RED BLUFF, California -- A warm dry breeze kept the weather beautiful for race #4 of the Red Bluff Outlaws' 2008-2009 season and the track held together surprising well for such a comfortable day. But it seems that the full moon held its legendary sway over the racing. As the racers settle into the new season, getting more comfortable with the track they are beginning to push the envelope which makes for some amazing racing.
Let's start with the Open A Main: There have been approximately 375 Open A Main events in the history of the series. Each one represents a tremendous accomplishment for the winners and each of the participants. This week 16 of the best kart racers in the world took to the track to compete and to try to win this event. Zach West in his #14 Community Construction and Ing Excavating kart wheeled his way to victory and his first A Main win of the year. West, from Chico, spent the summer competing in Sprint Cars and returned to Red Bluff to satiate his passion for racing during the off-season. It was one of the most exciting races so far this year. There were some epic battles between long-time competitors for valuable spots. The multi-lap battle between Ryan Foster and Steven Gannon was a spectacular display of how these masters of the kart can push their machines to the ragged-edge of control in a wheelstanding, wheeljumping, berm-hopping, roaring clash of motors and metal: in a word, awesome.
But as they were wheeling around vying for spots, Kenny McArthur led the pack from lap one as Beau Perkins, a veteran with a 20 year history with the series, tailed him every inch of the race. You could almost feel the excitement that McArthur must have been experiencing as each lap brought him closer and closer to checkered flag. However, victory was snatched away from this talented young driver in the last seconds of the race as Foster was making his final inside-charge on Perkin's second place spot. McArthur's and Perkin's karts came together in a bone-jolting stop which caused a chain reaction that changed the field dramatically allowing West, who was running a few spots back from the melee, to jet through and take the checkered followed closely by Brian McCain and Rowdy McClenon.
The Open Trophy Dash was great race. Jake Park in the #77J Gabel Racing machine held fast time qualifier Steven Gannon and Rowdy McClenon at bay to take home the hardware. McClenon was having one of the best nights of his career at Red Bluff as he won the B Main Event, set 3rd fastest qualifying time, ran 4th in his Heat Race, 3rd in the Trophy Dash and a respectable 3rd in the Main Event.
The influence of the moon didn't stop with the Open Division, but was in full swing as the 17 competing Sportsman hit the track. Early in the day Todd Boyd set the fast lap of the class with an 8.913 second trek around the ring. Not as fast as last week's quick time set by Demo Mittry, but enough to edge out Brandon Williams and Scott Burgess who was sitting in for Mittry. Three Heat Races were championed by Kurt Organ, Brandon Williams and Jasen Webb. The Trophy Dash saw some very experienced drivers compete in a wild 6 laps for the gold. Andy Cumpton won the race besting Scott Burgess as Mittry's sub. The Feature Event was truncated slightly to 20 laps as yellow flag cautions peppered the racing and the kart attrition rate soared. Jasen Webb battled his way up from a 7th pace start to finish second in the match and Greg Yannazzo in his H2O Swimming Pool Perfection's kart started in the 2nd spot was relegated to a fresh charge from the back in only the second lap of the race yet managed a 9th place finish. Andy Cumpton continued his great night as he lead 7 laps of the race till he was overtaken by Scott Burgess who powered through to the win.
