PLACERVILLE, California — A capacity crowd packed the grandstands at Placerville Speedway as the US Army Placerville Recruiting office presented the July Fourth Race for Freedom and Independence Day Celebration. The event was the tenth Red Hawk Casino championship race of the season at ASA Racing sanctioned Speedway and the fireworks were just as hot on the track as they were in the air all night long.
Three repeat winners stood in Placerville Speedway’s Carl’s Junior victory lane following one of the most exciting nights of racing this year. In the sprint car division, C.J. Humphreys of Placerville scored his third feature event win of the year. In the Limited Late Model race, Jerry Bartlett of Yuba City earned his sixth feature victory. In the Pure Stock division Heather Bartlett of Chico continued her win streak to four and took the division point lead.
In the sprint car division, a total of 27 cars packed the pit area for the night. Early in the evening, Placerville’s Jimmy Trulli set the theme that the evening would see much local success as he posted the fast time of the night with 10:528.
When the green flag waved in the feature event, Trulli started on the pole and was overtaken by Humphreys while Placerville drivers Andy Gregg advanced into the top four from the fifth and ninth positions. For much of the race Placerville’s Matt Barber was the fifth local running within the top six until he fell back in the field.
Humphreys used the top of the track to maintain his momentum and hold the lead for the entire 25-laps. The victory was his third of the season. He was followed across the line by Trulli, Gregg, Russell and Richard Bailey of Napa.
“It’s always special to race here on the Fourth of July with this great crowd,” said Humphreys. “The track is always tricky with the early start time. It was pretty slick out there but I was able to use what was there for a cushion and run up top. This is a great year so far, my crew has been doing a great job. Hopefully next week we can come out here and do this good for the Mark Forni race.”
In the Pure Stock division, the much anticipated battle between tied point leaders, Tom Tilford of Citrus Heights and Heather Bartlett of Chico resumed. In heat racing, the pair both scored victories and remained tied entering the 20 lap feature event that hosted 22 cars, the largest field of the season.
Bartlett started fourth in the line up and Tilford started sixth, directly behind here. At the waving of the green flag both drivers quickly advanced towards the front, although a series of caution flags hindered their efforts of several occasions. With eight laps complete Bartlett took the lead but the event was far from over as Tilford followed close behind.
On two occasions during the event, track officials cited Tilford for jumping on the restarts. On both occasions the former track champion that debuted a new body and color scheme Saturday night was placed back two positions.
The penalty never phased Tilford as he rallied back into the bridesmaid position to challenge Bartlett for the lead. Bartlett ran the high side of the track while Tilford used the low groove for much of the race. The two raced side by side for much of the race bringing cheers from the crowd that were load enough to drown out the sounds of the cars coming down the front stretch.
When the checkered flag came out, Bartlett brought her win streak to four and took the point lead over by a single digit. Tilford finished in second place with Mike McClure of Nevada City in third. Jared Vilt of Cameron Park was the McDonald’s Hard Charger of the night. Vilt started 21st first and drove to fourth place. Englund finished in fifth.
“This was a great night of racing, I love this crowd here tonight,” said Bartlett. “Tom (Tilford) and I were able to race really hard with a clear track and I came out with another win. Last night I took the point lead in Chico and tonight here and that’s what I set out to do when we started the season.”
In the Limited Late Model-Pro Stock feature event, Jerry Bartlett drove to his sixth win of the year. The feature event started with Bartlett started the 20-lap, 14-car affair on the inside of the second row with his season long rival, Dan Brown Jr. of Nevada City on the outside.
In the opening laps, Brown fell victim to the extremely slick track in turn three and spun around the draw a caution flag. The defending track champion restarted at the rear of the field and charged his way back into contention before the halfway point of the race.
With 10 laps complete a wild accident put Bartlett into the lead in turn two. Early race leaders John Krehbiel of Placerville and Matt Davis of Auburn were racing hard out of turn four. Davis took the lead and then tangled with the lapped car of Garden Valley’s Bob Ditmer in turns one and two. As Davis and Ditmer collided, Ray Trimble of Auburn went below the two in an effort to take the lead and all three cars veered off the end of turn two as Bartlett ducked low to steal the lead. Trimble went completely airborne over the top of Davis’s car as the three came to rest on the pit ramp to draw a red flag.
Once the race resumed, Bartlett stretched his lead by several car lengths over the field. Jay Norton of Shingle Springs drove to his best finish of the year, second place. Norton held off a hard charging Brown for the bridesmaid position and was name the McDonald’s Hardcharger of the Race. Brown finished in third followed by Mike McPherson and Dennis Armstrong.
“This is just a great night, what a great way to celebrate the Fourth of July,” said Bartlett. “All these great people in the stands, watching my daughter drive one heck of a race out here and my sixth win. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Next Saturday is a big night of racing at Placerville Speedway with the annual Mark Forni Classic. With the cooperation of multiple businesses in El Dorado County for late fairboard member will be honored once again with a $5000 to win event Saturday night for the winged sprint cars. Additional sponsorship is still be rallied for the fellow divisions as well.
Saturday’s event will draw a great deal of attention locally, race car displays are being slated in town at both the Executive Barber Shop on Main Street in Placerville as well as Carl’s Junior on Fairlane in Placerville during the late morning hours. Additionally, it is expected that construction of the Red Hawk Casino Electronic scoreboard will be completed and in operation for Saturday’s big event.
For further information check out www.placervillespeedway.com. For sponsorship inquiries for the upcoming Mark Forni Classic contact bsullivan@placervillespeedway.com.
