Last weekend All American Speedway hosted round sixteen of the NASCAR weekly championship racing series featuring the return of Modifieds, Street Stocks, Legends of the Pacific, AAS Mini Cups and featuring the AABLM Late Models. The speedway advertised a new promotion of 1/2 off admission if the race day is over triple digit temperatures. With success of the heat wave discount the speedway has decided to continue this promotion for the rest of the 2012 NASCAR Championship points races. With big car counts, packed stands and triple digit temperatures, the divisions put on an exciting show for the fans.
First up were the All American Speedway Mini Cups and No. 03 Bryce Napier topped the charts in qualifying with a fast time of 16.779 seconds. Followed by No. 1 Andrew Vanderpool, No. 27 Collin Mullen, No.44 Jared Cronk and No. 7 Gabriel Herzog. No heat races were scheduled for the division and Napier took home the trophy dash victory. In the 20 lap main event a full invert was drawn for the division setting Herzog and Cronk on the front row. Herzog took the early lead as Cronk was looking to make his move but Herzog slammed the door. Napier made a two position pass in turn two on lap two for second. Vanderpool jumped to fourth on lap three and third on lap four and began to run down the leaders. By lap six, Vanderpool was in second and went to make a move on the leader, however the two collided but continued on safely. On lap eight, Napier took the lead away from Herzog and never looked back. Napier sailed to a .983 second victory over Andrew Vanderpool. Collin Mullen, Jared Cronk and Gabriel Herzog.
Next up were the roaring Airport Auto Broker Late Models fielding 14 cars and No. 6 Keith Nelson posted fastest lap in qualifying with a time of 13.834 seconds. Followed by No. 75 Jeremy Doss, No. 79 Forrest Kuecker, No. 41 Junior Roddy and No. 84 Mindy McCord the fast five. Jeremy Doss is the driver to beat as he has won the last two AABLM races at Roseville and this youngster has got his car set up right for AAS. In the 75 lap main event, No. 90 Trevor Cristiana and No. 15 Bob Hirschbock set the pace for the start and Hirschbock took the early lead. A caution was thrown on lap two when No. 65 Roger Davidson and No. 14 John Dalerio collided in turn four. Hirschbock restarted the field and McCord battled for second and claimed the position upon completion of lap two. The leader began to run from the field as second through eighth all battled for positions nose to tail. Yellow flag on lap nine as Roddy and Cristiani rubbed fenders sent Roddy spinning in turn one. As Hirschbock took the lead on the restart, McCord and Nelson battled for second and McCord stuck on the inside fell back to sixth. By lap 12, Nelson was on the rear bumper of Hirschbock looking to make his move for the lead. On lap 18, Kuecker dove to the inside of Nelson and the two raced side by side till lap 20 when Kuecker gained the second position. Caution was thrown on lap 22 as No. 5 Todd Lands spun in the infield. After the restart, Doss dove to the inside of Hirschbock as the two raced hard for position, Doss took the lead on lap 25. As soon as Doss got his clean air he began to pick up grounds over the field however by lap 34 Kuecker was right on his rear. Lands spun in turn four on lap 39 almost collecting the leaders as they were right behind him. Doss led the restart and in turn two, McCord and No. 11 Juan Pitta collided sent Pitta spinning in the infield, no yellow was thrown. Roddy, Lands and No. 99 Brandon White made it three wide in turn one no contact was made however White stalled on the back stretch. On the restart, Kuecker working hard on Doss for the lead the two broke away from the field. On lap 52, Hirschbock and White collided in turn one sent White into turn two wall. After the restart, both Doss and Kuecker continued to battle for the top spot, Doss went on to claiming his third straight AABLM victory at All American Speedway. Followed by Forrest Kuecker, Junior Roddy, Keith Nelson and Mindy McCord the final five.
Third up were the Legends of the Pacific fielding 18 cars and No. 97 Eric Gunderson qualified with the fastest lap of the field with 15.407 seconds. Followed by No. 24 Danny Allen, No. 7 Tony Mangini, No. 4 Logan Zampa and No. 25B James Brickford the fast five. No. 20 Joe Leduc, No. 25 Greg Baxter and No. 97 Eric Gunderson all shared heat race wins and Mangini took home the trophy dash victory. In the 35 lap main event, No. 42 Chase Majdic and No. 7c Cameron Austin paced the field to the green flag and Austin took the lead early as Majdic tucked in behind him. Caution flag on lap seven when No. 29 Dan Munier spun in turn two. Austin and No. 4 Frank Marks restarted the field and on the green Marks jumped out front in turn one and Mangini followed him through for second. Mangini stole the lead from Marks on lap 11 but it was short lived as Gunderson was on his rear bumper. Gunderson dove to the inside of Mangini on lap 13 and the two battled side by side for two laps till Gunderson was able to power his No. 97 machine out front and Marks would follow through for second. By lap 17, Gunderson had picked up eight car lengths over the field as Mangini and Marks put on a show for second. Red flag on lap 23 as the No. 84 car Brandon Weaver was on fire. After the restart Gunderson jumped out front to gain a big lead as the remainder of the field were left behind to race for positions. Eric Gunderson cruised to a 1.586 second victory over James Brickford, Tony Mangini, Danny Allen and Frankie Marks the final five.
