Thursday, June 1, 2017

Darrin Sullivan Survives To Win NSMS Feature



Eureka, CA (May 29, 2017) – For the first time in the 2017 season, the North State Modified Series visited Redwood Acres Raceway. It was O’Reilly Auto Parts Night at the Races as the popular touring series joined the Acres’ local divisions of roadrunners, Legends, bombers, mini stocks and Thunder Roadsters.

Track officials decided to make an adjustment to the California State and Federal Employees Credit Union roadrunner division. The class ran two 20-lap feature events, one clockwise and the other counter-clockwise. Nick Ford set fast time for the class with a 20.442. Natya Dawn dominated the first half of the first feature as she led the opening 12 laps. On lap 13, Tim Ratzlaff entered the lead but not for long. Two laps later, Daniel Buell took the lead. Buell held on the rest of the way to take the victory over Ratzlaff, Dawn, Ford and Jake Keeling.

Ford quickly raced to the lead of the second feature event. Buell showed strength and looked like a contender for another win but fell out on lap 15. Ford was able to lead flag-to-flag to take the victory. Keeling placed second over Ratzlaff, Jordon Paiment and Jennifer Murrell.

Cody Winchel set fast time for the Nor-Cal Automotive Legends division with a 17.801. Brian Kamisky was the winner of the first heat race while Derek Copeland won the second. MKinzy Uselton led lap one in the 25-lap main but Brent Mack was able to take over on lap two. Rookie driver, Daniel Whitley showed strength and passed Mack for the race lead on lap six. Copeland moved to the lead on lap 15 and had a fantastic duel for the lead with Winchel. On lap 17, Winchel gained the advantage and the race lead. Things remained tight between the top two until the last lap. In turns three and four, Copeland bumped Winchel. The two raced back to the finish line side-by-side with Copeland taking first by 0.031 over Winchel. Whitley placed third followed by Brad Curtice and Robert Miller.

Fast time for the Fortuna Wheel & Brake bomber division was set by R.J. Randall with an 18.190. Randall took the trophy dash victory while Mike Sullivan was the heat race winner. Kolby Jackson used his pole position to his advantage as he shot out to the lead in the 25-lap main event. Jackson led the first 11 laps until Sullivan briefly took the lead. Jackson regained the lead on lap 16 but spun in turns one and two. Sullivan regained the lead and withstood Randall’s late charge. At the finish it was Sullivan taking the victory over Randall, Dave Jones, John Lally and Jim Redd.

In the Humboldt Hydroponics mini stock division, Brian Murrell was the fastest in qualifying with a 18.963. Brett Murrell took the victory in the trophy dash while the heat race was won by Troy Lee. Rick Estes briefly held the lead at the start of the 30-lap main event but gave way to Eugene Palmer. Back in his familiar ride, Palmer was dominant as he pulled away from the field and prevailed unchallenged. At the finish it was Palmer winning by two seconds over Brett Murrell. Gary Klinetobe placed third followed by Trevor Eacret and Troy Lee.

Qualifying for the Lone Star Junction Thunder Roadsters was paced by Paul Peeples, Jr. with a 17.290. Tommy Payne took the trophy dash win while the heat race went to Peeples. Chris Lawrence grabbed the race lead at the start of the 30-lap main event. Payne got to the lead on lap 10 but on lap 11, Peeples maneuvered by to take the race lead. Peeples pulled out to a lead as Payne had his hands full racing with Ronnie O’Neil. At the finish it was Peeples taking his first main event win in 2017. Payne held off O’Neil for second while Chris Sarvinski and Lawrence rounded out the top five finishers.

Darrin Knight set fast time in the North State Modified Series with a 16.130. Dustin DeRosier was the winner of the six-lap Lucas Oil Dash for Cash. Bryan Denton took the lead from pole position in the 60-lap feature event. On lap 10, Herman Pulyear got high in turns one and two and hit the water barrels at the pit road entrance. Pulyear was alright but the race was halted due to the water on the track. Denton led another four laps before Charlie Collins took over followed by Knight. The top two raced nose-to-tail. On lap 29, the leaders entered slower traffic. A lap later, Knight moved to the inside to try to take the lead. Things got tight in turn three as the two tried to pass Simi Tour. Contact was made between Collins and Knight with Knight's right-rear spring being knocked out of his car. Collins regained the lead but had to pit under caution because Knight’s spring had lodged itself in Collins’ chassis.

