Temecula, California's Ralph Adams crossed the Arizona state line and arrived at the Havasu 95 Speedway Friday night with a mission. All season long Adams has been dominating the speedway's ASA street stock division. He has won every one of the scheduled races and was well on his way to a second, consecutive, track championship. By late Saturday night Adams was celebrating a season sweep after winning his eighth ASA street stock feature of the year, he also celebrated another track championship and he accomplished all of this on the eve of his 70th birthday.
This was just one feature event that filled an entire Saturday evening of intense racing action at the local speedway. Known as the most scenic quarter mile in the southwest, the ASA sanctioned Havasu 95 Speedway also treated its fans to a 75 lap feature from the Lucas Oil/Rockstar Energy Drink Modified Series as well as feature events from their factory stock and powder puff divisions. The racing evening was presented by Campbell Redi Mix.
There were plenty of ASA street stock drivers who wanted to bring Adams' win streak to a halt. In fact, 19 street stocks took the green flag of the division's 25 lap feature. Qualifying from earlier in the day put Adams' Chevrolet Camaro on the front row for the main event. He roared to the front of the field from the initial green flag and never looked back.
This doesn't imply that Adams had an easy time getting the win. Lake Havasu City driver Rick Bezansen was a focal point of concern in Adams' rear view mirror. This factor especially became pivotal following the third, and final, caution flag of the race. Adams ran out the remaining laps of the race with Bezansen literally glued to his bumper hoping the veteran driver would make some sort of slip up that would allow him to set up a pass. Bryant Sutterfield, Rick Zirges and Connor Sprawls completed the top five. In the preliminary events Sutterfield won the trophy dash while John Lewis and Rick Layman won the heat races.
After treating the fans to some victory donuts, Adams climbed out of his smoke filled car and was amazed to see that everyone of the ASA street stock drivers were already parked there and waiting to show their respect. Then they doused him in champagne while the packed grandstand stood up and sang "Happy Birthday."
The Lucas Oil Modified Series, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, brought their open wheel, regional touring series, action to the Havasu 95 Speedway Saturday night and thrilled the crowd with a 75 lap main event that featured a full 22 car starting field. The fans really enjoyed the fact that Chris Gerchman, a Lake Havasu City home town racing hero, won a hard fought race over series points leader Jim Mardis. All through the late stages of this race Gerchman and Mardis were often racing wheel to wheel for the win while the fans stood up and cheered them on. Burbank-California's Tim Morse finished third followed by Texas driver James Cole.
Chris Gerchman was also participating in a race within a race at the Havasu 95 Speedway on this night. In addition to being one of the premiere drivers in the Lucas Oil/Rockstar series, he also competed in the local speedway's modified division program. After collecting the $1,000 winner's check, plus a $100 for winning the Dart Machinery Trophy Dash, Gerchman was informed that he was officially declared the speedway's modified division champion for their 2009-2010 winter racing season.
In the fan favorite factory stock racing action, William Guevara passed early race leader Scott Allen to score his first series feature win of the season. Allen and O C Bob Berwick followed the race winner under the checkers. In the division's preliminary events "Mini" Mark Berlant won the trophy dash. Albert Remedios, Allen and Berwick won the heat races while Matt Caley won the B main.
The ladies in the speedway's powder puff division finished their winter season schedule Saturday night and crowned a champion. In the division's main event Christine Weiss took the race lead for good on the fourth lap and never looked back. Melanie Jackson, Terri Humphries, Sue Godnick and Shelly Orozco completed the top five. Weiss completed the hat trick that evening by also winning the division's trophy dash and heat race. A season long level of consistency, including two feature wins, allowed Melanie Jackson to win the division championship.
