9/18/2011
Sprint Source
PIEROVICH SHAKES OFF BAD LUCK TO WIN MADERA HARVEST CLASSIC
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (September 18, 2011) – Alamo’s Scott Pierovich continued his resurgence in the USAC Western Classic Racing Series by winning Saturday night’s “Harvest Classic” at Madera Speedway. The win marks redemption for Pierovich after mechanical failures forced him out of the April “Gerhardt Classic” at Madera while running second.
Pierovich was an early favorite for the championship this season before bad luck took its toll. Saturday’s win is Pierovich’s second on the season to go along with the May 14 “Burton Classic” at All American Speedway.
“We’re too far out of the points so we’re really just racing for wins,” Pierovich said. “I owe this all to Ken Pierson who pays the bills and does the setups on the car.”
Pierovich opened up the night by taking quick time with a 13.640 second lap around the one-third mile asphalt oval in the Ken Pierson #14 mount. Points leader Geoff Ensign of Sebastopol qualified fifth while second in points Tony Hunt took the Mike Phulps #56 to second.
Heat races were split by Ensign and Hunt. The 50 lap feature started 12 cars with Finkenbinder Motorsports teammates Tim Barber and Ensign on the front row.
Ensign led from outside pole while Pierovich, from sixth, drove to second by lap four. Pierovich began to put the pressure on Ensign and took over the top spot on lap six.
Jockeying throughout the field ensued as Audra Sasselli and Hunt went side-by-side for fourth behind Barber. Sasselli swept past Hunt and then Barber on lap 11 to take over third. Hunt won a nice duel with Barber on lap 14 to take fourth.
Ensign, Sasselli, and Hunt raced hard for the second position while 17 year-old Cody Gerhardt of Fresno passed San Carlos’ Chad Nichols for fifth on lap 20.
The first caution came out on lap 22 for Barber coming to a stop on the front stretch with heavy smoke. He was done for the night.
Sasselli got past Ensign in a thrilling move on the inside in turn one for the restart and one lap later the yellow lights were on again as Gordon Rodgers spun backwards down the front stretch.
On the restart, Sasselli tried to chase down Pierovich for the lead while Ensign and Hunt raced side-by-side for third. Hunt took over the spot on lap 24.
The final half of the race saw the order stay unchanged except for Gerhardt briefly battling back-and-forth with Nichols. Pierovich went on to win the “Harvest Classic” by one second over Sasselli, Hunt, Ensign, and Gerhardt.
Kaeding Performance awards worth $50 went to Nichols and Sasselli. In the USAC Western Classic Racing Series standings, Hunt cut Ensign’s lead down to nine points while Hunt’s lead over Sasselli in the USAC Western Sprint Car Series is just five markers. The series moves on to Shasta Raceway Park for the “Jimmy Sills Classic” on Saturday night October 8.
More information on the USAC Western Classic Racing Series is available on Facebook at keywords “USAC Western Classic Racing Series”. The United States Auto Club is online at www.usacracing.com
Article Credit: Steven Blakesley / Blakesley Sports Media
Submitted By: Steven Blakesley
