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Swanson
Best at Madera Again |
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MADERA, Calif.
– As temperatures heated up in California’s central valley, so to
have Kody Swanson’s fortunes at Madera Speedway. The CASA/USAC
“Best in the West” Series made it’s second visit to the
immaculate one-third mile speedway and Swanson, the defending USAC
Western Sprint Car Series champion, won Saturday night's 50-lap
feature in a dominating drive at his home track. Swanson, who hails
from nearby Kingsburg, CA took home his second consecutive Madera
Speedway CASA/USAC feature trophy. Despite
temperatures hovering around 90 degrees, two time USAC champion and
current point leader Tony Hunt laid down an impressive fast lap at
13.735 to eek out fast time honors over Swanson’s 14.750. In all 7
of the 21 drivers eclipsed the 14-second mark during time trials. Heat race action
began with two-time CASA champion Nick Rescino, rebounding from an
unsatisfactory qualifying effort to win the nonstop ten-lap heat
handily from the outside front row over Nick Green, Brian McClish, Tim
Barber, Mike Murgoitio, Tony Hunt, Shauna Hogg, Jeff Gardner, Tony
Iacobitti, and Jim Kaiser. The second heat
was hardly a nonstop affair. On lap one, the yellow flag flew
immediately for turn one contact between pole sitter Scott Clough,
Anthony Simone and Canada’s Jimmy Pelk. Pelk’s mount was towed to
the infield, however Clough and Simone reformed for the restart. On
the second start Simone slipped into the lead down the back straight
but the pass was negated when Matt DeMartini spun to a stop in turn
three. The third start proved to be the trick and outside front row
starter Glenn Hopper lead for four laps before being overtaken by
Altamont feature winner Bradley Galedrige who charged on to the
ten-lap win. Hopper held on for second over Michael Newman, Simone,
Kody Swanson, Darren Rusconi, Ivan Worden, DeMartini, Clough, and Pelk.
With the hot day
yielding to a very pleasant evening via a bright orange sunset, the
“Best in the West” 50-lap feature was paced by Matt DeMartini and
Mike Murgoitio as the field of 20 sprinters roared towards the green
flag. DeMartini seized the lead as the rest of the pack fought their
way through the traffic hunting for the next forward position.
Murgoitio was the first to make that advance as he wrested the lead
from DeMartini on lap 17. But Murgoitio was not the only one on the
move. Just three laps into his reign at the front, a charging Swanson
prevailed in his quest of the race lead and set about adding distance
behind his blue #75. On lap 27 a
caution flew for a wreck involving several cars on the back straight.
Iacobitti’s OCR mount ended up against the wall during some
3-abreast traffic and his evening was finished, as was Scott
Clough’s. Rescino also dropped out of the fray around the same time.
But Swanson was not to be denied once the green flag was redisplayed.
McClish dogged him for some laps but Swanson continued to pull away
from the field regardless of pressure or lapped traffic. The battle
raged for all of the top ten spots and again still after a late
caution for Simone’s stalled mount but Swanson held fast at the
point for the remaining distance and the 50-lap victory over Brian
McClish, Bradley Galedrige, fast qualifier Tony Hunt and Matt
DeMartini. Mike Murgoitio, came home sixth, Jeff Gardner seventh, Nick
Green was eighth, ninth went to Tim Barber, and tenth to Jimmy Pelk in
a nice drive after repairs. Shauna Hogg ran
11th, Darren Rusconi was 12th, 13th went to Jim
Kaiser, 14th to Anthony Simone, 15th was Michael
Newman, and 16th was Ivan Worden. Hopper was credited 17 after
retiring with handling problems. Nick Rescino Jr. was 18th.
Tony Iacobitti and Scott Clough were credited with 19 and 20th
respectively. Next up: The
CASA cars again co-sanction with USAC for a return engagement at
Altamont Motorsports Park and round five of the CASA/USAC “Best of
the West” Series on Saturday, June 17, 2006. For more information on
CASA activity, visit www.casaracing.com QUALIFYING: Tony Hunt 13.735 Kody Swanson 13.750 Brian McClish
13.822 Bradley Galedrige 13.842 Jeff Gardner 13.853 Darren Rusconi
13.891 Mike Murgoitio 13.982 Matt DeMartini 14.026 Nick Green 14.066
Anthony Simone 14.177 FIRST HEAT (10 laps): Rescino, Green, McClish, Barber, Murgoitio, Hunt,
Hogg, Gardner, Iacobitti, Kaiser
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