InsideGroove - Race Report

HOLTZ AND THOMPSON SHARE TWIN WINS AT MESA MARIN

Bakersfield, CA --

NASCAR late model point leader Dan Holtz and Kevin Thompson from Cypress shared the feature wins as Mesa Marin Raceway ran a twin 50 lap feature format for the late models Saturday night. Holtz had lost the lead late in the first 50 lapper to visitor Brandon Whitt, but Whitt broke late in that race and Holtz won over K Thompson. Whitt was also a key player in the second race as he dueled K Thompson for that win right up to the checkered flag. Holtz increased his point lead to 38 points as chief point rival Brandon Miller had a tough night after also falling out in the Sears Point Southwest Series action that afternoon. Brian Richardson scored a clean sweep in the limited late model action, setting fast time and posting wins in both the dash and 40 lap feature. Richardson took the lead on lap 12 and completely dominated the last half of the race. Shane Thompson was disqualified from his finishing spot and Tom Devitt finished second over Ron Daniel. The street stock 25 lapper saw a four way fight for the lead on the final lap with Josh Horn getting by for his second win of the season. Billy Tucker ran second over Doug Foos and Jeff Beard.

Holtz was the fastest of the ten late models in time trials with his 18.965 lap. Whitt turned a 19.043, Kevin Small a 19.098 and Sammy Potashnick a 19.200. In the first 50 lapper, Miller and Potashnick tangled in turn 2 collecting Small and Leslie Lipscomb. Small was the only car able to return to that 50 lapper. Holtz grabbed the lead, but was chased down and passed by Whitt on lap 35. On lap 47, Whitt lost power and Holtz drove back into the lead for the win. K Thompson also got by the fading Whitt for second. Lance Wilson ran fourth over Small. Lipscomb, Potashnick and Shane Thompson were all unable to answer the call for the second 50 lapper. Holtz won the first 50 lapper despite losing his brakes midway through the race and slapping the wall on lap 47. In the second 50 lapper, Holtz built a 10 car length lead in 8 laps. Something broke in his rear end and the K Thompson-Whitt lead duel drove by him. K Thompson led the final 22 laps, but was challenged hard by Whitt. On the last of the 50 laps, they had to manuever around the lapped car of Wilson and K Thompson picked the right line to post the win. Holtz limped to a third over Wilson and Steve Lewis. Holtz now holds a 38 point lead over Miller, who is 40 points ahead of K Thompson. Small is 13 points back of K Thompson.

In the limited late models, Richardson's fast time effort was a 20.643. Point leader Gene Fife turned a 20.738 with Shane Thompson, Daniel and Devitt also into the 20's. Richardson won the dash over Fife and Devitt was the heat winner with Kevin James second. Fife crashed early in the 40 lap feature while running third. Richardson took the lead on lap 12 and he was never challenged. S Thompson outraced Devitt for second, but got disqualified in tech with Devitt finishing 2nd over Daniel, Riale, Jeff Smith and Marlin Gill. Richardson cut Fife's point lead to 17 points with Devitt 18 points back of Richardson. Riale is 4th, just four points ahead of Daniel.

J R Garcia was the quickest of the 14 street stocks at 23.770. Jeff Beard turned a 23.825, Billy Tucker a 23.857 and Lloyd Wren Jr a 23.867. Wren beat Horn in the dash and Josh Robinson won the heat race over Foos and David Hutchins Jr. Tehachapi racer Foos took the lead in the 25 lap main, but he was quickly chased down by Tucker. Horn, Beard and Wren all caught the two leaders. The last lap saw the multi-car duel for the win threading their way through slower cars. Horn won his second race ahead of Tucker, Foos, Beard, Wren, Garcia and Robert Faihtinger. Horn now holds a 29 point lead over Robinson, who was 13th. Garcia is ranked third over Beard and Wren.

The first Chevron High School Series race of the season saw the first ever female winner as Jerina Parks from Valley High outran Rebecca Brewer of North High. South High's Cesear Murot was third over Alpaugh High, Porterville High and Kern Valley High. Bud Bonner of Kern Coutny Fire won the 911 Race for Youth event for a second straight time. Mike Reed of Bakersfield Police was second over Steven Crow of Kern County Schools.

Summary Street Stock Fast Time-J R Garcia 23.770 Dash-Lloyd Wren Jr, Josh Horn, Jeff Beard. Heat-Josh Robinson, Doug Foos, David Hutchins Jr, Anthony Gillespie, Robert Faihtinger. Main-Horn, Billy Tucker, Foos, Beard, Wren, Garcia, Faihtinger, Hutchins, Gillespie, Luke Dawson, House Car, Ron Rogers, Robinson, Jeb Bailey. Limited Late Model Fast Time-Brian Richardson 20.643 Dash-Richardson, Gene Fife, Ron Daniel. Heat-Tom Devitt, Kevin James, Mike Riale, Marlin Gill, John Compton. Main-Richardson, Devitt, Daniel, Riale, Jeff Smith, Gill, James, Compton, Fife. Late Model Fast Time-Dan Holtz 18.965 1st Main-Holtz, Kevin Thompson, Bradon Whitt, Lance Wilson, Kevin Small, Steve Lewis, Shane Thompson, Brandon Miller, Sammy Potashnick, Leslie Lipscomb. 2nd Main-K Thompson, Whitt, Holtz, Wilson, Lewis, Small, Miller.

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