LAKEPORT, California -- June 26, 2004. In an action-packed event that saw side-by-side racing all 30 laps, Bill Mucci of Nice took the lead at the drop of the green flag and held off all challengers to claim his first career feature race in the modified bomber division at the Lakeport Speedway Saturday night.
Points leader Matt Preston of Kelseyville claimed his sixth mini stock feature, and Cobb's Ken Gifford made it three in a row at Lakeport with his impressive win in the Pro-4 modified class.
With Guy Minyard doing double-duty in both the boat races and the modified bomber division, the field saw 10 cars start their feature with Mucci and David Valdez sharing the front row. Although Mucci was slightly out in front on each pass, Valdez hung in there in the outside lane, swapping places with inside runner George Abella throughout the first 20 laps. Darren Tubbs, on his first 2004 visit, ran a strong third with Michael Bishop along side Tubbs in fourth.
The pack stayed tightly bunched until Nickolie Rhodes was tapped from the rear causing his car to spin in turn one to bring out the lone yellow flag. Mucci and Valdez battled the final rounds with Mucci the happy winner. Abella ducked under Valdez at the line to finish second with Valdez third, Bishop fourth and Tubbs fifth. Points leader Charlie Collin, Gary Collins and Chris Salmina were next across the finish line.
Mucci also won the first heat race with Tubbs claiming the second heat. Charlie Collins won the trophy dash and Salmina set fast time of 14.111 seconds.
The eight-car mini stock 30 lapper saw John Barker take the lead over rookie Drew Braun at the start, but before even one lap was in the record books, Braun's car broke a rear end and he retired to the infield. This put Barker and Preston side-by-side where Preston easily forged ahead. Kelly Gray passed both Steve Sprague and Barker on the second go round, and fast qualifier (13.739) Kevin Barba took over the third slot on five. Jonathon Reynolds slipped into fourth on lap 11. The remaining laps went without incident with Preston the winner over Barba, Gray, Reynolds and Barker. Sprague and James Devries finished sixth and seventh. Reynolds won both the heat race and the trophy dash.
The Pro-4 modified division supported 14 cars with Chris Straka setting fast time of 13.212 seconds on his first appearance in this class. Willie Leuzinger and Janice Buschiazzo started the feature in the front row, and as the pack was approaching the first turn, Leuzinger's car pushed to the wall and tagged Buschiazzo. With no where to go, Joe Sloan slapped the wall ending his run.
When racing finally resumed, Ron Bertram gunned his car past Buschiazzo with Robbie Robinson following his lead. Bob Luck spun in front of the crowd to slow the action again on lap three. Bertram stayed out in front on the restart as Robinson and points leader Scott DeLeon, driving the Dave Marsili car, swapped places.
Meanwhile Gifford was dicing through traffic passing Shawn Shearer for fourth on lap 10 and driving around Robinson for third at mid race. Gifford's outside run saw him pick off DeLeon on lap 20 just before Willie Leuzinger spun in front the charging pack resulting in both Bob Luck and Jake Tillman hitting the wall while trying to get around Leuzinger's stalled car. During the extended caution DeLeon retired to the pits.
Gifford pushed his car to the front on the restart and never looked back. Bertram finished second in front of Shearer, Andy Leuzinger and Straka. Robinson, W. Leuzinger, Buschiazzo, Deloy Gibson, and Sarah Figueroa rounded out the top ten. DeLeon won the trophy dash and heat wins went to Sloan and Shearer.
Auto racing returns to the Lakeport Speedway this Saturday night, July 3, for the 16th annual Kelseyville Lumber Deake Lyndall Memorial featuring Bay Cities Racing Association midgets, late models, modifieds, mini stocks, bombers and modified bombers. Gates open at 5:00 pm with racing at 7:00 pm. For information call the speedway office at 707-274-2844.
A-Main - Matt Preston, Kevin Barba, Kelly Gray, Jonathon Reynolds, John Barker, Steve Sprague, James Devries, Andrew Braun.
Heat Race- Jonathon Reynolds, Kelly Gray, John Barker, Kevin Barba, Matt Preston, Andrew Braun, Steve Sprague, James Devries.
Time Trial- Kevin Barba (13.739), Matt Preston, Kelly Gray, Jonathon Reynolds, James Devries.
Trophy Dash - Jonathon Reynolds, Kevin Barba, Kelly Gray, James Devries.
A-Main - Bill Mucci, George Abella, David Valdez, Mike Bishop, Darren Tubbs, Charlie Collins, Gary Collins, Chris Salmina, Nickolie Rhodes.
Heat 1- Bill Mucci, George Abella, Mike Bishop, David Valdez.
Heat 2- Darren Tubbs, Chris Salmina, Gary Collins, Nickolie Rhodes, Charlie Collins.
Time Trial- Chris Salmina (14.111), Gary Collins, Charlie Collins, Nickolie Rhodes, Darren Tubbs.
Trophy Dash - Charlie Collins, Nickolie Rhodes, Gary Collins, Chris Salmina.
A-Main - Ken Gifford, Ron Bertram, Shawn Shearer, Andy Leuzinger, Chris Straka, Robbir Robinson, Willie Leuzinger, Gina Buschiazzo, Deloy Gibson,
Sarah Figueroa, Scott DeLeon, Jake Tillman, Bob Luck, Joe Sloan
Heat 1 - Sloan, Bertram, W. Leuzinger, Buschiazzo, Gibson, Figueroa, Luck
Heat 2 - Shearer, Tillman, Gifford, Straka, Robinson, DeLeon, A. Leuzinger
Time Trials - Straka (13.212), A. Leuzinger, Gifford, DeLeon
Trophy Dash - DeLeon, Gifford, A. Leuzinger, Straka