Denton regained the lead and had his hands full as Cody Braund challenged for the lead. On lap 46, Braund suffered damage to his right front suspension knocking him out of the race. Sullivan used the restart to his advantage as he moved to the lead. Denton ended up falling back to fifth as Richie Potts, Sierra Furia and Collins moved past. Furia briefly got to second in the final 10 laps but Collins powered by to take the second spot. Sullivan was able to hold off a furious late charge by Collins to take the victory. Furia took third while Potts and Denton rounded out the top five.

Racing at the Acres takes a break for a week before returning Saturday June 10th for Harper Motors Night at the Races. Late models will join the other local divisions for the third race of the Super 6 Late Model Challenge series. On Friday June 9th, the outlaw karts will be in action. For more information on everything going on at Redwood Acres Raceway, visit the track’s official website www.RacingTheAcres.com

Madera Amends May 27th Race Results, Shepherd Declared Winner



MADERA, CALIFORNIA (May 31, 2017) – Officials from Short Track Management and Madera Speedway have amended the results of Saturday night's round #3 of the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series. The 100 lap victory by Bakersfield's Buddy Shepherd has been reinstated following a review of technical inspection procedures.

Shepherd set quick-time and led the final 68 laps of the event before being disqualified in post-race inspection for an illegal engine set back. After reviewing the inspection procedures, officials deemed that the measurement was not taken accurately. Shepherd will receive all awards earned for the evening including fast-time points, half-way bonus points, finish points, and all prize money.

He will lead the points standings when the MAVTV-televised series resumes on June 17th for round #4.

The amended top-five are Shepherd, Logan Zampa, Garland Tyler, Austin Herzog, and Dillon Tucker.

For more information about Madera Racing on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or www.mavtv.com. For more information about RPM Mortgage and to obtain loan information please visit www.rpmwins.com and for more information about 51FIFTY Energy Drink visit www.51fiftyenergydrink.com

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Sullivan Captures First North State Modified Win At Eureka

Herman Pulyer crashed head on into the water/ barrel/tire barrier which planted a tire on his hood

May 28 2017 ....Eureka , CA...... With only 13 laps to go in the O'Reilly Nor-Cal 60 at Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka, Darrin Sullivan of Kelseyville drove under Bryan Denton of Kelseyville to take the lead, and held off the challenges of Charlie Collins of Upper Lake in the late stages to win his first feature in the North State Modified Series, presented by Protect the Harvest. Sullivan was the NSMS 2016 Rookie of the Year.

The Sunday night event drew 19 entrants with three coming down from Oregon. Defending champion Darrin Knight of Kelseyville set fast time of 16.130 seconds followed by Sullivan at 16.327, Sierra Furia at 16.439, Collins with at 16.469 and Eric Johnson's 16.487. Knight drew a 10 for the invert putting Oregon's Herman Pulyer and Richie Potts in the front row. Potts elected to start in the rear, moving Denton into the outside pole starting spot.

Denton forged ahead at the drop of the green flag with Cody Braund and Eric Johnson following his line. The race was slowed on lap three when Adrianna Strugnell drifted high and spun in front of the hard-charging pack. Andrew Snider, driving for his brother Darin Snider, was unable to get by and collided with Strugnell. With no where to go, Dustin DeRosier slammed hard into Snider, ending Snider's run.

The double-file restart saw Denton stay out front with Braund, Collins, Knight and Pulyer next in line. Knight pulled along side of Collins on lap five, but could not make it stick. At the same time John Baker retired to the pits. The following round Braund drifted high allowing both Collins and Knight to fill the hole and advance to second and third.

The red flag flew on lap 14 when Pulyer drove high in turn three, could not recover, and slammed hard into the water barrel/tire barrier at the turn two exit gate. Pulyer hit so hard that one the the tires broke loose and embedded in the hood of his car. Pulyer was shaken, but walked away uninjured. Racing resumed in single file with Denton out in front, but when Denton's car pushed, it was all Collins needed to steal the lead. Knight also drove under Denton, and at the half-way marker it was Collins, Knight, Denton, Braund, Johnson, Furia, Terry Deal, Potts and Sullivan.

