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Imperial, CA.....April 12.....For
the first time in it's short existance, the USAC Southwest Sprint Car Series
crossed over into California to open it's 2003 season at the high speed Imperial
Valley Speedway 3/8 mile clay oval. Yuma's Kent Rosevear, a former IMCA Modified
track champion at Yuma Speedway, took advantage of his local track knowledge and
drove to victory in the 30 lap main event after timing in fifth quick. Rosevear
led only the final four laps after chasing down early leader Steve Stone. Since
Rosevear doesn't belong to the USAC group, Stone will lead the points going into
their second race at Hollywood Hills Speedway in New Mexico on April 26. Brandon
Lane ran third with another Yuma based stock car graduate Mike Martin in fourth.
The local factory stocks provided support for the show with division dominator
Adolfo Noriega, also from Yuma, collecting that win ahead of Kevin Miller and
usual IMCA Modified racer Doug Peterson. This class had a strong 18 car turnout
and the sprint car group brought 20 teams to the action.
El Paso, Texas star Rick Ziehl
dominated time trials as he ripped off an amazing 16.25 lap around the 3/8 mile
clay oval. That was nearly 10 mph faster than the 17.91 turned in by
second fast Shon Deskins. Ron Clark ran a 18.31, Matthew Rossi an 18.53 and
Rosevear a 18.59. The quickest 11 were lower than 19 seconds, but 11th quick
Chris Bonneau was done after time trials. Southern California racer Mark
Deskovich saw his night end with a flip in hot laps and Jim Pless was a feature
scratch after flipping in his heat race. Aaron Reyer was done after time trials
and Dave Burns scratched from the main event after breaking in heat race. Rossi
won the dash from the pole with Ziehl a strong second. Ziehl continued to show
his early strength with a win in the first 10 lap heat race ahead of Martin and
Mike Rux. New Mexico's Beau Binder won heat 2 with Arizona female star Kaylene
Verville in second ahead of Rosevear. Defending series champion Mike Boat won
heat 3 ahead of Ron Kratz and Stone. Fifteen cars were left to contest the 30
lap feature with the usual USAC six car inversion putting Stone and Rosevear in
the front row. Top runner Rossi flipped on lap 4 with Ziehl and Rux also
sidelined early. Boat flipped on lap 20 and Rosevear made his late race pass
around Stone for the win. Lane ran third ahead of Martin, Clark, Bruce St James,
Kratz, Verville, James Aragon and Deskins.
Yuma teenager Linden Barnicle won the
first factory stock heat race ahead of Ryan Ferriera and Ronnie Severt. Noriega
raced to a win in heat 2 with Miller second ahead of John Duncan. Another Yuma
youngster Bobby Horton beat ageless Ed Brown in heat 4 with Peterson jumping
into the Scott Jeffery car and placing third. In their feature action, it was
Noriega on top of Miller, Peterson, Barnicle, Perris track regular Chuck Ribbe,
Mike Hitchings, Mike Hickingbottom Jr and Norm Clark.
Since Imperial doesn't race
during the extremely hot summer months, only three events remain on their
2002-2003 schedule. All the local classes and the COD Dwarf Cars will race on
April 26, May 10 and May 24.
Summary
Factory Stocks
Heat 1-Linden Barnicle, Ryan Ferriera, Ronnie Severt, Rusty Johnson, Mike
Hickingbottom Jr.
Heat 2-Adolfo Noriega, Kevin Miller, John Duncan, Mike Hitchings, Norm
Clark.
Heat 3-Bobby Horton, Ed Brown, Doug Peterson, Scott Wagner, Chuck Ribbe.
Main-Noriega, Miller, Peterson, Barnicle, Ribbe, Hitchings, Hickingbottom Jr,
Clark, Horton, Wagner, Duncan, Brian Evans, James Skipping, Brown, Ferriera,
Johnson.
Unwinged Sprint Cars
Fast Time-Rick Ziehl 16.25
Dash-Matt Rossi, Ziehl, Ron Clark.
Heat 1-Ziehl, Mike Martin, Mike Rux, Rossi, Brandon Lane.
Heat 2-Beau Binder, Kaylene Verville, Kent Rosevear, Shon Deskins, Bruce St
James.
Heat 3-Mike Boat, Ron Kratz, Steve Stone, Clark, Dave Burns.
Main-Rosevear, Stone, Lane, Martin, Clark, St James, Kratz, Verville, James
Aragon, Deskins, Boat, Binder, Rossi, Ziehl, Rux.
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