Don's California Racing Recollections: Best Of The Blog And Beyond
Available via print on demand at Lulu in Hard Cover or Paperback
Just A Kid From The Grandstands: My Time In Auto Racing
Available on Lulu in Paperback And Hard Cover
Also, what could be a series of informative books...
Short Track History Project at Gofundme
Additional info on the Short Track History Project HERE
Note: As much as I would love to record an audio show, the process will take a couple hours. I think it best I get at least some sleep so I can be ready for Chowchilla. It's already late as it is. The plan will be to put the show together and a Chowchilla article tomorrow evening.
Busby, Corsaro, Jennings and Damitz Score Antioch Victories
Taking the lead from Jeff Thomas on a late race restart, Scott Busby went on to win his second 20 lap IMCA Modified Main Event of the season Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. It was a milestone win for the four time champion as it was his 60th career victory in this division at Antioch Speedway. After he took the lead from race long leader Danny Wagner on lap 15, Mike Corsaro went on to win his first 20 lap Dwarf Car feature of the season. Behind the wheel of his brother Jeremy's car this week, Jason Jennings won the 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event. Larry Damitz went flag to flag to win his third 20 lap Limited Late Model feature of the season.
The IMCA Modifieds ran three heat races, and Terry Kaiser held off Troy Foulger to win the first heat. Kellen Chadwick won the second heat ahead of point leader Bobby Motts Jr., and defending champion Carl Berendsen II won the final heat race ahead of Jeff Thomas. Josh Combs had the outside front row for the Main Event, and he led fourth starter Berendsen into the top two positions as the race began. Thomas, Busby and Foulger made this a close five car battle up front. It appeared as if all was not right on the Combs car, but he did an impressive job of holding off Berendsen during the first ten laps. It was at that point when Thomas made his move by Berendsen for second and made an inside pass on the front stretch of the 11th lap for the lead. Berendsen and Busby quickly shuffled Combs out of the Top 3, and contact sent Berendsen spinning from second in Turn 2 for a lap 16 caution flag. Thomas chose the outside on the restart. Moments after completing the lap, Busby raced underneath Thomas entering Turn 1 and emerged with the lead. Thomas slowed with a motor problem as Foulger was now second ahead of Merced point leader Alex Wilson. Despite pressure from fellow four time champion Foulger, Busby kept his cool and brought it home to a satisfying victory. Wilson settled for third ahead of Motts, Kaiser, Combs, Norm Boeck, Kyle Wilson, Dustin Himes and Thomas.
The Dwarf Cars had two heat races with one of the two wins gong to Jack Haverty ahead of Corsaro. Thomas Leiby won the other heat ahead of Adam Teves. With a pole position start, point leader Wagner probably figured to be the driver to beat, and he raced into the lead at the start of the Main Event. A. Teves and Corsaro settled into second and third in the early goings of the non stop event. A low move in Turn 2 of the 11th lap gained Corsaro second. Corsaro moved in to challenge Wagner, making his winning pass on the low groove in Turn 4 of the 15th circuit. Tenth starting David Teves was already up to fourth and made his move around his son Adam on the 18th lap. Corsaro drove a flawless race to score the victory as Wagner settled for second ahead of D. Teves. A. Teves was fourth as Haverty, Charlie Correia, Miranda Chappa, Jerry Doty, T. Reeder and Brian Gray rounded out the Top 10.
Jennings gave a preview of what was to come by winning the first of two Hobby Stock heat races in front of Chris Long. Rookie Jordan Swank impressed with a win in the second heat ahead of Michael Cooper. The heat winners had the front row for the Main Event, and Jennings set the pace from the drop of the green flag. Swank settled into an early second ahead of Long, Danny Jones and Cooper. An inside move in Turn 3 of the seventh lap moved Long into second place as Jones quickly followed into third. A yellow flag flew for debris on the front stretch of the tenth lap. The first attempt to restart the race saw Russell Shearer hit the front stretch wall hard for a red flag. He was uninjured, but out of the race. Jennings chose the outside for the restart, and Jones moved into second. Jennings drove an impressive race and led the entire distance for his second win of the season. Jones collected his second runner up finish of the season ahead of Long, Oreta, Cameron Swank, Cooper, J. Swank, Natalie Perry, Frank Furtado and Shearer.
