PACKED NIGHT OF ACTION

Source: Jamie Maynard/Times Standard
Date: 07/13/2002

EUREKA, California -- After the last event held at Redwood Acres Raceway, Rick Fox was forced to make some changes to his car. "We put a different motor in it," said Fox. "A friend of mine helped me build it, and it seems to work well."

On his second qualifying lap, Fox set fast time and broke the track record with a lap time of 19.566 seconds.

"After I qualified they checked me to make sure it was legal, and I passed tech," said Fox. "I would like to win the championship for the Real Stock class. I need to get about three of four more main event wins to pass Shawn Craig in points. So unless he breaks down and doesn't finish a main, then I've got a better chance. But I don't see that happening."

Although Fox didn't anticipate Craig having problems, he did just that.

Eighteen cars took to the track for the 25-lap A main in the Real Stock division. The field of cars was inverted and found the fastest qualifiers in the back of the pack. Donnie Hyman, who was third in points coming into Saturday night's events, brought out the first caution as he was battling with Craig for position. Hyman got loose coming out of turn two and smashed into the outside retaining wall. His car sustained heavy damage and was retired for the night.

When the race went back to green, Fox found himself battling for the lead with Dan Maxwell. Fox was able to maneuver around Maxwell to take over the top spot. Shortly thereafter, Maxwell spun in turn two and the rest of the field narrowly avoided him. In the meantime, Shawn Craig lost his right rear tire. The caution came out to remove Craig's car from the track.

"We broke an axle," said Craig who was uncertain as to whether or not he would be able to return on July 27th.

When the race resumed, Fox began to pull away from the rest of the pack as three cars were in a tight battle for second place. Aaron Byers was the first to the checkered flag behind Fox, followed by Mike Peters, Doug Way, and Marty Walsh.

The open-wheeled, V-8 powered I.M.C.A. Modified cars took to the track for the first of two 10-lap heat races. Five cars took the green but only three made it to the end. Early in the race, the cars were battling door to door and bumper to bumper. As the cars came off of turn four, Lance Blacker of Santa Rosa, Lester Agee of McArthur, and Charlie Kramm of Redding attempted to take it three wide. Blacker and Agee slammed into the outside wall and the red flag was displayed to halt the race. Both cars were towed into the pits.

"Those guys watch too may movies or something," said Brian Haynes, crew chief for Agee. "It's ridiculous. Guy tried to make it three wide in a spot that's only two wide and we lost. 20 second driver in a 15 second car. Way behind the 8 ball. We're done for the night. Basically the whole right front - right front suspension - it all has to be replaced. Shocks, spindle, both control arms. We got it pretty hard."

"The 81 (Agee) was loose and checked up," said Kramm "I got alongside of him, poked it in the middle there and got pinched and took them both out."

"Well, it just got three wide there and there wasn't room for three wide. Hit me in the right rear and turned me into the other car and then into the wall, and then into the way again. The steering box was broken, the right front spindle was bent and my bumper is bent too." Said Blacker.

When the race resumed, 2001 Lakeport Raceway Rookie of the Year, Derrick Crayford made his way to the checkered flag. Followed by Bob Strauss of Lucerne, and Kramm.

Heat race No. 2 for the I.M.C.A. cars was caution free. Kelly Peacock of Redding won from the pole position followed by David Sullivan of Kelseyville, Richie Potts of Petaluma, Bill Binns of Upper Lake, and Dan Bishop of Clearwater.

Richie Potts, who currently holds the track record in the I.M.C.A. Modified division, started in the back of the pack for the 30-lap main event but was able to work his way up through the field for the win. He was followed by Binns, Peacock, Crayford, and Sullivan.

"This is a great track," said Potts. "There is a lot of racing room on it. We come here and we enjoy the fast track. We've had a lot of problems with the car over the past year so winning tonight means a lot to me."

David Sullivan was the winner of the 4-lap trophy dash followed by Binns. Randy Houston and Potts had problems at the start of the race and both cars were unable to resume racing in the dash.

During the pre-race drivers meeting, Sportsman division drivers were informed of a mandatory post-race "tear down". The "tear down" would include the removal and inspection of the cylinder heads.

Shawn Andrews, who recently blew his motor while attempting to make a race at Shasta Speedway, did not want his motor to be torn down. Despite setting fast time for the night with a lap time of 15.945 seconds, Andrews decided not to run in the events on Saturday night. Citing that he just got his motor back from the engine builder and that he had invested a lot of money in the repair, Andrews and his crew loaded the car onto the trailer.

Jacob Winfrey also opted not to run for the night as well.

Nine cars lined up for the start of the Sportsman division main event, but not all of those cars would see it to the end. On the first lap, the top three in points were caught up in a collision going into turn three. Jim Norris got loose which caused the cars behind him to check up.

As a result, David Henderson, Scotty Turner, Pat Walsh and Al Acuna made contact amongst each other and the turn three wall. Turner and Walsh were unable to get their cars back on track, but Acuna and Henderson ducted into the pits and made repairs. When the race was restarted Acuna and Henderson made their way through the field to finish one and two. Angelo Marcelli finished the night in third, followed by Joe McDonald and Kyle Cattanack of Redding.

"It looks like we're not in the points lead anymore," said Walsh "We're going to need front steering assemblies, lower and upper A arms, a spindle, and a brake hub. It's not as bad as it looks. In some of our wrecks, we've figured that it was almost totaled out, and this is just a twenty-five percent-er."

"We had a chance to let off the gas and maybe we should have taken it. But in this tight competitive racing, you can't let off the gas, ever. I don't know where we'll be standing in the points but we'll be back out. It's not that bad."

Jaison Chand won the Mini Stock main event followed by Dan Brown and Jay Rhodes.

Mini Stock point's leader, Phil Wood experienced mechanical problems which sidelined his car for the night. "My carburetor broke again," said Wood.

Wood was at risk of losing points to Jay Rhodes who sits a slender 37 points behind in the championship point's race. Showing good sportsmanship, Chad Grammer, who was points - let Wood borrow his car for the main event. Wood ended the night with a fifth place finish in the main event and will maintain the points lead going into the next race at Redwood Acres Raceway.

The Limited Street Stocks ran an exhibition race for which Craig Johnson. Orion Mosher came in second place.

The next event will be held on July 27th. The Late Model Tour cars will be in town for what will be an exciting night of auto racing. They will join the Sportsman, Mini Stock, and Real Stock divisions.

Redwood Acres will also hold the 7th annual silent auction to benefit Project Share Life. All proceeds from the event will go directly to the National Marrow Donor Program. Come out, watch the races, and support this great cause.

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