Chester, 7. Dan Pehrson, 8. Rick Fowble, 9. Mike Greco, 10. Louis Lopez.
Rookie of the Year: Jonathon Gomez.
Budweiser Super Stocks: 1. Jonathon Gomez, 2. Jerry McKean and Kris McKean (tie), 4. John Hoogendoorn, 5. Willie Dalton.
Rookie of the Year: John Hoogendoorn.
NAPA Pony Stocks: 1. Josh Pitz, 2. Jeff Couch, 3. Jason Abbott, 4. Ray Homolka, 5. Wade Henslee.
Rookie of the Year: Jeff Couch.
