Just A Kid From The Grandstands: My Time In Auto Racing
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Don's California Racing Recollections: Best Of The Blog And Beyond
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Also, what could be a series of informative books...
Short Track History Project at Gofundme
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The Weekend Review Edition Of The DCRR Radio Show
Defending Champion Vogt Back In Winner's Circle At Chowchilla Speedway
Mastering the dry slick conditions from his pole position start, 2014 Chowchilla Speedway champion Josh Vogt won his second straight IMCA Modified Main Event Sunday afternoon at Chowchilla Speedway. A good field of Northern All Stars Hobby Stocks saw Kevin Joaquin increase his point lead with his second straight victory.
Vogt won the IMCA Modified heat race ahead of Harley Turner. Meanwhile, Karl Rose would scratch from the heat and start last in the Main Event. The track at times got a little bit dusty, and there was a scary incident when past champion Randy Brown crashed hard and rolled without injury. As Vogt led the way, Rose moved up to battle Turner for second. Rose would eventually make his move into second, but there was no stopping Vogt from grabbing the victory. Turner settled for third ahead of Michael Shearer, past Modified Mini Stock champion Daniel Luukkenon, Brown, point leader Billy Wilker, Ray Mayer and 2014 Antioch champion Carl Berendsen II.
The Hobby Stocks had two heat races, and Mason Robishaud started his Chowchilla debut off with a win ahead of Shannon Nelson. Past Chowchilla Mini Stock champion Robbie Loquaci won his heat ahead of Joaquin. For the Main Event, Joaquin started right behind pole sitter Loquaci, and that was the early battle as last week's Merced feature winner Gary Hildebrand made a charge from ninth starting. Joaquin would make his move around Loquaci for the lead and would bring it home to an impressive victory. Hildebrand also got by for second as Loquaci settled for third. Kode Dean came from tenth to finish fourth as Kristie Shearer rounded out the Top 5. Nick Lawrence made a race day decision to show up after completing repairs on his car and arrived just before the feature. He started 12th and came forward to a sixth place finish as Shannon Nelson, Austin Van Hoff, Darren Miguel and Dexter Long completed the Top 10.
The fourth event of the season at Chowchilla Speedway will be on May 3 as IMCA Modifieds and Sport Mods and Northern All Stars Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks will again be on the card. For further information, check out the official Oval Motorsports Website.
Victory At Last For Keith Brown Jr. At Chowchilla
It's been a year of ups and downs for third generation racer Keith Brown Jr. as he attempts to run the circuit. Despite ranking second in IMCA Sport Mod State points going into the weekend, he had no victories. However, that changed in a big way on Sunday afternoon as he mastered the dry slick conditions for his first win of the season. Meanwhile, 2014 Antioch Four Banger champion Brent Curran pulled his car out of mothballs and won the 20 lap Mini Stock Main Event.
A competitive 14 car field of Sport Mods ran two heat races, and K. Brown won his heat race ahead of past Chowchilla Hobby Stock champion Chris Falkenberg. Coming off of his Merced win a night earlier, Rick Diaz again held off IMCA National point leader Fred Ryland to win his heat race. Brown actually started on the outside second row behind Diaz while Ryland was back in eighth. As Brown and Diaz mixed it up in the battle for first, Falkenberg was working on another podium finish when contact from behind left him with damaged rear suspension. K. Brown finally settled the matter with Diaz to score a well earned victory. Diaz settled for second with Fred Ryland wrapping up a three Top 3 finishing weekend in third. Natasha Dodd brought it up from 14th starting to a solid fourth place finish ahead of John Gish, Merced point leader Josh Hensley, Mark Squadrito, Marissa Odgers, D.C Brown and John Fore Jr.
Mini Stocks again produced a seven car field, and point leader Chris Corder won the heat race ahead of Jadon Harrington. Dennis Copus turned the driving duties of the #48 car over to 2012 Merced Mini Stock champion Alex Odishoo. Odishoo actually led several laps for the Main Event from sixth starting, but a restart provided Curran with all the opportunity he needed to grab the lead. Once in front, second generation racer Curran brought it home to a satisfying victory. Harrington grabbed another second as Odishoo settled for third. Alicia Caldwell and Corder rounded out the Top 5.
The fourth event of the season at Chowchilla Speedway will be on May 3 as IMCA Modifieds and Sport Mods and Northern All Stars Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks will again be on the card. For further information, check out the official Oval Motorsports Website.
