Bradley Terrell Caps Successful Return On Oilstops Night
~~Typical pleasant Petaluma Summer weather and a very fast track welcomed patrons on Oilstop Oil Changers Night at Petaluma Speedway Saturday Night. Fresno’s Kyler Shaw opened eyes with a swift 12.734 as he out-qualified the 21-car Pit Stop USA Winged 360 Division. Visiting Steven Tiner, Geoff Ensign, and Benicia’s Billy Aton captured the three eight lap heat races. The start of the 25-lap feature saw outside pole sitter Aton get the jump on Alissa Geving. On the move were Ensign and Bradley Terrell from their sixth and eighth starting spots as both entered the top four by the fourth lap. Adam Brenton slowed on the fourth lap and was plowed into by Geving. The familiar #3x gathered it up but Brenton was finished for the event. Lap six saw a single car loop by Roberto Kirby and after that it was 19 consecutive green flag laps of exciting two-groove sprint car racing. The beneficiary of Geving’s quick shunt was Tiner as he grabbed second place. Meanwhile Aton was masterfully dealing with heavy lapped traffic. Terrell shook free of Ensign and Geving for third on lap 9 and passed Tiner with a gutsy pass entering turn one on the 14th stanza. With 5 to go Terrell, wheeling the potent Brett Lay #24b, caught Aton and threaded the needle again entering turn one. At the finish it was Terrell the defending Pit Stop USA Track Champion with his first 2014 Petaluma Speedway win over Aton. Ironically, it was these two drivers who were injured in the same crash at Calistoga Speedway on April 5th of this season. Third was Tiner, over Geving, and point leader Herman Klein.
Fifteen cars checked in for the Carr Racing Chassis IMCA Modified event. Chris Compton and Brian Azevedo nabbed the pair of heat races. Azevedo broke at the start of the feature which saw David Spriggs lead. Lap two found Spriggs, Joe Carr, and Dan Payne askew. On the move was point leader DeCarlo who started shotgun on the field chasing Mitch Machado through the pack. By the fourth lap DeCarlo was in the lead. Battling for second was the trio of Machado, Michael Paul Jr., and Oreste Gonnella. Multiple cautions led to several stoppages. Contact between Gonnella and DeCarlo and then DeCarlo and Gonnella made things interesting for the fans. At the 25-lap twin checkers it was DeCarlo with his fifth Petaluma win of the season over Paul Jr., Gonnella, Michelle Byron, and Spriggs.
The Lumberjack Restaurant Super Stocks had a challenging night with a 14-car field. Gary Adams and Matt While both having recent success earned preliminary heat race wins. Veteran Larry Drew scampered away from the field over Adams. From the third lap on the event never seemed to gather any rhythm with 11 caution flags hampering progress. Steve Hansen hit the wall on the fourth lap. While, Brent Blackwood, Nathan Schleth, and Steve Studebaker all collected each other a lap later. Adams passed Drew for the lead and looked strong for the second week in a row. Thirty two minutes into the 20-lap event While, who earlier had a flat tire, emerged with his third win of the season over Adams, Drew, Roger Miller, and Frank Salvato.
The Santa Rosa Auto Body 600 Micros fielded a dozen buzz bomb open wheelers. Jared Morrison and Klint Simpson copped the heats. The 20-lap feature saw hard luck for Jenna Perkins as she experienced throttle issues and then did a quick snap roll. Simpson sheared a left front hub as he was leading comfortably. Lap 9 saw Danny Potts lose a right rear wheel as the field was thinned from attrition. Nabbing his second consecutive feature was former BCRA Midget standout David Prickett. Chasing Pricket to the finish was Bruno Bianchi, Jason McIntosh, Danny Rozendahl, and KC Weikle.
The Jake’s Performance Hobbies Mini Stocks saw sophomore driver Eden McCormick victorious in the heat race. John Veeninga collected point leader Jake Fernandes on the back straightaway of the opening circuit, then paced the field for the entire distance. Exiting turn four the final time McCormick rode the berm and looped Veeninga right at the finish line for a photo finish. Third was rookie Claire Langley over Snazzy Duckworth, and Fernandes.
Petaluma Speedway returns to action Saturday Night, July 26th with Five Corners Automotive & Western Auto Body Night featuring the: Pit Stop USA Winged 360’s along with the Nor Cal Challenge IMCA Modified Tour, Larsen Racing Products Dwarf Cars, and the Jake’s Performance Hobbies Mini Stocks. For more information please go to www.petaluma-speedway.com.
