MADRID GET MAIN EVENT WIN #117 FRI. NITE AT MANZANITA SPEEDWAY

Source: Windy McDonald
Date: 06/14/2008

PHOENIX, Arizona -- Racing on Friday the Thirteenth was no problem for Anthony Madrid. He had the pole for Friday night’s factory stock car feature at Manzanita Speedway and was never seriously challenged as he led all 20 laps for his third factory stock car win of the year. It also marked his 117th career win in several different divisions. Behind Madrid at the checkered flag were Chris Tipton and Bobby Erdman. Bobby Taylor took fourth ahead of William McCullough. Rounding out the top ten were Steve Shumaker, Lyle Askren, Jr., Matt Martinez, Paul Arseneau and Daren Olney.

If points leader Ron Poe did not fret about Friday the Thirteenth, he probably does now. Poe started the feature race in the fourth row and was running third when he blew a right rear tire on the fifth lap. He wisely limped around the track and was still on the lead lap when Olney spun on the front straightaway, bringing out the yellow flag. Poe went to the work area and his crew replaced the tire and he joined the 20 car field at the rear of the pack.

He put on a great drive that had him back in the top five with three laps remaining when he blew the right rear tire again. He faded to 16th at the checkered flag. His finish, coupled with a third place finish by Erdman, erased most of the 39 point head he carried into the race. Erdman is now only 11 points in arrears.

The night started off with the running of the four lap trophy dash and Taylor won his first dash of the year with Erdman, Matt Martinez and Tipton in pursuit.

The 26 car field ran three eight lap heat races with the top five from each transferring to the feature. Madrid came out of the fourth row and won his fourth heat of the year. Tipton finished second, Poe was third, Taylor fourth and Arseneau earned the final transfer spot. The second heat was also won from the fourth row as Martinez wasted little time in moving through the field for his first win in heat race competition. Behind him in the transfer positions were Shumaker, Troy Mangano, Olney and J.C. Parmely who was making his first start at Manzy. The final heat went to Erdman who started sixth. He beat Richard Kirn, McCullough, Askren and Danny Pearson.

The final five spots in the feature were filled through the running of a ten lap semi main. Brent Radtke moved through the field from his ninth starting berth and beat John Glenn, Mike Lilly, Bob Millan and Ron Nies.

Chris Snyder, the defending dwarf car champion, avoided numerous crashes on his way to his third win of the season, He took the lead on the ninth lap after early leaders Kelly Jenkins and Randy Johnson crashed. Jenkins was able to continue and finished seventh. Six time champion Kevin Cain was second and Taylor Cuzick took third. Steve Davis was fourth, his fifth top five finish of the year, and Kevin Stalbaum came from 14th to fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Chad Stewart, Kelly Jenkins, Troy Wilkinson, Eddie O’Neill and Rat Stafford.

Friday the Thirteen cost JJ LeMoine his points lead. He was involved in a lap ten crash that sent his car flipping on the back straightaway. He was uninjured but his night ended early. Sandy Matthews and Todd Bennett also fell victim to hard luck . Matthews, the 2005 champion was battling for the lead as the cars worked turn two on the second lap. He made contact with Chuck Vallone’s pick-up when the leader got loose. He ran over a wheel on Vallone’s mount and did two hard snap rolls. He was hit by Todd Bennett found the track blocked and did a snap roll after hitting Matthew’s flipping car. Both drivers were okay but their cars were out for the night.

The 29 car field ran four six lap heat races with the top four from each earning their way into the feature. Cuzick moved from fourth to first on the initial lap and then held off a challenge from Snyder for the win. Vallone was third ahead of Brian Stehr and Stalbaum. The second heat went to Steve Kapaun who notched his first win of the year. Putting on the pressure were Denny Dowty, Johnson, Mike McGrellis and Wilkinson. The third heat was won by Cain who started seventh. Behind him at the finish line were Jenkins, Matthews, Stewart and Davis. The fourth heat belonged to Jim Gemmell who beat Jerry Hartnett, Bennett, Stafford and O’Neill.

The eight lap semi main was won by Davis with Wilkinson, LeMoine, Jesse Patterson and Randy Haugen in pursuit.

Becky Madrid scored her third win of the year with a wire to wire run in the lady stocks. Becky was at the wheel of the Justin Upton car that her husband had driven to a convincing win. Savannah Tinch was third ahead of Amanda Lilly, Amber Taylor, Ashley Martinez and Monique Michael.

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