|
Hanford, CA....March 8.......Leading
the final ten laps, Coalinga's Tim Worth won the season opening 30 lap feature
for the California Rebel winged 360 sprint cars Saturday night at Kings
Speedway. Heat winner Erik Folger lost his nose wing leading, but charged to a
strong second place finish ahead of Andy Ferris. Winning a closing lap shootout
with 13th starting Jerome Warmderdam, Davey Pombo Jr captured the season opening
30 lap feature for the Bandit unwinged 360 sprint cars. Warmerdam finished just
a car length back in second with A J Burgin third.
As usual, the early March
date for the season opener caught many teams unprepared and Rick Williams paced
a 13 car field through time trials in the Rebel action. He ran a 14.235 lap on
the 3/8 mile clay oval. Ferris was second quick at 14.315 and Mark Barroso had a
14.372. Ron Myska and Luke Bebereia rounded out the quick five as Worth ranked
7th behind Ricci Faria. Monty Ferriera won the first heat race ahead of Worth
and Lawrence Edlund. Folger won the second heat race in front of Myska and
Ferris. That heat took it's toll as both R Faria and Stan Yockey broke ending
their nights. This left an 11 car feature. Edlund raced into a quick lead over
Folger. They waged a side by side duel until Edlund broke an engine on lap 9.
Folger now led ahead of Worth and Bebereia. On lap 20, Folger lost his nose wing
and Worth was the new leader. Bebereia made contact with Folger and flipped
wildily for a red flag. Worth paced the remaining rounds to win ahead of Folger,
Ferris, Williams, Myska, Jerry Pelayo and Mike Schriver.
The Bandit unwinged
group put 19 cars in the pits and Warmderdam was quick qualifier with a 16.219
lap that easily paced the 16.585 of Gene Manhire. Pombo Jr was third quick at
16.743 and Danny Sheridan ran a 16.888 lap. Greg Porte's 16.917 and John
Burnett's 16.998 rounded out the 16 second group. Former dirt late model star
Rick Gifford won the first heat race in front of Dave Knott and Sheridan.
Richard Harvey Jr won heat 2 ahead of Porte and Jonathan Logan. Pombo Jr
outraced Brad Evett and Josh Davis in heat 3. Manhire's night ended in the heat
action to leave 18 cars for their 30 lap feature. Warmerdam only managed a 5th
in his heat, relegating him to a 7th row start in the lineup. Harvey raced into
the lead, but made contact while lapping teammate Dick Stevens and flipped.
Pombo Jr gained the top sot and Warmerdam worked his way into third. Logan
crashed in turn 1 for a lap 28 red flag and Warmerdam charged into second to
wage his two lap shootout with Pombo Jr for the win. They took the white flag
side by side, but Pombo won by a car length over Warmerdam. Burgin ran third
ahead of Burnett, Aaron Altaffer, Sheridan, Davis and Knott.
Next action for the Bandits is March
22 when they will accompany the Golden State Challenge Winged 410 Sprint Cars.
The Rebels return on March 29. On March 15, the IMCA Modifieds and Hot Stocks
open their 2003 season with a 100 lap enduro also scheduled.
Summary
Unwinged Bandit 360 Sprint Cars
Fast Time-Jerome Warmerdam
16.219
Heat 1-Rick Gifford, Dave Knott, Danny Sheridan, A J Burgin, Warmerdam.
Heat 2-Richard Harvey Jr, Greg Porte, Jonathan Logan, Steve Demott, Aaron
Altaffer.
Heat 3-Davey Pombo Jr, Brad Evett, Josh Davis, John Burnett, Dan Gonderman.
Main-Pombo Jr, Warmerdam, Burgin, Burnett, Altaffer, Sheridan, Davis, Knott,
Dick Stevens, Harvey, Gifford, Albert Pombo, Demott, Logan, Jason Montgomery,
Evett, Gonderman, Porte.
Winged Rebel 360 Sprint Car
Fast Time-Rick Williams 14.235
Heat 1-Monty Ferriera, Tim Worth, Lawrence Edlund, Luke Bebereia,
Williams.
Heat 2-Erik Folger, Ron Myska, Andy Ferris, Mike Schriver, Stan Yockey.
Main-Worth, Folger, Ferris, Williams, Myska, Jerry Pelayo, Schriver, Mark
Barroso, Bebereia, Ferreira, Edlund.
|
