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| Goodwill Sweeps at
Reno-Fernley by Debbie Shipherd |
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(May 1, 2004- Fernley, NV)...David Goodwill in his Kaeding
Performance sprint car, claimed his 2nd NCMA feature win on Saturday
May 1 at Reno-Fernley's fast 3/8 mile track, taking the lead from Contra Costa Auto Parts' Keith Shipherd on lap 10 and skillfully weaving through traffic to take the checkers with Ramos Oil's Gary Koster and J & J Dairy's Ed Amador close behind.Goodwill and Amador both had heat race wins, and Goodwill won the trophy dash as well. A field of 11 sprint teams made the tow to Reno for the 1st duel in the desert of the '04 season, and were warmly welcomed by Fernley's track promoters Rich and Judy Cable. Judy gave tours of the ever expanding facility in her golf cart, with noticeable additions of a shade covered picnic area, fire pit containers, and special reserved bleachers near the pits for driver's children. An impressive safety crew came into the pits for sprint car specific safety lessons, and even used an NCMA driver's Hutchen's device to learn how to safely extricate a driver from a car. The 420 Garage video team, coming off a week long project for ABC TV's Extreme Makeover Home Edition, made the tow in a rented motor home with a large 420 Garage Racing banner across the front. The Cables accomodated them with VIP sky boxes atop the bleachers so they could video tape the NCMA racing action for the night. After 2 practice sessions, the 8 lap heat races began, with OCR's Burt Siverling and Gary Koster on the front row. An early spin at the green had a restart with Turlock's George Terry taking the early lead, but a loose set up slowed his Wadco Trenching car, and Goodwill took the win followed by Koster and Antioch's Jim Janssen. Michael Zarevich of Manteca and Ramos Oil's Jimmy Lavell had the front row starts in heat 2. Ed Amador charged to the front at the green followed by Shipherd and Lavell. Lavell darted into 2nd and Hale Lumber's Rob Hammond and Shipherd dueled for 3rd, with Amador taking the win with Lavell and Shipherd behind him. Chappa Insulation's Jim Janssen and Shipherd had front row starts in the 20 lap feature. Shipherd rocketed into the lead at the green with Janssen and Lavell behind him. By lap 3 Goodwill had charged into the 2nd spot tailed by Koster, Amador and Lavell. At lap 9 Shipherd had checked out on the field with a 1/2 lap lead when his front brake seized up and glowed like a red fireball, forcing him to cautiously head for the pits. Goodwill took over the lead and the rapid pace had the lead cars in lapped traffic by lap 12. A single caution interrupted the action on lap 18, and as the checkers flew, it was Goodwill, Gary Koster, Amador, Lavell, and Doug Gandy in the top 5. Afterwards, fans came into the pits to have drivers sign NCMA autograph sheets, and bought club t-shirts and hats. Visitors were thrilled with the high speed action and skilled, clean racing, and all of the cars were loaded up in one piece into their trailers. Several teams enjoyed an after race parking lot BBQ and get together, and some stayed in Reno to enjoy the night life. The next NCMA race will be on Friday May 7 at Watsonville Speedway's 1/4 mile track which will be the 3rd race in the West Coast Select Series and open to all Wingless Spec Sprints. Drive safe, have fun, and take care. Summary: Heat 1: David Goodwill, Gary Koster, Jim Janssen, Doug Gandy, Burt Siverling, George Terry Heat 2: Ed Amador, Jimmy Lavell, Keith Shipherd, Rob Hammond, Michael Zarevich. Trophy dash: Goodwill, Amador, Koster, Lavell Main: David Goodwill, Gary Koster, Ed Amador, Jimmy Lavell, Doug Gandy, Rob Hammond, George Terry, Michael Zarevich, Jim Janssen, Burt Siverling, Keith Shipherd |
