First Time Winners Find Petaluma Speedway Victory Lane
PETALUMA, CA – May 2
A week after uninvited rains flooded the facility; beautiful weather welcomed the Petaluma Speedway faithful last Saturday. Nineteen winged 360’s signed in for the Pit Stop USA Series with visiting Scotts Valley pilot Evan Suggs tripping the transponder loop at 12.433 effort to net fast time honors. The three heat race format saw Bradley Terrell, Billy Aton, and winged newcomer Paul Alonso cop the 8-lappers. The 25 lap feature saw the return of an “Old School Petaluma” track that was rough and extremely hooked up. Defending track champion Herman Klein led the first circuit with Terrell jumping from sixth to third by the third lap. Lap four saw Alonso bicycle to a stop in turn two and simultaneously Marissa Polizzi overturning in turn four. On the restart Klein wobbled and Andy Forsberg got the best of him while Terrell moved to the runner up slot by lap 6. Lap 11 saw Terrell who was dueling wheel-to-wheel with Suggs get upside down in turn four. Lap 14 saw Suggs displace Klein for second and set sight on Forsberg. On a lap 17 restart Suggs motored around the outside of Forsberg through turn two. Rookie Riley Matson did a slow roll on lap 18 for the final stoppage. The last 7 laps were clear of traffic for the victorious Suggs who netted his first ever PS win. Forsberg was second, over Klein, Alissa Geving, and Jake Haulot.
The Pit Stop USA Spec Sprints saw 14 cars log qualifying times with veteran Jim Christian fastest with 14.543. Sparky Howard celebrating 31 years of racing and point leader Klint Simpson captured the pair of heat races. The 25-lap feature saw Adam Christian with the early lead. Gary Nelson Jr. moved from fourth to second passing Alex Coronado and Bradley Clark. Sixth starting Simpson meticulously picked off competitors so that he was standing third by the tenth lap. A 13th lap caution for a stalled Nelson slowed the action. This gave second to Simpson as Bradley Clark moved back into third. Suddenly on a lap 16 restart it became apparent that John Clark was the fastest car on the track as he got under veterans Howard and Scotty Dupont, then slid by Simpson. Bouncing to the finish was Adam Christian to earn his first ever PS victory. Earning his best ever finish was John Clark in second. Simpson was third over Howard and Dupont.
The Lumberjack Restaurant Super Stocks had a full field of 19 entries that saw Woody Woodward and Matt While earn heat race triumphs. The main event saw pole-sitter Roger Miller lead the first four trips around before Steve Studebaker augured through the ruts to the top spot on lap five. On the move from fifth starting was Gary Adams who took second on the 6th lap with Trevor Brady grabbing third. Eyes began to shift to the #11h of Mike Learn who started 14th and was fourth by the 8th circuit. Brady and Adams exchanged positions as Studebaker continued to thread his way through heavy traffic at times. Learn’s dash to the front ended on lap 21 as he exited the track. At the finish it was Studebaker with a narrow 3/10th’s of a second lead over another stellar effort by Brady. Defending track champion Brent Blackwood was third over Woodward, and Adams.
The Larsen Racing Products Dwarfs found the rough track conditions extremely challenging with their narrow wheels and wheelbase. Dominant Dave Mosier won the heat race and grabbed the initial lead in the 20-lap finale. On lap seven however Mosier did a massive aerial pirouette that caused him to come to an abrupt halt. Travis Dutra inherited the lead and found the high line cushion to his liking as he paced the field over Chad Matthias. Restarting tail end on the field, Mosier started his charge. Lap 10 saw him move into third and with a deft slide job of Matthias and was second by the 15th trip. Exiting turn four the winning pass was executed by Mosier on the 16th lap. Chasing him to the Scot Erwin twin checkers was Dutra, Matthias, John Peters, and Danny Marsh.
The Jake’s Performance Hobbies Mini Stocks saw speedy rookie Darien Balestrini with the heat race win. The 20-lap main event saw the popular Snazzy Duckworth lead every lap and earn her second career victory. Eden McCormick was the runner-up, with Bob Davis third, Balestrini fourth followed by Tom Curley.
Petaluma Speedway returns to action this Saturday Night, May 9th featuring the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series, the Larsen Racing Products Modifieds, and the Santa Rosa Auto Body 600’s. For more information please go to www.petaluma-speedway.com.
