InsideGroove - Race Report

ANTONETTI RETURNS FOR SECOND WIN

Bakersfield, CA --

Locked in the track championship fight at his home track in Watsonville but still trying to race as often as possible at Bakersfield Speedway Park, Joe Antonetti from Aptos returned to the 1/3 mile clay oval Saturday night and won the 20 lap main event for his second 2002 win there. The IMCA Modified action at the track in 2002 is sponsored by Engine Pros Inc. Having to replace a faulty transmission after racing in Chowchilla on Friday night, Matt Barrett came from 21st starting to place second ahead of point leader Rick Childress. Clyde Benson passed Robert Smith on the final lap to cross the finish line first in the 20 lap American Stock main event, but his car failed the post race vacuum test and Smith emerged with his first feature win. Smith also moved into third in points, just 28 behind point leader Roy DeGeer Sr in the Magoo's Pizza sponsored division.

There were 23 IMCA Modifieds in action and incoming point leader Rodney Jennings saw his night end early with a broken engine in hot laps. Heat winners were Jason Selvidge, Jeff Miller and Wes Richardson. The versatile Selvidge was coming off a pavement late model win at Mesa Marin on the previous weekend. Phil Cook again broke before the feature to leave 21 starters. Miller led the first 9 laps of the main event from his front row start. The 20 lapper was restarted after Bryson Lynch hit the wall. Selvidge settled into second and Lee Jensen took third from Richardson on lap 2. A tap from Lee Walker turned Richarsdson around for a lap 3 yellow and Walker was sent to the rear. Troy Morris Jr spun and was hit by Bill Stevens. Richardson was sent to the rear for spinning Andy Obertello. On lap 5, top runners Dutton and Jensen hooked bumpers and kept racing, getting lapped in the process. Antonetti took second from Selvidge on lap 8 and he took the lead from Miller on lap 10 with his Harris. Barrett had gained fourth on lap 9 and he took third from Obertello on lap 13. A spin by Tommy Gregory forced a lap 13 yellow and Jensen spun after taking the flag. His smoking mount hit the berm just right and Jensen ended up flipping onto his top. Miller pitted from 2nd on lap 17 and Antonetti won ahead of Barrett, Childress, Friday night Chowchilla crash victim Brad Pounds, Mike Corwin, Selvidge and Obertello. Even in his rookie modified season, the consistent Childress has stretched a 12 point lead on both Dutton and Corwin.

There were 21 American Stocks. Heat winners were Smith, Benson and Ricky Spicer. The track was too wet on their first attempt to start their 20 lap feature with several cars spinning out and pitting. Smith led early over R Spicer and Craig Houk. Benson took third from Houk on lap 4 and Jeremiah VanScoy was fourth on lap 5. Benson took second from R Spicer on lap 10 and point leader Roy DeGeer Sr climbed to fourth on lap 11. R Spicer regained second on lap 15, but he was sent to the rear for spinning leader Smith. Smith was restored to the lead. Benson then grabbed the lead from Smith only to have that move called rough driving also. Smith was restored to the lead

while Benson was just put back in second. Benson passed Smith cleanly on the final lap for the win only to fail the engine vacuum test and get disqualified. Smith was again restored to a spot, this time the win, with DeGeer Sr second ahead of Mark Hogue, J VanScoy, Danny Gott and Chris Aldridge. DeGeer Sr has a 15 point lead over Amy Hedden with Smith now 28 points out of the point lead.

With their increased car counts, the IMCA Modifieds have been selected to be featured at the May 4th show that will celebrate the 55th anniversay for the track. They will run a 50 lap main event in two 25 lap segements. The winner will collect $500 and second $350. Third will be worth $250 and fourth $150.

Summary American Stock Heat 1-Robert Smith, Matt Wankum, Danny Gott, Richie McGowan, Paul Weeden. Heat 2-Clyde Benson, Jeremiah VanScoy, Amy Hedden, Kyle Spicer, Walt Farris III. Heat 3-Ricky Spicer, Roy DeGeer Jr, Craig Houk, Roy DeGeer Sr, Mark Hogue. Main-Smith, DeGeer Sr, Hogue, J VanScoy, Gott, Chris Aldridge, DeGeer Jr, Jack Little, Houk, Wankum, Lonnie Boatman, Hedden, Perry VanScoy, McGowan, Weeden, Farris, K Spicer, Jason Loth, Jesse Bowles. IMCA Modified Heat 1-Jason Selvidge, Brad Pounds, Lin Deines, Andy Obertello, Bill Gates. Heat 2-Jeff Miller, Gary Dutton, Lee Jensen, Lee Walker, Jim Deines. Heat 3-Wes Richardson, Joe Antonetti, Tom Gregory, Mike Corwin, Rick Childress. Main-Antonetti, Matt Barrett, Childress, Pounds, Corwin, Selvidge, Obertello, Walker, Richardson, L Deines, Mike Scott, Gregory, J Deines, Dutton, Miller, Jay Hester, Jensen, Troy Morris Jr, Gates, Bill Stevens, Bryson Lynch.

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