|
IRWINDALE, CA., Oct. 9 - Audra Sasselli
became the first female USAC
open-wheel feature winner in the six-year history of Irwindale
Speedway on Saturday in her first visit to the track. As second
fastest qualifier, she started fifth, took the lead on lap 12 and
won a 14-car USAC California South Series 40-lap Ford Focus Midget
feature by a straight-away (2.338 seconds) on the third-mile track.
She won her first USAC FF Midget main August 7 in a 30-lap race at
Madera Speedway.
The 28-year old series rookie from Fresno drove a
Stealth owned by her mother Donna and set-up by her father and
husband. The ten-year go-kart and six-year 600cc winged mini sprint
veteran also won one of two ten-lap heats by 4.051 seconds after
starting sixth. "This is my new favorite track. I will return
to race here Thanksgiving evening," the sixth-ranked driver in
USAC FF California North Series points said.
Fastest qualifier Bobby McGowan stated sixth and
finished second. Chris Rahe, the USAC FF California South
point-leader, finished third. Bobby Owens and Ryan Pace were fourth
and fifth respectively. Bradley Galedrige, the FF California North
point-leader and FF feature winner this summer at the Belleville
(Kansas) Nationals, started on the pole and was the early leader. He
faded to seventh, behind 16-year old Chase Barber. Twelve drivers
finished and eight completed all 40 laps.
The Summary: (pickup agate)
Fast Time: Bobby McGowan, 14.873.
Heat 1:
Eric Pace, Josh Lakatos, Bradley Galedrige, McGowan, Ryan Pace,
Steve Davis, Chase Barber. Time-2:32.011.
Heat 2:
Audra Sasselli, Bobby Owens, Chris Rahe, Cary Tanner, Cal Smith, J.R.
Williams, Dick Hughes. Time-2:31.456.
Main:
Sasselli, McGowan, Rahe, Owens, R. Pace, Barber, Galedrige, E. Pace,
Davis, Smith, Tanner, Williams, Lakatos, Hughes. No Time.
|