The leaders worked their way around slower traffic, and when they caught Rich Cobb, Knight went three wide and pulled along side of Collins. Knight had a slight lead when they caught Simi Tour, tried the three-wide move again, but his time there was not enough room. Knight clipped Tour's car that shot him up the track in front of Collins. Collins hit the back of Knight's car resulting in enough damage to have Knight's car towed to the pits. A spring from Knight's car broke loose and lodged into Collins' car which forced him to pit for repairs, relinquishing his lead.

This left Denton back out front with Braund in second, Johnson third, Furia fourth and Deal fifth. Only two more rounds were completed when Deal drifted high, made contact with Furia, and spun on the back stretch. Both Sullivan and Potts drove under Furia on the restart . The next 10 circuits saw Furia and Potts swap position several times as Sullivan was making his way to the front. The race was slowed again on 44 when Deal and Tom Elam came together. This put Sullivan third behind Denton and Braund, with Potts fourth and Furia fifth. Meanwhile Collins was weaving through traffic on his was back to the front.

Braund was making a move on Denton on lap 47, bumped Denton in the rear which broke Braun's suspension and causing him to stop high in turn four. The next restart saw Denton push high in turn three where he lost ground to Sullivan, Potts Furia and Collins. Furia drove under Potts on 53. Collins followed while Sullivan was pulling away from the pack. The following round Furia pushed and both Collins and Potts moved into second and third. Furia dove under Potts again on lap 57 just before the final yellow flew when Deal and Johnson made contact on the front stretch and Johnson spun.

The final three went without incident with Sullivan the winner over Collins, Furia, Potts and Denton. Rounding out the top 10 were Ian Elliott, Rich Cobb, Adrianna Strugnell, Eric Johnson and Terry Deal. Ward Ranches added $250 to the winner's pot giving Sullivan $1250 for his victory.

In the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash Dustin DeRosier collected $100 for the win, with Simi Tour earning $50 for second. Rich Cobb earned the Keyser Hard Charger Award for passing the most cars. Andrew Snider took home the Naake Suspension award, the DJ Safety Certificate went to Orion Mosher, and Richie Potts earned the Racer Bling certificate. Knight not only earned the Penney Racing Supply/Sunoco Fast Time Award, but he was presented with an additional $200 for running the fastest lap in the main event (16.268.)

The series moves South to the Madera Speedway for Race #4. This is a complete festival of open wheel speed and excitement. The Lucas Oil Modifieds 75, North State Modifieds 60, and 360 Modifieds headline the racing along with USAC HPD Midgets and Legends of Kearney Bowl.

The North State Modified Series is presented by: Protect the Harvest, Lucas Oil, Sinister Diesel, Ward Ranches, Penney Racing Supply, American Racer Tires, Naake Suspension, Sunoco Race Fuels, Five Star Bodies, Racer Bling, Keyser Racing Products, Scribner Plastics, DJ Safety, and the Buckhorn Bar & Grill.

NSMS modified rules, procedures, and schedules are available at www.northstatemodifieds.com.

SUNOCO/PENNEY RACING SUPPLY TIME TRIALS: Darrin Knight (16.130), Darrin Sullivan (16.327), Sierra Furia (16.439), Charlie Collins, (16.469), Eric Johnson (16.487), Cody Braund (16.535), Bryan Denton (16.576), Adrianna Strugnell (16.650), Richie Potts (16.669), Herman Pulyer (16.678), Tom Elam (16.722), Andrew Snider (16.763), Terry Deal (16.835), Simi Tour (16.923), Ian Elliott, (16.962), Dustin DeRosier (17.048), Rich Cobb (17.067), Orion Mosher (17.102), John Baker (17.840)

LUCAS OIL DASH FOR CASH: Dustin DeRosier, Simi Tour, Orion Mosher, Rich Cobb, Ian Elliott, John Baker

O'REILLY NOR-CAL 60 MAIN EVENT: Darrin Sullivan, Charlie Collins, Sierra Furia, Richie Potts, Bryan Denton, Ian Elliott, Rich Cobb, Adrianna Strugnell, Eric Johnson, Terry Deal, Simi Tour, Orion Mosher, Tom Elam, Cody Braund, Darrin Knight, Dustin DeRosier, Herman Pulyer, John Baker, Andrew Snider

