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| Goodwill Captures Chowchilla
Win by Debbie Shipherd |
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Chowchilla,CA. March 27...David Goodwill of Napa took the
NCMA feature win at Chowchilla Speedway on Saturday, March 27,
driving his new Kaeding Performance Maxim sprinter into the lead on
lap 2 from his 2nd row starting spot and holding it to the checkered
flag. Goodwill had a disappointing DNS at Bakersfield two weeks
prior to tonight's race, and there was a collective sigh of relief
when his team fired up their Bailey Brothers motor after having
missed the 1st session of hot laps. Last week's feature winner
J& J Dairy's Ed Amador made a strong challenge for the lead, but
was unable to overtake Goodwill in his new Maxim sprinter, and at
the checkers, it was Goodwill, Amador, and Gary Koster of Woodland
in the top 3. 420 Garage's Keith Shipherd and Ramos Oil's Gary Koster won the 6 lap heat races. Both heats ran flag to flag on the well prepared 1/3 mile track, with the lead cars clocking in high 16 second lap times. The trophy dash was a win for Oakhurst's Doug Gandy with Shipherd on his tail for an exciting close finish. Several new and returning drivers were welcomed to the NCMA's 3rd season race. Rob Hammond from Morgan Hill made his 1st NCMA debut in his Hale Lumber sprinter and had fun. Veteran driver Gary Koster, who has experience in many open wheel divisions, enjoyed the Chowchilla hospitality and his 1st race of the season, as did Dale Mehalas of Hayward and NCMA veteran California Auto Sales' Jim Janssen. Special visitors for tonight's race included the 420 Garage camera crew who were videotaping the racing experience, and Ron McKinley from Pro Signs in Fresno, who was the generous sponsor for the race and awarded the feature winner with a $200 bonus check. With a 13 car field, heat winner Shipherd pulled an 8th invert for the 20 lap main. Pole starter OCR's Burt Siverling darted to the lead at the green, and Goodwill powered into 1st on lap 2. A yellow for spun cars slowed the action, and 3rd row starter Ed Amador charged into 2nd, passing Siverling. Dale Mehales and Wadco Trenching's George Terry pitted early with mechanical problems, and lap 8 found Doug Gandy unfortunately making contact with the wall, with several cars spinning to avoid hitting him. Hard charging Amador made several runs for the top spot but was unable to overtake the quick Goodwill. Koster and Shipherd slipped past Jim Janssen and Siverling, and at the checkers, it was Goodwill, Amador, Koster, Shipherd, and Janssen in the top 5. Mechanical problems slowed the normally fast Russ Wullenwaber, and Ramos Oil's Jimmy Lavell finished a strong 7th in his 1st race at Chowchilla's fast 1/3 mile track. NCMA driver autograph sheets were given away to the kids in the stands, and at the end of the evening, the pits were filled with children looking for their favorite sprint car drivers. NCMA returns to Chowchilla Speedway again next month on Saturday, April 24, for the 2nd race in the West Coast Select Series, and next Saturday, April 3, will be racing at Altamont's 1/2 mile paved oval. Drive safe, have fun, and take care. Summary: Heat 1: Keith Shipherd, Doug Gandy, Jim Janssen, Jimmy Lavell, Russ Wullenwaber, Michael Zarevich, Rob Hammond Heat 2: Gary Koster, Ed Amador, David Goodwill, Burt Siverling, George Terry, Dale Mehalas Trophy Dash: Doug Gandy, Keith Shipherd, Ed Amador, Gary Koster Main: David Goodwill, Ed Amador, Gary Koster, Keith Shipherd, Jim Janssen, Burt Siverling, Jimmy Lavell, Rob Hammond, Russ Wullenwaber, Michael Zarevich, Doug Gandy, George Terry, Dale Mehalas |
