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8-14-04 - Tracy, CA. On Fan Appreciation Night at
the big half-mile oval of Altamont Motorsports Park, Nick Rescino, Jr. showed
the large crowd exactly what both racers and fans have to appreciate about one
another by posting fast time and an exciting 30-lap California Asphalt Sprintcar
Association feature win on a cool and windy evening.
Rescino's CASA win streak was extended to nine straight feature wins over a
record short 8-car field. Despite the short car count, each CASA race was a real
fan pleaser. Glenn Hopper took the lead of the lone 8-lap heat race from the
start and opened up what appeared to be a comfortable cushion over the pack
until Rescino cleared traffic and set about reducing Hopper's lead. As they
flashed under the white flag, Rescino was at Hopper's rear bumper and dove under
him entering turn three, but Hopper crossed back under Rescino heading into turn
four and briefly regained the advantage. The blinding late summer sun glare
contributed to some slight contact between the pair and Rescino slipped past for
the fan-friendly win.
The Mike Coy Concrete Construction trophy dash was also a great show for the
fans. Anthony Simone got the drop on the start over leading rookie of the year
contender, Jared Consani, but was immediately engaged in a side-by-side drag
race down the back straight with second fast qualifier Mark Monico. Monico
gained the advantage by the time lap one was recorded and opened up a huge lead
while Simone, Consani and Rescino battled behind him. Rescino cleared himself
from the fray and set off towards Monico with what looked to be an
insurmountable distance between them, especially with so few laps remaining.
Rescino gobbled up the distance quickly and what seemed to be an easy dash win
for Monico turned into an edge of your seat, breath-holding blast to the
checkers where Monico edged Rescino by scant inches to win the dash in a near
photo finish.
After a fun and interactive Fan Appreciation autograph session on the front
straight, the CASA feature line up was assembled and Scott Clough paced the
field with Consani along side.
Consani's beautiful new #4j gained the advantage entering turn one as the green
flag waved but Monico's Sequoia Institute #21, Rescino's Bayshore Engines #11
and Simone's Star Transfer Trucking #10 were in hot pursuit of the young
charger. Monico overtook Consani and Rescino made his way past as well, setting
sail for Monico and the lead, which he acquired just a few laps later. Monico
tailed the fleet CASA point leader for several laps but Rescino continued to
inch ahead. Meanwhile, sixth running Hopper worked his way past Clough and tied
up with Simone in a 10 lap wheel-to-wheel battle for forth. Hopper squeezed by
Simone on the outside and then engaged Consani in a similar dual. As Hopper made
his pass of Consani for third, Rescino, attempting to lap both in the final
laps, made it three-wide down the back straight. The close quarters caused some
anxious rubbing between Hopper and Consani but all made it through okay.
At the checkers, Rescino completed the non-stop 30-laps in 9:09.604, averaging
98.282 MPH for the event. Monico drove to a strong second pace finish, 11.647
seconds behind Rescino at the stripe. Hopper came in third over Consani, Simone,
Clough, Dan Gonderman and Marvin Mitchell.
The next CASA race will be the 100-lap, third round of the Nevada State Sprint
Car Championship Series at Champion Speedway in Carson City, NV on August 28th.
8-14-04 CASA Results
QUALIFYING
1. Nick Rescino, Jr. 17.473, 2. Mark Monico 17.998, 3. Jared Consani 18.412, 4.
Anthony Simone 18.694, 5. Scott Clough 18.847, 6. Dan Gonderman 19.126, 7.
Marvin Mitchell 20.242, 8. Glenn Hopper NT
COY CONCRETE TROPHY DASH
1. Mark Monico, 2. Nick Rescino, Jr., 3. Anthony Simone, 4. Jared Consani
30 LAP MAIN EVENT
1. Nick Rescino, Jr., 2. Mark Monico, 3. Glenn Hopper, 4. Jared Consani, 5.
Anthony Simone, 6. Scott Clough, 7. Dan Gonderman, 8. Marvin Mitchell
POINT STANDINGS 8/14/04
1. Nick Rescino 572
2. Glenn Hopper 432
3. Matt DeMartini 391
4. Scott Clough 326
5. Jared Consani 310
6. Mike McCreary 266
7. Mark Monico 262
8. Bryan Bullard 261
9. Marvin Mitchell 257
10. Brian McClish 244
11. Daniel Hood 188
12. Tony Iacobitti 168
13. Ivan Worden 159
14. Joe Hauck 155
15. Ryan Baumgartner 154
16. Larry Texeria 149
17. Dan Gonderman 144
18. Rickey Williams 127
19. Earle Stanton 122
20. Destiney Hays 115
21. Craig Smith 99
22. Jeff Gardner 96
23. Anthony Simone 88
24. Chad Ede 76
25. Amy Barnes 66
26. Gordon Rogers 56
27. Allen Harney 54
28. Alan Kaiser 54
29. Brad Bumgarner 46
30. Shauna Hogg 40
31. Tom Haxall 40
32. Pat Ariaz 39
33. Mike Ogden 39
34. Roger Hamilton 35
35. Mark Beck 32
36. Greg Anderson 26
37. Sparky Howard 19
38. Bob Beck 18
39. Don Hicks 16
40. Justin Botsford 5
41. Kenny Rines 5
42. Tim Barber 4
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