BARBA AND MAVRAKIS CLAIM WINS, KUECKER CLAIMS WIN AND POINTS LEAD

Source: Ukiah Media Relations
Date: 05/21/2007

UKIAH, California -- Over 80 race cars competed in the Ukiah Speedway event last Saturday night with 30 cars in the Bomber class alone.

The Late Model fast time of 13.221s was set, and the main event won, by Forrest Kuecker of Lucerne. This moved him up two positions to lead the championship by 10 points. George Mavrakis of Cloverdale set the Bonus Bomber fast time of 14.691s, won the trophy dash, and claimed his first win this season.

Ron Duke Jr. of Redwood Valley won the second Bomber main event for their #7 car, as well as the trophy dash. Corey Carlson of Redwood Valley set the fast time of 15.899s. Codi Barba of Cobb held off a strong outside challenge to win the Modified main event. Terry McIntire of Kelseyville set the fast time of 13.109s and won his heat race.

Robert Schmidt of Lucerne set the Mini-Stock fast time of 15.014s, won the heat race, and the main event. The Bandolero fast time of 15.941s was set by Drew Smith of Ukiah, and Kyle Tellstrom of Ukiah won the main event.

Late Models The Late Model main event fielded 11 cars and was led to the start by Chris Salmina and Charlie Collins. Collins took the lead from Salmina followed by John Dalerio. Bryan Todd faded back on the outside and Sean Caturegli, Kevin Ostern, Mike Lovell, and Blair Aiken scrambled to get around him. Just as Aiken cleared Todd, Dalerio and Caturegli tangled and spun in turn four collecting Lovell and bringing out the first caution. Todd dove to the infield to miss the pile-up, but collided heavily with Dalerio. Todd and Lovell retired.

Collins and Salmina led the restart, but they jostled and broke loose in turn two sending Collins to the infield. He recovered and continued from the back. Salmina, Ostern, Aiken, and Forrest Kuecker lead single-file. Aiken swung outside Ostern in turn two, they made contact and wobbled through the backstretch but recovered with Aiken now in second.

Caturegli was battling Kuecker for fourth from the outside when he drifted way high in turn one causing Dalerio to spin to the infield for another caution. Salmina and Aiken restarted the field but, in turn two, Caturegli broke loose sending him half-off the track through the backstretch and over turn three straight into light stand. Caturegli was ok, the car was retired, and the light stand was toast.

Salmina and Aiken restated the field in lap seven, but Aiken fell back on the outside allowing Ostern, Jeremy Donahoo, and Kuecker to follow Salmina. Aiken retired to the pits on the next lap. Ostern made the outside pass by Salmina for the lead as Kuecker did the same by Donahoo for third, and then by Salmina for second.

It took Kuecker eight laps to catch, battle, and then pass Ostern for the lead as Donahoo passed Salmina for third. Dalerio and Mike Swaney retired to the pits. In the remaining 12 laps, Kuecker stretched his lead while Donahoo chased, battled, and passed Ostern for second.

At the finish it was Kuecker followed by Donahoo, Ostern, and Salmina. Swaney placed fifth. Caturegli won the trophy dash and a heat race, and Collins the other heat race.

Modifieds The Modified main featured 13 cars with Drew Foster and Mark Marek taking the green. The field quickly passed Foster as Marek and Codi Barba took first and second followed by Darin Snider and Kevin Estep. In lap 3, Barba made the outside pass in turn four on Marek for the lead.

Barba stretched his lead while Marek and Snider battled side-by-side for second pinning Estep, Clay Caturegli, Terry McIntire, and Jeremy Nowlin behind them. In lap 10, Mark and Snider touch sending Snider up high in turn two allowing Estep and Caturegli to pass.

In lap 12, Caturegli suddenly stoped up high in turn four bringing out the first caution. He rejoined the field after a quick pitstop as Barba and Marek restarted the field. Behind them in turn two, Barba and Snider touched which spun Barba in front of the pack and collected Snider, Noel McCormick Jr., Bob Strauss, and Derrick Crayford for another caution. Another yellow would be thrown for debris.

Barba and Marek restarted the field again ahead of Nowlin and McIntire. Marek clipped the dirt inside of turn three causing him to fish and allowing Nowlin to pass for second and McIntire to gain the inside and eventually pass for third.

