BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Greg Pursley of Lakeview Terrace made his way to the winner’s circle for the second time this season to win the NASCAR Winston Racing Series Late Model Stock Cars "12th Annual Wrangler Firecracker 100" at Mesa Marin Raceway. Mike Duncan of Bakersfield jumped to an early lead, but Kevin Vernon was hungry for a win and wasn’t cutting him any slack. By lap 55 Vernon was able to take the lead, but couldn’t keep it with Pursley close on his bumper. Pursley picked off the lead by lap 66, then Vernon kept the pressure on. While trying to dodge Charlie Solomon of Dallas, TX, the Vernon’s #51 got loose and spun. Vernon’s hopes for a top finish were gone and the former champ had to settle for 7th place for the night.
Top five following Pursley and Duncan were Dan Holtz in 3rd , who had to work his way from the back of the field after a tangle and a spin getting through traffic, followed by JR Jones in 4th and Travis Ward in 5th. Ward ran his first event of the season with a new sponsor, Nature’s Sunshine, and Mesa Marin’s Spec Motor on loan this week since his was not quite ready.
Points leader Mike Alsup raced a solid 4th place until a tire went down with less an 20 laps to go and Alsup gave up his lead to Vernon. Kristi Schmidt, grand daughter of 4-time NASCAR Winston West Champion Bill Schmidt put in her season’s best effort with a 6th place.
In the NASCAR Winston Racing ShorTrack Series it was the Mike White and the Mike Riale show. Once they worked their way to the front of the full field of Street Stocks, they went door handle to door handle for six laps until Riale had to back off and White jumped ahead for another win.
Points leader Mike Alexander put in another consistent 3rd place finish to maintain his lead, followed by Shane Thompson and Brian Richardson.
In Modified Stocks points leader Danny Collins made it back to the winner’s circle after a one-race draught. Competition is getting stronger with more challenges from Howie Smith, former Street Stock Champion and Dave Howell. Rounding out the top five were Eric Sunness and Terry Simpson.
In the Women’s Racing Series Julie Green, recent graduate from Centennial High School and driver in the Campus Motorsports Series, showed she had the right stuff stealing the win from an awesome performance by Mary Vernon before she lost it. Sally Irwin took 2nd, followed by Lynette Wren, Carol Jordan and Michelle Kelley.
In Campus Motorsports, North High lost it early in the race and Centennial was battling Kern Valley to keep the lead, but the #98 points leader overpowered the #97 and the Kern Valley High Broncs Motorsports team maintained the points lead with their win.
Mark Kairis of the California Highway Patrol domineered the field in the 911 Race For Youth Series after showing the Kern County Fire Department’s Jerry Frederick, he could take the high road and survive the 1st lap rubbing. Frederick put in the Kern County Fire’s best effort with a 2nd place followed by the Sheriff Jeff Harbour, Patrolman Scott Miller, and last week’s winning car, the Bakersfield City Fire Department, driven this week by Jim Lucas.
Next week City Councilwoman Pat Demond, Councilman Mark Salvaggio, and Supervisors Ken Peterson and Pete Parra will drive in a special feature in the 911 Race For Youth Cars built by students at Camp Erwin Owen School.
July 10 Ultra Wheel Spec Trucks go 100-laps plus the NASCAR Winston Racing Series Late Models with a hot 3-point spread point battle, Campus Motorsports Series and 911 Race for Youth. Races begin at 7:30. Tickets are $8 for general admission and kids 12 and under are free.
