ERIC WILLIAMSON, JOHN DALERIO, JEREMY HOPKINS AND NOEL MCCORMACK SHINE ON MEMORIAL WEEKEND.

Source: Bob Cook
Date: 05/30/2008

A parade down Main Street in Lakeport Ca. kicked off the weekend. Lakeport Speedway had several entries to show off how much fun it is at the speedway. The World Famous 2 Man Bombers made a showing, as well as Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, the Boat Racers and even Airport Auto Brokers Late Model point leader Noel McCormack JR and fellow racer Eric Williamson showing off the Best Appearing car in the late model division.

16 cars qualified for the weekend Airport Auto Brokers Late Model events, sponsored by ALL IN ONE STOP Tire and Brake. Kevin Estep set fast time with a 12.116, Mike Lovell 12.164, John Dalerio driving Mikey Lovell’s #15 machine with a 12.184, Noel McCormack JR 12.205 and Jeremy Hopkins qualified 5th with a 12.225.

The cars qualifying 11 through 16 ran the Saturday night trophy dash. Steve McClean started on the pole, Williamson on the outside. Williamson took advantage of his position and took off on the first lap; he never looked back as he easily won the caution free 6 lap event. Jarred Beddow, Dan Knight, Derek Lovell, Steve Taylor, McClean and Mike Swaney followed in that order.

The Saturday night main consisted of the fastest 10 cars for 25 laps with a full field invert. This put Jim Stillman on the pole and Charlie Collins on the outside. Collins made the outside work as he grabbed the lead on the start. The first and only yellow for the night was on lap 4 for McCormack and Estep in turn 4.McCormack was out for the night and Estep restarted in the back. After the yellow, Hopkins, Kevin Ostern and Mike Lovell charged to the front using the outside groove. Collins held the lead for 18 laps and it looked like he was slated to win when the hard charging Jeremy Hopkins got the lead on lap 19 and opened the door for Ostern and Lovell to follow with a 2nd and 3rd place finish. Collins came in 4th and Stillman, Estep, Forrest Kuecker and David Furia filling in for Bill Binns rounded out the top 8.

Sunday started us with wild weather, and the rain put an early stop to practice. The drivers wondered if we were ever going to start, but we were gifted with a clear cool night. David Furia, Danny and Wendy Mcintire and crew were not going to let the rain ruin the evening; they kept working on the track and were very successful getting the track dry just in time to start the dashes.

The Sunday dash consisted of the 6 fastest qualifying cars. Kuecker started on the pole, with Dalerio on his outside. Everyone was wondering if we would have the same outside groove that we saw on Saturday, after all that rain. Dalerio showed it was still there by assuming the lead on the start. A yellow came out on lap 4 for Estep who broke in turn 1 and was out for the night. Dalerio took the win followed by Kuecker, Ostern, Hopkins and McCormack.

The Airport Auto Brokers Late Model / ALL IN ONE STOP Tire and Brake main brought us 18 cars for 50 laps. Sean Caturegli and Mike Bourbon showed up for the Sunday show without a qualifying time and were assigned to the back row. The Excitement started at the green flag when Hopkins, who started on the outside pole, tangled with Collins. Collins was able to keep his pole position while Hopkins was moved to the end of the field, although this would not hold him back. The race restarted with Collins holding the pole and Dalerio on his outside. Dalerio took the lead on the start and held it the next 7 laps. McCormack came up from his 5th place start and took over the lead on lap 8, quickly putting a few car lengths between him and the rest of the field. The next 17 laps showed a lot of side by side racing for 2nd 3rd and 4th. Lap 35 Kuecker brought out a yellow and this bunched up the field again. On the restart, McCormack is in the lead followed by Dalerio, Beddow, and Hopkins in 4th. The next 10 laps brought out 2 more yellows on laps 37 and 45.With 5laps to go, the race was on for 2nd and 3rd. McCormack was leading and Beddow and Hopkins were battling side by side for the last 3 laps. Last lap, Hopkins passed Beddow to finish 2nd. Finish order, McCormack, Hopkins, Beddow, Dalerio, Stillman, Collins, Ostern, Caturegli, Binns, Steve Taylor, Williamson, Knight, Mclean, Kuecker, Mike Bourbon, Swaney, Todd Coburn (filling in for Mike Lovell), and Kevin Estep.

Next race is May 31, 2008

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