LAKEPORT, California -- Coming back from an earlier heat race win, Rod Harper of Spring Valley lead wire to wire to capture his career-first modified feature event at the Lakeport Speedway Saturday night. Harper crossed the finish line about four car lengths ahead of Aaron Hicks in the non-stop event and earned $575 for his efforts.
Kelly Gray of Clearlake set fast time of 13.934 and made it two in a row with his win in the mini stock division. Chris Salmina of Kelseyville coasted to an easy victory in the modified bomber main event. Eric Johnson of Kelseyville passed Richie Schwarm on the white-flag lap to collect his fourth feature in the Guy Strohmeier Auto Center bomber division. Andy Leuzinger of Cobb, set a new track record of 13.104, inherited the lead after a pile-up with only two laps to go, and held off Chris Straka to collect his first Lakeport win in the Pro-4 modified class. And the junior race fans were treated to laps around the track in the race cars.
Harper pulled ahead of Jeremy Nowlin at the drop of the green flag in the modified 30 lapper with Todd Coburn and Bob Strauss next in line. As Nowlin lost ground in the outside groove, Strauss pulled out and challenged Coburn the next 15 laps. Strauss finally gave up, pulling down behind Coburn, allowing Hicks to try his luck at Coburn. Hicks was also unsuccessful and fell back behind Strauss.
Meanwhile Harper drove away and was never challenged. Hicks gave it one more shot and finally made the pass for second on lap 25. Strauss made a final attempt at Coburn on 27 but once again could not make his car stick and lost ground to points leader Terry McIntire. Harper scored a convincing victory over Hicks, Coburn, McIntire and Strauss. McIntire set fast time of 13.134 and Hicks won the trophy dash.
Mini stock action saw Redwood Acres Raceway visitor Frank Billy inherit the pole after heat race winner Jonathon Reynolds elected to start in the rear. Billy shot out in front of trophy dash winner John Barker at the start with Matt Preston and Gray next in line. Reynolds move up quickly and passed Gray on lap two. Reynolds pick off Preston on 10, and when Gray attempted to pass Preston, the two made contact that sent Preston hard into the turn four concrete.
Billy pulled ahead again on the restart, and Reynolds drove under Barker for second on lap 12. Gray moved his mount to the high side and drove around Barker for third on lap 21. As Gray pulled along side of Reynolds, Reynolds tapped Billy's car. As the pair struggled to gain control, Gray charged by them both and took the lead for good.
Reynolds and Baker made contact with Barker spinning to bring out the final yellow on lap 26. This moved Mitchell Preston up, and at the checkered flag it was Gray, Billy, Mitch Preston, Barker and Reynolds.
The modified bomber division was reduced to only five when Darren Tubbs blew an engine in hot laps. Points leader Charlie Collins clocked in quickest at 14.164 with Salmina close at 14.198. Collins won the heat race and George Abella collected trophy dash honors.
The feature saw Abella out in front of Eric Ogram with Salmina passing Bill Mucci for third. Salmina dove under Orgam for second on the second round and drove around Abella for the lead on lap five. Collins followed Salmina's line and took over the runner-up spot from Abella on the seventh circuit.
Collins used the remaining laps to try to catch Salmina but the Kelseyville youngster was determined and drove flawlessly for the win. Collins finished second ahead of Abella, Ogram and Mucci.
Bomber action saw Jim Stephens out in front of Guy Minyard the first three rounds with Schwarm and Johnson next in line. Four-time-winner Jimmy Sorrel's car developed a smoking problem early in the race and he retired to the infield on lap nine. Minyard took the lead on 10 but as he was pulling down in line, his car lost control and spun in front of the charging crowd. Stephens t-boned Minyard, hit the wall, and had to be towed to the pits. Points leader Justin Potter was also involved, retiring with a blown radiator.
