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| HammerDown Report by Bobby Gerould |
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McClish masters Stockton 99, claims USAC Western Sprint win |
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June 25, 2005
- Mike Murgoitio shared the front row for the
main-event with Tim Barber. As the two led a 17 car field to the
green flag, their cars touched, and Barber smacked the front chute
wall, setting off an ‘accordion effect’ on the cars behind them.
Drivers hit the binders and a chaotic mess ensued in turn one. Brad
Bumgarner, Michael Trimble, and Anthony Simone all crashed together
with Bumgarner getting the worst of it. The The race restarted with Murgoitio sharing the
front row with Nick Rescino Jr. Tim Barber was relegated to the rear
of the field for work done on his car during the red flag. The work
was necessary for Barber to continue after the wheel-banging on the
initial start. Rescino got the jump and immediately opened a
sizeable lead. Destiney Hays went low in turn four on lap two to
take second spot from Murgoitio. McClish meanwhile was moving
forward. He dropped Hays to third with an overpowering run down the
back straightaway on lap six. As Rescino and McClish held the two top spots,
a battle royale was taking place for third between Hays, Kody
Swanson, and Tony Hunt. Swanson’s #75 contacted the rear of
Hays’ #28 as the two drove past the start-finish line to complete
lap 12. The contact sent Hays sideways and into the wall just shy of
turn one, bringing out the first caution flag of the event. By lap 21 Rescino appeared to be losing
traction as he had repeated ‘loose moments’ in turn four.
McClish closed quickly and was on Rescino’s rear nerf looking for
a way around. Swanson and Hunt caught the top two and suddenly a
four car race for the lead was pleasing the fans. As Swanson
ventured to the high groove to try to pass McClish, he opened the
door for Hunt who gained third on lap 24. In his haste to gain back
the spot lost, Swanson spun in turn one on the next lap. With 26
laps remaining, Rescino restarted as the leader with McClish, Hunt,
Barber, and Scott Hansen right behind him. Shauna Hogg dropped from
the race with a mechanical failure on lap 24. The lead changed hands on lap 26. McClish blew
by Rescino on the front chute, and on the next lap Hunt did the
same. The remainder of the race was a battle of Hunt trying to reel
in McClish. On lap 45, the pair now running nose-to-tail, hit
traffic. McClish darted while Hunt diced and at the checkered flag
McClish withheld Hunt by a car-length. The win was the second career
USAC sanctioned triumph for McClish. “I want to thank all of my
sponsors, and my family.” said the happy winner. “I respect Hunt
and Rescino, and they raced me clean. That’s all you can ask
for.” Barber rebounded fantastically from the opening
lap incident to finish fourth. Hansen was fifth followed by
Murgoitio, Veenstra, Chris Petersen, Audra Sasselli, and Peter Gobel.
Sasselli was making her sprint car driving A-Main finish. 50 laps. – 1. |