In lap 15, Ron Connor got pinned close to the frontstretch wall and fell almost all the way to the back. This put Steve Taylor and Estep right behind Marek. For the rest of the laps, Nowlin tried to hold the outside of Barba for the lead but always lost ground exiting the turns.

At the checkers it was Barba followed by Nowlin, McIntire, Taylor, and Marek. Taylor won the trophy dash, and Snider and McIntire the heat races.

Mini-Stocks The Mini-Stock main event was led to the start by Brad Laird and John Barker. Barker immediately took the lead as Laird let the field pass, but he spun on the frontstretch for the first caution.

Robert Schmidt and Todd Armstrong led the restart. Schmidt kept the lead while Armstrong and Barker battled for second. The only other caution was caused by Laird to the infield in lap 11.

Schmidt claimed his fourth win, followed by Barker, Armstrong, Jim Keown, and Laird. Barker won the trophy dash.

Bonus Bombers David Jones and Eric Williamson led the 15 car Bonus Bomber field to the main event start. Jones let the field pass him giving Sean Keown the lead as Eric Johnson and Brandon Szymczak battled for third. Andy Vander Veer spun in turn two bringing out the lap one caution.

Keown and Williamson led the restart. As Williamson fell back on the outside, Szymczak shot through underneath and then outside Keown for the lead. After a few laps of the field getting around Williamson, George Mavrakis and Keith Nelson challenged and then passed Szymczak for first and second.

By lap nine, Jared Martin was running third, followed by Szymczak, Johnson, and Manuel Antonio. In lap 14 the leaders started to lap Jones, Galdino Guevara, and Williamson. In lap 17, Nelson and Jones got tangled in turn two causing a yellow and retiring Nelson.

Mavrakis and Martin led the restart. Three laps later, Johnson and Szymczak touch nose-to-tail and spin on the backstretch to bring out another caution.

Mavrakis and Martin started them again and kept their positions to the checkers. Vander Veer came in third followed by Antonio and Keown. Ray Rosales and Nelson won the heat races.

Bombers The two Bomber B-Main transfer spots were won by Jimmy Sorrels and Robert Byers. The 18 car Bomber main event was started by Mike Bray and George Abella. In the first turn, Richie Schwarm and David Land III in the second rank tangled, which spun Land into the field and collected Cory Mainini and Kevin Slaughter who were just behind them. While quick, this would be the first of only two yellows in the race.

Bray and Abella restarted the field and Abella took the outside lead. Jon Waner and Brandon Powers battled for third followed by Manya Tenney and Simi Tour. Tenney fell back as Powers broke loose in turn four and dropped back behind Richie Hoven and Ron Duke Jr.

Duke passed Hoven on the outside and kept moving past Tour. Behind him, things got jumbled when Powers dropped back in with Randy Portlock and Tenney sending them three-wide. Powers clipped the infield dirt, lost grip, and fell way back.

As Abella stretched his lead, Duke finished the pass on Tour for fourth and moved up on Waner. In lap eight, Duke passed Waner and took only two more laps to pass Bray. He then settled in to chase down Abella.

Mike Carlson got past Tenney and started working the outside lane just like Duke. Duke reached Abella in lap 12 and started a seven lap side-by-side duel for the lead. He completed the pass in lap 18 and started to power away. Carlson gained third from Bray on the outside and started to hunt down Abella. In lap 19, Slaughter spun in turn one bringing out the last caution. Hoven had to pit with a flat tire.

Duke and Abella brought the field to the green ahead of Bray and Carlson. Duke powered out front inside Abella and Carlson followed for second. As Carlson challenged Duke from the outside, Shelby Helm made it past Waner and Bray for fourth, Jerry Wilkins steadily climbed past Waner for sixth, and Portlock and Tenney battled for eighth.

The back of the pack got contentious and then three-wide as Jimmy Sorrels tried to maneuver around a fading Powers and a very loose Slaughter. This sent Sorrels into the infield with a flat for the rest of the race. Richie Schwarm was trying to challenge Tenney when he drifted wide into the dirt on the backstretch and lost two positions.

Duke fended off Carlson to finish first. Abella was third followed by Helm and Bray. Ray Lozano, Sorrels and Helm won the heat races.

