Bakersfield, Calif -– Darrell LaMoure took home his first NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series trophy winning tonight’s "Big O Tires 150." It was an emotional win for two reasons - his first win in the series and one of the families of the missing children he features on his race car hauler was in the audience to share the winner’s circle with him.
For more than 140 laps he was running a solid 3rd behind points leader Craig Raudman and Burney Lamar. Making his final attempt to get around Raudman, Lamar dove in a little too close, backed-off and turned it around on the back straight-away losing his 2nd place. LaMoure took the position and made his move on Raudman. He was able to do what no one else had been able to do all night – he drove on by to capture his first checkered in the series.
Raudman finished 2nd followed by Scott Brandt.
In other race action Darrell Herzog was able to win both the Trophy Dash and the CAM Super Modifieds presented by Pepsi of Bakersfield. Bill Wilker and Herzog gave the fans a side-by-side show through many of the 30 lap main event. Meanwhile Jimmy Tartaglia who won the Mesa Marin CAM Championship in both 2000 and 2001 was trying to move up on the leaders, but he never found the power to catch them. Herzog was able to win the duel with Wilker and take home his 2nd Mesa Marin win of the year and the October Classic trophy.
Eddie Secord of Lakeside was the winner of the October Classic Pro 4 50-lap main event. It was his race all the way with lots of action happening behind him. John Riparetti of Castroville finished 2nd followed by Rex Lockwood of Victorville. The Pro 4s had 37 racecars come from north and south to meet at Mesa Marin for the Classic.
In the Super TT Motorcycle Series Ricky Pearce of Bakersfield finished ahead of Casey Yarrow and Don Canet in the Premier Division and Josh Chisum, David Hepfe and Ray Crumb – all up-and-comers from Bakersfield – finished 1-2-3 in the Sportsman Division.
Tomorrow is day two of the October Classic with close to 500 laps of racing action. The day begins at 2pm with the Championship race of the Chevron High School Racing Series. Valley High is just 4 points ahead of Porterville, who is followed closely by North High. The NASCAR Street Stocks and NASCAR Limited Late Models "Victory Circle 100" are followed by the Ultra Wheels Super Trucks "Time Warner Cable 150" and finally the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model "Mechanix Wear 200."
A patriotic opening will begin at 1:40 with SkyDive Taft parachuting onto the front straight away. Tickets are still available at $15 for general admission and kids 12 and under free.
