LAKEPORT, California -- On the final race of the Airport Auto Brokers Late Model Series at the Lakeport Speedway, Kevin Estep of Clearlake Oaks set fast time, started at the back of the pack and drove to his second season victory Saturday night.
Jake Tillman of Clearlake also set fast time in the 16 car Pro-4 modified division and drove from the back to the front to capture his first feature win in this four cylinder division.
A short field of late models saw points leader Andrew Snider too loud in his qualifying run and then he suffered engine problems and had to retire in the main event. But Snider was declared the late model points champion by promoter Robbie Robinson at the end of the race where he beat out Jeff Davis by only one point.
The late model 30 lap feature saw Mike Swaney lead the first two laps before being overtaken by Estep on lap five. Davis was also in the hunt and stole second from Swaney on lap ten as Snider was struggling with a hot engine. Snider pitted on 12 and lost seven laps, and when his car started spilling water again, he was black-flagged on 24.
Estep stayed out in front to collect his second win. Davis finished second with Swaney third, Andy Layton fourth and Mark Edrich fifth. Swaney won the heat race and the trophy dash.
The pro-4 modified division produced its largest field of the season with 16 cars on the track. Codi Barba pulled ahead of Gina Buschiazzo at the drop of the green flag and was challenged the first 10 laps by first Ron Martinez and then John Barker. Tillman worked his way through traffic and was running third by lap 11 with Robbie Robinson fourth and Ken Gifford fifth.
Tillman passed Baker on lap 13, and with only five laps to go, Andy Leuzinger spun to slow the action. The double-file restart saw Tillman take the lead and the win. Barba settled for second with Scott DeLeon coming from back in the pack to finish third. Gifford and Robinson rounded out the top 10.
Heat race wins went to Buschiazzo and Gifford. Chic Beck won the trophy dash. The late models and the pro-4 modifieds will return to action at the Lakeport Speedway as a part of the 14th annual KXBX October Classic on October 17-19, 2003.
A-Main - Jake Tillman, Codi Barba, Scott DeLeon, Ken Gifford, Robbie Robinson, Dave Marsili, Bob Luck, Doug Ripparetti, Ron Martinez, Matt Preston, John Barker, Gina Buschiazzo, Andy Leuzinger, Chic Beck
Heat 1 - Buschiazzo, Barker, DeLeon, Leuzinger, Barba, Preston, Dennis Anderson
Heat 2 - Gifford, Joe Sloan, Martinez, Chris Straka, Tillman, Robinson, Beck, Luck
Fast Time - Tillman, 13.359
Trophy Dash - Beck, Luck, Marsili, Tillman
A-Main - Kevin Estep, Jeff Davis, Mike Swaney, Andy Layton, Mark Edrich, Andrew Snider, David Stephens.
Heat Race - Swaney, Snider, Davis, Estep, Layton, Edrich, Stephens
Fast Time - Estep, 13.310
Trophy Dash - Swaney, Estep, Davis, Layton
