Aton, Newberry, Blackwood Nab NAPA Night Hardware
~~PETALUMA, CA – Sept 6
Old school “hooked up” Petaluma Speedway reared its vintage head last Saturday Night on Petaluma Auto Parts NAPA Night. Defending Pit Stop USA Winged 360 Champion Bradley Terrell scorched the transponder loop with a scorching 12.904 to pick up quickest qualifier honors. Benicia’s Billy Aton and Sacramento’s Billy Butler netted the pair of 8-lap preliminary heats. The 25-lap feature saw Aton best the 15-car field into turn one over current point leader Herman Klein. Aton turning laps in the 12.5 second range stretched his lead and was on the verge of entering lapped traffic when Wayne Katen stalled on lap 6. On the restart it was Terrell getting past Butler and Kurt Nelson for third. Eyes now shifted to visiting Matt Peterson who from tenth starting methodically picked off cars and let the first half of the race come to him. Alissa Geving who started shot gun on the field was 8th by the half-way point. Peterson entered the top five on lap 19 and was fourth a lap later. Terrell augered by Jake Haulot on lap 20, almost simultaneously Marissa Polizzi bicycled hard and collected Klein. Terrell ended up involved as well as the field was red flagged. With two laps to go the final restart was going to decide it. Aton scampered away cleanly Peterson made a bold low-side move on Haulot on the white flag lap. Picking up his first Pit Stop USA victory of the year was Billy Aton, over Peterson, Haulot, Butler, and Geving.
The Pit Stop USA Spec Sprint Series saw a field of 16 cars contest for fastest time trialing honors in group qualifying mode. Colton Slack arguably one of the hottest wingless pilots lately emerged with the top slot at 15.058. The three heat races saw: Slack, Klint Simpson, and Rowdy McClenon capture checkers. The 25-lap finale saw Smilin’ Bob Newberry take the initial lead from Adam Christian at the start. Slack picked off Christian a lap later. Smooth racing was the order of the day until Jason McIntosh suffered congestion exiting turn two and rearranged the infield tractor tires. Brian Azevedo suffered brake failure and stalled on lap 10. On the restart Newberry bobbled and Slack stole the lead. On the 12th lap John Clark tagged the front straight wall, one lap later Slack exited the track with a flat right rear. Lap 14 saw Christian in the lead and that lasted until a determined Newberry fought back to lead the 16th stanza. With two to go point leader Terry Schank Jr. made a berm-riding pass of Christian. Racing under the Scott Erwin twin checkers was Newberry with a popular win over Schank, Christian, McClenon, and Shane Myhre.
The Lumberjack Restaurant Super Stocks Division saw Brent Blackwood and point leader Matt While cop the two heats. Blackwood then led the first two laps of the main event only to be passed by While on the third lap. Showing his mettle was Blackwood in his stunning #34 as he forged back to the point on the fifth lap. Steve Studebaker, Gary Adams, and While waged an aggressive three-way battle over the next three circuits. Adams on the move was second on the 8th lap as While looped. Adams then made a dynamic charge into the lead on the ninth lap restart. Blackwood made the most of traffic and utilized a pick to pass Adams to again lead on lap 11. Trevor Brady found traction and moved to third on lap 16. Shawn McCoy lost a right front tire on lap 20 to delay the thrilling battle. The restart was complicated with Studebaker over rotating in turn two. This caused a logjam for Adams and saw While end his night in the infield and on fire. The last five laps were all Blackwood as he captured his fourth feature of the season over Studebaker, Adams, Brady, and Paul Hanley.
The Jake’s Performance Hobbies Mini Stocks heat race found visiting Ryan Chezerian in his well prepped pick-up with the win. Nine minis took the green flag for 20 laps with Pistol Pete Langley the initial leader. Veeninga, Langley, and Chezerian broke away from the rest of the pack. Lap 6 saw sophomore driver Danny Narron up to third as Chezerian suffered mechanical ills. Veeninga lost steam as Langley re-took the lead on lap 13 to gallop home with the victory. Holding on for second was Veeninga over Narron, newcomer Zack Albers, and Tom Curley.
Petaluma Speedway returns to action Saturday Night, September 13th featuring the Pit Stop USA Winged 360’s and Spec Sprints, Carr Racing Chassis IMCA Modifieds, and the Larsen Racing Products Dwarf Cars. For more information please go to www.petaluma-speedway.com.
