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| Brian McClish Nets Second
CASA Feature Win by Glenn Hopper |
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4-17-04 - Tracy, CA. Santa Rosa’s Brian McClish started the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association’s third-round event of 2004 by setting fast time in qualifications and capped off the evening by netting his second feature win of the season at Altamont Motorsports Park. CASA enjoyed its largest car count to date as 20 car haulers unloaded gleaming pavement sprinters in the pit area of the venerable half-mile track. Regardless of the impressive line up, McClish looked strong from the opening practice session and was not to be deterred from backing up his opening night victory with another tonight. With threatening weather surrounding the track and rain showers visible from the rolling hill vistas Altamont’s location provides, track management opted to modify the program to maximize the number of racing laps available based on the weather. The threat level of rain was highest in the late evening so division heat races were scratched in favor of extended main events in hopes all competition could be completed before the rains came. Fortunately the weather stayed clear of the track all evening and the feature events went off without interruption from Mother Nature. A record number of CASA cars (7) posted sub-18 second qualifying laps, including McClish’s 17.328 blast, each averaging in excess of 100 MPH average speeds. And though CASA will add those new members to its 100 MPH Club, it couldn’t guarantee participation in the Mike Coy Concrete Trophy Dash for the evenings four fastest qualifiers. CASA star Ivan Worden bolted from the drop of the green and stretched his advantage in the evening’s fastest race to victory over Brad Bumgarner, Jeff Gardner and McClish. The 2004 Coy Concrete Trophy Dash Challenge currently has a three-way tie for the top CASA dash performer as McClish, Nick Rescino, and Worden have each posted wins thus far. Mark Monico set the feature event pace for the 20 car CASA field in his beautiful Brian Matherly prepared #21x by virtue of his sixth-fast qualifying effort, along side the Bayshore Racing Engines #11 of Nicholas Rescino. The two swept a tightly formed formation past the fluttering green flag and thundered into turn one with Monico gaining a slight advantage. For the next several laps, perhaps only the transponder-based computerized scoring could keep track of the top six to eight cars as it seemed they were in a different order each time the stripe was crossed. McClish somehow managed to advance through the swarm from his sixth starting spot and was pressuring Monico when Rescino’s mount slowed on the back straight with ignition problems to bring out CASA’s first caution flag of 2004. With Rescino’s retirement, the green unfurled again and McClish fought his way past Monico, impressive in his first drive of the season. Behind the lead pair, Worden, Bumgarner, and Gardner resumed their torrid battle from the trophy dash along with defending CASA race winner Daniel Hood, Carolina Late Model star Greg Anderson, Matt DeMartini and Bryan Bullard. This ten car group ran so many side by side, three wide and bumper to bumper laps they, and the Altamont Kid’s Night fans, may have welcomed the breather provided by Roger Hamilton as he withdrew his car from the fray, stopping in the infield near the edge of turn three. On the restart McClish was able to reassert his lead over Monico until a solo spin by Anderson regrouped the field again. With but a few laps remaining in the 40-lap contest, Monico pulled out all stops but could not catch the candy-purple #04 of McClish as he powered past the checkered flag. The final running order saw McClish, Monico, CASA points leader Hood, Gardner, Bumgarner, in the top five followed by Worden, DeMartini, Bullard, Anderson and Glenn Hopper on the lead lap, and an impressive Destiney Hays in her first pavement effort finished ahead of Gordon Rodgers, Pat Ariaz, Mike McCreary, Scott Clough, Marvin Mitchell and Alan Kaiser. CASA point race number four on the 2004 season will be May 8th at Altamont Motorsports Park. 4-17-04 CASA Results QUALIFYING COY
CONCRETE TROPHY DASH MAIN
EVENT POINT
STANDINGS 4/17/04
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