After a weekend off, AABLM returns to Lakeport Speedway. Kevin Ostern was still walking tall from his previous win, backed it up with his 2nd, making it two in a row. This shows us that the 1st was not a fluke,
A Beautiful day at the lake greeted race fans and competitors to Lakeport Speedway. A total of 17 late models were in attendance for the 3rd event for the Airport Auto Broker / North County Development late models.
Qualifying is getting tighter, 13 out of 17 late models qualified within a ½ second of each other. Eric Graham set a new track record and fast time of 11.767, Mike Lovell was 2nd quick with an 11.854 followed by Forrest Kuecker 11.879, Kevin Ostern 11.884, Kevin Estep 11.889
Once again the Airport Auto Broker / North County Development late models had a slow and fast dash. Mike Doss lined them up with his unique way of drawing a card for position. Ken Gifford won the slow dash, runner up was Berndt Akerstrom, Mike Bourbon, Jerry Wilkins, Myles Anderson and Allen Gibney. Estep won the fast dash making this two in the row for him in dash wins. Kuecker was 2nd, Ostern, Doss and Graham followed.
The full field of 17 late models lined up with the front row being déjà vu for Ken Gifford and Corey James on the front row, but this time Gifford got the jump on the start. By lap 20 with over a ½ a lap lead over the field, Gifford started getting into lap traffic. The 1st of 2 cautions came out on lap 23 for Kuecker spinning in some liquid laid down by Wilkins. Wilkins went to the pits and did not return. Kuecker restarted in the rear of the pack. Right before the caution, Gifford had lapped James’
#34 late model. , On the single file restart, Gifford had a lapped late model between him and Ostern. Gifford got a good start, and it did not take long to get a few car lengths on Ostern and it looked like he was going to be the late model to beat. On lap 44 Gifford was attempting to lap Anderson, when Anderson unaware of Gifford on his inside, and they both collided causing Anderson to spin and bring out the last caution.
Anderson and Gifford had to restart in the rear of the field, which gives Ostern the lead followed by Lovell, Jeremy Hopkins, Jim Stillman and Doss.
By lap 60, Ostern was starting to get into lapped traffic and Hopkins and Stillman were putting pressure on Lovell. By lap 65 Hopkins took over 2nd followed by Stillman, Doss and Lovell in 5th and that’s how they finished.
A quote from Ostern, “Gifford had the car to beat and if was a shame he tangled with lap traffic and had to restart at the back of the field”
See you at the track Bob Cook
On a sad note, we lost a good friend, fan and sponsor of racing for Northern California late Wednesday. Bob Scatena (the Mac Tool Dealer for Lake County). Bob was a big supporter of Lakeport Speedway and AABLM, I read a quote on racingwest.com, “Bob was one of the highest rated Mac Tools distributors back in the 90's (he may still have been). He would drive the Northern California sales manager crazy with his funky old truck and unwillingness to change the decals, get it painted, or make it flashy”
” Bob was one of those characters we need more of in this day and age”
Memorial services will be held @ 4pm on Tuesday the 28th @ Chapel of the Lakes in Lakeport. Following the services will be a get together at the fairgrounds in Lakeport for all who want to come
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family; Bob will be missed by family, friends and customers.
