Super Late Models returned to the Santa Maria Speedway on Saturday night for what would be a wild night of racing in all divisions. The California Kid Clay Daly went where no one else would go to pull off his first Super Late Model victory of the season.
“I was listening to Tim Kaeding in victory lane last night at Ocean Speedway when he said ‘Live or die by the high side,’ and thought of those words,” stated Daly in a post-race interview.
Anthony Restad and Chad Reichenbach led the field to the green for thirty laps of action. Restad took the early lead with Hollister’s Andy Obertello taking over second place after Reichenbach hit a rut in turn one. Clay Daly started the feature event in eighth and began to move forward, all progress came to a halt after suffering from a flat tire that sent him to the back.
Reichenbach challenged Obertello for second with Mike Kirby and Nick Bartels battled for fourth place. Reichenbach got sideways exiting turn two and was able to regain his composure slipping back to sixth place. Leaders approached lapped traffic with Carla Laney making contact with Restad sending her into the turn four berm bringing out the second caution of the night.
Racing resumed with “Kid Harley” Nick Bartels bringing out another caution as he came to a stop exiting turn two with a flat tire. Bartels suffered from three flat right rear tires throughout the feature event due to a bent J-bar. When the caution was brought out Restad and Obertello managed to hook together forcing track officials to remove the two from each other sending them both to the back. Mike Kirby inherited the lead with Bill Bartels and Chad Reichenbach in the top three. Daly drove from the back and sat in fourth place with Corona’s Dino Napier completing the top five.
Eight laps remained when the field went back to green. Daly went to the top putting pressure on Reichenbach for third place and fell short when Napier went to the bottom and took over fourth place. Daly returned to the top and found traction as he drove by Napier, Reichenbach and Bartels to move into second place in a matter of one lap. The following lap he did it again running against the wall exiting turn four on lap twenty-five Daly passed Kirby for the lead and began to pull away driving through the ruts in turn two nearly sending him into the wall every time. Jason Papich brought out the final caution of the night coming to a stop on the front stretch setting up a three lap shootout.
Daly remained on the top and went uncontested for his first Super Late Model win of the season after finishing second five times in the past nine weeks.
“We finally got one, it’s been a long time coming,” stated Daly in victory lane after climbing out of his car and onto the roof in front of a cheering crowd. “We have two seconds here this year and now a win. I call this place my home track and can’t be happier.” The win was his first in a Super Late Model at the Santa Maria Speedway and came just four days before his 22nd birthday.
Kirby held on for second place with Bill Bartels finishing third testing a CT525 engine. Napier, Cody Barnett, Reichenbach, Restad, Rob Sanders, Nick Bartels and Papich rounded out the top ten.
Chris Kearns Presents and the Santa Maria Speedway would like to thank Hoosier Tires, Pro Power Racing Engines, DFT Transportation, RoadRunner Fabrication, Dart Machinery, Manley, CP/Carillo, Isky
Racing Cams, Five Star Grafix and Matt Mussell Designs for their support for the 2011 Late Model racing season.
For more information, results, schedule and points visit www.RaceSantaMariaSpeedway.com.
Feature Event (30 laps): 1. 32B Clay, 2. 5K Mike Kirby, 3. 12 Bill Bartels, 4. 5X Dino Napier, 5. 7C Cody Barnett, 6. 9 Chad Reichenbach, 7. 4R Anthony Restad, 8. 10N Rob Sanders, 9. 27 Nick Bartels, 10. 91P Jason Papich, 11. 11X Steve Drake, 12. 29 Andy Obertello, 13. 12K A.J. Kirkpatrick, 14. 91T Tony Toste, 15. 75 Tommy Malcolm, 16. 96 Carla Laney, 17. D1 Devin Crockett
Heat #1 (8 laps): 1. 12 Bill Bartels, 2. 29 Andy Obertello, 3. 91T Tony Toste, 4. 75 Tommy Malcolm, 6. 96 Carla Laney, 6. A.J. Kirkpatrick
Heat #2 (8 laps): 1. 9 Chad Reichenbach, 2. 5k Mike Kirby, 3. 32B Clay Daly, 4. 11x Steve Drake, 5. 10N Rob Sanders, 6. D1 Devin Crockett
Heat #3 (8 laps): 1. 4r Anthony Restad, 2. 27 Nick Bartels, 3. 5x Dino Napier, 4. 91P Jason Papich, 5. 7C Cody Barnett, 6. 7 Mike Johnson (DNS)
Qualifying: 1. 4R Anthony Restad 14.354, 2. 32B Clay Daly 14.548, 3. 27 Nick Bartels 14.604, 4. 9 Chad Reichenbach 14.695, 5. 5K Mike Kirby 14.741, 6. 91P Jason Papich 14.754, 7. 96 Carla Laney 14.848, 8. 12 Bill Bartels 14.980, 9. 7C Cody Barnett 15.030, 10. 5X Dino Napier 15.072, 11. 91T Tony Toste 15.100, 12. D1 Devin Crockett 15.162, 13. 29 Andy Obertello 15.238, 14. 10N Rob Sanders 15.258, 15. 75 Tommy Malcolm 15.343, 16. 11X Steve Drake 15.538, 17. 12K A.J. Kirkpatrick 16.490, 18. 7 Mike Johnson 18.185