Coming Up The “King of the Hill Challenge Series” continues this weekend with a two-day event at the Lakeport Speedway as they host the “Legends Cars Spring Nationals” featuring Legends Cars, Pro-4 Modifieds, Modifieds, Bonus Bombers, and Bombers.

Sunday night will feature the fan-favorite maritime mayhem on the high asphalt – The “Fiberglass 500” Asphalt Boat Race. Cars towing boats on a water-cannon soaked track next to a lake while the infield rabbits look on in wonder.

Ukiah will take the next weekend of June 1 & 2 off in order to host the Spring Fair Monster Trucks. For more information, browse “http://www.UkiahSpeedway. com”.

2007-05-19 Ukiah Speedway Results Late Models Time Trial (13.221) 79 Forrest Kuecker, 98 Blair Aiken, 75 Kevin Ostern, 15 Mikey Lovell, 45 Sean Caturegli, 05 Jeremy Donahoo, 42 Bryan Todd, 34L John Dalerio, 69 Charlie Collins, 08 Chris Salmina

Trophy Dash 45 Sean Caturegli, 79 Forrest Kuecker, 75 Kevin Ostern, 15 Mikey Lovell

Heat 1 69 Charlie Collins, 42 Bryan Todd, 08 Chris Salmina, 34L John Dalerio, 20 Mike Swaney

Heat 2 45 Sean Caturegli, 05 Jeremy Donahoo, 79 Forrest Kuecker, 75 Kevin Ostern, 15 Mikey Lovell, 98 Blair Aiken

A-Main 79 Forrest Kuecker, 05 Jeremy Donahoo, 75 Kevin Ostern, 08 Chris Salmina, 20 Mike Swaney, 34L John Dalerio, 98 Blair Aiken, 45 Sean Caturegli, 69 Charlie Collins, 15 Mikey Lovell, 42 Bryan Todd

Modifieds Time Trial (13.109) 30 Terry McIntire, 39 Noel McCormack Jr., 5X Steve Taylor, 55 Clay Caturegli, 11 Bob Strauss, 77 Jeremy Nowlin, 45 Ron Connor, 5 Kevin Estep, 5D Derrick Crayford, 90 Codi Barba, 2K Darin Snider, 16M Mark Marek, 81 Bret Barney, 29 Drew Foster

Trophy Dash 5X Steve Taylor, 55 Clay Caturegli, 30 Terry McIntire, 39 Noel McCormack Jr.

Heat 1 2K Darin Snider, 5D Derrick Crayford, 29 Drew Foster, 90 Codi Barba, 5 Kevin Estep, 81 Bret Barney, 16M Mark Marek

Heat 2 30 Terry McIntire, 77 Jeremy Nowlin, 55 Clay Caturegli, 39 Noel McCormack Jr., 45 Ron Connor, 11 Bob Strauss, 5X Steve Taylor

A-Main 90 Codi Barba, 77 Jeremy Nowlin, 30 Terry McIntire, 5X Steve Taylor, 16M Mark Marek, 5 Kevin Estep, 39 Noel McCormack Jr., 11 Bob Strauss, 55 Clay Caturegli, 2K Darin Snider, 5D Derrick Crayford, 45 Ron Connor, 29 Drew Foster

Mini-Stocks Time Trial (15.014) 69 Robert Schmidt, 09 Todd Armstrong, 42 John Barker, 93 Brad Laird, 58 Jim Keown

Trophy Dash 42 John Barker, 09 Todd Armstrong, 93 Brad Laird, 58 Jim Keown

Heat 1 69 Robert Schmidt, 42 John Barker, 09 Todd Armstrong, 58 Jim Keown, 93 Brad Laird

A-Main 69 Robert Schmidt, 42 John Barker, 09 Todd Armstrong, 58 Jim Keown, 93 Brad Laird

Bonus Bombers Time Trial (14.691) 35 George Mavrakis, 6 Keith Nelson, 49 Andy Vander Veer, 25 Brandon Szymczak, 2U Jared Martin, 57 Eric Johnson, 59 Sean Keown, 29 Galdino Guevara, 25X Eric Williamson

