InsideGroove - Race Report

DUTTON WINS SECOND STRAIGHT, FIRST FOR WALT FARRIS III

Bakersfield, CA --

Gary Dutton took just 4 laps to take the lead from 4th starting and he won his second straight 20 lap IMCA Modified main event Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway Park. The win paid $300 and point leader Steve Smothermon ran second ahead of the 2001 debut for Wayne Coffman. The 1/3 mile clay oval was watered just before the 20 lap American Stock feature and Walt Farris III ran an extreme outside groove as he paced the race wire to wire for a career first win. Robert Smith moved into second on lap 10 and finished there with Johnny Morales running third. The 20 lapper ran the distance without a yellow flag and the track offers a $100 bonus to a randomly selected driver whenever this happens. Wesley Allen, the first car out of the race, collected the bonus in a class that runs for no purse.

The 12 modifieds were split into two heat races, but Bill Gates lost an engine in hot laps. Dutton won his heat from 4th starting over Jeff Miller, who has moved back down from the CarQuest late models. Buck Cox also came from 4th starting to win the second heat over rookie Mike Scott. Scott and Jim Deines shared the front row with Lin Deines and Dutton in row 2. Scott led the opening lap over Dutton and J Deines. The yellow fell on lap 1 for a spin by L Deines. Troy Morris Jr spun out of fifth on lap 4 with Dutton using an inside move in turn 3 to take the lead from Scott. Smothermon was now third ahead of Coffman. A tap from Coffman turned Scott around on lap 7 and Scott lost a lap before he could get refired. Dutton had built a 1/4 lap lead over Smothermon when Coffman spun for a lap 9 yellow. Kenny Farris spun with a flat tire for a lap 10 yellow and Cox was now third over Miller. Matt Barrett gained fourth in the Scott Pounds car when Miller spun on lap 12. Cox had just passed Smothermon for 2nd when he hit the front wall hard for a lap 14 yellow flag. Both Barrett and Miller saw strong runs end as they dropped drive lines and Dutton fought off the challenges of Smothermon for the win. Coffman ran third over L Deines and Cox, the final lead lap finisher.

The American Stocks had a 19 car turnout, but it was a tough night on equipment as only 15 were able to start their 20 lap feature. Mike Lee borrowed the Dale Brunson car and won heat 1 over Morales. Mark Hogue won heat 2 with Farris second. R Smith won heat 3 over Ricky Spicer and Warren Smith. Newcomer Billy Sanders hit the wall hard in this heat and joined David Wolford, Perry VanScoy and Clyde Benson as feature scratches. Previous race winner Chett Reeves fell far back after a first lap spin as Farris raced into the lead over W Smith. Hogue took third from Morales on lap 2 and passed W Smith on the outside for 2nd on lap 4. Hogue's car began to smoke heavily and he was blackflagged. Wesley Allen dropped out after a couple infield excursions with Morales now second over R Smith and W Smith. R Smith got inside Morales for 2nd on lap 10 and Lee took fourth from W Smith. Bunny Howell was a late dropout as Farris won over R Smith, Morales, Lee, point leader Joe Goatcher, W Smith, Tom Klamorick and Reeves.

Summary American Stock Heat 1-Mike Lee, Johnny Morales, Chett Reeves, Bunny Howell, Wesley Allen. Heat 2-Mark Hogue, Walt Farris III, Bryson Lynch, Clyde Benson, Jeremiah VanScoy. Heat 3-Robert Smith, Ricky Spicer, Warren Smith, Joe Goatcher, Billy Sanders. Main-Farris, R Smith, Morales, Lee, Goatcher, W Smith, Tom Klamorick, Reeves, Spicer, Lynch, VanScoy, Howell, Hogue, Chance McCutcheon, Allen. IMCA Modified Heat 1-Gary Dutton, Jeff Miller, Jim Deines, Kenny Farris, Steve Smothermon. Heat 2-Buck Cox, Mike Scott, Troy Morris Jr, Lin Deines, Wayne Coffman. Main-Dutton, Smothermon, Coffman, L Deines, Cox, J Deines, Scott, Morris, Farris, Miller, Matt Barrett.

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