Motts Gains IMCA Modified Point Lead With Antioch Victory
Gaining the lead after defending champion Carl Berendsen II spun in the second turn, Bobby Motts Jr. went on to score a victory in the 20 lap IMCA Modified Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. The win gave Motts the point lead as he sets his sights on the division championship. Melissa Myers returned after a week off and scored her third 20 lap Northern All Stars Hobby Stock Main Event win. Point leader Kyle Bakkie led from flag to flag to win the 20 lap Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event.
The IMCA Modifieds had two heat races, and Jeff Thomas won his heat race ahead of Sean O'Gara, suffering a night ending mechanical failure in the process. Mike Salazar won the other heat race ahead of Chris Elby. O'Gara and Berendesen shared the front row for the Main Event with Motts starting third and Scott Busby fifth. Berendsen raced into the lead at the start as O'Gara settled into second ahead of Motts. Danny Dozier retired early, and Anthony Copeland brought out a yellow flag on lap nine. Berendsen chose the outside for the restart, and Busby rode the high line into second. Working lap 11, Berendsen spun in Turn 2 for a yellow flag, and track officials penalized Busby to the rear of the field. The slightly smoking O'Gara had the lead for the restart, but Motts moved past him when the race resumed. Salazar settled into third, and O'Gara's night ended as he stalled for a lap 18 caution flag. Berendsen was fourth for the restart, and an attempt to ride the high line into second was blocked by Salazar. Motts went on to score the victory ahead of Salazar, Berendsen, Elby and Dustin Himes.
Danny Jones won the first of two Hobby Stock heat races ahead of Myers, but in the process he suffered mechanical issues to end his night early. Kimo Oreta won the other heat race ahead of Calvin Louis Jr. Myers had a front row start for the Main Event with Oreta in the second row. Not surprisingly, Myers raced into the lead at the drop of the green flag ahead of Oreta and Jason Jennings. Jennings won the previous Main Event after Brian Zachary was later disqualified in tech. Oreta remained glued to the back bumper of Myers, leaving Jennings all alone in third as Natalie Perry, Michael Cooper and Louis battled for fourth. Cooper would eventually win that battle, though he was lapped late by the lead duo. Myers drove a flawless race to score the victory ahead of Oreta and Jennings, the final lead lap finisher. Cooper grabbed a checkered flag in fourth ahead of Louis, Perry and Frank Furtado.
Bakkie won the lone Wingless Spec Sprint heat race ahead of Ryon Siverling. Bakkie led the Main Event from the start ahead of Jeremy Newberry and Siverling. Siverling was challenging Newberry for second, but Marcus Smith and Rick Panfili were right behind him. On lap 11, Siverling lost third to Smith. Bakkie held command the rest of the way for the victory ahead of Newberry, Smith, Siverling and Panfili.
Racing continues next week with DIRTcar Late Models and Winged 360 Sprints headlining a program that also includes IMCA Sport Modifieds, Dwarf Cars and Wingless Spec Sprints. Be sure to check the official Oval Motorsports Website for the latest information.
Wagner, Gustafson Impress With Antioch Victories
Holding off a late attempt by Mike Corsaro to get by, point leader Danny Wagner collected his third Northern All Stars Dwarf Car Main Event win of the season Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. Two time division champion Mike Gustafson held off point leader Larry Damitz to win the 20 lap Limited Late Model Main Event.
The Dwarf Cars ran three heat races, and Wagner won the first one ahead of Kevin Miraglio. Jerry Doty won the second heat ahead of Jack Haverty. The third heat saw young Adam Teves hold off his father, David Teves. D. Teves was debuting a new car built by the team. Wagner and Doty shared the front row for the Main Event with Corsro starting fourth. Wagner raced into the lead at the drop of the green ahead of Doty and Miraglio. Toby Brown spun in Turn 2 for a lap seven caution flag. Wagner chose the inside on the restart and continued to lead Doty as D. Teves settled into third. Teves gained second on lap ten before Miraglio and A. Teves suffered a race ending crash in Turn 4. Wagner chose the inside again, and D Teves had enough momentum up high to race by for the lead on the back stretch. However, Wagner prevailed on the inside line through Turns 3 and 4 to regain the lead before the lap concluded. Robert Coe, Haverty and Miranda Chappa tangled in Turn 4 for a lap 13 yellow flag. Haverty suffered heavy front end damage in the incident to end his night. Wagner stayed ahead of D. Teves and Corsaro on the restart, and Corsaro finally managed to get by D. Teves for second on lap 18. Wagner led a final restart and brought it home to an impressive victory ahead of Corsaro, D. Teves, Doty, Charlie Correia, Chappa, Randy Jahoda and Brian Gray.
