Source: Manzanita Speedway/
Date: 06/09/2007

FOSTER WINS DRAG RACE TO THE FINISH LINE FOR SECOND BARNETT DIRT MODIFIED WIN

Jay Foster, winner of the April 6 BTS Dirt Modified race in which he survived a late charge by Anthony Madrid, did it again Friday night and won the 20 lap feature by about half a car length. It was deja vu all over again as Madrid came roaring toward the front and tried an outside move through the final turn that almost made him a two time winner. However the bottom groove was a little quicker coming off the turn and it was Foster who celebrated in the winner's cirlce. It marked the fourth time this year that Madrid, a two time champion, has played the bridesmaid role. Behind the two front runners were the points leader, rookie driver Ricky Thornton, Jr., Tony Steele and three time champion Mark Harrison.

A massive crash on the first lap had several damaged cars heading to the pits. While the crews were clearing away the cars on the track, the crews on the #20 cars driven by Thornton and Harrison were working feverishly to get the suspension damage on the cars repaired. Both roared onto the track in time to take the green flag and both got top five finishes. Thornton entered the race with a 19 point lead over Harrison and left with a 21 point edge over both Harrison and Madrid who are tied for second

John Cox who led early had to make a pit stop but stayed on the lead lap to finish sixth ahead of Reeve Staley, Dominique Askren, Brian Miller and last week's winner Ricky Bogart.

Jeremy Thornton ran a great race as he came out of the fourth row and ran near the front until he had problems on the final lap and failed to finish. When he crossed up he was hit by Glenn Thurman who also failed to finish.

The 24 car field ran three eight lap heat races with wins going to Harrison, Terry Belcher, Jr. and Foster. Harrison showed his championship form with a drive from the third row to beat Tony Steele who started behind him. Greg Bedia took third. Junior scored his fifth heat race win of the year as he come out of the back row and beat Madrid who was also trying for a fifth win. Foster also made a drive from the back row in his win over Jason Noll and Cox.

MARTINEZ MAKES SECOND LEAD HOLD UP

Matt Martinez stayed with Jody Henderson through numerous yellow flags and had his nose in front to lead the 13th lap in the 20 lap factory stock feature but Henderson was back in front for laps 14-15. Martinez finally made a lead hold up and led the final five laps. A late charge gave Larry Price a close second place finsh and Henderson crossed the finish line in third ahead of two time champion Bobby Taylor and Paul Arseneau. Rounding out the top ten were Josh Crabtree, Justin Upton, John Baker, Richard Kirn and Larry Olney.

Price, the 2000 driving champion, used his second place finsh to take over the points lead from Upton. Price entered the night only one point behind Upton but will carry a seven point advantage into the next outing.

Justin Thornton won his first heat race of the year as he beat Reed Veralud, Taylor, Martinez and Joe Peterson in the first eight lapper. Price became a four time heat race winner as he edged Upton, Arseneau, Henderson and Kirn in the second heat. The final heat marked the first win for Danny Pearson who finished ahead of Paul Neerings, Crabtree, Rhett Engstrum and Olney.

Martinez started off his night on the right path as he beat Upton, Ron Poe and Henderson for his first trophy dash win of the year.

CZOKA ZONKS FIELD IN THE FIRST NIGHT OF THE BOMBER NATIONALS

Jeff Czoka, who shares driving duties with several drivers, made it look easy in the 20 lap Bomber Nationals race. He took the lead on the third lap and steadily pulled away from the field. John Romero finished second for the third straight time and Aaron Oachs who had earlier set a new ten lap record in winning the semi main finished third ahead of Tom Kozak and Allen Hakes. Rounding out the top ten were Robert Taylor, Matt Martinez, Toby Webito, Jesse Johnson and Rex Hasley.

With it was Jeff's first visit to the winner's circle Keith Czoka had parked the car there on May 4 a week after Jeff finished second.

Cory Tait took the first heat race with James Klever, John Romero and Larry Gordon making the feature with their top four finishes. Joel Martin went wire to wire in winning the second heat over two time main event winner Mike Bray, three time feature winner Toby Webito and Martinez. The third heat was all Czoka as he started alongside trophy dash winner Randy Allen and took the lead when Allen's car slowed putting him out of the race. Gilbert Madrid, Jr. finished second ahead of Jesse Johnson and Anthony Bohner. Daniel Romero stayed atop the heat race winner's list as he beat Kozak, Robert Taylor and Allen Hakes in the final heat.

Four positions in the feature were still open and went to the top four in the 10 lap semi main. Aaron Oachs smashed the 10 lap record as he ran away from Rex Hasley, Bob Millan and Don Robinson. Oach's time of 3:30.06 was almost eight seconds faster than the old mark which was set last June by Ron Neis. His time was 3:37.72.

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