BAKERSFIELD, California -- Atascadero, California's David Mayhew won his second NASCAR Late Model race in a row in dominating fashion in Bakersfield. The May 27th, 75 lap, feature was part of Mesa Marin Raceway's Thursday Night Thunder series.
Bakersfield's Michael Burrow and Mendota's Chris Smith led the 16 Late Models under the initial green flag. Burrow paced the field for the first nine circuits. By this point, Mayhew had worked his way to the leader's bumper and completed the first and final lead change of the race.
2003 Mesa Marin NASCAR Late Model champion Brian Richardson quickly moved into second and the two drivers made even faster work of pulling away from the remainder of the field. The only factor that allowed the field to catch the two leaders were caution flags. However, with each restart Mayhew and Richardson quickly pulled away to resume their two car race.
The first of the caution flags came out on lap 26 when Robert Davis spun in turn three. The field restarted for two green flag laps whh the yellow came out again, on lap 32, when Michael Lawrence spun in the second turn. Lawrence was again a factor in the next caution, on lap 44, when he was bumped and turned around in turn two. The fourth and final yellow flew on lap 51 when A J Destefani slammed into the backstretch wall.
With every ensuing restart Mayhew and Richardson ran away from the field and, in the waning laps of the race, opened up a half lap lead. Lap after lap Richardson did everything he could to run down the leader. On the white flag lap slower traffic almost played a major role in the outcome. Richardson made a final charge and pulled up to Mayhew's bumper but could not get around him as they passed under the checkers.
In victory lane a jubilant Mayhew had high praise for his team for preparing such a great race car saying "when a car is working this right a blind man could drive it around the corners. (The car) worked so good I could get off the gas early and open up a gap coming off (the turns) and that makes it pretty tough for someone to get by you."
Commenting on Richardson's last lap run to his bumper Mayhew said "we got caught up with a couple of lapped cars. They were going two wide and I was trying to decide which way to go. Thankfully, they both got out of the way. Richardson gave us a little nudge coming to the white (flag lap) and I definitely knew he was there but we knew we had the car for the win tonight."
Bakersfield drivers Dwight Sons, Eric Richarson and Michael Burrow rounded out the top five.
