Darrin Knight (#20) passes early leader Ian Elliott (#27) on his way to a $1000 win in the modifieds Saturday night at Lakeport Speedway

Via NCRA/Lakeport Speedway Media

June 8, 2019…… Lakeport, CA….. NCRA Modified driver Darrin Knight of Kelseyville and Taco Bell Bomber driver Mike Sullivan of Lakeport each took home $1000 after their respective win at the Lakeport Speedway auto races Saturday night. The purse money was donated in part by Richard Knight of Knight’s Auto Body, Medieval Motorsport, and Ian Elliott of Running Springs Heating and Air.


Other winners Saturday night were Chris Straka of Lakeport in the NCI Pro-4 Modifieds, Cody Winchel of Sebastopol in the Legends Cars, Trey Daniels of Fort Bragg in the Bandoleros, and Raymond Taylor Jr. of Laytonville in the Jammers. Plus the Pro Drifters put on a show that had the crowd on their feet and screaming for more.

Darrin Knight was quickest in the modified field at 12.741 seconds with Darrin Sullivan (12.744), Eric Johnson (12.915) and Michael Snider (12.971 also clocking into the 12 second bracket.

The totally inverted field saw Michael Knight and Ian Elliott share the front row with Elliott charging out in front at the drop of the green flag. Knight seemed to be on a different planet coming from the back to the front in the outside lane, and passing Elliott for the lead on lap five. Eric Johnson drove around Chris Salmina for third on lap nine as Knight was pulling away.

The first yellow flag flew on lap 13 when Anthony Esberg’s engine spilled water on the track. At the same time Guy Minyard retired his mount to the pits.

The double-file restart saw Johnson drive under Elliott for second, and with no room to get back in line, Elliott got freight-trained to the back of the pack. This put Sullivan in third, Salmina fourth and Michael Knight fifth.

The race was slowed again on lap 24 when Michael Knight hit the wall on the back-stretch and had to be towed to the pits. Darrin Knight took off again leaving the battle for second to Johnson and Sullivan. Salmina bobbled on lap 27, allowing last week’s winner Richard Knight to gain ground as Elliott was working his way back through the pack.

Darrin Knight took the checkered flag first followed by Johnson, Sullivan, Richard Knight, Elliott, Bryan Denton, Salmina and Michael Knight. Darrin Knight is a three-time North State Modified Series champion, and will be competing next week with NSMS at Madera Speedway.

Modified heat wins went to Richard Knight and Denton. Darrin Knight won the trophy dash.

Fourteen Taco Bell bombers clocked in with Dustin Kuhl (14.056) out-clocking Lauren Snider (14.157) by only .101 second.

Josh Morrison and Ron Duke Sr. jumped out in front of pole setter John McCullough at the start of the 40 lapper. As McCullough faded, Davey Jones, Sullivan and Kyle Medina picked up positions.

Jones bobbled slightly allowing outside runners Sullivan, Medina, Snider and Kuhl to get by. The race was slowed on lap 12 when Medina’s slapped the wall in turn two, and with no where to go, Snider was collected.

Sullivan blasted by Morrison on the restart, and two rounds later Bob Mook inched by Morrison for second. Kuhl swapped places with Morrison on lap 18. Medina and Snider were rebounding fast, and by the half-way mark were running fourth and fifth.

The second half of the race enjoyed a battle with the front-runners, but at the end it was a nose-to-tail finish with Sullivan out in front of Snider, Kuhl, Medina, Mook and Morrison. Rounding out the top 10 were Rick Jelton, Trevor Abella, Jones, and McCullough.

Heat wins went to Morrison and Sullivan. Medina won the trophy dash.

NCI Pro-4 Modified action saw Chris Straka of Lakeport pace the Curt Lewis #87 out in front all but one lap in their 30 lap feature for the win. Only one yellow flag plagued the race when Mike Peterson spun on lap 10. This gave Andy Leuzinger a shot at Straka, but the veteran driver drove flawlessly the entire 20 rounds. Leuzinger followed Straka across the finish line. Peterson drove back to a third place finish followed by Wade Eldredge.

Leuzinger set fast time (13.427) seconds. Eldredge won the dash and Straka took the heat win.

With the Legends Cars competing at other local tracks, only Kylie Daniels of Fort Bragg and Cody Winchel of Sebastopol were on hand at Lakeport. Winchel had a clean sweep, setting fast time (13.920), winning the 10 lap heat, and claiming his second straight main event.

Trey Daniels of Fort Bragg also had a clean sweep in the Bandolero class, beating out Landon Snider in all events.

Even though they were not on the racing cards, three Jammers showed up at the track with Raymond Taylor Junior setting fast time (14.852), taking the heat race and claiming his first Lakeport Speedway feature win over Riley Sullivan and Dennis Anderson. Anderson won the trophy dash.

The next auto race at Lakeport Speedway will be on Friday, July 5 with a big fireworks display following the BCRA Midgets and Vintage Midgets, the NCRA Modifieds and the Taco Bell Bombers. Gates open at 5 pm with racing at 6 pm.

NCRA races at Lakeport Speedway are presented by Hillside Honda, Anderson Logging, Taco Bell, D & P Pools, Lake Parts, S & K Automotive, Carlton Tires, Don Anderson Law Firm, Clearlake Redi-Mix, Steve Taylor Construction, Knight's Auto Body, Running Springs Heating & Air, Detail Plus, DFM Wicked Sounds, KXBX 98.3 FM, Lake County Waste Solutions, Lake County Welding, Sheldon Signs, RB Peters, Strauss Promotions, 707 Graphics, and the NCRA board of directors.

For more information on the 2019 racing season, visit NCRA - Lakeport Speedway Facebook page.