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Barber
Takes USAC/CASA Feature at Stockton 99 |
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August
27, 2005
- Stockton,
CA....In a historic first for both the California Asphalt Sprintcar
Association and the United States Auto Club, hard charging Tim Barber of San
Francisco captured to 50 lap co-sanctioned feature event on a warm evening at
Stockton 99 Speedway leading the final 40 laps in an impressive run to the
checkered flag. The
combined efforts of USAC and CASA management produced the desired result of a
larger car count than might have been achieved had both clubs raced at separate
venues on the same date in California. 27 sprinters graced the pit area of the
venerable speedway along with a 14 car showing of USAC midgets, and a full
compliment of modifieds and stockcars to comprise an entertaining show for the
good crowd on hand. The
unique nature of the combined format might have been most evident in the tire
compromises made by both sanctioning bodies. USAC and Hoosier Tire made
concessions regarding CASA’s American Racer Tire requirement, allowing CASA
competitors to compete on their spec tires. However, some CASA competitors opted
to run the USAC spec rubber even though doing so voided their CASA points for
the event. CASA management, in recognition of contractual obligations with their
tire sponsor/provider, opted to award CASA points only to CASA cars equipped
with the specified American Racer tires. Also, potential differences in tire
performance prompted CASA officials to award the highest finishing American
Racer equipped CASA car maximum CASA points for the event and follow the point
structure throughout the CASA portion of the field.
Qualifications
found multi-USAC champion Tony Hunt posting the fastest lap touring the banked
quarter-mile in 13.328 seconds aboard Alan Kaiser’s potent #94. 2003 CASA
champ Tony Iacobitti in the Oval Chassis Research #71 set the fastest CASA time
at 14.078. Unfortunately for “super-veteran” Marvin Mitchell a nice
qualifying effort for him was short-lived when his engine’s his crankshaft
broke, locking up the engine at maximum speed and sending him into a wild spin
just as he completed his second lap. He was finished for the night. Trophy
dashes were not scheduled, however four eight-lap qualifying heats were run as
part of the progressive format. Heat one went to Hunt in a nice drive from the
back despite an unfortunate red flag collision involving Oregon’s Brian
Geiszler, who was able to continue after being perched precariously atop Matt
DeMartini’s mount in turn four. Geiszler looked to be just inches from
overturning when the pair skidded to a stop. DeMartini needed to make repairs
and await the semi for a chance to make the feature. Heat two went to Shauna
Hogg from the third starting position, Barber in an indicator of his strength
won heat number three from the last starting position and Mike Murgoitio nabbed
heat four from the fourth spot on the starting grid. Hoosier
shod CASA drivers Jessica Helberg, Nick Green, and Nick Rescino, Jr. all
qualified for the feature through their heats, however the only American Racer
equipped CASA car to qualify for the main was Glenn Hopper. DeMartini’s
crew made all the necessary repairs, and all the right setup calls, for the
15-lap semi-main as his Ric Carr owned #6 won convincingly over Robert Beck’s
beautiful new red #3, Chris Petersen’s #18 and Ivan Worden’s #63. All four
transfer spots went to Hoosier tired cars. CASA’s Ryan Baumgartner and
Iacobitti battled for the last transfer spot but came up just short. CASA
president Scott Clough and Anthony “Cannonball” Simone locked up in a highly
entertaining scrap for seventh place with Clough getting the spot by not much
more than a bumper. Joe Hauck finished ninth. With
a six-car inversion, Robert Beck and rookie sensation and current USAC Western
States championship point leader Kody Swanson blasted off turn four and lead a
streaking field of 22 colorful sprinters past the green flag to begin the 50 lap
feature event. Beck eked out a slight advantage as the field completed lap one
while second row inside starter and defending CASA champ Nick Rescino, Jr. stuck
tight to Beck’s rear nerf during the opening salvos as the rest of the field
shuffled about, tightly bunched and searching the tarmac for the fastest way
around. As
Beck entered turn three on lap ten, Rescino ran up over his rear bumper and tail
tank sending both into a spin. Rescino stalled facing towards the wall and
slightly backwards to traffic while Beck gathered some dust spinning to a stop
in the infield. Rescino suffered minor damage but was unable to continue. Beck
suffered cosmetic damage to the rear of his mount and had to restart the race
from the back. Barber
in the Pierson #14 assumed command when green flag racing resumed on lap 11 with
a host of racers bent on displacing him from the number one position. Among
them, Swanson, CASA Mike McCreary Memorial winner Jeff Gardner, multi-CASA
feature winner Brian McClish and fast-timer Hunt all pressured their way towards
the head of the pack until Hunt’s throttle hung wide open entering turn one.
Hunt’s car slammed into the turn one crash wall, catapulted into the safety
catch fencing and helicoptered along the wire mesh, ripping it loose from its
moorings all the way to the center of turn two where the #94 came to rest
upright with just the nose of the car visible above the concrete wall. Debris
from the car scattered across the track and the red flag and lights immediately
halted the field. As safety personnel arrived at the car, Hunt was already
extricating himself from the wreckage much to the relief of all. Track announcer
Bobby Gerold interviewed Hunt, who despite the spectacular crash assured
everyone he was okay. After
the cleanup and track officials checked out the safety fence and lighting,
racing resumed with Barber still at the point. Brad Bumgarner, Michael Trimble,
Gardner and others trailed Barber as he entered lapped traffic. Barber held fast
until a spin by Bumgarner in the #88 slowed the proceedings. Bumgarner tagged
the tail of the field on the restart and while all the front-runners battled
among themselves, Barber soldiered on, maintaining a lead he would never
relinquish. When the double checkered flags spiraled in front of the field,
Barber was still solidly in front for the win over an excellent run by Trimble
from 11th place starting spot in his #15, Gardner’s #51 in third, a
solid run, and good point finish, for Swanson in fourth and Cody Veenstra in a
well earned fifth place showing aboard #07 after starting tenth. Geiszler moved
up well from his 13th starting spot to garner sixth, CASA rookie of
the year contender Nick Green brought his #14x to seventh from 19th
on the grid, Beck rebounded from his misfortune to take eighth over McClish,
while Destiney Hays ran a smooth race to net tenth. Petersen
was 11th, Bumgarner worked his way back to 12th with few
laps remaining after his spin, 13th went to heat winner Murgoitio,
provisional starter Iacobitti moved from last to 14th and CASA’s
other rookie contender, Jessica Helberg came home 15th. Shauna Hogg,
semi winner DeMartini, CASA’s Ryan Baumgartner, Ivan Worden and Glenn Hopper
completed the top 20. Hunt was credited with 21st and Rescino 22nd.
CASA
takes a couple weeks off before meeting at Carson City’s Champion Speedway for
the 42nd Silver State Classic, which will be the last race ever at
the historic high-banks of the state capital. Long-time promoter Les Kynett will
host a free barbeque from noon to 3:00 pm to thank all racers, fans, sponsors
and all who have supported the track since 1964. “The bulldozers and rippers
will be here a week after this last sprint car race. We want to send this thing
off with a great show,” said Kynett. For more information on Champion Speedway
and all CASA activity, visit www.casaracing.com 8-27-05
CASA Results QUALIFYING FIRST
HEAT: (8 laps) SECOND
HEAT: (8 laps) THIRD
HEAT: (8 laps) FOURTH
HEAT: (8 laps) SEMI:
(15 laps) 50
LAP MAIN EVENT *Eligible
for CASA points POINT STANDINGS 8-27-05
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