Craig Raudman, #2, wins the NASCAR Late Model Mechanix Wear 200, but he had to get past Dan Holtz to do it. Mesa Marin’s 2001 Track Champ qualified with fast time and jumped out ahead of Raudman, who hard charged through the break at 100 laps, then came back to finally take the #1 position on lap 151. Once ahead of Holtz, Raudman got a healthy lead. On a late caution Holtz looked like he might have saved something for Raudman to make it a 10-lap shoot-out, but something happened to the #16 and Holtz pulled it behind the wall.
Raudman was first followed by Brandon Whitt, 29, who of El Cajon and Rip Michels, who drives at Irwindale.
In NASCAR Limited Late Models, Champion Gene Fife was the victim of an incident on the start that put him out of the race. Todd Burns of Riverside took the lead and held it all 100 laps. He was challenged by Bakersfield’s Rick Grissom and Brian Richardson, but late in the race Grissom got loose in turn 4 and went in the inside wall and his teammate Richardson got tangled up with him. Both were out of the race. That opened the door for Mike Carver of El Cajon and Ron Daniel of Mentone, CA to finish 2nd and 3rd.
In the Ultra Wheels Super Truck Series Greg Adler, 77, led all of the 150 laps, but Jon Campbell, 25, almost stole his win on the last lap at the finish line. Dave Blankenship, 47, got a 3rd and took home the championship trophy for the series.
In NASCAR Street Stocks Billy Tucker was able to move through the field to take the win. Josh Robinson and Jeff Harlow finished 2nd and 3rd.
In the Chevron High School Racing Series Championship race Kern Valley was leading the points by four over Porterville. Kern Valley went for the win while Porterville played it safe. Kern Valley and Valley High got together on the back straight early in the race and ended softly, but upside down and out of the race. Porterville dodged several incidents, including a car that wasn’t performing and took home the Championship trophy for 2001. Who won the October Classic event…Shafter High School giving them four wins for the season – the most wins in the series.
Mesa Marin Raceway goes dark until next Spring to run its 25th season.
