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22 CASA Cars
Kick of 2005 at Altamont
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4-2-05
– Tracy, CA... The 2005 California Asphalt Sprintcar Association season
got off to a rousing start as 22 shinny sprinters graced the Altamont Raceway
and Arena pits on a cool track opening night. A good crowd was on hand to
witness CASA’s return to the big, fast half-mile and the CASA contingent was
ready to give them the show they were hoping for. Previous
weeks practice sessions and regular hot-laps gave most drivers an opportunity to
shake of some rust, double check cars and setups, and gain familiarity with the
new American Racer tires. At the conclusion of qualifying, it was obvious that
CASA drivers and crews adapted quickly to both the new tire and the cool, green
race track as all time sprint car track record holder, Brian McClish posted fast
time at 17.520 averaging 102.786 MPH to lead all drivers on the speed chart and
claim maximum qualifying points over defending CASA Champion Nick Rescino, Jr.,
Ivan Worden and Brad Bumgarner. McClish
maneuvered past Bumgarner, Trever Cummins and Rescino to take the CASA Fast Dash
and Ed Amador bested Pat Ariaz, rookie Jeff Burrows and Bert Silverling in dash
number two. With
building excitement for the CASA 50-lap feature and a buzz in the crowd after
the autograph session, the CASA cars aligned into their formation with tenth
fast qualifier Glenn Hopper representing the 10-car inversion on the pole with
Shauna Hogg along side. As the tightly bunched field thundered to Willie
Williams green flag, contact was made in the front few rows and Michael Trimble,
Earle Stanton, Ariaz, and fast-timer McClish were all collected in the
encounter. Unfortunately, all were unable to continue and those four capable
cars were retired for the evening. On
the ensuing restart, pole sitter Hopper was contacted from behind and spun into
the infield to recall start number two. With Hopper joining the rear of the
field, a single file restart was ordered and Hogg quickly took the point,
however Craig Smith had designs on the front spot and overtook Hogg with Ivan
Worden in tow. The single file start allowed the leaders to begin lapping cars
early in the event and with a full field of cars there was passing action on
every inch of racetrack. The tight traffic and furious pace victimized both
Smith and Worden on lap 14, as contact caused both cars to retire while running
at the head of the pack. Hogg
was back in the lead for the restart on lap 15 but had Brad Bumgarner, defending
CASA Champion Nick Rescino, Jr. and inaugural CASA champ Tony Iacobitti in hot
pursuit. Trever Cummins first pavement experience had him heavily involved with
Alan Kaiser and first-time rookies Nick Green and Jessica Helberg. With a slick
move in traffic, Rescino wrestled the lead from Hogg on lap 22 and was free of
the fierce battle Hogg was fighting to maintain the runner-up spot. Hogg held
off Bumgarner for a major portion of the race while Bumgarner attempted to fend
off Iacobitti. As the laps wound down, Rescino continued to lead while Iacobitti
advanced past Bumgarner and began harassing Hogg for second. When the white flag
signaled one more circuit, Rescino had a comfortable lead and then flashed under
the checkers to claim the CASA opener and establish himself as the point leader
after round one of the 2005 campaign. Iacobitti powered along side Hogg speeding
for the stripe but Hogg flashed past just inches ahead to hold on to a hard
fought second. Iacobitti hustled to a third place finish over Bumgarner in
fourth and an impressive Cummins in fifth. Kaiser skillfully debuted his new
mount with a sixth place effort over newcomer Nick Green’s impressive initial
event and fellow rookie Jessica Helberg’s eighth place run. Veterans Marvin
Mitchell and Ed Amador rounded out the top ten. CASA’s
next event will be their first visit to the beautiful Ukiah Speedway
quarter-mile on April 16th. For more information, please visit www.casaracing.com
for more information. 4-2-05
CASA Results QUALIFYING TROPHY
DASH 25
LAP MAIN EVENT POINT
STANDINGS
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