2011 CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT UKIAH SPEEDWAY

UKIAH, California — On Sunday night races were run, winners emerged, and championships were decided during the conclusion of the Labor Day double header at Ukiah Speedway. Two days of action plus the boat race gave race fans all they hoped for on the holiday weekend.

It was the final race of the all new Modified Tri Track Challenge Series, and when it was over Jason Philpot of Sacramento not only won the 50 lap main event, but he earned enough points to pass series leader Rich Lindgren of Rio Linda and claim the Tri Track championship by only four points. But it was Kelselyville's own Eric Johnson who was declared the 2011 Ukiah Speedway North State Racing Association champion.

With his win Saturday night, Jeremy Doss of Upper Lake took over the points lead from Bill Kistenmacher in the Airport Auto Brokers Legends Cars division. Then Doss cushioned that lead and captured the Legends Cars championship with his second win on Sunday night. Not only did the youngster win both nights but he also set fast time over the 13 car field each day.

Jumping out of his Legends Car ride on Saturday and back into his Bomber on Sunday, Ron Duke Jr. of Redwood Valley out-drove all his competitors to claim his ninth season victory in the Bud Bombers class. Team Duke also took home that championship.

Terry Pittman had back-to-back wins Saturday and Sunday to capture the championship in the Speedy Signs Street Stocks. And Jake Tillman of Cobb made it two in a row with victories both nights in the Pro-4 Modified series. And to close the weekend Jesse Hutchins of Ukiah was the $200 winner in the boat race with Jessy Thurman coming in second and Dave Land III finishing third.

Tri Track Modifieds Challenge

The starting positions for the Tri Track Modified feature were determined by Saturday night's 20 lap heat races, and when fast heat winner Jason Philpot drew the number 8 pill, the inversion put Richie Potts and Rich Lindgren on the front row. Potts' new car seems to be fast where ever it goes so it was no surprise that he shot out into the lead at the drop of the green flag. Lindgren immediately pulled back in line in front of Oregon driver Willie Thompson. This left the outside lane open to Corey James who passed Thompson on lap two. Thompson was nursing rear-end problems and when his car pushed high on lap four both Dustin DeRosier and Philpot dove under him.

With only 15 laps down Potts began lapping slower cars. Trophy dash winner Norm Boucher's night ended early when his car broke and he retired to the infield on lap 17. The race was slowed on 23 when Drew Smith spun on the back stretch in front of on-coming traffic. All cars drove around Smith's stalled cars, and when racing resumed Lindgren got trapped behind a lapped car and lost ground to both James and DeRosier. More bad luck plagued Lindgren and when his car developed a severe smoking problem he was forced to pit twice to fix the nerf bar that was rubbing on a tire. Thompson pitted at the same time. Second place runner James' car also started to smoke and he pulled off the track on lap 37.

As Potts was enjoying a healthy lead, Lindgren was struggling at the back of the pack where he was twice involved with a confrontation with Brenton Smith. The first double-file restart saw DeRosier fade in the high groove putting Philpot in second and Darrin Knight in third. Philpot was along side of Potts for the second restart and when the green was displayed Philpot took control of the race and stayed out in front the final five laps to take the win over Potts, Knight, DeRosier and Eric Johnson. Rounding out the top 10 were Dustin Knight, Kenny Spencer, Lindgren, D. Smith and B Smith.

Airport Auto Brokers Legends Cars

When Bill Kistenmacher's car failed him Saturday night, we went home and brought back his brother Bob's car on Sunday. He stole the lead away from Ron Duke Sr. on lap two when Duke spun on the back stretch. The outside groove came on strong with both Codi Barba and Mike Doss passing Kistenmacher on lap 5. The following round Jeremy Doss dove under M. Doss and around Barba in the same corner to take the lead.

M. Doss moved around Barba on lap eight as J. Doss was driving away from the pack. Tony Mangini drove around Barba for third on lap nine and began his challenge on M. Doss. Mangini put the pressure on M. Doss the remaining laps, and with only two laps to go, Mangini finally inched by M. Doss for second. Jeremy Doss won his eighth Ukiah Speedway race followed by Mangini, M. Doss, Barba, Cameron Austin, Logan Zampa, Caity Miller, Dave Land III, Jim Sturges and Kistenmacher. Heat wins went to Kistenmacher and Sturges.

Bud Bombers

The first four laps of the bomber feature saw front row starters Lori Bower and Kevin Bracket run side-by-side until the race was halted when Mike Glass popped a tire when he was hit by George Abella. Bubba Allen forged ahead on the restart where he stayed until being overtaken Jimmy Sorrels on lap nine. Rick Tommila, Rick Jelton and Duke all used the outside groove, and by mid race it was Sorrels, Tommila, Duke, Jelton and Allen.

Bob Mook joined the front runners, but when Allen drifted high he made contact with Mook resulting in Mook spinning in turn three. This put Tommila next to Sorrels for the restart and when Tommila could not make his car stick he lost ground to Duke and Jelton. Duke battled with Sorrels the next four rounds before finally pulling out in front on lap 24. Duke drove the distance for the win and the championship. Sorrels finished second with Jelton third, AJ Randall fourth and Abella fifth. Brackett and Randall took home heat race honors.

Speedy Signs Street Stocks

Seven cars started the street stock feature with Louis Hoaglin and Danny Helm on the front row. The yellow flag flew after only one lap when George Mavrakis shoved Helm off the track in turn one. When racing finally got underway RJ Randall jumped out into the lead with Hoaglin in second and Corey James third. Both James and Mavrakis made an outside pass on Hoaglin on lap four, and Pittman got around Hoaglin on six. James assumed the lead on lap eight with Mavrakis and Pittman following him to the front.

Mavrakis looked high and low for a way around James, but when he saw no other option he drove under James, clipped the rear of James car and both cars spun around on lap 13. With no where to go Randall drove head-on into Mavrakis' car. Both cars had to be towed to the pits with severe damage.

This left the door open for Pittman who drove the distance for his second consecutive feature win. Jeramy Lippencott finished second with Hoaglin third, Helm fourth and James fifth.

Pro-4 Modifieds

Pro-4 Modified action began with Chelsea Champagne out in front of Nick Hansen with Timber Cookson in third. Hansen lost ground on the outside allowing both Cookson and Marty Lewis to move up to second and third. Lewis drove around Cookson for second on four just before Hansen spun in turn two bringing out the first yellow. Lewis forged ahead on the restart, but Champagne's car slowed, shot to the outside groove and fell all the way to the back of the pack. Two rounds later Tillman stole second away from Nick King. Johnny Barker and Vince Sanchez made contact and spun in front of the grandstand for caution number two.

Tillman Took control of the race on the restart with Lewis in second and King third. Lap 11 saw Joe Aiken tag the back of Cookson's car sending Cookson into a wild spin in front of the grandstand to slow the action for the final time. The remaining laps went without incident with Tillman the happy winner over Lewis, King, Neo Nuno and Aiken. Kevin Barba, Hansen, Champagne, Sanchez and Cookson rounded out the top 10.

Auto racing continues at Ukiah Speedway this Saturday night with Fan Appreciation Night. All spectators will get into the grandstands for free to see the final points race for the Airport Auto Brokers Late Models and the Pro-4 Modified series. Also on the racing card is the 50-lap Bomber Bash, the Airport Auto Brokers Legends Cars and the Nor-Cal Hard Tops. Gates open at 5 pm with racing at 7 pm.