InsideGroove - Race Report

FIRST WINS FOR BOTH JEFF MILLER AND ROBERT SMITH

Bakersfield, CA --

Having recently sold his late model and moved back into the IMCA Modifieds, Jeff Miller won his first 20 lap IMCA Modified main event Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway Park. Miller won his heat and paced the final 19 laps of the 20 lapper after spinning to force a restart. Miller was very competitive with the dirt late model, but some changes on the team left them without the financing to continue in that class. Buck Cox ran second and cut Steve Smothermon's point lead to just 9 points as rookie Mike Scott had a season best third place run. With his run, Scott moved past Gary Dutton into fourth in track points. Fourth ranked American Stock racer Robert Smith led just the final 3 laps to win the 20 lap feature after he chased down Mark Hogue. Bunny Howell ran second, but gained little ground on point leader Joe Goatcher who finished 3rd.

The 12 IMCA Modifieds were split into a pair of qualifying heat races. Dutton won the first from the back row over fellow back row starter Jason Selvidge. Miller took heat 2 from the pole with back row starter Bill Saltzman in second. Saltzman scratched his own car from the feature and jumped into the Ken Hobson car. Bill Gates survived hot laps for the first time in a month and shared the front row with Miller for the 20 lapper. Miller spun and was hit by Troy Morris Jr to force a restart and Gates led the first scored lap over Miller and Scott. Dutton had a flat right front tire on lap 2 as Miller took the lead from Gates. Scott moved into second on lap 3 and sixth starter Cox was third on lap 7. Cox passed Scott for second on lap 9 and the only caution fell on lap 11 as Selvidge lost a motor. The leaders ran in order for the final 9 laps with Miller winning over Cox, Scott, Morris, point leader Smothermon, Gates, Jim Deines and Lin Deines. Third ranked Morris is 15 points back of Cox and 26 ahead of Scott.

The American Stocks had an 18 car turnout with Chett Reeves winning heat 1 from the pole over Warren Smith and Howell. Outside front row starter David Wolford won heat 2 over Goatcher, who started on the pole. Danny Gott was the only feature scratch. W Smith and Walt Farris III shared the front row for the start and Farris paced the first 9 laps. W Smith made an inside run at leader Farris and pulled alongside on lap 4 only to slip back to third on lap 5 as R Smith took over second. Hogue was coming fast from 9th starting and he charged into second on lap 6. When Hogue made an inside pass on Farris for the lead on lap 10, R Smith, Goatcher and Howell all followed him into the 2-3-4 slots. The race ran the final 14 laps without a yellow flag. Wolford pitted on lap 16 and R Smith pulled alongside leader Hogue on lap 17. Hogue fell back as R Smith and Howell battled for the lead over the final 3 laps. R Smith won over Howell and Goatcher with Reeves winning a photo finish call with Lee for fourth. Hogue settled for sixth ahead of Ricky Spicer. Goatcher's 9th top five finish left him 22 points ahead of Reeves and 60 ahead of Howell. R Smith is just 7 points back of Howell.

Summary American Stock Heat 1-Chett Reeves, Warren Smith, Bunny Howell, Mark Hogue, Clyde Benson. Heat 2-David Wolford, Joe Goatcher, Robert Smith, Mike McInnerray, Ricky Spicer. Main-R Smith, Howell, Goatcher, Reeves, Mike Lee, Hogue, Spicer, McInnerray, Craig Houk, Matt Waukum, Walt Farris III, Wolford, Richard Graves, W Smith, Benson, Johnny Morales, Mark Gallindo. IMCA Modified Heat 1-Gary Dutton, Jason Selvidge, Mike Scott, Bill Gates, Troy Morris Jr. Heat 2-Jeff Miller, Bill Saltzman, Buck Cox, Jim Deines, Ken Hobson. Main-Miller, Cox, Scott, Morris, Steve Smothermon, Gates, J Deines, Lin Deines, Saltzman, Selvidge, Dutton
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