ABELLA, PITTMAN, ZAMPA REPEAT WINNERS AT UKIAH SPEEDWAY

UKIAH, California — Coming from last starting in the 12-car field, “Gentleman” George Abella took the lead away from Anthony McCoy on the 26th lap and held it all the way to the checkered flag in the Bud Bomber 30 lap feature event at the Ukiah Speedway Saturday night. It was the second consecutive win for Lakeport’s Abella, who also set fast time of 15.996 seconds.

In street stock action, Terry Pittman of Laytonville passed both top runners Scott Sabol and Josh Rose on the same lap to take over the lead, and held it all the way for his second straight main event win. Logan Zampa from Napa had another run-away victory in the bandolero division, and visiting driver David Winchel of Sebastopol had a clean sweep and lead all but four laps to take home top honors in the legends cars race.

The bomber feature saw pole setter Cindy Allen push high at the start resulting in Cory Mainini losing positions in the outside groove. This opened up the door for Kevin Brackett who followed Allen to the front.

When Allen drifted high again on the second lap, Brackett sailed into the lead. Brackett’s lead was short-lived, however, as McCoy and Jimmy Sorrels came from nowhere and took over the first and second slots on lap seven. Abella was also on the prowl, passing Brackett on lap nine, Sorrels on lap 10, and setting his sights on McCoy who by this time was way out in front.

The lapping process began on lap 14 as Matt Gerjets was waging his own battle with Sorrels for third and fourth. Two rounds later Darren Groves spun out in turn four but gathered it up before the yellow flag could be thrown. Abella continued to reel in McCoy the next 10 laps, pulling along side of McCoy on lap 21 where they ran side-by-side for four laps before Abella finally pulled ahead. At the checkered flag it was Abella, McCoy, Sorrels, Gerjetts and Brandon Verde. Gergets won the trophy dash and heat wins went to Groves and Sorrels.

Luke Nelson lead the first two laps of the 12-car street stock race as David Jones slowed in the high groove allowing the insiders to gain position. Nelson’s car pushed high on three resulting in Rose taking the lead with Scott Sabol following close behind. Meanwhile Pittman and Ron Duke Jr. worked their ways to the front and were running third and fourth by lap eight.

Sabol made an inside run on Rose on lap 12, but the two cars hooked bumpers and slowed. Pittman took advantage of the situation and passed both cars for the lead just before Rose spun in turn two. Five rounds later Nelson broke loose and was hit by Rose causing Nelson’s bumper to break loose. When Nelson ignored the black flag, official starter Johnny Miskill stopped the race to remove the unsafe car.

Pittman held off Sabol the remaining laps to claim the race. Sabol finished second with Simi Tour third, Rose fourth and Mike Bray fifth.

Wade Coleman set fast time of 14.222 seconds, Duke Jr. won the dash, and heat wins went to Duke Sr. and Pittman.

The bandolero class continues to grow with 12 cars taking the green flag in their 25 lapper. James Stillman pulled ahead of Alec Pitts at the drop of the green flag and held the top spot the first eight laps. Zampa came from ninth to second, and when Stillman pushed high, Zampa drove under Stillman for the lead. James Bickford was next to challenge Stillman, but when the two made contact on the front stretch, their bumpers locked and they both spun in front of on-coming traffic. Hunter La Rue drove off the track trying to avoid the stalled cars, but Chris Crow was not so lucky and was collected in the incident. Stillman, A.

Pitts, and Crow all limped or were towed to the pits.

The remaining laps went without incident with Zampa a half a lap in front of Bickford for the win. Bickford settled for second with Frankie Pickrell third, LaRue fourth and Trystan Mucci fifth. Bickford set fast time of 15.324 seconds, Zampa won the trophy dash, Spencer Pitts claimed the bonus dash, and heat wins went to Stillman and Crow.

Bill Kitsenmacher pulled ahead of David Fisher at the start of the legends car feature as Winchel worked the outside groove to gain position. Winchel passed Fisher for second on lap two and zipped by Kistenmacher for the lead on lap five. Jack Wulff Humphrey caught Fisher on lap eight, making several outside attempt on Fisher the remaining laps.

Winchel continued his domination and took the checkered flag by a healthy margin over Kistenmacher. Humphrey made a last-lap attempt on Fisher, but Fisher was determined to finish third. Humphrey settled for fourth with Jimmy Sturges fifth, Darrin Silva sixth and Chelsea Champagne seventh. Winchel’s fast time was 14.606 seconds.

Rob Pitts of Santa Rosa beat out Jack Low in the Nor-Cal hard tops exhibition race. The motor home jump was a fan favorite with Ron Duke Jr. driving his mini #47 up a hill, into the side of a full-sized motor home and out the other side.

Auto racing continues at the Ukiah Speedway Saturday night with the Legends Cars of the Pacific Series joining the NSRA modifieds, bombers and Bandoleros. The event will be preceeded by a car show at the Pear Tree Center in Ukiah from 10 am until 1 pm. For more information visit the web site at www.UkiahSpeedway.com or call 707-274-1354.