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Irwindale, Calif., Jul. 2 - Chase
Barber, 17, started fourth and chased pole starter Audra Sasselli
for 28 laps Saturday in a USAC Ford Focus California paved track
series 35-lap feature on the Irwindale Speedway third-mile. Then the
nose of his Beast hit the back of Sasselli's Beast exiting turn four
and Sasselli spun 360 degrees on the front straight. She continued
non-stop, but lost four positions and finished fifth. A near
capacity holiday crowd booed winner Barber loudly at finish line
award ceremonies.
The victory was the fourth in a row for Barber,
who won his first USAC FF main June 4 on dirt at Hanford and
followed with two paved series victories at Stockton on June 18 and
25. It was the first Irwindale feature triumph for Barber, who took
delivery of a Steve Lewis Racing chassis two years ago following the
Thanksgiving Night Midget Grand Prix. Paved series point leader Alex
Harris finished second, 0.231 seconds behind Barber, who now trails
Harris by 10 points. Sasselli ranks third, 31 points back.
Harris had won all three prior Irwindale FF main events this season.
Two FF series races at Irwindale in
October and November will conclude the six events at Irwindale and
the 14-race paved series.
Jeff Sakowicz, rookie Benny Moon, Sasselli, Chris
Veach, Steve Davis, Robbie Whitchurch, Nick Carlson and Randi
Pankratz completed the top ten. Twelve of the 17 starters finished,
with ten drivers on the lead lap. Four of the 17 drivers are
females. Rookie Jace Meier, from Las Vegas, set fast time of 14.683
in a 17 car field.
The Summary: (pick-up agate)
Main Event: (35 laps) - Chase Barber, Alex
Harris, Jeff Sakowicz, Benny Moon, Audra Sasselli, Chris Veach,
Steve Davis, Robbie Whitchurch, Nick Carlson, Randi Pankratz, Cal
Smith, Cameron Veach, Jace Meier, Heather Davis, Bobby Owens, Jet
Davison, Lindsay Kernohan. No Time.
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