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Karl Noland Sr., Roy Atchinson Win Rocky Hill Features
The point season opened Saturday night at Rocky Hill Speedway in Porterville, and five divisions were in competition. After an early battle with Kevin Collier, defending champion Karl Noland Sr. won the 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event. After finishing second to the flying Jarred Plumlee in the Mini Stock 30 lap feature, Roy Atchinson claimed the victory in the 20 lap Super Mini Stock Main Event. Cale Hosfeldt won the American Stock 15 lapper. The Mini Dwarf Cars had two classifications with JD Brown winning in the Senior group of older kids and Ethan Johnson grabbing the victory in the younger Junior class.
Karl Noland Sr. started things off with a Hobby Stock heat race win over another long time Porterville and Bakersfield competitor, Kevin Collier. Joe Humphrey scratched to leave six cars for the feature. Collier beat K. Noland Sr. at the start, and Eddie Dale Memorial winner John Collins retired early. Karl Noland Jr. settled into third, and K Noland Sr. began a side by side battle with Collier for the lead on lap five. An inside move on the back stretch two laps later put K. Noland Sr. into the lead. Raymond Noland Jr. spun in Turn 2 for a lap eight caution flag, and K. Noland Jr. pitted. K. Noland Sr. maintained a slim lead over Collier over the final 12 circuits for the victory. Collier's second place finish came aboard 2014 Mini Stock champion Joe Robinson's car as he was trying to help him set the car up. Jason Ridenour won a close battle with R. Noland for third, but he was later disqualified, handing third to R. Noland ahead of. Noland Jr. and Mitch Collins.
In the Super Mini Stock heat race, defending track champion Adell Shelton, who won the Eddie Dale Memorial Race for her division two weeks ago, scored the eight lap victory ahead of Darren Estermann. Atchinson grabbed the Main Event lead at the drop of the green flag ahead of Estermann and Shelton. A low move in Turn 4 of the third lap gained Shelton second, and Estermann fell out to hand third to William Hughes. Atchinson set a fast pace and built a big lead as he lapped Russell Todd with two laps left. Atchinson brought it home a happy winner ahead of Shelton, Hughes, the truck of Kit Murphy and Todd.
The Mini Stocks ran a pair of heat races, and Atchinson won his heat ahead of Shawn Schwartzenberger. Zack Westlake won the other heat ahead of Plumlee. Atchinson had the pole for the Main Event and set the early pace ahead of Plumlee. Robert Jackson spun on the back stretch for a lap two caution flag. Atchinson led Plumlee and Westlake on the restart. Clinton Massey spun in Turn 2 for a yellow flag on lap five. Atchinson still led Plumlee and Westlake on the restart as Showtime Screen Printing Dash For Cash winner Andy Boydstun settled into fourth. An inside move in Turn 2 of the 12th lap gained Plumlee the lead from Atchinson. Boydstun made a similar move on lap 15 to take third from Westlake. Boydstun saw his pass of Atchinson negated when another car spun for a lap 17 yellow flag. Plumlee continued to lead and would take it all the way to the checkered flag. Atchinson was a strong second ahead of Boydstun, Westlake, Schwartzenberger and Chris Rutledge.
Jeff Lloyd won the American Stock heat race ahead of Hosfeldt. Hosfeldt had the front row for the Main Event and led from start to finish. Eddie Dale Memorial winner Jake Peters never let Hosfeldt get away from him, but he had to settle for second ahead Brian Bartlett and Lloyd.
In Junior Dwarf action, Johnson made a last lap pass on Mallory Meyer to win the heat race. Johnson led from the start of the Main Event to grab the victory trophy as Meyer settled for second ahead of Trenton Euro and Kercie Jung.
In Senior Dwarfs, J.D. Brown collected the heat win over Madison Meyer. Meyer didn't let Brown get the feature win easily. She battled him fiercely throughout the race as they enjoyed several side by side laps. In the end, Brown prevailed ahead of Meyer, Ryley Millard, Austin Martin and Allie Jung.
The track also presents plaques to the second and third place feature finishers and interviews them, including the competitors in the two Dwarf Car classes. Seeing the kids being interviewed really conveys the family spirit behind the revival of the race track. Special things are planned when racing returns to the speedway on Easter weekend, April 4. For more information, check the official Rocky Hill Speedway Website.
