Lakeport, CA.... Brothers Rick and Mike Rose of Lakeport shared victories at the Lakeport Speedway Saturday night, Rick in the Modified division and Mike in the Airport Auto Brokers Late Model Series. Both drivers also won their heat races and between the two they collected nearly $1200 in prize money.
Defending champion Dale Preston of Kelseyville came from 10th starting to win the mini stock feature, Ukiah’s Rick Tellstrom held off Paul Pruett to bag the Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa Bomber main event, and Tiger Fernandez of Ukiah inherited the lead on the last lap to lay claim to the NCI-4 modified feature race.
At the drop of the green flag in the modified 30 lapper, pole setter John Tredway spun in front of the 20 car field and the incident caught rookie driver Freedom Hawthorne and Mark Marek in the accident. The restart saw Terry McIntire on the pole with Danny Bishop on the outside. Bill Binns and Rose both snuck under Bishop for second and third on lap two just before the race was red flagged for a fire in the David Furia car.
Rose moved into second on the restart and followed McIntire the next 10 laps. Lapped traffic came into play on lap 13, and McIntire lost to Rose when the duo caught the slower car of Bill Youngblood. The following round Binns spun for a yellow, and the double file restart saw McIntire lose ground and Rose drove to victory. Gary Lowblad finished second ahead of rookie driver Pat Hinchcliff, Chuck Pruett and fast qualifier (12.664) Bryan Denton.
The late model series is alive and kicking with Mike Doss leading the way over the 19 car field with a qualifying time of 12.665. The main event began with Mike Swaney leading the first six laps before being overtaken by Todd Schnieder. Swaney drifted high allowing Rose to take the second slot and on a lap 10 restart Rose pulled into the lead. Robert Loucks passed Schnieder for second on the 19th circuit and as Schnieder’s car slowed, Doss, Al Vogel and Jim Stillman gained position.
Schnieder dropped out on 21 and Rose drove the remaining laps to victory. Rose also won the best appearing car contest. Loucks finished second with Doss third, Vogel fourth and Stillman fifth.
Mini stock action began with Lesley Scatena and Rod Gard fighting for position. Gard took control on the second lap with Dean Reep and Glenn Koeppel forging ahead. Dusty Barton swapped places with Koeppel on five as Preston was working his way to the front. Reep made an outside pass for the lead on lap seven and Preston moved into second two laps later. Preston inched around Reep on lap 13 and drove to his third season victory. Reep maintained for second ahead of Peter Unruh, fast qualifier (13.870) Kevin Barba and Gard.
In the NCI-4 modified feature, Robert Snow took the lead away from Bob Hasland on lap four with Tiger Fernandez following him to the front. Julie Sylva came from ninth starting to third in only four laps and drove around Fernandez for second on 10. The race ran nose to tail for 26 laps until the yellow fell for a stalled car. Before action could start again, Snow and Sylva made contact and the two cars drove hard into the infield. Sylva’s car was towed to the pits and Snow was sent to the rear. This left Fernandez in the lead where he drove to the checkers. John Barker finished second with Janice Buschiazzo third, Virgil Cokeley fourth and Gina Buschiazzo fifth. Sylva set fast time of 13.761 second.
Junior trophy presenters were Breanna Freeman, 5, of Clearlake, Mellissa Coburn, 8, of Upper Lake, Josef Hoeck, 6, of Lakeport, Kayla Mincey, 8, of Lower Lake, Amber Hatchell, 9, of Clearlake Oaks and Athea Tuley, 9, of Clearlake Oaks
Racing resumes at the Lakeport Speedway Memorial Day weekend with two nights of auto racilng. The Pepsi-INEX Legends Spring Nationals will be held in conjunction with the NCRA modifieds, mini stocks and bombers both Saturday and Sunday nights.
