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SANTA MARIA SPEEDWAY RECAP |
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Santa Maria, CA - April 12, 2002... Steve Drake kicked off the 2003
racing season at Santa Maria Speedway by sweeping the Late Model Stock division
at Santa Maria Speedway. The San Luis Obispo driver set fast time of 13.911
seconds and went on to win an 8-lap heat race and the 30-lap main event, as he
opened defense of his 2002 championship. Bakersfield's Jerry Stewart did his best to hold on for the win in the feature, but Drake, who went to the back-of-the-pack after a lap six tangle, came back through the field to take the lead five laps from the finish. Stewart held on for second, followed by : Donnie Hampl, Atascadero; Craig Gardner, Paso Robles; and, Devin Crockett, Arroyo Grande. Hampl also won a heat. 2002 championship runner-up Tom Grzincic, of Atascadero, served notice that he's out for the 2003 Mini Stock title after winning his 8-lap heat race and the 20-lap main event. Grzincic's teammate Darrin Davis, also of Atascadero, finished second in the feature and captured his heat. Not to be outdone, the other heat race winner, Jeremy Heroux of Nipomo, placed third. Fourth was Atascadero's Frank Clyburn, and fifth Ron German of Paso Robles. Santa Maria drivers swept the first five places in the 20-lap Factory Stock main event, with the top-two in last year's championship taking first and second. Scotty Preast held off defending champ Thad Bennett for the victory, followed by Tim Breshears, David Addamo, and Tom Breshears. Preast and Tim Breshears won 8-lap heat races. "Best Looking Car" awards were a tie in two divisions. Fans applauded equally loud for Tom Johnson, of Santa Ynez, and Chris Kearns, of Santa Maria, in the Late Model Stock division. Johnson won the award outright last season. The crowd was also undecided between Josh Robertson and Mark Haddon, of Buellton, in the Mini Stock class. David Addamo was the only clear cut winner in the Factory Stocks ranks. Next Saturday night the J.B. Dewar/Bandit non-winged 360 sprint cars make their first appearance of the season on the 1/3-mile oval. They will be joined by the California Dwarf Car Racing Association (CDCRA) Pro and Senior divisions. Gates open at four, with qualifying at six, and racing at seven. Admission prices are $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for seniors (65+), and $3.00 for children 6 to 12. The Speedway is 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange on Hutton Road. They're on the internet at SantaMariaSpeedway.com. Race Summaries Century 21 Filer Realtors Late Model Stocks: Fast Time - Steve Drake, 13.911. CarQuest/Vider Farms Mini Stocks: Heat 1 - Jeremy Heroux, Frank Clyburn, Greg Noah, Mark Haddon, Scott Fowler,
Kenny Whitehead. Crossroads Community Church Factory Stocks: Heat 1 - Scotty Preast, Thad Bennett, Brian Signorelli, Sr., Michael Gardner,
Mike Highland, Glen Sparks, David Addamo. |