Up next were the roaring Modifieds fielding 13 cars and No. 45 Rich Lindgren qualified his machine on pole with a fast time of 14.329 seconds. Followed by No. 25 Jay Linstroth, No. 5 Jason Bamberg, No. 49 John Mamula and No. 11 Rick Andersen the fast five. Both No. 68 Cody Thompson and No. 14 Chase Grigsby took home a heat race win and Thompson grabbed the trophy dash victory. An invert of seven was drawn for the division setting No. 18 Keegan Walmer and No. 14 Chase Grigsby on the front row to start the 50 lap main event. Walmer immediately took the early lead and began to pull away from the field. Anderson and Grigsby battling for second both collided sent the 14 car for a ride in turn four causing a yellow on lap two. With both second and third place runners now at the back moved Bamberg off pole with Walmer on the restart. On lap five, Thompson blew a motor in turn three heading sideways into turn four had majority of the field stopped behind the 68 car. Walmer and Bamberg restart the field and Bamberg on the outside had a better run and stole the lead as Lindgren jumped to the inside of Walmer. The duo would touch and sent a drifting Walmer up turn two banking. On lap seven, an eager Lindgren jumped to the inside of Bamberg and took the lead at the line. The top three drivers broke away from the field as Walmer was all over Bamberg's rear to make a move for second by lap nine. As laps began to wind down Bamberg, who never has a win at AAS, knew he needed to get the job done and do it fast. By lap 29, Bamberg drove to the inside of the leader in turn three and the two would race hard side by side till Bamberg completed a solid pass for the lead on lap 32. Walmer right on the rear of the leaders followed Bamberg through for second sending Lindgren to third. Bamberg and Walmer put on a good show fighting for the lead and Jason Bamberg would edge out Walmer for his first ever Modified victory at All American Speedway. Followed by Keegan Walmer, Rich Lindgren, Chase Grigsby and Gary Glen the top five.
Last up were the Street Stocks division and No. 23 Richard Poppert Jr topped the charts in qualifying with a fast time of 15.153 seconds. No. 08 Mickey Owens 2nd, No. 57 Eric Price 3rd, No. 21 Kevin Owens 4th and Matt Camp rounding out the top five. Both Poppert and K. Owens shared a heat race win and Camp claimed the trophy dash victory. No. 22 and No. 98 Byron Gonzales were set to start the 35 lap feature and Blanton took the lead at the line. K. Owens in a rush to the front wasted no time and passed Gonzales for second on lap one. By lap five, K. Owens was on the rear of Blanton looking to make his move for the lead. K. Owens jumped to the inside of Blanton on lap 10 and they would race side by side till Blanton ran into lap traffic on the high side had to give up his lead and tuck in behind K. Owens. By lap 15, K. Owens was five car lengths over the field however second through fifth were nose to tail fighting for positions. M. Owens began working on Blanton for second with Poppert in the mix by lap 20. On lap 23, Owens decided to make his move for second and was successful as Poppert followed through for third. Yellow flag on lap 27 as No. 2 Mel Wilson and No. 63 Joe Dahl collide on the front stretch sent Dahl spinning. The Owen brothers restarted the field and the two would rub fenders made a loose M. Owens fall back. Kevin Owens collected the victory over Richard Poppert Jr, Mark Blanton, Mickey Owens and Matt Camp the top five.
With round sixteen in the books the night went smoothly and all the drivers enforced proper sound requirements. NASCAR championship racing at AAS will return this weekend featuring Modified Twin events, Bomber twin events, and the Pro 4 Modifieds. And don't forget about the FREE PARKING. More information about All American Speedway can be found at www.allamericanspeedway.com or on the Speedway’s Facebook page. The Placer County Fairgrounds administration office is open for advance ticket sales Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm at 800 All America City Blvd. Roseville, CA 95678, or contact the office at (916) 786-2025.
