THOMPSON CLAIMS EUREKA IMCA SPECIAL

Source: Peter W. Moss
Date: 07/16/2003

In the 9 car modified field, long tow Thompson led flag to flag from his outside front row starting position to win his 1st feature at RAR. Last year's winner Richie Potts of Petaluma was fast as usual and finished on Thompson's bumper but could never find a way around. Eureka's Randy Houston took a turn in his Blair Aiken built modified this week and set fast time (16.815) and came from the back of the starting grid to finish 3rd right on Potts' bumper. Redding's Kelly Peacock timed in 2nd quick and finished 4th ahead of dash winner Guy Young also of Redding, Ukiah Speedway regular Lance Blacker was 6th in front of Eugene's Dale Sexton, Lakeport Speed way's Derrick Crayford and Oregon's Ray Sailey. Thompson also won the heat ahead of Sexton, Potts and Young.

Sportsman action saw 5 of the 9 cars heavily damaged and out of the race before a single lap was completed. On the start fast timer Pat Walsh (16.056) and Larry Pries tangled at the flag-stand and both spun in a cloud of dust to the infield. When the dust cleared, Pries heavily damaged Coors Light ride was done for the night while Walsh was able to continue. Flagman Tim McKeown called for a complete restart and Angelo Marcelli jumped to the early lead. In turn 4 Al Acuna got in the dirt under Marcelli and both went spinning collecting heat winner Roger Sanderson, dash winner Rick Fox, and Mark Williams who'd worked hard to repair his car after a similar wreck in the Friday fair nights race. Walsh was also involved but was able to continue, as was Acuna. With only 4 cars remaining, officials shortened the race from 30 to 15 laps. Mic Moulton, driving Shawn Andrews' #23, held the early lead over Phil Wood, Walsh and Acuna. Walsh and Acuna both got by on lap 9 and led to the finish ahead of Wood and Moulton.

Real Stock points leader Aaron Byers dodged a bullet as he had an engine failure in practice but was able to change engines in time for qualifying. Donnie Brown timed in fastest at 19.920, the only car in the 19 second bracket. The, 25 lap, main event was slowed by 4 cautions and a red flag. Second in points Gary Adams assumed the lead on lap 4 and held it until lap 9, when he was passed by Dana Creech. Creech, a national quad motocross star, was taking a turn behind the wheel of Mike Peeples' #2 car and won the fast heat. A lap 18 yellow flew for debris and dash winner Trevor Miller was black- flagged for a dragging bumper. Creech led the field to the green flag ahead of Donnie Hyman, Adams and Bill Middleton. A lap later, 1st heat winner Lissa Uselton and Doug Way tangled on the back stretch with Uselton spinning and getting t-boned by Jeremy Walkley , bringing out another yellow. On lap 22, Troy Wood made contact with Middleton, sending him spinning and causing yet another yellow flag. On the lap 23 restart, Hyman bumped leader Creech, turning him into the fronstretch wall and ending his night. Hyman went to the back of the pack. The 2- lap dash to the finish saw Adams hold off Miller, Cecil Arispe and Byers.

The 25 lap Mini Stock main was an exciting and unusual race. There was only one caution flag and it occurred on lap 2 when points leader and fast timer (19.031) Jaison Chand was leaking fuel from and unsecured gas cap. He pitted and came out right in front of the leaders who'd just taken the green flag. Dash winner Frank Billy, who returned to action after missing a few races, showed lots of strength taking the early lead from Jason Shaha. The always racy, Joe Bonomini challenged for the lead on the outside and went 13 laps door to door with Billy. Bonomoni finally cleared him on lap 15 only to spin as he shut the door and got back on the gas. Meanwhile, Chand had worked his way back to 3rd. On the last corner, heat winner Jay Rhodes made an ill-advised dive to the inside of Billy in a bid for the win. Both cars spun and a surprised Chand cruised by for the win ahead of Shaha, Rhodes, Papa Joe McDonald and Billy. Billy served notice that he'll be a contender at the next race.

Once again, Lee Branstetter swept the Limited Street Stock events setting fast time at 17.608, taking the dash over Orion Moshier, Craig Huffman and Ron Brown, then the heat over Moshier, Brown, Ray Middleton and Mike Adams. Huffman retired on lap2. Chasing Branstetter in the 10-lap main were Moshier, Brown, Adams and Middleton.

IMCA Modifieds

Fast Time-Houston 16.815

Dash-Young, Potts, Houston, Peacock

Heat-Thompson, Sexton, Potts, Young, Peacock, Blacker, Sailey, Crayford, Houston

Main-Thompson, Potts, Houston, Peacock, Young, Blacker, Sexton, Sailey, Crayford

Late Model Sportsman

Fast Time-Walsh 16.056

Dash-Fox, Walsh, Pries, Acuna

Heat-Sanderson, Marcelli, Pries, Walsh, Wood, Williams

Main-Walsh, Acuna, Wood, Moulton

Mini Stock

Fast Time-Chand 19.031

Dash-Billy, Bonomini, Rhodes, Chand

Heat-Rhodes, Bonomini, Shaha, Chand, Billy, Murrell, McDonald Sr, Jewell Jr, Bernald

Main-Chand, Shaha, Rhodes, McDonald Sr, Billy, Bernald, Bonomini, Murrell, Jewell Jr.

Limited Street Stock

Fast Time- Branstetter 17.608

Dash-Branstetter, Moshier, Huffman, Brown

Heat-Branstetter, Moshier, Brown, Adams, Middleton Watson

Main-Branstetter, Moshier, Brown, Middleton, Adams, Watson, Huffman

Real Stock

Fast Time-Brown 19.920

Dash-Miller, Brown, Norris, Arispe

Heat 1-Uselton, Adams, Yellon, Overson, Wood, Walkley, Menegan, Young

Heat 2-Creech, Byers, Hyman, Way, Miller, Brown, Middleton, Arispe

Main-Adams, Miller, Arispe, Byers, Hyman, Overson, Young, Menegan, Wood, Way, Middleton, Creech, Uselton, Walkley, Yellon, Brown, Lorenzen

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