InsideGroove - Race Report

RAY LAWSON JR POSTS SECOND SRL LATE MODEL FEATURE WIN

Madera, CA --

After posting second fast time, veteran Ray Lawson Jr drove to his second SRL Late Model Tri-Track Challenge Series 100 lap feature win Saturday night at Madera Speedway. His win was worth $2,000 and Ken Boyd finished a $1,300 second. Series point leader Nathan Tucker had his two race Madera Speedway winning streak snapped, but he still managed a third place run worth $900. Roger Galleano settled for second fast time and ran third in the heat race, but raced to another feature win in the SRL Lite (360 Super Modified) main event. Double division racer Donnie Large won the SRL Truck main and ran second to Galleano in the SRL Lite feature. Sacramento's John Johnson continued his domination of the Pro Four action at the paved 1/3 mile oval. He set fast time and won the feature with Greg Stefani second in the main event. The Pro Four trucks had their biggest turnout to date with 12 in action. Former Altamont Raceway regular Gary Franks won the main event ahead of Tim Fernandez Jr and former Merced dirt track champion Kevin Lockerby. For the first time, the Toyota Sedans were added to the SRL night with a non-point race. Fast timer Shannon Kawahata won the main ahead of Carrie Patton.

Coming just a week after an action filled Altamont race and conflicting with a double feature night in Stockton, the late models had a 13 car turnout at Madera. Rookie late model racer Chad Nichols, a veteran open wheel campaigner, easily set fast time with the year's quickest lap of 14.58. Lawson, who also had an extensive open wheel background before settling into the late models, was second at 14.73. Altamont winner and an another impressive rookie, Jeff Anthony, was third quick at 14.81 and Boyd ran a 14.82 lap. Ten of the 13 cars broke into the 14 second bracket in time trials. David Philpott ran a 14.92, but was a feature scratch to leave a dozen car field for the 100 lapper. Lawson raced to the rich win ahead of Boyd, Tucker, Tim Stratmeyer, rookie go kart graduate Gene Garrett, Anthony, Nichols and Scott Sanchez.

The SRL Lites appeared with six cars and dirt track convert A J Burgin set fast time with his 13.55 lap, but broke in the process and was done for the night. Galleano was second fast at 13.59 with Jim Birges just a tick back at 13.64. Birges won the heat race over Large, who was the final 13 second car at 13.90. Galleano drove to the main event win in front of Large, Carl Johnson, Al Harney and Birges. The SRL Trucks were also six strong. Large paced time trials with his 16.03 lap compared to the 16.08 of second fast Chris Smith. Nathan Kircher ran a 16.19. Smith won the heat race over Kircher and Marty Wagner. In the main, it was Large on top of Smith, Rick Thompson, Wagner, Kevin Terris and Kircher.

The Pro Four turnout of 9 cars was their lowest of the 2001 season. Johnson's fast lap was a 14.85 with usual fast time rival Chuck Scott right behind at 14.99. John Riparetti had a 15.10 and G Stefani a 15.59. Johnson won the main event ahead of Stefani, Chad Pais, Bob Comstock and Rob Thompson. Lockerby easily set fast time for the 12 Pro Four Trucks with his 17.60 lap as Fernandez Jr was the only other 17 second entrant at 17.98. Franks ran a 18.17 and Larry Bohringer a 18.35. In the main event, it was Franks on top of Fernandez Jr, Lockerby, another former dirt tracker Ed Parker, Chowchilla dominator Bob Terry, Bohringer, Robert Harrison and Guido Delguidice. The last minute addition of the Toyota Sedans drew a 9 car field. The last car to time, Shannon Kawahata, was the fastest at 18.28 as Wayne DePriest ran a 18.51, Jim Wood a 18.66 and usual open wheel racer David Gassett filled in with a 18.83. Kawahata won the main event ahead of Patton, Jeff Fitch, DePriest, John McCollum Jr and Gassett.

Summary Toyota Sedan Fast Time-Shannon Kawahata 18.28 Main-Kawahata, Carrie Patton, Jeff Fitch, Wayne DePriest, John McCollum Jr, David Gassett, Jim Wood, Donnie Large Jr, Stuart Ruckman. Pro Four Truck Fast Time-Kevin Lockerby 17.60 Main-Gary Franks, Tim Fernandez Jr, Lockerby, Ed Parker, Bob Terry, Larry Bohringer, Robert Harrison, Guido Delguidice, Rick Williamson, Tim Fernandez Sr, Jim Mattson, Mike Sims. Pro Four Fast Time-John Johnson 14.85 Main-Johnson, Greg Stefani, Chad Pais, Bob Comstock, Rob Thompson, Mike Frieson, Chuck Scott, John Riparetti, Brandon Hayes. SRL Truck Fast Time-Donnie Large 16.03 Heat-Chris Smith, Nathan Kircher, Marty Wagner, Kevin Terris, Rick Thompson. Main-Large, Smith, Thompson, Wagner, Terris, Kircher. SRL Lite Fast Time-A J Burgin 13.55 Heat-Jim Birges, Donnie Large, Roger Galleano, Carl Johnson, Al Harney. Main-Galleano, Large, Johnson, Harney, Birges. SRL Late Model Fast Time-Chad Nichols 14.58 Main-Ray Lawson Jr, Ken Boyd, Nathan Tucker, Tim Stratmeyer, Gene Garrett, Jeff Anthony, Nichols, Scott Sanchez, Jesse Apodaca, Jeff McCoun, Cory Petero, Greg Potts.

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