The Limited Late Models only ran one heat race with Mark Garner winning ahead of Mike Gustafson. Garner was only back after an amazing team effort saw him put a new front clip on his car and fix a damaged motor after a hard crash in Turn 2 last time out. Damitz and Garner shared the front row of the Main Event, and Damitz rode the outside into the lead. A few laps in, Garner momentarily stalled exiting Turn 2 and lost ground to Damitz. However, he reeled him back in and provided some late race pressure. Damitz was not to be denied as he won the Main Event ahead of Garner, Jim Freethy, Mike Hynes, Gustafson and Lori Brown, all on the lead lap. Racing continues at Antioch Speedway next Saturday night with a four division program that will feature DIRTcar Late Models, Sport Modifieds, Dwarf Cars and Hobby Stocks. For more information, check out the official Oval Motorsports Website
Ryland Grabs Fourth Merced Win, Dean Eighth Different Hobby Stock Winner
Fred Ryland continued his quest to win the 2015 IMCA Sport Mod National championship with a dominating win in the 20 lap Main Event Saturday night at Merced Speedway. It was his fourth win of the season at the track and 12th on the circuit. Chowchilla's Kode Dean came from deep in the pack to win the 20 lap Northern All Stars Hobby Stock feature. Darren Miguel continues to be a force in Mini Stocks, winning his fourth 20 lap Main Event of the season. Point leader Marcus Lung won the Valley Sportsman Main Event.
Coming off of a third in Hanford a night earlier, Fred Ryland won the Sport Mod heat race ahead of Tim Cecil. Antioch regular Al Johnson and Cecil shared the front row of the feature with Ryland starting in the third row and Mark Odgers in the fourth row. Cecil led early as Ryland made a steady charge to the front. Cecil ended up spinning, and Ryland built a half lap lead. Odgers steadily worked his way into second just past the midway point of the race, but by then the Ryland lead was insurmountable. Following Ryland and Odgers at the finish was two time track champion Shawn Bryant, Gary Tucker, point leader Josh Hensley, Johnson, Alan Pace and Cecil.
The Hobby Stocks had two heat races, and Ty Shelton returned to action with a win in his heat ahead of Dean. Point leader Kevin Joaquin won the other heat race ahead of Robbie Loquaci. Third ranked George Silva and newcomer Adam Reed had the front row for the Main Event, and rookie leader Jennifer Corder was in the second row. Corder made her presence known early on as eighth stater Dean and ninth starter Joaquin raced their way to the front. It wasn't a good night to be the leader as a few drivers found out when they experienced various problems. Dean eventually grabbed the lead and impressive victory, forcing Joaquin to settle for second again. Dean becomes the eighth different winner in nine races as Joaquin is the only repeat winner in the class so far this year. Corder grabbed a solid third place finish with Reed a respectable fourth. Austin Van Hoff, Loquaci, Bobby Williams, Tim Drake, Andrew Krumm and Steve Torres rounded out the Top 10.
Miguel ended up being a double winner in Mini Stocks as he won his heat race and the Main Event ahead of point leader Chris Corder. He started last row in both races. Just as this was Miguel's fourth win of the season, it was Corder's fourth second place finish. Mike Germait was third. The second Corder team car, Kevin Lockerby and Brian Widdowson rounded out the field.
In the Sportsman division, Kenny Birdsong won the heat race ahead of Mike
Palmberg. Lung started on the pole for the 12 lap Main Event and he would score the victory. Palmberg would finish second again in front of Birdsong and Jeff Bristow.
Racing continues at Merced Speedway with a program consisting of IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, Northern All Stars Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and Limited Late Models. For further information, check the official Oval Motorsports Website.