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(Bakersfield, CA....April 20) Leading
the final 20 laps after working his way forward from the 4th row, former IMCA
Modified star A J Burgin from Kingsburg won the 30 lap Bandit Sprint Car
featuire Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway Park. Danny Sheridan took second
from Wade Griest on lap 22 and finished there. Griest was third in front of car
builder Richard Harvey Jr and fast timer John Burnett.
The first visit to the 1/3 mile clay oval in 2002 by the tourning unwinged 360
sprint cars saw Burnett surprise everyone with his fast time honor of 13.950
seconds. New Zealand transplant Greg Keegan was second at 14.025 and Gene
Manhire had a 14.208 for third quick. The 19 car turnout was split into three
qualifying heat races. Dick Stevens won the first heat from the pole with fellow
front row starter Josh Davis second over Burnett. Burgin also got a heat
win from a good spot as he won heat 2 from the pole. Sheridan came from the back
row for second over Keegan. Tom Stansberry has returned to the sprint cars in
2002 and he won heat 3 from the pole. Manhire was second ahead of Sherman May.
Scott Nail lost an engine in his heat and did not start the feature.
The feature lineup was a four car inversion out of the 12 heat transfers. That
put May and Manhire on the front row with Keegan and Burnett in row 2. Griest
started 6th, Burgin 8th and Sheridan 10th. May led the opening lap before
Manhire took over. Burgin took third from Keegan on lap 3 and he grabbed second
from May on lap 4. Griest had just moved by Keegan for fourth when Santa Maria
champion Jimmy Thompson spun on lap 8.When Thompson again spun on lap 10, he was
blackflagged off the track for causing two cautions. During the yellow, Manhire
had a flat left front and the officials sent him off the track. They gave him
three laps to make the change, but he elected to fall out. Burgin gained the
lead with Manhire's departure and he was never headed over the 30 lap distance.
Davey Pombo clipped the wall for another caution on lap 10. Griest took second
from May on lap 14 and Sheridan gained third on lap 15. The only caution of the
last half of the race saw Davey KNnott spin on lap 19. Sheridan took
second from Griest on lap 22 and chased down the race winner Burgin, but ran out
of laps. Griest was third ahead of Harvey, Burnett, May, Keegan, Bobby Davis Jr
and former late model racer Buck Cox.
Summary
Fast Time-John Burnett 13.950
Heat 1-Dick Stevens, Josh Davis,
Burnett, Richard Harvey Jr, Davey Pombo.
Heat 2-A J Burgin, Danny Sheridan,
Greg Keegan, Buck Cox, Davey Knott.
Heat 3-Tom Stansberry, Gene Manhire,
Sherman May, Wade Griest, Bobby Davis Jr.
Main-Burgin, Sheridan, Griest,
Harvey, Burnett, May, Keegan, Davis, Cox, Aaron Altaffer, Stevens, Knott, Jeff
Fiscus, Manhire, Pombo, Jimmy Thompson, Stansberry, Davis.
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