InsideGroove - Race Report

DUTTON LEADS EARLY, REEVES LATE IN BAKERSFIELD WINS

Bakersfield, CA --

After posting three second place finishes earlier this season, Gary Dutton broke through with his first IMCA Modified feature win of the 2001 season Saturday night. Dutton led from lap 2 on and Buck Cox ran second from lap 4 to the checkered flag at lap 20. Cox used his second place run combined with the fact that Steve Smothermon lost a lap changing a flat to pull within two points of Smothermon in the track title fight. Troy Morris Jr is only five points out of the point lead following his 7th place run. In a crash very similar to Scott Pounds late model crash the previous week, Rick Jenkins crashed hard into the concrete wall at the pit entrance. He was briefly knocked unconscious and had to be transported to the hospital for obsevation. Leading the final four laps after his inside pass of Tom Klamorick, Chett Reeves posted his second 20 lap American Stock win of the season. Reeves was celebrating his 27th birthday. Klamorick crossed the finish line in second, but was disqualified in tech. Point leader Joe Goatcher ran fourth and holds a 25 point lead over new runnerup Reeves.

The 12 IMCA Modifieds were split into two heat races. Jenkins won the first over Jeff Miller, who returned to the class that he had success in. Cox beat track webmaster Mike Scott in heat 2. Polestarter Scott spun to force a restart in their 20 lapper. Jenkins then had his fierce looking crash and the race was restarted single file. Smothermon lost a lap changing a flat early in the race and Dutton led Cox, Morris and L Deines by lap 4. Kenny Farris lost fire running second. Morris spun out of third for a lap 5 yellow and Miller broke into the top five on lap 7. Miller and Morris tangled for a lap 9 yellow and Scott retired. Jim Deines took third from his wife L Deines on lap 15 and Miller was fourth a lap later. Dutton won over Cox and J Deines. Not knowing that Smothermon was down, Miller saw four cars in the claim area and did not report in. Miller was disqualified to move Bill Gates into fourth ahead of L Deines and Smothermon.

There were 20 American Stocks and heat winners were third row starter Mike Lee, pole starter Walt Farris III and fourth starting Goatcher. Perry VanScoy started on the pole for their 20 lap feature and paced five laps before 9th starter Lee took over. Ricky Spicer had a flat running third and P VanScoy pitted on lap 8 to shuffle the standings. Lee now led Klamorick, Goatcher and Reeves. Goatcher took second from Klamorick on lap 12. On lap 16, David Wolford spun and he was hit headon by leader Lee. Goatcher pitted during the red flag to hand the lead to Klamorick. Reeves took over second and got underneath Klamorick on lap 17 for the win. With Klamorick getting disqualified in tech, Howell moved into second ahead of Robert Smith, Goatcher, Hood, Wesley Allen and Warren Smith. Besides the 25 point lead that Goatcher has on Reeves, Wolford is 32 points back and Howell trails by 39 points.

Summary American Stock Heat 1-Joe Goatcher, Tom Klamorick, Mark Hogue, Craig Houk, Danny Gott. Heat 2-Mike Lee, Perry VanScoy, Ricky Spicer, David Wolford, Bunny Howell. Heat 3-Walt Farris III, Robert Smith, Chett Reeves, Robert Boardman, Bryson Lynch. Main-Reeves, Howell, R Smith, Goatcher, Houk, Wesley Allen, Warren Smith, Lee, Wolford, Farris, Lynch, Jeremiah VanScoy, George Wiley, Spicer, P VanScoy, Tom Dragoun, Hogue, Boardman. IMCA Modified Heat 1-Rick Jenkins, Jeff Miller, Troy Morris Jr, Jim Deines, Lin Deines. Heat 2-Buck Cox, Mike Scott, Steve Smothermon, Kenny Farris, Gary Dutton. Main-Dutton, Cox, J Deines, Bill Gates, L Deines, Smothermon, Morris, Jay Hesner, Farris, Scott, Rick Jenkins.

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