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Imperial, CA...March 20....After a six car inversion put him on the pole, Beau Binder from El Paso, TX led all 30 laps to win the season opening feature for the USAC Southwest Sprint Cars Saturday night at the Imperial Valley Speedway. Binder also won the lone Winter Series race that his local winged 305 sprint car group raced back in January at El Paso Speedway Park. Fast timer and defending series champion Rick Ziehl from Las Cruces, NM charged from sixth starting to challenge Binder over the closing laps, but settled for second place ahead of crowd favorite Mike Martin from Yuma AZ. Former series champion Mike Boat was fifth behind Josh Pelkey. The local factory stocks also raced and usual IMCA Modified racer Keith Smith picked up a ride in the second Adolfo Noriega car for the main event and wheeled to a win from last starting. Incoming point leader Noriega was disqualified for a red flag violation and Tommy Ferriera finished second ahead of Ed Brown. This shuffled the point standings with Noriega falling to third place, 33 behind new leader Brown and 13 back of runnerup T Ferriera.
The traveling sprint car series had a 15 car turnout. In 2003, Ziehl had outtimed the field by 10 mph with an incredible 16.25 run on the 3/8 mile clay oval. This year, he was again was quick timer with a solid 16.56 run, but the competition was closer as Boat ran a 16.75 and Pelkey a 16.92. Local racer Mark Deskovick made the dash with his fourth quick effort of 17.39. Time trials took their toll as Rick Sipes suffered a concussion and bruises in a wild flip and rookie R C Whitwell also saw his night end with a time trial flip. Whitwell was the overall titlest of the two-day IMCA Modified race during the February Fair and escaped unhurt in this flip. Deskovick won the dash from the pole ahead of Pelkey and Boat. Brandon Lane captured the first heat race ahead of Pelkey and Dave Burns. Boat impressed with his win in the second heat ahead of Deskovick and A J Reyer. Mike Rux Jr broke in the heat action to leave a 12 car feature. Leighton Crouch dropped out early in the feature and Reyer flipped without injury. Pole starter Binder led all 30 laps for the win with Ziehl charging forward to his runnerup slot. Martin was third ahead of Pelkey, Boat, female ace Kaylene Verville, Burns and Deskovick. Ziehl and Binder will be tied for the point lead going into the next scheduled show at the brand new United Sports Arizona track in Tucson on May 1.
The 13 car factory stock turnout included Phoenix area racer Corky Warner, but his night ended in hot laps. Noriega won the first heat ahead of Brown and Mike Kracker. Newcomer Jason Jernigan won heat 2 with T Ferriera second ahead of Mark Dessert. Smith didn't get the ride in the second Noriega car until the heat action had finished, but he still wheeled the car from last starting to a win in the 20 lap main event. T Ferriera ran second ahead of Brown, Lance Mari, Dessert, Kracker, Scott Wagner and Ron Severt. The Noriega DQ changed the point standings with just four point shows remaining on the 2003-2004 schedule. Severt is fourth in points, 12 behind Noriega and 21 ahead of Mari.
Remaining Imperial dates before the annual summer break include April 3, April 17, May 1 and May 15.
Summary
Factory Stocks
Heat 1-Adolfo Noriega, Ed Brown, Mike Kracker, Scott Wagner, Steven Daffern.
Heat 2-Jason Jernigan, Tommy Ferriera, Mark Dessert, Ron Severt, Lance Mari. Main-Keith Smith, T Ferriera, Brown, Mari, Dessert, Kracker, Wagner, Severt, Daffern, Ryan Ferriera, Jernigan.
Wingless Sprint Cars
Fast Time-Rick Ziehl 16.56
Dash-Mark Deskovick, Josh Pelkey, Mike Boat.
Heat 1-Brandon Lane, Pelkey, Dave Burns, Kaylene Verville, Mike Martin.
Heat 2-Boat, Deskovick, A J Reyer, Beau Binder, Jim Pless.
Main-Binder, Ziehl, Martin, Pelkey, Boat, Verville, Burns, Deskovick, Pless, Lane, Reyer, Leighton Crouch.
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