InsideGroove - Race Report

SECOND WINS FOR MILLER AND FARRIS

Bakersfield, CA --

Almost scratching from the feature because of the way that his car was running, Jeff Miller borrowed a carburetor from fellow competitor Bill Gates and led the final 15 laps to win the 20 lap IMCA Modified main event Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway Park. Point leader Steve Smothermon ran second as Miller gained his second win in the four starts that he has made since moving back from the dirt late models. Walt Farris III led the final 11 laps to win the 20 lap American Stock main for his second win of the 2001 season. Throughout the month of August, Bakersfield Speedway Park is allowing the teams to remove their roofs in a Hot August Nights promotion. All the divisions except the IMCA Modifieds are involved as the IMCA rules will not allow it. The top finisher without a roof in each race will pocket a $50 bonus. Third place Perry VanScoy was the highest finishing American Stock and he pocketed the $50 in a class that races for trophies only. This week, four super streets, 7 hobby stocks and three American Stocks removed their roofs. Chett Reeves took over the American Stock point lead with his second place finish.

The IMCA Modifieds had a 12 car turnout. Gary Dutton won the first heat from the back row with fellow back row starter Smothermon second. Ventura Raceway regular Kathy Pierson visited Bakersfield and won the second heat from last starting as Mike Scott ran second. Buck Cox had car problems and scrambled through the pits to find a replacement ride. He ended up in the Kenny Farris car for the 20 lap feature. Pole starter Bill Gates led the first 5 laps of the 20 lapper. Miller started 4th, took third from Dutton on lap 3 and passed Scott for second on lap 4. Miller took the lead from Gates on lap 6 and Smothermon was second on lap 7. Dutton shuffled Scott back to fifth before some contact racing put 2000 California State Champion Bill Saltzman in the fence. Scott retook fourth from Dutton the restart and Pierson began a late charge, taking over fifth on lap 13. Scott's strong recent efforts took a blow when he lost an engine on lap 17. Pierson leaped to third on the restart, but ran out of laps in her attempt to catch leaders Miller and Smothermon. Troy Morris Jr spun late running fourth and Pierson ran third over Dutton, Gates, Cox, Jim Deines and Lin Deines. Smothermon's point lead is now 13 points over Cox and 31 over Morris.

The American Stocks had a 24 car turnout and 22 survived to start the 20 lap feature. Heat action saw Clyde Benson win the first heat from the front row with Farris second. Mike Lee won heat 2 over Bunny Howell. Outside front row starter Warren Smith led the first 9 laps. Mark Galindo had a flat on the first lap. Benson settled into second over Farris with Johnny Morales stalling for a lap 5 yellow. Lee raced into fourth, but pitted on lap 7 as Farris took second from Benson. Point leader Joe Goatcher took third from Benson on lap 8 and Chett Reeves was up to fourth at the midway mark. Benson pitted and Farris took the lead from W Smith on lap 10. Reeves gained third over Ricky Spicer as Goatcher dropped out. VanScoy took fourth from Spicer on lap 17 and winner Farris was fighting an overheating problem in the closing laps. Farris won over Reeves as a late spin dropped W Smith back to a sixth place finish. VanScoy was third over Howell and Spicer. Mark Hogue was 7th over Bryson Lynch. Goatcher's failure to finish cost him the point lead with Reeves the new point leader by just five points over Goatcher. Howell is only 41 points out of the point lead and Robert Smith is fourth, 33 points back of Howell.

Summary American Stock Heat 1-Clyde Benson, Walt Farris III, Chett Reeves, Ricky Spicer, Robert Smith. Heat 2-Mike Lee, Bunny Howell, Neil Danner, Roy Degeer. Main-Farris, Reeves, Perry VanScoy, Howell, Spicer, Warren Smith, Mark Hogue, Bryson Lynch, Richard Reed, Degeer, Jesse Bowles, Danner, Bart Wilburn, Richard Graves, Joe Goatcher, R Smith, Lee, Benson, Mark Galindo, David Wolford, Christine Carl, Johnny Morales. IMCA Modified Heat 1-Gary Dutton, Steve Smothermon, Bill Gates, Bill Saltzman, Lin Deines. Heat 2-Kathy Pierson, Mike Scott, Jeff Miller, Kenny Farris, Troy Morris Jr. Main-Miller, Smothermon, Pierson, Dutton, Gates, Buck Cox, Jim Deines, L Deines, Morris, Scott, Saltzman.

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