BAKERSFIELD, California — Mike Mendenhall had mixed emotions about making the long trip to Madera Speedway Saturday, but it turned out to be a career night for the popular SRL veteran. Mendenhall held off M.K. Kanke for 98 laps to take the winner’s prize of $4,000 for his second career Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series win at the “Performance Electrical 130”.
"I can’t believe it. This win is so big for us, we beat the best guys in the business tonight"— Mike Mendenhall
“As we left this morning, I just had this feeling that maybe I should just turn the truck around and head back home,” stated Mendenhall. “My brother (and crew chief) Rob was not able to come with us this weekend and I just didn’t have a good feeling about making the trip.”
Mendenhall’s day got much better after qualifying fourth. “We hadn’t put on new tires until qualifying…I was so surprised when the crew told me we ran a .65, that I asked over the radio a 15.65?, and they said no a 14.65.” Fast qualifier Kanke (14.628 sec.) drew an eight for the invert which put Mendenhall inside row three for the start of the 130 lap event.
2007 SRL champion Dave Byrd led the field to the green, but it was outside front row starter Greg Voigt who would lead the first lap. Voigt, coming off his first career SRL win at Stockton 99 Speedway, looked like he may be headed for his second win in less than four weeks until Irwindale winner, Troy Ermish made contact with Voigt coming off turn four on lap 32. The contact sent Voigt’s Auto Pro Racing Engines Impala spinning in front of the entire field. When the smoke cleared, Voigt’s car was in good shape, but he and Ermish would now restart at the rear of the field.
Mendenhall was now at the point followed by SRL point leader Kanke, Brennan Newberry, Madera Speedway Late Model point leader Kyle Gottula, Byrd, Kevin Callahan, Joe Farre’, Jim Pettit II and Bryan Herzog from Clovis, CA rounding out the top ten. At the drop of the green, Mendenhall and Kanke distanced themselves from Newberry, who had a cushion back to Gottula. Callahan had moved past Byrd for fifth. The top five of Mendenhall, Kanke, Newberry, Gottula and Callahan remained unchanged until lap 80. In contrast the balance of the field was changing each lap.
At lap 80, Todd Bammer had the Moeller Brothers Chevrolet on the move as he made his way into the top five, followed closely by Voigt, who like Bammer had to come from the rear of the field. Kanke continued to fill Mendenhall’s mirror, as Mendenhall countered Kanke’s every challenge.
On lap 105, Voigt passed Bammer for fourth, and was pressuring Newberry who had the NTS Motorsports/Excel Equipment Chevrolet solidly in third since lap 36. On lap 126 Newberry slid up into the gray in turn 2, allowing Voigt and Pettit to move into third and fourth respectively. With three to go, Kanke turned up the pressure on Mendenhall. Mendenhall seeing his first win since 2006 in sight, his car sliding sideways each time he excited the turns, but at the end it was the Santee, CA driver winning the “Performance Electrical 130” for a well earned and popular win.
“He did just what he needed to do to win tonight,” stated Kanke. “The bottom was tough to get the grip you needed to make a pass, but Mike did a great job and deserved the win.”
“I can’t believe it. This win is so big for us, we beat the best guys in the business tonight.” Mendenhall added.
The final order was Mendenhall, Kanke, Voigt, who came back from the lap 32 spin, Pettit, a career best for Newberry in fifth, Combs, Ermish, Bammer, Byrd, and Callahan rounding out the top ten.
Next race for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will be at Stockton 99 Speedway on October 3rd for the “Strandwold Properties 125”.
Race Stats: SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series “Performance Electrical Co. 130” – September 5, 2009 Madera Speedway
Race Leaders: Greg Voigt 1-32, Troy Ermish 33-35, Mike Mendenhall 36-130
Lead Changes: 3
Winning Margin: .331seconds
Fastest Lap of Race: Mike Mendenhall 14.882 seconds on lap 17
Time of Race: 51minutes 4 seconds
Fast Qualifier: M.K. Kanke 14.628 seconds
Five Star Race Bodies Hard Charger Award: Jim Pettit II
Ron’s Rear Ends Hard Luck Award: Keith Spangler
Top Victory Circle Rookie-of-the-Year Contender: Kevin Callahan
