InsideGroove - Race Report

FIRST NIGHT ACTION AT WINTER BASH

Red Bluff, CA --

Open Intermediate star Pete Johnston posted fast time and won his 25 lap qualifying heat to earn the pole position for the $1,000 to win Winter Bash A Main in first night action at the two-day special for the outlaw karts at the Red Bluff Fairgrounds Friday night. The rich Winter Bash is sponsored by the Win River Casino. Previous week feature winner Ryan Foster was the second fastest qualifier and he also won a 25 lap qualifier to earn the other front row slot for the big money feature for the open outlaw karts. The Open Outlaw karts run 500 cc motorcycle motors and all divisions at Red Bluff are required to have sprint car style wings, noses and tails. The night concluded with a 12 lap special feature for the ten karts to advance through the heat action. After outdueling his brother Jeremy to win his heat, Jasen Webb drew the pole for the 12 lapper and led wire to wire for a $100 win. Johnston spun while running 2nd in this race and heat winner Cassie Thain ran second in the 12 lapper.

Since the weekend was a non-point affair, the track combined the Open Outlaw and Open Intermediate classes for the weekend and Johnston was the fastest of the 61 qualifiers with his 8.806 lap. Time trials were critical this weekend as the heat races and all the features were lined up straight up off the qualifying efforts. Foster was second fast at 8.938 with Jasen Webb's 9.009 the third fastest effort. Since the 50 fastest qualifiers were divided into the five qualifying 25 lap heats, Tony Sousa and defending race champion Brian McCain also earned pole position heat starts by timing 4th and 5th fast. The top two finishers from the five 25 lappers not only earned the 10 direct tickets into the scheduled 50 lap A Main, but also slots in the 12 lap preliminary night feature.

While fast timer Johnston started on the pole for the first heat, outside front row starter Steven Gannon raced into the lead on the drop of the green flag. S Gannon led four laps before he and Johnston made contact with S Gannon coasting to a stop and Bruce Latorre flipping in the incident. Johnston led the remaining 21 laps and Open Intermediate point leader Kyle Cattanach took second from Aaron Colburn on lap 14. Colburn was filling in for Sean Becker, whose school schedule made the Friday night race date impossible. Hoyt Matheson finished third ahead of Matt Peacher and Colburn. Heat two was restarted after a tangle on the start saw David Braund in a hard flip. Foster led all 25 laps from the pole. Zack Mason ran second until he stalled on lap 13. Brandon Martinovich finished 2nd ahead of Tyler Schohr and Andy Page. In a sparkling display for the fans, Jeremy Webb and Jasen Webb put on a side by side duel for the heat 3 win. Jeremy Webb led the first 19 laps before Jasen pulled off his winning inside groove pass. Jeremy won the other ticket into the A Main and Troy McKenna was third ahead of Steve Martinovich.

As the 9th fastest qualifier, Thain started outside front row in her heat and led all 25 laps. Sousa chased her to the win and George Sheldon ran third ahead of Kris Renaud. Open Outlaw Season point leader Daniel Becker also started outside front row in his heat five win where he led all 25 laps. B McCain spun to miss an early tangle and worked his way back to take second from Eric Gannon with 13 laps to run. E Gannon was third ahead of Michelle Mootz. The karts that timed outside of the top 50 ran a special 25 lap heat to determine two more entries into the first night 12 lap feature. Subbing for Jaime Becker, Clint York won this heat with David Tarter second ahead of Dave Neithercutt. Both Nate Zander and Keith Hill spun leading this race.

The 12 qualified karts drew for their starting order in the winner take all, $100 to win 12 lap preliminary feature. Jasen Webb and York drew the front row. Jasen Webb raced into the lead ahead of Johnston and E Gannon. Thain took over third on lap 2 and E Gannon was the first dropout. Foster also retired and the race was run with just two caution flags. Johnston spun out of second on lap 8 and D Becker also spun in that incident. Jasen Webb won ahead of Thain, Sousa, B Martinovich and Jeremy Webb.

Summary Fast Time-Pete Johnston 8.806 Heat 1-Johnston, Kyle Cattanach, Hoyt Matheson, Matt Peacher, Aaron Colburn. Heat 2-Ryan Foster, Brandon Martinovich, Tyler Schohr, Andy Pape, Zack Mason. Heat 3-Jasen Webb, Jeremy Webb, Troy McKenna, Steve Martinovich, Alton Whetstone. Heat 4-Cassie Thain, Tony Sousa, George Sheldon, Kris Renaud, Josh Zander. Heat 5-Daniel Becker, Brian McCain, Eric Gannon, Michelle Mootz, Tim Majdic. Consy Heat-Clint York, David Tarter, Dave Neithercutt, Keith Hill, Danny Owens. Preliminary Feature-Jasen Webb, Thain, Sousa, B Martinovich, Jeremy Webb, Cattanach, D Becker, Johnston, York, Tarter, Foster, E Gannon.

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