HICKS CLAIMS LYNDALL MEMORIAL AT LAKEPORT

Source: Nadine Strauss/Lake Port Speedway
Date: 07/07/2002

LAKEPORT, Calif. -- The 14th annual Kelseyville Lumber Deake Lyndall Memorial saw five classes of cars compete in front of a packed house with the winners taking home extra prize money compliments of the Lyndall family of Kelseyville. Purple trophies, the color associated with the Lyndall racing team, were presented to all winners by grandsons David, Jake and Brandon Lyndall.

Aaron Hicks of Grass Valley was the $1100 winner in the modified feature making it four wins so far this season. David Sullivan of Kelseyville survived several near mishaps to take home $1000 as the winner of the Airport Auto Brokers late model main event. Dale Preston of Kelseyville bagged $600 for his mini stock victory, and Derek Thorn of Lakeport inherited the lead after a multi-car crash to collect $500 for his win in the Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa bomber division. In the BCRA midget event, John Sarale of Stockton claimed his first win at Lakeport for a $1100 pay day, while Jim Silva of Manteca broke into the 11 second bracket and set a new non-winged midget track record of 11.935 seconds. (See separate story by Floyd Busby.)

Twenty of the 24 modifieds on hand took the green flag in their 40 lapper with Bob Strauss and Sean Sweeney battling for the lead the first six laps. Strauss and Sweeney rubbed wheels and slowed slightly just before the yellow flew for a Rod Harper spin. When racing resumed, Strauss faded in the high groove, allowing Gary Lowblad to take the lead. Two laps later Sweeney lost control and drove his car into the infield tires to stop the race again.

The restart saw Lowblad and Hicks side-by-side with David Sullivan, doing double duty in both the modified and late model events, in third and Strauss in fourth. Todd Coburn and David Furia came together on 14 with Furia slapping the turn two concrete. Furia lost several laps in the pits but did return. The next several laps saw Lowblad and Hicks challenging for the lead, but when Lowblad continually pushed high, track official’s stopped the race and set Lowblad back one position for blocking.

The remaining laps went without caution with Hicks the big winner. Lowblad hung in for second with trophy dash winner Bill Binns third, Sullivan fourth and fast qualifier (12.925) Thomas Wright fifth. Heat wins went to Randy Houston, Willie Thompson and Allen Gibney. Mike Smithhart won the "B" main over Jeremy Nowlin, Gibney and Rod Harper.

The late models also ran an extended 40 lap main with Jeff Atkinson and Bruce Clark sharing the front row. Atkinson pulled ahead at the start and Clark slapped the wall to slow the action on the second go-round. On the restart Mike Swaney pulled ahead, and the yellow flew again on six when Atkinson spun on the front stretch. Justin Offenbach was next to lead the event. He pulled away from the pack as Sullivan was trying Swaney on the outside.

The third caution came on lap 16 for an Ed Rieve spin. Offenbach pulled Sullivan on the start as Mike Rose slipped under Sullivan for second. Rose got caught behind lapped traffic allowing Sullivan to regain the second slot. Sullivan pulled along side of Offenbach at the mid point in the race and made the winning pass on 22. Dan Knight and Mike Rose both drove around Offenbach on lap 31. At the checkered flag it was Sullivan, Knight, Rose, fast qualifier (12.783) Jeremy Hopkins and trophy dash winner Jimmy Stillman

Sixteen mini stock took the green flag in their 30 lapper with Preston coming from 11th starting to take the lead away from visiting driver Jim Reid of Galt on the fifth lap. Jerry Shaha also moved quickly through the field and was running second by the 7th circuit. The non-stop event saw the leaders weave through lapped traffic the entire distance. Preston collected his 4th season victory. Shaha settled for second in front of trophy dash winner Shawn Shearer, fast qualifier (13.932) Rod Gard and last week’s winner Justin Potter.

The 20 car bomber feature saw George Abella and April Bertram side-by-side until the race was slowed on lap seven for a Gary Collins spin. Ruben Serrano hit the wall the following round, and at the same time Kenny Grinols pitted with a flat tire. Bertram pulled ahead of Abella on 12 and held off Chuck Egger on a lap 15 restart. Joe Sloan was next to challenge Bertram, and on the 23rd round Bertram and Sloan made contact. With no where to go, Michael Bishop was collected and hit the wall hard in turn one.

This put fourth running Thorn in the lead with Mike Collins ducking under David Stephens for second. Kevin Medina joined the front runners on lap 27 after the yellow flew again for Gary Collins. Medina took third away from Stephens and passed M. Collins for second on lap 33. The event was yellow-checkered the following round when trophy dash winner Darren Tubbs and Bertram had a confrontation with Tubbs ending up in the wall. Thorn was declared the winner with Medina second, M. Collins third, Stephens fourth and Don Baker fifth. Thorn also set fast time of 14.575. M. Collins won the "B" main over Bill Mucci, Manuel Antonio, Theresa Bloyd and Jimmy Sorrels.

Auto racing takes a one week break for the Lake County Rodeo and will return to action on July 20 with the NCRA modifeds, mini stocks, bombers and the NCI-4 modifieds. Gates open at 5:00 pm with racing at 7:00 pm. For further information call the speedway office at 274-2844.

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