The action in the 250cc Division was a show and a half. Cameron Bartlett continued his strong season by setting quick time at a screaming 8.531 seconds - nearly 3/10ths faster than Gannon in his 500cc Open kart. Is it any wonder that the 250cc races look like they are being filmed in fast-motion. Even late in the evening as track conditions changed Mr. Bartlett managed to click off a fast lap in the A Main Event - which he went on to win - even faster than Open qualifying and their Main Event which saw a quick lap of 9.112. It's not just Bartlett who is fast; Casey McClain and James Edens again were in the top three in times. The first of the "fast forward" Heat Races were won by Tanner Thorson who nicked the win from Tony Rossi in a photo-finish drag race that had the crowd standing to see the final outcome. Heat Two was championed by Zachary Heinz just ahead of hard charging Jake Morgan who had a fast lap time in the battle of just 9.11 seconds. Heat Three witnessed Tyler Seavey from Sutter take the win over Jeremy Doss. Seavey, a national Sprint Kart Champion who won the Knoxville Nationals in years past, has had a strong season and is running against his little brother Logan in the 250cc division this year. They can be seen in two great looking karts sponsored by Arnie's restaurant. "Bombshell" Mallorie McGahan won the B Main event over Tanner Thomson, Wes Dougherty and Wyatt Pruitt. Mason Millard who makes the long tow from Nevada each week with his family, clocked in 5th fastest which put him in the frontline of the Trophy Dash which he dominated and won over T. Seavey and James Edens. It was fun to see Tyler and Logan Seavey, Brenna Johnson and Tony Rossi sporting "Happy Birthday" decals for Robert Norman - Grandpa to the Seaveys.
Box Stocks - Girls Rule ! - This division is fast, oh boy, fast. Colby Cate from Redding set the quick qualifying time of the night with a 9.657 second lap followed up by Jake VanBoekel in his fastest qualifying of the season. Ms. Morgan Sandhagen and Ms. Brenna Johnson were 3rd and 4th in line which put them in the catbird seats for the evening. Four Heat Races were mounted with Brenna Johnson taking the win over hard charging Colby Cate and Brian McGahan. Heat Two saw Jesse Colwell make his best finish of the year by winning over Chase Majdic and "The Snake" Jake VanBoekel. Tyler Rockwell won Heat Three stepping out ahead of Morgan Sandhagen. And the final Heat of the day belonged to Zachary Rushing in his #98 "Lost Cause Racing" sponsored kart. Trophy Dash featured six of the top competitors in the class: Ryan Robinson, Colby Cate, Morgan Sandhagen, Jake VanBoekel, Chase Majdic and Brenna Johnson. But the wild six laps could only have one winner and Majdic took away the trophy just over Sandhagen. The B Main was won by Brad Hysell of Redding in the Book Pro sponsored #90 kart! - This was, I believe, his first win of the season and he won it in a grand fashion over Brandon LaChance and Dakota Cardenos. The lovely and talented Ms. Brenna Johnson finally tasted victory in a Feature Event for the season in the ultra-dicey A Main Race. This young lady has really stepped up this season and has been in the front-running pack along side her good friend and on-track rival Ms. Morgan Sandhagen. There was a ton of chasing and tagging during this 25 lap marathon battle that saw second place go to Ryan Robinson and 3rd to Zachary Rushing who continued his inspiring night.
Beginner Box Stock - Relatively Immune to the "Lunacy". Again these young drivers have proven themselves to be the class of the week. Not only are the drivers gaining skill and confidence with each race, their crews and parents are just as quickly learning what it takes to be successful at Red Bluff. For the second time this season Angelo Cornet set the fast time of the night with a 10.945 second lap. Colton Abel and Michael Kofoid followed up close behind the benchmark. With 18 racers in the division there were four heat races. Heat One was led up by Hollis Shane Thackeray in the Glen Haven Beach Resort #38x kart. Heat Two saw Blake Johnson come out ahead of Colton Abel and Bennet Gooch III. Heat Three ran only 4 karts with Michael Kofoid wheeling to a win over Derek Stone. And Heat Four was taken by Tyler Brown in the Seller's Wings kart just ahead of Dustin Heath. Blake Johnson continued his streak as he nabbed his second Trophy Dash win of the season edging out Thackeray and Tyler Brown. The B Main was a super good race with 10 karts battling for those precious transfer spots. Angelo Cornet, Bennet Gooch, Destiny Smith, and new-comer Beau McDowell were the four drivers who advanced to the A Main. It was commented later by spectators and officials that this was the race of the night in terms of good clean racing. Hollis Shane Thackeray was able to hold off Michael Kofoid and Tyler Brown to take the win.