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Jesse Love Extends Winning Streak In 51FIFTY JR LM At Madera

Jesse Love IV in victory lane after his third Jr. LM victory (Photo Courtesy Jason Wedehase)

MADERA, CALIFORNIA (May 27, 2017) – 12 year-old rookie Jesse Love IV of Menlo Park continued his incredible start to his Madera Speedway Jr. Late Model career, taking Saturday night's 75 lap 51FIFTY Energy Drink feature as part of Military Tribute Night. Love's third win highlighted a busy night that included Logan Zampa getting his first career RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model win, Tyler Reif taking the Mini Cup feature, and Mike Marley grabbing the Toyota Sedans.

Both round threes of the Late Model divisions on the one-third mile were televised for later broadcast on MAVTV.

The 20 car Jr. Late Model field struggled to get the race underway as Watsonville's Lilly Mead stalled on the initial attempt at a start with fuel pump issues. On the following attempt, pole sitter Kyle Keller of Las Vegas spun in turn four and Mentone's Austin Edwards spun in turn two as well.

12 year-old Zachary Telford of Middleton, ID assumed the lead position for a single file restart with Love restarting in second.

Fast-time qualifier Kolby Berry of Redwood Valley restarted third but faced pressure from 2016 season runner-up Austin Herzog. RJ Smothermon of Las Vegas spun in turn one for the next caution on lap five. Herzog cleared Berry for third before that caution flag flew.

Telford slid up the hill coming off of turn four before concluding lap 11 and tagged the wall. He fell back to third with Love assuming the lead. Jaden Rocha spun in turn four to bring out another caution on lap 13. This caution fell as Jarrett Gilmer began peeking inside Hailie Deegan for fifth.

The battle for fifth continued after the restart when they got side-by-side before the conclusion of lap 20. Gilmer cleared Deegan down the backstretch. 2016 champion Dezel West and Eric Nascimento, Jr. also went past Deegan.

Berry slowed with engine trouble from the fourth position on lap 25 and stopped at the end of the backstretch. West and Gilmer tangled on the ensuing restart with Gilmer spinning and West sent to the rear for his involvement. Several spins and incidents slowed the pace of the race for the next seven laps with three different cautions.

Deegan got past Telford for the fourth spot and Bakersfield's Kabe McClenny followed her through for fifth. A major multi-car crash on the backstretch involved both Madison and Alison Gay with Madison's car suffering heavy front end damage when she hit the back of Gilmer. On the lap 35 restart Herzog began to hound Love for the top spot.

Telford got overhauled by Edwards dropping the early race leader to seventh just before the lap 50 break. Herzog continued the intensity on Love with five laps to the break. Herzog ran out of gas to bring out a lap 46 caution and had to be pushed back to the infield. He never was able to re-fire which ended his evening. McClenny inherited second with Edwards up into third in a remarkable comeback.

Edwards ran out of gas as well as the race reached lap 50 for the break but he managed to stay on the lead lap.

The race reached lap 50 with Love leading McClenny, Deegan, Telford, and Las Vegas' Tanner Reif. Reif used the restart to get around Telford to take over fourth. Madison Gay's night ended in sparks on lap 60. Anthony Guiamano retired to the pits under that caution as well.

The final 15 laps were paced by Love while McClenny fought off a torrid charge from Hailie Deegan. Deegan gave McClenny several bumps in turn three over the final five laps but was unsuccessful. Love dashed away for a .780 victory ahead of McClenny, Deegan, Reif, and Keller.

In RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model competition, 25 cars took to the track for the 100 lap feature for the third race of 2017. Logan Zampa of Napa was credited with his first career series win after an exciting main event.

14 year-old Austin Herzog led the field to the green flag alongside Modesto's Garland Tyler. Tyler ran side-by-side on the outside of Herzog for the first two laps of the race before Herzog started to edge forward with the lead. The pair jumped out to a sizeable lead over fifth starting Zampa who immediately climbed into third.

The early battle was for fourth as Ryan Hart tried to fend off fast-time qualifier Buddy Shepherd. Shepherd got past him in turn two on lap eight. Hart fell back into a battle with Dillon Tucker but successfully held him off in heavy lapped traffic.

