See Also GRIFFIN AND KIRKPATRICK GET $500 HANFORD WINS 10/22/2004 SHERIDAN CONTINUES HANFORD MASTERY WITH $500 WIN 10/22/2004 FIFTEENTH TO FIRST IN 19 LAPS FOR ROBBY SAWYER 10/23/2004 ROBERT MILLER BATTLES TO HANFORD WIN 10/23/2004 BIGGEST CAREER WIN FOR YOUNG ARRON CHANEY 10/23/2004

Hanford, CA --

Breaking the longest standing jinx that he has had in his racing career, California Clash champion Steve Drake from San Luis Obispo paced the final 27 laps to score a $3000 win in the Western Dirt Track Nationals 30 lap dirt late model feature on Saturday night. A contender every time that he visits the 3/8 mile clay oval, this was the very first feature win for Drake here. Drake wheels a Rocket Chassis using a Cornett engine. This was Drake’s 11th feature win of 2004 and second big October victory as he pocketed $3000 for a Santa Maria 100 lap win three weeks ago. An invert 4 lineup put Drake third on the grid and he took second from Mike Johnson on lap 3 and the lead from Dick Shepherd on lap 4. It was a tough night for many of the top runners and Friday night Kings Clash winner Billy Griffin ran second in the Rick Fringer Warrior after passing Shepherd on lap 7. Getting his best finishes in the first and last races of the season, Bill Pearson from Sparks NV ran third in his Rocket ahead of Bart Reid and Jeff Decker.

The dirt late model car count grew to 31 cars with the Saturday additions of Dana Nelson, Devin Crockett and Doug Hayes. Hayes is an IMCA Modified driver making his dirt late model debut. Doug Thompson did not return after breaking an engine on Friday night. The 12 lap B Main had 14 starters and transferred the top six into the A Main. The event got off to a wild start with a first lap red flag as Crockett flipped wildily off the top of turn 3. He was unhurt, but his car suffered heavy damage. Chet Buckley’s night was also over as the Pete VanIderstine owned car had broken steering. Bakersfield $5000 winner Richard Papenhausen led all 12 laps for the win. Scott Mauldin was out on lap 1 for a second straight night and Bill Bartels settled into second ahead of Robbie Witwer. Eric Jacobsen took third from Witwer on lap 3 and ran off the backstretch as he passed B Bartels for second on lap 6. Danny Bohard broke and fifth place Nelson made contact with the front fence. Hayes fell out after being lapped and Jacobsen put a lot of pressure on Papenhausen in the closing laps, but settled for the solid second. Also transferring were B Bartels, Witwer, Nelson and Larry Childress. Just missing were Dino Napier, Donnie McGowan and Brian Wirtz.

The 22 car lineup for the 30 lap finale was an invert four off the Friday night heat results putting Johnson on the pole with Shepherd alongside. Drake and Griffin started in row 2. Johnson managed to lead the opening lap, but his right front suspension was broken. Shepherd got by him on lap 2 and Drake took over second on lap 3 as Oregon star Trevor Glaser spun with a flat tire for a yellow flag. Glaser tagged the field for the restart and Johnson elected to park his car. Derek Nance also retired. Drake got underneath Shepherd on the backstretch to take the lead on the restart. Griffin was now third over Reid and Pearson. Ron Bartels spun in turn 4 on lap 4 and was clipped hard by CarQuest point runnerup Bobby Hogge IV. Milt McGinnis spun the Larry Damitz car for a lap 6 yellow flag and Jacobsen had lost his nose piece. After losing second to Griffin on lap 7, Shepherd spun in turn 2 for a lap 7 yellow flag. After the four early yellow flags, the final 23 laps were run with just a single yellow flag. Drake and Griffin checked out on the pack and Reid was now third over Pearson and Bobby Scott Jr. Hogge parked his car on lap 11 and Papenhausen had come from 17th to 6th in 15 laps. Decker was 7th at midway ahead of Vance Beltran, Witwer, Dick Stevens and Nelson. The final yellow came on lap 16 as Witwer spun and got clipped by Stevens. Stevens was able to continue, but top runners Papenhausen and Jacobsen both pulled off the track. Drake stretched his lead to 1/3 lap over those final caution free 14 laps. Griffin was a solid second despite having to tough it out as he still suffers effects from his back injury at Oildale two weeks prior. Pearson was pleased with his third place run and Reid ran a solid fourth over Decker, Scott, Nelson, Phil Barrow, Glaser, Stevens and R Bartels, the final lead lap finisher.

Race winner Drake is really looking forward to the January Early Thaw action at Casa Grande AZ as national star Rick Eckert will be joining him as a teammate for the Speedweek. Kings Speedway manager Dave Swindell announced that a similar event to the Western Dirt Track Nationals would be run to open the 2005 season on the final weekend in February.

Summary B Main-Richard Papenhausen, Eric Jacobsen, Bill Bartels, Robbie Witwer, Dana Nelson, Larry Childress, Dino Napier, Donnie McGowan, Brian Wirtz, Doug Hayes, Danny Bohard, Chet Buckley, Scott Mauldin, Devin Crockett. A Main-Steve Drake, Billy Griffin, Bill Pearson, Bart Reid, Jeff Decker, Bobby Scott Jr, Nelson, Phil Barrow, Trevor Glaser, Dick Stevens, Ron Bartels, Vance Beltran, B Bartels, Milt McGinnis, Childress, Dick Shepherd, Papenhausen, Jacobsen, Witwer, Bobby Hogge IV, Derek Nance, Mike Johnson.

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