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Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
| Hanestad Wins First Feature
at Reno-Fernley by Debbie Shipherd |
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Wingless Spec Sprints |
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Fernley, Nevada - August 13... S & S Automotive's Darrel
Hanestad of Clayton took the 25 lap feature win at Reno-Fernley on
Saturday August 13 in his first visit to the 3/8 mile oval track. Hanestad's pole start gave him an advantage, but second row starter Danny Olmstead was soon up to the front to challenge, and a great battle ensued as the two diced for the lead. A late race flat tire caused Olmstead to fade to the 3rd spot as the laps wound down, and at the checkers it was Darrell Hanestad, Steve Stein of Davis, and Tracy's Danny Olmstead in the top three. A field of 23 Wingless Spec Sprints from Antioch, CSRA, Marysville, NCMA, and Orland entertained the fans at Fernley with exciting open wheeled racing for the second of three visits to the fun track this season. Seven teams had never raced there before and were anxious to experience the smooth 3/8 mile track and the Nevada hospitality. The visiting Sprints pulled onto the track prior to the heat races for the "sun break" intermission to allow fans to visit with the drivers and see the cars up close. New driver Anthony Ryan from Oakley was especially thrilled to sign his first autographs in a night full of new experiences. Three heat races ran, with Sierra Tow's Sam Fries of Sacramento taking the first win from a front row start followed by Contra Costa Auto Part's Keith Shipherd of Pleasant Hill and Marysville's Jeremy Hawes. Ramos Oil's veteran Gary Koster won the second heat and was chased to the checkers by Danny Olmstead and Darrell Hanestad. Oakley's Scott Holloway took the third heat win followed by Hale Lumber's Rob Hammond and Sacramento's Phil Peddlar. That heat featured Brentwood's Jimmy Lavell who finished 4th in his first race of the season after a year long break, and Tri Valley Machine's rookie Anthony Ryan in his very first race, who held his line well. Both drivers were just happy to be racing. The feature lined up with Hanestad and Hawes in row 1 and Rob Hammond and Danny Olmstead in the Rick Eversult owned Sprint in row 2. Before the green flew, Oroville's Doug Butterfield exited with mechanical problems. Hanestad took the point at the green with Olmstead in pursuit followed by Hammond, Koster, and Shipherd. An early caution flew for a spun car, and Ryan pitted with overheating problems. Hanestad and Olmstead diced back and forth for the lead with similar battles going on mid pack, till the action slowed for a caution with Napa's David Goodwill leaving on a tow truck. Olmstead throttled into the lead on the restart chased by Hanestad, Stein, Koster, and Hawes. Three laps later Hanestad overtook Olmstead and the leaders began to lap the field. A lap 14 collision drew another caution with contact between a spun Hawes and Lavell. Lavell's night was unfortunately ended, and he was shaken but
uninjured. With 11 laps remaining a restart was delayed while
officials tended to Lavell and attempted to line the field up with
lapped cars interspersed among the lead cars. Hanestad took
the point on the now very dusty track and Stein charged into second
as Olmstead's tire went down. At the checkers, it was Hanestad,
Stein, Olmstead, Hammond, and Koster in the top 5. Many teams
lingered for after race celebrations and then dispersed to local
hotels for some Reno fun, which always makes the Fernley trip an
adventure. |
