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See You At The Races!!! |
| Gandy Gets A Win At
Chowchilla by Debbie Shipherd |
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(April 24, 2004- Chowchilla, CA)...Doug Gandy of Oakhurst
took the 25 lap feature win at Chowchila Speedway on Saturday, April
24 from a 3rd row start, passing early leader Contra Costa Auto
Parts' Keith Shipherd on lap 5, and later out dueling the hard
charging Kaeding Performance car of David Goodwill on the last lap
in a near photo finish. Ramos Oil's Gary Koster rounded out the top
3 in a field of 15 Wingless Spec Sprints for the 2nd race in the
West Coast Select Series. Several drivers chased mechanical problems throughout the evening, the first being long tow driver John Fenton from Bakersfield. After hot laps, Fenton discovered a bad valve retainer in his Wafford Insurance sprinter, which forced him to scratch from the night's races, but he stuck around to help out his fellow racers. Hayward's Dale Mehalas struggled with fuel pump problems and he missed the 1st heat race. The 1st 8 lap heat race went flag to flag with Tim Sherman of Citrus Heights taking the win. The 2nd heat had J& J Dairy's Ed Amador taking the checkerd 1st with Kaeding Performance's Goodwill in hot pursuit. Goodwill won the 4 lap trophy dash from a pole start with Amador charging hard behind him. The 25 lap main began with Ramos Oil's Jimmy Lavell and 420 Garage's Keith Shipherd on the front row. At the green, Shipherd took the green, followed by Lavell and Doug Gandy. The dry slick track proved a challenge for the best of drivers, and a caution came out on the first lap for a spun car. By lap 5, 3rd row starter Gandy was in the lead followed by Shipherd and Gary Koster. Hayward's Dale Mehalas was the 1st to pit with mechanical problems, followed soon by the slowing Shipherd. Avoiding a slightly out of shape car, Ed Amador went over the birm in turn 2 and restarted in the back, but quickly charged back up the field, while Goodwill had worked his way up to 2nd behind Gandy. Another caution flew for a spun car, and after the restart, Goodwill overtook Gandy for the lead. Gandy dove back under Goodwill on the last lap, and it was a drag race to the checkers with Gandy taking the win, followed closely by Goodwill, Ramos Oil's Gary Koster, J&J Dairy's Ed Amador, and the Wadco Trenching car of George Terry. The touring NCMA Sprints will be racing again at Reno-Fernley's fast 3/8 mile track on Saturday, May 1, for their 1st time this season. All drivers will receive $200 to show for this race, to cover travel expenses. Friday, May 7 will be the 3rd race in the West Coast Select Series at Watsonville Speedway, and open to all Wingless Spec Sprint legal cars, following the NCMA rules. Drive safe, have fun, and take care. Summary: Heat 1: Heat 2: Trophy Dash: Main: |