Herzog encountered early lapped traffic on lap nine but maintained a five car length advantage. Tyler Herzog spun for the race's first caution on lap 18. Herzog picked the outside for the restart and managed to get ahead of Tyler but Shepherd snaked into second in the process.

Tucker rolled around Hart for the fifth spot but Hart battled back at lap 25 in a very good battle. Glen Cook won a battle with Matt Erickson that thrust Erickson back to Rick Thompson. Thompson got around Erickson for eighth on lap 27.

The top four cars of Herzog, Shepherd, Tyler, and Zampa hooked up nose to tail on the outside in a way unseen so far in 2017. Shepherd dove inside Herzog in turn four and took over the lead at lap 32. The lead pack continued to run the top side of the race track although turn three was very loose for several competitors.

Lapped traffic ran side-by-side right in front of the Tucker and Hart battle within the final ten laps of the first half. Herzog used lapped traffic to climb back on top of Shepherd with five to go.

At the lap 50 break it was Shepherd leading Herzog, Tyler, Zampa, and Tucker. Hart challenged Tucker yet again for fifth coming out of the break and took over the position. Shepherd rocketed out to a ten car length lead over the trio of Herzog, Zampa, and Tyler. Hart managed to close in on the trio on lap 61. Zampa worked his way past Herzog on lap 66 in lapped traffic to nab second place.

The battling for the fifth position was nearly non-stop throughout the feature and eventually grew to a five car battle involving Hart, Tucker, Rick Thompson, Erickson, and Howard Holden.

A caution on lap 77 for Del McIntosh spinning in turn four changed the race as Glen Cook was hit hard by Tyler Herzog with Quintin Harris also getting involved. The caution also evaporated the comfortable lead that Shepherd had built up over Zampa.

Herzog had a slow restart from third that allowed Tyler to jump to his outside. Tyler swooped past him to take the position in turn two on lap 78. Tucker tried to duplicate the move outside Hart in that continuing exciting battle. Tucker completed the deal in the same corner on lap 80. The battle for third picked up as Herzog used the long green flag run to make up ground on Tyler.

Shepherd drove away for a 1.449 second win over Zampa, Tyler, Herzog, and Tucker. Hart settled for sixth ahead of a hard-charging Howard Holden in seventh.

Shepherd's victory was nullified in post-race inspection, however, with an illegal engine setback. That gave Logan Zampa his first career RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model victory in what will be a tightening points battle when the series continues on June 17th.

Points leader Mike Marley led on two different occasions en route to the 25 lap Toyota Sedan victory. Marley led the first six laps of the Toyota Sedan feature before a hungry pack of Sedans pounced on him. Jason Lawton took over the lead with Tim Curtis going by for second a few laps later. A mix up on lap 11 saw Erik Woods spin in turn two and Curtis fall out of the race with front bumper damage. After an incident between Woods and Thomas Magray, Marley made a big move on the outside to take the lead on lap 21.

Marley took the victory with Wood and Dukes crashing hard at the start finish line at the conclusion of the race. The top-five were credited as Marley, Lawton, Kyle Fortney, Woods, and Dukes.

Nine year-old Tyler Reif of Las Vegas is now a perfect two-for-two in Mini Cup competition as he won a solid 20 lap feature against the challenges of Stockton's JoJo Stearns. Bakersfield's Kale McClenny ran third ahead of Joseph Holliday and Aiden Phillips.

Madera Speedway goes dark June 3rd before continuing June 10th for the Lucas Oil Summertime Horsepower Nationals. It will feature the Lucas Oil Modifieds in the Protect the Harvest 75 MAVTV show, North State Modified Tour, Race #4 of the Super Hobby Stock Open Series 50 laps, USAC HPD Midgets, Legends of Kearney Bowl, and CSS 360 Super Mods.

For more information about Madera Racing on MAVTV please visit www.racemadera.com or www.mavtv.com. For more information about RPM Mortgage and to obtain loan information please visit www.rpmwins.com and for more information about 51FIFTY Energy Drink visit www.51fiftyenergydrink.com

Madera Racing on MAVTV begins Thursday June 1st with coverage of the season opener from March 11th for the RPM Mortgage Pro Late Model Series. The broadcast beings at 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific. Madera Speedway racing is also available on the LucasOilRacing.TV app