Lake Havasu City's Chris Gerchman was the big winner in the March 28th 75 lap SuperClean Modified Racing Series feature at the Havasu 95 Speedway. The most scenic quartermile paved oval in the southwest, sanctioned by the ASA-American Speed Associaton, also treated the SRO crowd to a full evening of racing action that included the ASA Street Stocks, Bandoleros and Factory Stocks. The evening was also military appreciation night and the speedway treated active duty personnel to free admission tickets.
The Super Clean Modified Racing Series was in Lake Havasu City to officially kick off its 2009 season. Jim Mardis and Josh Gross led the field of 22 open wheel modifieds under the initial green flag. Mardis jumped into the lead and appeared to be the car and driver to beat. However, with the race close to the halfway point, Mardis started losing traction due to a worn right rear tire.
Driving a newly constructed STR modifed, Gerchman was making his charge to the front. He moved from fifth to second in approximately 20 laps. Five laps later Gerchman made his race winning move and passed Mardis on the backstretch. Gerchman's lead and race rhythm was momemtarily disrupted when the race's only caution flag appeared on lap 52 due to the presence of debris on the track. That allowed Tim Morse, now in second, to pull up to the race leader's rear bumper. The Bubank-California driver did eveything he could to make a winning move but Gerchman wasn't going to have anything to do with it.
Gerchman crossed under the checkers and collected the $1,000 check that comes with winning a SuperClean Modified Series race. Morse followed him across the line to claim second while Mardis claimed third. Andrew Phipps, who set the fast time in qualifying with a lap of 15.780 seconds, finished fourth. Austin Barnes completed the top five. Many observers noted that this 14 year old series rookie, from Las Vegas-Nevada, did a fine job during the course of his first race.
In ASA Street Stock action ageless wonder Ralph Adams once again took his younger colleagues to racing school. The 68 year old racing veteran led every circuit of the 30 lap race for his seventh win of the season. With the Havasu 95 Speedway's current winter racing season heading into its final events it appears that Adams has virtually locked up the division championship.
Phillip Waterman followed the race winner under the checkers, Rick Maddox Jr was third while Rick Layman and Nathan Hovdal completed the top five. In the division's preliminary events Alex Martinez won the heat race while Maddox took the trophy dash.
The youngsters in their small, but very fast, Bandolero ran the latest round of their Havasu Legends racing series. Young Kyle Niquette was thrilled to win his first race at the Havasu 95 Speedway and led every one of the 15 laps. Shelby Orozco who set the fast time in qualifying was second, Series points leader Tommy Kelley was third while Breanna Nelson and Alex Morgan completed the top five. In the preliminary events Morgan won the heat race while Kelley won the trophy dash.
Of all the winners on this Saturday night at the Havasu 95 Speedway none of them was as happy as Lisa Snell who literally danced in victory lane after winning the Factory Stock main event. Mark Berlant was second, Scott Allen was third while series points leader Jose Guevarra was fourth. In the division's preliminary events Snell, Scott Kelly and Guevarra won heat races while Jumbo John Thorpe won the trophy dash.
