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| Western
States Sprint Car Notes by Kerry Fasig |
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May 23, 2004...Shasta Speedway in Anderson
California was the site of race #3 for the USAC Valvoline Western
States Sprint car series on Saturday May 8th. 18 cars were in attendance, those missing from action included Michael Lewis and Jeff Gardner both racing in the USAC Silver Crown series race in Memphis TN. The race track and pit area were both reconfigured, the racing surface was extended on both straight aways and in turns 3 and 4. The pit area was resigned and completely paved with electrical and water hookups throughout. This pit area mirrors the pit layout of Dodge City, Kansas where USAC last visited in 2002. There were only three driver's in attendance who raced the last time USAC ran here in August of 1999. Shauna Hogg, Tony Hunt and Bob Scott, for Bob it was the last time he drove in this series and I'm sure by night's end it was a night Bob would just as soon forget. So whoever was to set fast time would be the new track record holder and that honor was bestowed upon Tony Hunt in the Western Speed #60 with a quick lap of 14.778. Greg Taylor was 2nd fast equaling his best qualifing effort from last year at Wenatchee where he was 2nd quick again to Tony Hunt. Chad Nichols was 3rd fast in the Scott #7 replacing RandyDubois, as early season struggles motivated a change. Michael Newman continues to improve timing in 4th fast, followed by Tim Barber and Shauna Hogg. Shauna made a shock package change in practice and it really helped in the handling of her car. The top 5 in the Earl's fast qualifier point's championship standings are Tony Hunt by 12 points over Michael Lewis followed by Nichols, McClish and Taylor. Once racing got under way the race track proved to be a tough one to pass on as you really had to work at it to get around someone, unless you were a lot faster then them. Destiny Hays won heat #1 over Michael Trimble, Mike Murgoitio, Shauna Hogg and Greg Taylor. Greg Anderson picked up the win in heat #2 over Rick Brown, Chris Peterson, Brad Bumgarner and Brian McClish. On the white flag lap Bumgarner checked up in the middle of 3 & 4 and Hunt climbed Brad's right rear flying the front end and Chad Nichols had nowhere to go and after he climbed Tony's right rear Chad made major contact with the turn 4 wall, seriously damaging the #7 Beast chassis. The semi main was pretty uneventful with Hunt picking up the
win followed by Newman, The front row for the 40 lap main event consisted of Bumgarner
and Hogg with Shauna With all this action going on both Newman and Nichols had the
same piece of real estate Barber's victory was his first in the series in only 14 starts. He made 10 starts for Lori Scott and 1 start for Mark Zieske in 2002 before stepping into the Pierson #14 this year. With the point's leader Lewis racing in Memphis the points made quite a change. Brad Bumgarner now leads, for the first time in his career with Tony Hunt trailing by 7 point's followed by Trimble, Anderson and Lewis.The next race for the series is Tucson on June 12th but I'll be going to the 56th running of the Little 500, I'll try to send you some highlights form there. |