This left Schwarm out in front of Mark Hatfield, Scott Griffin and Virgil Cokeley. Eric Johnson charged hard through the pack, passed Cokely on 13, picked off Griffin on 16, and stole the number two spot from Hatfield on lap 24. Johnson chased down Schwarm the remaining laps and inched by him for the win. Schwarm finished second in front of Hatfield, Cokeley, Minyard and Griffin.
Schwarm won both the first heat and the trophy dash. Minyard took the other heat race win. Potter set fast time of 14.961.
Sixteen cars signed in the pits in the Pro-4 modified division but a head-on collision with Jake Tillman and Shelby Beighle in hot laps reduced the field to 14 starters.
Rookie driver Zak Gifford lead the first four rounds before breaking loose and spinning into the infield on lap five. Codi Barba took over the lead but gave it up to Joe Sloan when he got caught behind the slower car of Sarah Firueroa on the 18th go-round. Leuzinger also got around Barba, and at lap 20 it was Sloan, Leuzinger, Barba, Chris Straka, and Shawn Shearer.
Just when it looked like it would be Sloan's night, Bob Luck lost an engine, Sloan hit Luck's oil and slid into the turn four wall. Zak Gifford was also collect as well as Shearer and Ron Bertram.
Barba's car stalled under the caution, and Shearer's car overheated taking both driver's out for the night. Leuzinger led the final two laps for the win followed by Straka, Ken Gifford, and Robbie Robinson. Sloan rebounded to finish fifth.
Robinson won the trophy dash and heat wins went to Zak Gifford and Ken Gifford. The Pro-4 modifieds return to the Lakeport Speedway on August 14.
Auto racing continues at the Lakeport Speedway this Saturday night with the Airport Auto Brokers Late models joining the NCRA modifieds, mini stocks, bombers and modified bombers. Gates open at 5:00 pm with racing at 7:00 pm.
A-Main - Eric Johnson, Richard Schwarm, Mark Hatfield, Virgil Cokeley, Guy Minyard, Scott Griffin, April Welch, Jim Stephens, Justin Potter, Jimmy Sorrels.
Heat 1- Richard Schwarm, Jim Stephens, Virgil Cokeley, Scott Griffin, April Welch.
Heat 2- Guy Minyard, Jimmy Sorrels, Justin Potter, Mark Hatfield, Eric Johnson.
Time Trial- Justin Potter (14.961), Eric Johnson, Jimmy Sorrels, Mark Hatfield, Guy Minyard.
Trophy Dash - Richard Schwarm, Guy Minyard, Mark Hatfield, Eric Johnson.
A-Main - Kelly Gray, Frank Billy, Mitchell Preston, John Barker, Jonathon Reynolds, James Devries, Fred Schmidt, Matt Preston.
Heat Race- Jonathon Reynolds, Frank Billy, John Barker, Kelly Gray, Matt Preston, James Devries, Mitchell Preston, Fred Schmidt.
Time Trial- Kelly Gray (13.934), Matt Preston, Mitchell Preston, John Barker, James Devries.
Trophy Dash - John Barker, Matt Preston, Kelly Gray, Mitchell Preston.
A-Main - Chris Salmina, Charlie Collins, George Abella,
Eric Ogram, Bill Mucci.
Heat Race- Charlie Collins, George Abella, Chris Salmina, Bill Mucci, Eric Ogram.
Time Trial- Charlie Collins (14.164), Chris Salmina, Bill Mucci, Eric Ogram, George Abella.
Trophy Dash - George Abella, Charlie Collins, Bill Mucci, Eric Ogram.
A-Main - Rod Harper, Aaron Hicks, Todd Coburn, Terry McIntire, Bob Strauss, Jeremy Nowlin, Lance Blacker, Darrin Knight.
Heat Race- Rod Harper, Lance Blacker, Aaron Hicks, Terry McIntire, Bob Strauss, Jeremy Nowlin, Darrin Knight, Todd Coburn.
Time Trial- Terry McIntire (13.134), Bob Strauss, Lance Blacker, Aaron Hicks, Todd Coburn.
Trophy Dash - Aaron Hicks, Bob Strauss, Lance Blacker, Terry McIntire.