The Limited Late Models ran two heat races, and Mark Garner won his heat race in impressive fashion ahead of Jim Freethy. Mike Hynes won the other heat race ahead of Lori Brown. Gustafson had the pole for the Main Event with Damitz starting back in eighth. Gustafson raced into the early lead ahead of Brown and Freethy. A yellow flag became a red flag when contact sent Garner hard into the Turn 2 wall. Hynes was black flagged for his part in the incident. Garner was not injured, but his car sustained heavy front end damage. Gustafson chose the outside for the restart, and Damitz rode the high line to follow him into second. Brown maintained third just ahead of Freethy. Despite heavy pressure, Gustafson drove a flawless race to score his 47th career victory at the track. Damitz settled for second ahead of Brown and Freethy. Ryan Chezerian and John Evans were both a lap down in fifth and sixth, respectively.
Racing continues next week with DIRTcar Late Models and Winged 360 Sprints headlining a program that also includes IMCA Sport Modifieds, Dwarf Cars and Wingless Spec Sprints. Be sure to check the official Oval Motorsports Website for the latest information.
Diaz Impressive In Merced Speedway Sport Mod Victory
Making a charge from the back of the pack, 2014 Merced IMCA Sport Mod champion Rick Diaz scored an impressive victory in their 20 lap Main Event Saturday night. Marc Key returned to action in the Hobby Stocks and became the seventh different feature winner in eight races. Robert Alger made his first Mini Stock start of the season a winning one in the 20 lap Main Event. Jeff Bristow ended up with the Sportsman feature victory after apparent winner Eric Seale was disqualified.
The IMCA Sport Mods had two heat races, and Diaz collected the win in his heat in front of Bruce Nelson. Jeremy Hoff won the second heat ahead of current IMCA National point leader Fred Ryland. For the Main Event, Diaz started deep in the 11 car field while Hoff shared the front row with Dwayne Short. Hoff charged into the early lead as third starter Keith Brown Jr. settled into second. Diaz was already in fourth by lap three, and a two car crash at the start of the back stretch forced a lap four caution flag. Hoff chose the outside on the restart and continued to lead Brown as Diaz and Ryland took over third and fourth. An outside pass on the back stretch of the seventh lap gained Diaz second from Brown. A stalled car in Turn 4 caused a lap ten caution. Hoff stayed with the outside for the restart, but Diaz charged past him to take the lead. Ryland had gained third from Brown and then made a low pass in Turn 2 of the 14th lap to take second from Hoff. Once in front, Diaz would not be denied as he brought it home to a well earned victory. Ryland settled for second ahead of Hoff, Nelson, Brown and Short, the final lead lap finisher.
The Hobby Stocks ran two heat races, and Key won the first heat ahead of Kristie Shearer. George Silva held off point leader Kevin Joaquin to get the win in the second heat race. Key had the pole for the Main Event, and that was not a position he would give up as he drove a flawless race for the victory. Joaquin added to his point lead over rookie Jennifer Corder with a sold second place finish ahead of Kristie Shearer. Two time Hobby Stock champion Andrew Krumm made a surprise visit and finished fourth ahead of past IMCA Modified champion Marshall Weaver, who was piloting the same Josh Hensley car that Darren Miguel won his Main Event with earlier this season. Shannon Nelson was sixth ahead of Silva, Corder and Dexter Long. Don Shearer and Steve Rodgers were feature scratches.
Darren Miguel won his Mini Stock heat race ahead of R. Alger. Kevin Lockerby broke a clutch in his heat and was a Main Event scratch. Point leader Chris Corder won the other heat ahead of past Watsonville Mini Stock champion Dan McCabe. Miguel probably thought he might have a shot at winning as he and Corder shared the front row for the feature, but he ended up in seventh in the end. In fact, Corder couldn't even use the good starting spot for a win . R. Alger would score the victory with McCabe grabbing a second place finish. Corder settled for third ahead of Mike Germait and Alicia Caldwell, both of whom were making their first starts. Joy Alger finished sixth to move into third in the standings.
Point leader Marcus Lung won the Sportsman heat race over Eric Seale. Seale started on the front row and appeared to collect the feature win, only be be disqualified by officials after the race. That gave the win to past division point runner up Jeff Bristow. Lung ended up second ahead of Mike Palmberg and Chris Birdsong.
IMCA Modifieds return next week along with IMCA Sport Mods, Northern All Stars Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks. It is also Youth Baseball Night at the races. That means free admission to one uniformed baseball player with the purchase of one adult ticket. For more information, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.
