LAKEPORT, California -- Inheriting the lead after Jeremy Hopkins tagged the back of race leader Dan Knight shooting Knight’s car into the wall, veteran driver Al Vogel of Ukiah lead the final 12 laps to win the Danny Rose Memorial for late models Sunday afternoon during the 13th annual KXBX October Classic. The win was good for $1000. On his first outing in his new car, Mike Martin of Ukiah chased Vogel to the finish line for a $750 second. Knight and Hopkins made great come-backs to finish third and fourth respectively, and Todd Schneider of Novato came out of retirement to claim fifth place.
The late model division qualified 26 cars with Hopkins setting the fastest lap at 12.449 seconds. Kinght was next with 12.476, Vogel posted a 12.663 and Mike Rose clocked in at 12.686. Knight won the trophy dash.
Saturday’s heat races set the stage for Sunday’s feature with Knight and Todd Carmichael of Redding winning the "A" main heats. Chet Danburg of Carson City, Nevada was the "B" main heat winner.
Knight took the initial lead from the pole with Carmichael falling into line behind him. The 50-lap feataure was slowed after only one lap when Frank Howard spun on the back stretch. The single file restart saw Knight pull away from Carmichael with Rose and Mike Doss next in line. Knight clipped Howard while lapping him on the 9th round , causing Howard to lose control, but he collected it in time and the race continued.
The race was slowed four rounds later when Dan Farrington’s car was leaking oil and he would not adhere to the black flag. Farrington pitted and returned one lap down. The third caution came on 21 when Carmichael was attempting to lap Farrington and the pair made contact and hit the wall in turn one. The pack scrambled behind them with several cars being eliminated including 2001 winner Mike Doss.
Hopkins was now in second behind Knight and for the next 15 laps Hopkins tried right and left to get by Knight. When Hopkins hit Knight hard enough to break him loose, flagman Johnny Miskill stopped the race. After the cars crossed under the yellow flag, Hopkins drifted up hard into Knight sending Knight into the wall. Knight pitted and returned to action on the leader’s lap. Mike Rose also drove to the pits.
This left Vogel out in front with Martin in second and Schneider third. Lap 47 saw the yellow fly for the fifth time when Danburg spun in turn one. The final three went smoothly with Vogel first across the line. Martin was second with Knight third, Hopkins fourth and Schneider fifth. Mike Simpson, Frank Howard, Kevin Pugh, Farrington and Neil Gordon rounded out the top ten.
Danburg won the "B" main with Jeff Atkinson second, John Hawthorne third and Bobby Brewer fourth.
Twelve Legends Cars started their 30-lap feature with the cars completely inverted from time trials.
Jack Wulff Humphrey forged out in front of David Fisher at the drop of the green flag and quickly put a healthy distance on the pack. As Fisher faded Rick Andrews and Pat Appleby gained position and the pair chased down Humphrey. Appleby drove around Andrews for second on lap nine.
Humphrey, a 5-year heart-transplant recipient, appeared to tire, drifted high allowing Appleby to steal the lead on the 13th go-round. Both Ryan Mosher and 15 year old Jeremy Wood drove under Humphrey for second and third. The lone yellow flew on lap 15 when Andrews lost control and spun in turn three.
The second half of the event saw Frankie Winchel come from the back to the front , take the lead away from Appleby on lap 23 and drive to a convincing victory. With only two laps to go Appleby spun so Mosher finished second, Mike Hoffman was third, John Duckett Jr. fourth and Rick Zollman fifth.
Saturday night heat wins went to Appleby and Pete Curring. Duckett won the trophy dash.
Fast Time: Jeremy Hopkins, 12.449
Trophy Dash: Dan Knight, Mike Rose, Al Vogel, Hopkins
Heat 1: Chet Danburg, Jeff Atkinson, Kevin Waycik, John Hawthorne, Bobby Brewer,
Heat 2: Knight, Rose, Mike Doss, Mike Martin, Todd Schneider
Heat 3: Todd Carmichael, Jim Stillman, Jr., Vogel, Kevin Pugh, Dan Farrington
"B" Main: Danburg, Atkinson, Hawthorne, Bobby Brewer, Waycik, John Kraintz, Ed Reives
"A" Main: Vogel, Martin, Knight, Hopkins, Schnieder, Mike Simpson, Frank Howard, Pugh, Farrington, Neil Gordon, Danburg, Kevin Estep, Doyal Moen, Hawthorne, Atkinson, Rose, Stillman, Doss, Kraintz, Brewer, Carmichael, Waycik
Fast Time: Frankie Winchel, 13.990
Trophy Dash: John Ducket, Jr., Jeremy Wood, Frankie Winchel, Ryan Mosher
Heat 1: Pat Applelby, Mosher, Duckett, Hank Lindley, Rick Andrews, Jack Wulff Humphrey
Heat 2: Pete Currin, Wood, Winchel, Mike Hoffman, Rick Zollman, David Fisher
"A" Main: Winchel, Mosher, Hoffman, Duckett, Zollman, Andrews, Humphrey, Lindley, Appleby, Currin, Fisher, Wood