Trophy Dash 35 George Mavrakis, 6 Keith Nelson, 49 Andy Vander Veer, 25 Brandon Szymczak

Heat 1 48 Ray Rosales, 87 Bill Mucci, 45 Manuel Antonio, 25X Eric Williamson, 29 Galdino Guevara, 53 Mike Marcum

Heat 2 6 Keith Nelson, 35 George Mavrakis, 57 Eric Johnson, 49 Andy Vander Veer, 2U Jared Martin, 59 Sean Keown, 25 Brandon Szymczak

A-Main 35 George Mavrakis, 2U Jared Martin, 49 Andy Vander Veer, 45 Manuel Antonio, 59 Sean Keown, 87 Bill Mucci, 57 Eric Johnson, 25 Brandon Szymczak, 29 Galdino Guevara, 25X Eric Williamson, 53 Mike Marcum, 6 Keith Nelson, 48 Ray Rosales, 41 Roy Funderburk

Bombers Time Trial (15.899) 5 Corey Carlson, 96 Shelby Helm, 9 Jerry Wilkins, 7 Ron Duke Jr., 11 Richie Hoven, 23K Manya Tenney, 6 Randy Portlock, 64 Simi Tour, 6X Brandon Powers, 26 Jon Waner, 98 Cory Mainini, 88 Kevin Slaughter, 00 David Land III, 30 Richie Schwarm, 07 George Abella, 22 Mike Bray, 21 Ronald Portlock, 28 Rick Tommila, 17 Robert Byers, 66 Jimmy Sorrels, 69 Andy Norton, 23 Tim Buzzard, 81 Chris Gamble, 14 Brandon Verdi, 21C Peggy Hawthorne, 4 Kevin Brackett, 38 Tommy Nugent, 16 Darren Groves, 3 Ray Lozano, 50 Jerry Crapo

Trophy Dash 7 Ron Duke Jr., 96 Shelby Helm, 5 Corey Carlson, 9 Jerry Wilkins

Heat 1 3 Ray Lozano, 69 Andy Norton, 23 Tim Buzzard, 14 Brandon Verdi, 21C Peggy Hawthorne, 38 Tommy Nugent, 50 Jerry Crapo, 81 Chris Gamble, 16 Darren Groves, 4 Kevin Brackett

Heat 2 66 Jimmy Sorrels, 17 Robert Byers, 30 Richie Schwarm, 22 Mike Bray, 98 Cory Mainini, 07 George Abella, 28 Rick Tommila, 88 Kevin Slaughter, 00 David Land III, 21 Ronald Portlock

Heat 3 96 Shelby Helm, 26 Jon Waner, 9 Jerry Wilkins, 23K Manya Tenney, 11 Richie Hoven, 7 Ron Duke Jr., 6X Brandon Powers, 64 Simi Tour, 5 Corey Carlson, 6 Randy Portlock

B-Main 66 Jimmy Sorrels, 17 Robert Byers, 81 Chris Gamble, 21C Peggy Hawthorne, 28 Rick Tommila, 69 Andy Norton, 3 Ray Lozano, 14 Brandon Verdi, 21 Ronald Portlock, 38 Tommy Nugent, 4 Kevin Brackett, 23 Tim Buzzard, 50 Jerry Crapo

A-Main 7 Ron Duke Jr., 5 Mike Carlson, 07 George Abella, 96 Shelby Helm, 22 Mike Bray, 9 Jerry Wilkins, 26 Jon Waner, 6 Randy Portlock, 23K Manya Tenney, 64 Simi Tour, 30 Richie Schwarm, 11 Richie Hoven, 6X Brandon Powers, 88 Kevin Slaughter, 66 Jimmy Sorrels, 17 Robert Byers, 00 David Land III, 98 Cory Mainini

Bandoleros Time Trial (15.941) 2 Drew Smith, 5K Kyle Tellstrom, 01 Brenton Smith, 42Jay Cee McLean, 92 Darrin Silva

Trophy Heat 5K Kyle Tellstrom, 2 Drew Smith, 42Jay Cee McLean, 92 Darrin Silva

A-Main 5K Kyle Tellstrom, 2 Drew Smith, 92 Darrin Silva, 42Jay Cee McLean, 01 Brenton Smith

See Also .:

• Ukiah Speedway

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