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| Bernal Earns First Chowchilla Victory by Debbie Shipherd |
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Wingless Spec Sprints - Chowchilla, CA |
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May 2, 2009 --- S & S Automotive’s Ryan Bernal won the twenty-five lap feature at Chowchilla Speedway on Saturday May 2, taking the early lead from Modesto’s Kent Stephens and charging hard to the checkers with Stephens constantly nipping at his tail. Clarks Auto & Marine’s Dave Press, Atlas Piping’s Tommy Laliberte and Antioch’s Dan Gonderman rounded out the top five. This was the first of ten Spec Sprint point shows at the newly reopened 1/3 mile track. Ten Wingless Spec Sprint teams made the tow to support the class and to check out what new promoter Kenny Shepherd and crew had done. Improvements include a freshly painted new sign in booth and a smooth road into the pits. There’s a new building for the pit board and drivers meeting area, the track itself has been lengthened ten feet with new clay and the corners and straights are wider. With the threat of rain coming, the show was tightened up and ran quickly, with mud packing and a short hot lap session following the drivers meeting. We met and welcomed a new young driver to the class; 14 year old Christian Hickman from Chowchilla who experienced his first race in his Rod Lake Racing sponsored Spec Sprint. It was also nice to see Kent Stephens of Modesto back in action after taking last season off. Another welcome face there was “Davey Boy” Dave Munoz who is announcing once again at Chowchilla. Two six lap heat races ran, with talented young Ryan Bernal taking the first win. Pole sitter S & J Machine’s Rick Sharp held the lead for the first four laps as Bernal patiently worked his way up from a fifth starting spot. At the checkers it was Bernal, Sharp, and San Jose’s Tommy Laliberte in the top three. Foster City’s Dave Press won heat two, taking the lead at the green and was chased closely by Stephens and Contra Costa Auto Parts’ Keith Shipherd. Stephens won the dash over Laliberte, Sharp and Press. Chowchilla’s crew re-groomed and watered the track prior to the feature event. A four invert pill was drawn, putting Stephens and Sharp in the front row with Press and Bernal in row two. Stephens bolted into the lead at the green with Bernal, Press and Laliberte in tight formation behind him. On lap eight, Bernal got under Stephens for the lead but the action was just starting. Stephens battled hard, hounding Bernal lap after lap, challenging in every corner and trying different lines. Soon lapped traffic came into play as the leaders charged around the track. Deemer unfortunately pitted on lap ten with suspected motor issues, and Bernal continued his smooth run with Stephens in the hunt looking for a slight bobble as Press, Laliberte and Gonderman closed in. At the checkers it was Bernal taking the well earned win followed by Stephens, Press, Laliberte and Gonderman in the top five. Thanks to the Chowchilla Speedway crew for a fun racing experience and to our fellow racers who gave the fans a good taste of Wingless Spec Sprint racing. Drive safe, have fun and take care. Summary: Heat 1: Ryan Bernal, Rick Sharp, Tommy Laliberte, Dan Gonderman, Gary Deemer Heat 2: Dave Press, Kent Stephens, Keith Shipherd, Kris Koontz, Christian Hickman Dash: Stephens, Laliberte, Sharp, Press Main: Bernal, Stephens, Press, Laliberte, Gonderman, Sharp, Koontz, Shipherd, Hickman, Deemer |
