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| Hanestad Triumphs at Petaluma
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Wingless Spec Sprints |
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(Petaluma, CA- September 27, 2008) S & S Automotive's Darrell
Hanestad scored a decisive victory at Petaluma Speedway's Wingless
Spec Sprint open show on Saturday, September 27, making his move on
Power Up's Cameron Beard on lap five of the thirty lap feature. In a
highly competitive field of twenty seven Spec Sprint teams, Royal
Laundry's Billy Aton, Atwater's Cameron Beard, Marc Zieske, and
Santa Rosa's Arvo Backholm rounded out the top five feature spots.
Since all of the Northern California tracks have completed their season point races, the evening's roster consisted of several newly crowned track champions: Petaluma's new track champion Dave Press was also the five race NCMA Select Series champ, Keith Bloom is the Chico-Placerville track champion, and Ryan Bernal is Watsonville's new champion. With a stout field of new young drivers and seasoned veterans all exhibiting their skills, the racing was guaranteed to be entertaining. Santa Rosa's Jason McIntosh was the fast qualifier with a quick time of 14.504. With a Civil War style format, qualifying times played a critical part for the feature lineups. Three ten lap heat races were held, with the top five finishers of each guaranteed a spot in the A main and getting their times back as well. Elkhorn's Lucas Nerlove and Gotelli Speed's Dave Press started on the front row for heat one. Nerlove brought home the win in a flag to flag race with Clayton's Darrell Hanestad, Arvo Backholm, Jason McIntosh, and Cameron Beard rounding out the top five spots. Jake Serven and Main Machine's Dan Gonderman sat in the front row of the second heat. At the green Serven vaulted into the lead with Gonderman and Delta Demolition's Bob Newberry pushing their cars hard behind him. Newberry launched an assault on Gonderman for several laps and then slipped under him in turn three and made the pass on Serven to take the win. Serven, Gonderman, Midas' Jack Clark and Aton crossed the line behind Newberry in the top five. Heat three began with Antioch's Roy Fisher and Chad Vermeil on the front row. At the start, contact with a sideways car in turn one sent Contra Costa Auto Parts' Keith Shipherd barrel rolling hard several times. He emerged slowly but was thankfully all right. Vermeil led on the restart and a lap later Johnson Custom Machines' Brandon Davis powered into the front with Vermeil and Fisher behind him. All Parts Auto's Ryan Bernal took the third spot on lap eight, and at the checkers it was Davis, Vermeil, Bernal, Fisher and Care Free Pools' Taylor Simas in the five transfer positions. The evening's program had two exhibition classes for additional racing entertainment. Several of the amazing BCRA Vintage Midgets showcased their talent and beautiful machines. A start up class of Ford Focus Midgets, the Capital City Midgets was there as well, trying to gain some exposure for the new class. After their races, a quick four lap trophy dash ran, with Bob Newberry emerging the winner. Shipherd and Zieske started the front row of the twelve lap B main. Shipherd darted into the lead at the green with Zieske and Press overtaking him in turn four. Zieske took the decisive win followed by Press, Shipherd, Ryan, Bloom, Osthheimer, and Dupont who would all transfer to the feature. Twenty two cars lined up for the thirty lap A main. Beard and Newberry were in the front row with Hanestad and Bernal right behind them. Newberry pounced into the lead with Hanestad, Beard and Bernal hard on the throttle behind him. A series of several yellow flags for spins and flat tires slowed the early action, and Hanestad hammered into the lead on lap five with an intense battle behind him. Newberry's night ended early as he pitted with mechanical issues, and a few laps later Bernal lost the second spot when he spun. Hanestad still well in the lead, was now challenged by Aton, Beard, Zieske and Backholm. The running order remained the same with the laps ticking down at a fast pace and Hanestad began lapping back markers. On lap twenty five the racing abruptly stopped with a red flag for a flipping Dupont that also involved Ryan. Dupont suffered a concussion and was taken to the local hospital for observation. Hanestad led the five lap dash to the checkers, and took home the $1500 win. He was followed closely by Aton, Beard, Zieske, and Backholm. Petaluma Speedway's hospitality is always a highlight and this night was no exception, everyone in the pits was treated to a free beer after the races. The first season of running the Wingless Spec Sprint class at Petaluma was a big success for all. The combination of fair and friendly officials, consistent great track prep, and the mutual respect shown among racers supporting the track, officials, and promoter Jim Soares have all been key ingredients to this successful endeavor. We look forward to more fun racing at Petaluma in 2009. Drive safe, have fun and take care. Summary: Fast time—Jason McIntosh 14.504. |
