CARSON CITY, Nevada -- Charter Super LateModel driver Jim Bawden and Bandoleros division driver Jennifer Hodges were first-time main event winners Saturday at Champion Motor Speedway. More than 1,000 fans were on hand to see their victories.
Bawden started on the pole for the 30-lap feature, next to Al Goss. Bawden took an early lead with Henry Hodges Jr. all over him trying to find a way around him. Meanwhile, a three-way battle for third was in full force. Randy Hedrick, C.J. Bawden and Goss were switching off positions, running side by side and doing some minor bumping for position advantage.
At lap 26, Rich Lawlor made it three-wide in turn 1-2, attempting to pass Dave Sciarroni and the lapped car of Gilbert Dixon, who was running on the high line. Dixon did not hold his line and came into the path of Lawlor, causing damage to Lawlor's front end. Sciarroni ran over debris, cutting the right front tire. Lawlor immediately went into the pits, Sciarroni's tire deflated quickly upon restart of the race. He watched the finish from the infield, giving a "thumbs up" to Jim Bawden as he drove by.
The restart set up a five-car, four-lap shootout, with Hodges still working cleanly to find a way around Bawden. At the checkered flag, it was Bawden with the win, Hodges second and Hedrick third. Rounding out the field were: Chet Danburg, Goss, Sciarroni, Lawlor, Dixon and C.J. Bawden.
"We had such a fast field, and I didn't start out so well," Bawden said, with a very broad smile on his face. "And the track was a little tough.
"But we worked on the car and loosened it up, gambled a little bit and made the right call. We got the car dialed in. I was lucky -- and it was fun."
C.J. Bawden one the first of two trophy dashes, over Hedrick, Lawlor and Sciarroni. Goss won the second, over Danburg, Jim Bawden, Hodges and Dixon. Danburg won the 10-lap heat race, with Goss finishing second and Jim Bawden third.
The advantage went to Jennifer Hodges in the Bandolero division. With just four cars in the field, twin 10-lap mains were held. The winner would be determined by overall points from their finishing positions.
Jennifer won the first main over brother Bobby Hodges, Andy McCool and Kelley Hodges. Kelley Hodges held on to win her first-ever race in the second series, over McCool and Jennifer. Bobby Hodges' motor "froze" at the end of the first race, relegating him to the pits for viewing. By position and points, Jennifer, 18, was determined the overall winner.
"It was OK," Jennifer Hodges said of the races and her first-ever win. "And it was fun." Hodges also agreed the win will challenge her skills to be a better athlete to return to win again." When asked about her first-ever main win, 15-year-old Kelley Hodges said she felt guilt by winning, because she felt like she did something wrong.
"But I'm excited at the same time," she said. "My arms hurt afterwards, from holding the wheel so tightly. It was great."
Bobby Hodges won the trophy dash; Andy McCool won the heat with Bobby Hodges finishing second and Jennifer Hodges third.
While the driver's meeting was being held, the Ponderosa Stamp & Engraving bicycle races were on the track. 7-year-old Tanner Thorson won the first race; Daniel Thorson, 13, won the second race. Both riders, who are brothers, were wearing bright red T-shirts sporting Dave Sciarroni's number 25.
Special thanks to Ed Joerger owner of The Furniture Hut who provided both Ponderosa Stamp & Engraving bicycle winners with $10.00, and $15.00 to each division-one FastFour TrophyDash winner.
Also on hand were Juan and Maria Orozco of Carson City who lost their home and everything they owned on May 13. CMS officials and racers have collected funds for the last two weeks in an effort to help the young couple. Last night in Longs Jewelers winners circle Juan and Maria where given a check for $1000.06, along with some badly needed furniture and clothing.
In the Hustlin' Hornets, Rick Kepley won the trophy dash over Dusty Moore, Tim Maloney and Rebecca Parmelee. Moore won the heat race with Kepley finishing second and Parmelee third. Moore won the first of the two 10-lap features, with Kepley finishing second and Parmelee third. Kepley won the second feature with Moore second and Maloney third. By overall points and position, Kepley was determined the overall winner.
Fifteen cars were fielded in the Legends division. Four trophy dashes were held to start of their night; Jim Klopp won the fast heat over Michael Morrissey Jr., Wayne Estes and Jack Randall. Bob Cose won the second dash over Bill Brown, Nick Parmelee and Denny Hadler Jr. Tom Maloney won the third dash over Richard Wirtz, Johnny Morrissey and Tim "Papa Smurf" Farquhar.
Terry Madjeski won the fourth dash over Robert Humphreys and Charly Baron. Maloney won the first of two heats over Madjeski in second and Johnny Morrissey in third. Michael Morrissey won the second heat, with Brown finishing second and Hadler third.
The Legends main event was action-packed racing. Maloney took and early lead but the developing skills of young Nick Parmelee were shown as he took over the lead on lap 6. Meanwhile, Michael Morrissey, who started at the rear of the field, was picking off cars one and two at a time, and began working on Parmelee. After trying inside and out, Morrissey took over the lead on lap 11 but Parmelee stuck right with him to the end.
Morrissey chalked up another win with Parmelee having a great race to finish second and Hadler coming up from the ninth spot to finish third. Rounding out the field were: Klopp, Randall, J. Morrissey, Wirtz, Madjeski, Cose, Brown, Maloney, Baron, Humphreys, Farquhar, Estes. After the Legends main event, Michael Morrissey's tires were impounded and checked for proper sizing, as well as the wheelbase of his car. Everything was found to be legal.
Completing the night's action were the Les Schwab Street Stocks. Chris Betz started the night off by winning the trophy dash over Matt Collier, Kris Keller and Rick Miller in the first of two dashes. Rick Garmann won the second dash over Alan Hunter, Steve Montelatici, Glenn Davidson and John White. Miller won the division's heat race with Collier finishing second and Keller third.
For the street stock main event, there was no inversion of the starting lineup, putting fast-qualifier Collier on the pole. Collier took the lead and cruised to a win, while the battles developed behind him. Miller and Betz were side-by-side and bumper-to-bumper for several laps, until Miller overtook Betz for the second position.
On lap 19, Betz was running a mid-line in turn 3-4, when Keller dove to the inside of him. Betz moved down the track to drive the inside line out of 4, when Keller's car came to the inside of him, causing Betz to get loose and spin on the front stretch.
At the restart, Collier was still in the lead with Keller running second and Miller third. On the last lap, Miller drove hard into turn 4 to pass Keller only to make himself loose and spin to the infield, losing a few spots. Collier took the win with Keller finishing second and Betz third. Rounding out the field were: White, Miller, Montelatici, Davidson and Hunter.
Racing action continues Saturday with the first-ever "Mad Mutha-in-law" race at Champion Motor Speedway, along with the Western Modifieds, Limited LateModels, TagTeam Bombers, Hustlin' Hornets and Ponderosa Stamp & Engraving bicycle races.
Pit gate opens at 3 p.m.; main gates open at 5, racing starts at 7. For information, call the 24/7 racin’ hotline at 267-0505.
