Terrell Sweeps, Ensign Returns, DeCarlo Continues
~~Smooth and fast were the order of the night as Petaluma Speedway featured four open wheel divisions Saturday Night. For the second week in a row defending Pit Stop USA Winged 360 Champion Bradley Terrell outpaced the field just a tick off the track record with a 12.384 to pick up fast time honors. Terrell grabbed the first heat as newly crowned track champion Herman Klein rode out a hard endo out the pit gate. Alissa Geving captured the second heat as Zack Lynskey jumped the cushion and got on his head. The 25-lap feature saw former Spec Sprint Champion Joe Stornetta get the better of Terrell into turn one. Lap two saw rookie Marissa Polizzi spin and Brett Rollag do the same a lap later. The challenging third lap saw Roberto Kirby and Polizzi both tip over without injuries. On the fourth lap restart Geving made a jump to 4th position. Stornetta, the Napa native wheeling the familiar Mary Lee Lathrop Special took advantage of a clear track with a heavy cushion and extended his lead through 7 laps. Herman Klein having made repairs was third by the eighth lap. Rollag got by Geving on the ninth lap for fourth. Through 15 circuits it was still Stornetta but with Terrell closing. In between turns three and four on the 16th lap Stornetta bobbled slightly dancing with the cushion and provided just enough of a delay to see Terrell slip by. The last nine laps were run caution free as Terrell picked up his second Pit Stop USA win of the season over Stornetta, Klein, Rollag, and Geving.
The Pit Stop USA Spec Sprints saw a 14-car field sign in with the returning Geoff Ensign eclipsing the field with rapid 14.160 qualifying effort. Point leader Terry Schank Jr. and much improving Shane Myhre netted the pair of 8-lap heats. The 25-lap main saw visiting Matt Streeter in the Scotty Dupont #3x outdistance Myhre and lead the first stanza. Shayna Silvia looped her #9 mount on lap one slowing the field. On the restart Schank made a precise move around Gary Nelson for second. Charging from fifth starting was Ensign as he was third by lap four. Schank made one of his patented berm riding passes on lap five and displaced Streeter for the lead. By the seventh circuit a blanket could have been thrown over the top three as Schank, Streeter, and Ensign diced dynamically. Tell-tale smoke started to emerge from Schank’s motor mid-race as Ensign seemed to find another gear and Schank went into nurse mode. As laps clicked off caution free Ensign wasn’t to be challenged as he brought home the Ted Finkenbinder #3f ahead of Schank, Streeter, Nelson, and Rowdy McClennon.
Fourteen IMCA Modifieds made the call in the Carr Racing Chassis Division. Brian Azevedo and Chris Siewke garnered the pair of preliminary heats. The 25-lap main saw Fast Freddie Plourde lead the first lap as Azevedo spun and collected four cars on the second lap in turn one. By lap 3 Michael Paul Jr. had inched by for the lead and was standing tall in the saddle trying to hold off a pair of DeCarlo’s. Point leader Nick was second by the 4th lap and father Terry was third by lap 5. Nick DeCarlo got by Paul Jr. with a rim riding pass on the sixth circuit. Charging from the back was Oreste Gennello as the he entered the top five on lap 7. Lap 8 saw Joe Myers loop as the real battle was now for second between Terry DeCarlo and Michael Paul Jr. Plourde and Azevedo collided on the 9th lap. Terry DeCarlo got by Paul Jr. for second on the 14th lap and chased son Nick to the checkers. Third was Paul Jr., over Gonnella, and Sieweke.
The Larsen Racing Products Dwarf Cars saw sophomore Chad Matthias and cagey veteran Carroll Mendenhall capture heat races. The 20-lap finale found former track champion John Peters lead from the pole position early. Scooter Gomes went from fourth to 2nd by the second lap and started the chase of Peters. Adam Johnson and Danny Marsh collided on the fifth lap delaying the action. Mendenhall made a deft pass for third on the ensuing restart. Ed Sans III made a pass for fourth on the ninth circuit but exited the track with mechanical gremlins a lap later. All was for naught as Peters was dialed in and led all 20-laps. Second was Gomes over Mendenhall, Matthias, and Tommy King.
Petaluma Speedway returns to action Saturday Night, September 20th featuring the California Civil War Sprint Car Series presented by Flowmaster. Also on tap will be the final points races for the Carr Racing Chassis IMCA Modifieds, and the Larsen Racing Products Dwarf Cars. This special night will be sponsored by Pit stop USA. For more information please go to www.petaluma-speedway.com.
