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Jeff
Gardner Edges Green in CASA Thriller |
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6-11-05
– Tracy, CA. Last weeks California Asphalt Sprintcar Association feature
winner, Jeff Gardner posted his second consecutive CASA feature victory by the
narrowest of margins over leading rookie of the year contender, Nick Green in a
wild looking blast to the finish line of the 35 lap main event at Altamont
Raceway and Arena’s paved half-mile oval. Gardner
laid down the gauntlet early in the proceedings by hustling his #51 to a near
record 17.338 at 103.818 MPH to take fast qualifier honors over the 20-car
field. Three
heat races were run with supporting NCMA regulars comprising heat number one, an
entertaining eight lapper that found Burt Silverling holding off a host of
challengers who seemed to take turns shuffling behind in hopes of finding
someone who could swipe the win away from Silverling’s #77 but he was up to
all comers and won by a few lengths at the finish. Heat number two went to
defending CASA champ Nick Rescino by a straightaway and Nick Green won his first
CASA event taking heat number three in a much closer affair over Gardner. The
NCMA dash was as good as the heat race with Ed Amador taking the win over Pat
Ariaz, Jeff Burrows, and NCMA fast qualifier Michael Zarevich. The
CASA trophy dash picked up a new sponsor and Rescino’s impressive first lap,
power move into turn one spelled the difference as he beat Green, Gardner and
fifth fast qualifier Earle Stanton who got the dash nod while fourth-fast timer
“Cowboy” Craig Smith made an emergency U-joint change after his #32 picked
up a vibration during heat race action. On top of the hardware, Rescino received
a $50 certificate for racing apparel embroidery services from Shon Torres’
Lightning Sports in nearby Lathrop, CA. After
the traditional, entertaining trackside autograph session, the sprinters
returned to the pits for final preparations readying themselves for the 35-lap
feature. An eight-car inversion found Glenn Hopper and Ryan Baumgartner on row
one and as the 20 car field thundered off turn four and under Willie Williams
green flag, Baumgartner’s #24 seized the early advantage and led through lap
four when Rescino’s mount slowed to a stop entering turn three for the only
caution flag of the entire sprint car program. Rescino restarted shotgun on the
field but in the first few laps Gardner, Green and Smith had already been
inching their way up in the field. Baumgartner
resumed his lead at the restart but was shortly consumed by the faster dash cars
over the next several laps. Gardner assumed the point and began threading his
way through lapped traffic with Green in his #14, Smith, and the orange #63 of
Ivan Worden scratching and clawing for the top five spots and the chance to
challenge the fleet Gardner for the lead. Green appeared to be the strongest
candidate to take on the leader and through the latter portions of the event,
while Gardner could gain some distance over the impressive young Green in open
track conditions, in traffic Green would close the gap considerably and with 20
sprinters filling the track, traffic was literally around every corner. As the
finish line loomed closer, the Gardner and Green duo encountered a group of cars
battling for their own positions including three cars racing side by side for
eighth through tenth spots. The
white flag dropped over the gaggle of tightly packed racers allowing Green to
get within even closer striking distance on the final lap. As Gardner, with
Green on his bumper, slipped past the tenth place car down the backstretch they
roared up together behind the next pair while gunning for the finish line. With
the crowd collectively rising to their feet for a better look, Gardner made the
decision to squeeze up next to what he thought might be the faster of the two
cars ahead. Green with fewer options, squeezed in even tighter along side
Gardner and with two nearly lapped cars mixed into the finish, all four cars
streaked past the line in what may be closest pack ever to cross the stripe at
Altamont. Gardner
held on by just inches for the win over a determined Green. According to the
computerized scoring system just .156 seconds separated the pair in the closest
finish ever recorded in a CASA feature event. Craig Smith ran a close third over
Rescino who had stormed his way back through the field but without the benefit
of another caution, could not advance any further. Ivan Worden recorded a solid
fifth place finish and Baumgartner held on for sixth, Stanton posted a well
earned seventh in his #8 machine over 2003 CASA champion Tony Iacobitti, recent
high school graduate Jessica Helberg in ninth and Glenn Hopper, who rounded out
the top ten. CASA
president Scott Clough shook off his recent run of bad luck, two crashes and a
motor problem the last three races, to finish 11th over NCMA Champion
Pat Ariaz winning the NCMA portion of the joint event in his beautiful yellow #XX,
over Jeff Burrows, NCMA fast-timer Michael Zarevich, and Rob Hammond in 15th. Sixteenth
through 20th were Marvin Mitchell, Joe Hauck, John Silva, Bert
Silverling and Ed Amador who had to drop out with a vibration problem. CASA
continues their “Late Spring Fling,” a consecutive Saturday stretch of
races, with their only back-to-back visits to the big half-mile of Altamont
Raceway & Arena June 18th. The “Tire Burning Thunder” of the
California Sprint Cars will again be featured on Comcast’s Altamont Speedweek
TV show. Check local cable programming for show times and as usual, please visit
www.casaracing.com for more information on
all CASA activities. 6-11-05
CASA Results QUALIFYING TROPHY
DASH 35
LAP MAIN EVENT POINT
STANDINGS 6-11-05
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