BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- One week ago Mike Duncan lost the NASCAR Super Late Models point lead to Brandon Miller. Miller also broke Duncan’s three year old track record in qualifying, but tonight Duncan came back fighting.
First, Duncan lowered Miller’s qualifying mark to 18.6702, then he went on to claim his second win of the year and reclaim the series point lead 328 to 322 over Miller.
At the start of the Super Late Model fifty lap main event, it was Kevin Vernon and Jeremy Salamacha on the front row as Duncan drew a five invert. Vernon jumped ahead of Salamacha after the two battled for the lead for the first two laps. By lap 10 Vernon lead Miller, Salamacha, Duncan, Dennis Patterson and Tommy Fry. Miller made a run inside on Vernon into turn 3, the two made contact with Miller spinning and collecting Salamacha. Miller the point leader made three trips to pit lane but remained on the lead lap, Salamacha was finished for the night.
On the restart it was Vernon, Fry, Patterson and Duncan. Soon Duncan was challenging Fry for second, he moved past and set his sights on Vernon. Vernon gave room on the bottom and the two drivers ran side by side for many laps before Vernon moved back ahead. As the laps wound down Duncan took another shot at Vernon, again the two ran side by side – Vernon high, Duncan low. Vernon got loose coming off turn four and Duncan finally cleared to take the lead. Across the line it was Duncan, followed by Vernon, Fry, Kevin Small, Miller and Jason Pattison in sixth.
In the NASCAR Late Model Series main event, Mike White became the first Late Model driver in 2002 to win two main events. It was the eleventh race of the Late Model Series and no driver had repeated victory. White, who qualified ninth was on the pole of the fifty lap feature. White pulled to the lead at the green flag and it was a battle for position throughout the top ten. As the race sorted out, it was Trophy Dash winner Gary Elmore who moved into second to mount the challenge on White. Point leader Gene Fife lost a cylinder and began to fad. As Elmore challenged White, last week’s winner Ron Daniel moved up on Elmore. The trio moved away from the field to make a three-way race for the lead. White was showing Elmore the top, and Daniel was working Elmore anywhere there was an opening. With the checkers flying White edge Elmore by a car length as Daniel crossed the line a half a car behind Elmore. Billy Tucker and Kevin James rounded out the top five.
In the Auto Club 911 Race For Youth Series the Bakersfield Fire Dept’s Derek Tisinger had to battle Brian Rauser of the Kern Superintendent’s for the win. Tisinger and Rauser had to get past Sheriff John Foster, K.C. Fireman Ken Putnam and K.C. Building Dept.’s Bill Roope. Roope was their biggest challenge. Tisinger had a big lead until a yellow pulled the field together and Rauser almost took the position, but had to settle for 2nd followed by Roope, CHP Mike Reed and JoRonCo Rental’s Ron Holbert took 5th.
Anyone who’s watched Late Model Champion Gene Fife race over the years could tell his son Rick had been watching and listening. Rick picked up the win for Tehachapi High in the ChevronTexaco High School Racing Series. Fife had to make sure he stayed ahead of hard-charging Matt Fraley of Shafter. Fraley did get by on lap 11, but Fife came right back to get the win. Tehachapi and Shafter are now tied for 1st in the points race. Steve Daves of North picked up 3rd while Jacquelyn Alexander of Delano High got 4th followed by David Stafford of Mojave.
Next week is the NASCAR Southwest Series “Community Recycling Firecracker 150” with a huge Fireworks show. Tickets are $15 and $20 with kids 12 and under free.
