6/18/2010
Silver Dollar Speedway
Wallace Earns Victory With Last Lap Pass
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Photo by Steven Cox[/caption]
CHICO, CA (6-18-10) -Â Grass Valley driver Billy Wallace proved once again that in racing it is not over until you cross the checkered flag. Wallace shadowed Terry Schank Jr. for the second part of the 25-lap Joe Hunt Magneto Wingless Spec Sprint Shoot Out Series race and made his move for the win on the final lap. Schank Jr. got bottled up by a slower car and was stuck on the bottom in turns one and two. Wallace drove his car around the outside of Schank Jr. and took the lead going into turn three. Schank Jr. drove it deep going into turn three to try and take the lead back but Wallace was cruising around the top uncontested. Wallace came out of four with a slight cushion over Schank Jr. and won his second main event of the year during the wingless series. "I saw the slower car up ahead of Terry and I was hoping that it might slow him down enough to where I could get a run on the top and pass them both," said Wallace.Heather Bartlett won her second main event of the year in the street stock division. Bartlett led the early part of the race but drifted off the track in turn four and gave the lead up. "I thought I had given the race away at that point," said Bartlett. Yet, a few laps later she made the move of the night going from third to first in one lap and retaking the lead. "It was an awesome feeling to get the lead back," said Bartlett.
Randy McDaniel won the 15-lap dirt modified main event. It was a strong run for him as he was gearing up for a big race in Antioch the next night. "It's going to be a long night because we've got to change some things out of this car to get it ready for tomorrow," said McDaniel. "But it will make it a little easier knowing that we won here tonight."
Matt Micheli led all 15-laps of the Dirt Solution Late Model main event. "It feels good to win back here at Chico," said Micheli who is a former dirt modified champion of the speedway. "It was a fast track tonight and I just wish my dads car hadn't been torn up at the start and we could of raced him too."
Johnny Reeves started on the pole position for the 25-lap wingless main event. On lap three Reeves had the lead but drifted off the track in turn four. He came back onto the racing surface and looked to be in good shape but when he hit the gas pedal the car seemed to swing around on him. In turn, Reeves spun around and sat backwards facing the on coming cars. Unfortunately with nowhere to go in came Joe Stornetta at a high rate of speed. Stornetta clobbered the parked car of Reeves. Reeves quickly climbed out of his car and walked away. It took Stornetta a few moments to catch his breath before he climbed out and walked away. Both cars were towed off and done for the night.
On the restart the new leader was Scott Hall. One lap later the first of two red flags were thrown to halt the race. Chad Vermiel flipped over in turn two. He was uninjured but the car was done for the night. The other red of the night happened on lap 14 when fourth place running Travis Moore got on his lid in turn one. He too was just fine but unable to continue on.
Hall led the main event until lap eight. Third place at the time was Terry Schank Jr. He not only passed Billy Wallace for second but moved around Hall and tool the lead on lap nine. Third to first was a common theme of the night. Schank Jr. went on to lead the next 15 laps of the race. When he received the white flag he probably felt pretty good about his chances to win. However, so did Wallace. Wallace had help from the slower car and went on to pass Schank Jr. for the win. Third place went to Hall. Fourth place finisher was Jay Youngman. Josh Vieira rounded out the top five.
The wingless series was able to qualify tonight because the 410 winged cars had the night off. Schank Jr. was the quickest of the 22 car field by turning a lap of 14.142. Heat races were won by Taylor Simas, Timmy Sherman Jr. and B.J. Martin.
The Dirt Solution Late Model Main event had two failed attempts to start the race. On the first start, pole sitter Mike Meazell spun in turn two and brought out the yellow. That moved Ken Micheli to the front row. However, his night ended when he was nudged from behind by Jerry Bartlett. Both cars stopped entering turn one. Ken got out of his car and confronted Bartlett, who was still strapped in his car. Cooler heads prevailed and the race would continue. On the third attempt Matt Micheli took the lead. After the rough beginning the race only had one more stop when George Magenheimer stopped in turn four. The final nine laps went non-stop. Bartlett worked his way back to the second spot and began to hunt Micheli down. Things heated up on lap 13 when Michili drifted a little high and Bartlett made a run to the inside. There was a little bit a trading paint but no harm no foul and both drivers continued on. Micheli led the final two laps without incident and recorded his first win of the year at Chico. Bartlett was second followed by Doug Grandbois. Ken Micheli won the eight lap heat race.
An exciting street stock main event provided plenty of drama for the fans and drivers during the 15 lap race. Heather Bartlett led the first seven laps from her front row starting spot. She seemed poised to take home another win when all of a sudden she drifted off the track in turn four and gave the lead to Jake Vantol. Bartlett came back onto the track in the third spot behind Phil Marino. Vantol had brought out a new car and was able to put the right set-up on it tonight. He was working his way through traffic when all of a sudden he had problems too. Vantol closed to quickly on a slower car and his front end smashed into the rear of the slower car. Marino was right behind Vantol and he had to slow to avoid the wreck. This opened up the top side and Bartlett took advantage. She motored around the two guys and took the lead back on lap 11. Marino moved past Vantol and was now in second. Marino's night would end on lap 13 while he was trying to avoid a different slow car he clipped the big white tire in turn one. His car came to a stop and his night was over. The final two laps pitted Bartlett against Scott Rogers. Both drivers raced hard the final two laps and Bartlett was able to hold off Rogers to get the win. Vantol finished third followed by Mike Slightom and Kevin Lesch. Vantol and Lesch were each victorious in heat race action.
Randy McDaniel led all 15-laps to win the dirt modified main event. McDaniel had to hold off a charging Jeff Olschowka for all of the main event. Darin Ruley had another solid run to finish in the third spot. The real action took place on lap nine when third place Ryan McDaniel and fourth place Mark Abouzeid got together in turn two. Abouzeid was on the inside and McDaniel on the outside. The two made contact and drifted up and over the turn two embankment. McDaniel got out of his car to say some words to Abouzeid. The tow truck carried Abouzeid off while McDaniel restarted but quickly pulled off the track soon thereafter. Randy cruised up front and got his first win of 2010 at the track he has had so much success at. Abouzeid and John Abbott scored wins in heat race action.
Racing at the speedway continues next Friday night, June 25 Riebes Auto Parts Night.