Source: Linda Brittsan
Date: 07/30/2007

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – Feature division driver Steve Jones didn’t let the first race in the chase for the championship intimidate him a bit last Saturday night as the driver of the No. 3 Pepsi Premier car won the main event race while maintaining control of the point standings.

Other drivers making the trip to Victory Lane at Magic Valley Speedway this past weekend were Jerry McKean for the Budweiser Grand Nationals, Billi Miles with the NAPA Pony Stocks, Misty Greco in the Quale’s Electronics Queen Bees and Pat Quinn in his final appearance for the Idaho Six Cylinders.

Jones took over the lead at lap six for the feature division from his fourth place starting position, but the No. 99 car of TJ Woodhall - from whom Jones took over the lead -continued to hang out with out with him for the entire 50-lap main event race. Throughout three caution periods the pair never gave way to another driver, battling side-by-side for much of the race until Jones crossed the finish line 1.29 seconds ahead of Woodhall.

“I’m really happy just to make it through this night,” Jones said.

The best come-back of the evening came from driver of the No. 70 car Mike Greco, who coming into the chase third in the point standings needed a good finish - let alone avoid disaster.

Greco’s car looked like it might not make the main event race at all after a mishap in the front stretch during a qualifying race left his ride looking all kinds of out of shape. The cars of chase contender Stevie Fisher and that of Allen Williams also received substantial injuries and all three cars were towed to the pits where the drivers and crew members could make damage assessments.

Fisher’s car was in no condition to make it back on the track - however, he was able to commandeer the No. 9 car of cousin Bobby Latham, Jr. and despite a couple of set-backs along the way finished fifth in the main event. Greco started the race fourteenth -but carefully made his way up to third in the car that looked much different than the one he brought out to the track earlier in the evening.

“It’s called a late model modified now,” Greco said of the hoodless car.

Fortunately the damage ended up to mostly cosmetic, but Greco thought it was going to be much worse.

“He (Fisher) was pushing the lap before in turns one and two,” Greco said of the qualifying incident. “As soon as I made the decision he was going to push again I lifted – then he hit the wall. What I should have done is tried to stay in the accelerator – but when someone pushes you try and stay away from them. But I don’t how to thank this group out here (Premiers) for helping me get back out there. I must have had twenty guys putting it back together – they’re great people.”

As for Fisher, who just put a new motor in the 29 car after losing it in last’s week race, he intends to be back next Saturday night but not before putting in a lot of work on the car.

“We’re thinking that the rear j-bar broke because it’s completely pulled out the rear end,” Fisher said. “All the sudden it threw me into the wall. But the guys at McKean’s shop will get it put back together – but it’s going to take some time.”

Budweiser Grand Nationals

Driver Jerry McKean has been no stranger to close finishes recently and Saturday night was no exception as the driver of the No. 88 car nipped Jonathon Gomez at the checkered flag. The lead changed hands several times throughout the 25-lap main event race with Robbie Hyde, Kris McKean, Kent Jensen, Jerry McKean and Gomez all getting the honor at one lap or another. Gomez took over the lead with two laps remaining in the race and was just yards away from capturing his first win in the division. However McKean, who had been penalized a couple of positions on the restart after involvement with Kris McKean and Louis Lopez - who tried to sneak under the McKeans - brought out a caution, out-powered the rookie to swipe the win at the last possible .054 second.

Lopez, who led the point standings going into the night, finished fourth but clings to a four-point lead over Kenny Hatke. Jerry McKean now has a cinched up a seven-point difference between himself and leader Lopez.

Nine cars were entered in the main event race, one of the highest car counts of the season – and all the drivers put on a fantastic show.

NAPA Pony Stocks

Billi Miles took over the lead in the standings with a main event win – but the advantage is anything but comfortable as the margin between her and Jason Whited is only a single point.

Miles had to earn the win Saturday night as she battled Trent Champlin from lap 14 on. She was finally able to get around the No. 62 car of Champlin with nine laps remaining in the race, while Jason Whited and Josh Pitz fought with each other for third. It was Whited who ended up with the position with Pitz following a close fourth. Four races remain in the season for the class – and if the past is any indication the final race of the season could very well once again determine the track champion.

Quale’s Electronics Queen Bees

Misty Greco has been searching for a main event win the entire season, but she finally came through with the trip to the winner’s circle in her fifth attempt this year. Greco extended her lead in the point standing to 14 over Darcy Harcourt and 16 over Alecia Dalton as both drivers had less than desirable finishes.

There are three racing remaining in the division until the Queen Bee driver is crowned with the championship title for the 2007 season.

Idaho Six Cylinders Racing League

Pat Quinn, who has dominated the Magic Valley Speedway main event races in the past but was winless in three races so far this season, made his final visit to the Twin Falls track a memorable one by capturing a main event win. Quinn is moving to Dallas, Texas, therefore will no longer be racing in the division. He is a past champion in the class and was inducted into the ISRL Hall of Fame Saturday night along with being honored by his peers after his victory.

Quinn started the race at the very back of the field, but in typical Quinn fashion, he was right there at the end of the 30-lap main event.

See Also .:

• Magic Valley Speedway Track Page

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