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Deadlocked
at the top Lovell, Monahan tied for 1st as Wiesz, Bair and Ross win |
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Marysville CA - August 23, 2004. It
is the closest battle in the thirty-six year history of Clyde and Linda
Tipton’s Twin Cities Speedway. It’s pretty simple; there is going to be a
one race shootout to determine the championship in the winged Featherlite
Pacific Sprint Car series. After the hammer down festivities of Saturday
night, Sparks Nevada’s Mike Monahan and three-time champion Korey Lovell of
Yuba City are deadlocked at the top. The
fireworks began in qualifying when Colby Wiesz overcame ignition problems that
prohibited the Colfax Comet from taking any practice laps. Wiesz didn’t need
the practice as he promptly went out and blistered the hooked up quarter mile
and turned an 11.249. For the second straight week the second fastest time
ever recorded went into the record books. Kyle Schild timed in second with his
fastest lap of the season. Monahan and Lovell were on the gas as well. Lovell
picked up third quick time and Monahan was a tick off in fourth. Lovell picked
up two points and Monahan picked up a single marker for their efforts. The
pair came into the evening’s competition separated by just eleven points. A fine field of
racers clicked off three incredibly quick heat races. Four-time feature event
winner, Kevin Lovell, won heat race number two. Kevin kept his slim
championship hopes alive with the fine run. Sacramento’s Troy Degaton and
Brent Dothage fired their mounts into victories in the other two heats.
Clearlake’s Dothage turned in a stellar passing job in his heat race.
Degaton ran away from the drop of the green in his. Monahan and Lovell both
finished third in their respective heat races and received eight points each. As the racing
gods would have it, Wiesz drew a four inversion pill and the drama began.
Monahan would be the pole sitter with Korey Lovell lined up outside. The
atmosphere was electric as the two championship point leaders paced the field. Monahan
outgunned Korey Lovell as the field headed into turn one. Lovell’s racer got
sideways in turn two and glanced off Schild who had made a nice move from his
third starting slot. Lovell went over Schild’s right side tires and flipped.
For the second week in a row Korey Lovell was upside down in turn two of lap
one. Grayeagle’s Jim Richardson piled into the hapless Lovell and the red
flag was displayed. The frustrated Lovell pounded the steering wheel. Both cars were
quickly repaired and restarted, but both drivers had to tag on to the rear of
the field. Korey Lovell went from the front row to the last starting position
as the race restarted. The new line up brought Wiesz forward one row to the
outside pole position. The position vacated by Korey Lovell. That’s all
Wiesz needed. The new green saw Wiesz fly into the lead with Monahan settling
into second. Wiesz was gone. By lap five Wiesz was a straightaway ahead as
Monahan wrestled with Schild. Then
Monahan hooked up and started to put distance between himself and Schild. On lap six Kevin
Lovell’s realistic chance at a championship came to an end. As Kevin Lovell
approached Alvin Guilarte entering turn three, Lovell rode up over the Chico
driver’s left rear wheel. Lovell got up on his left side wheels and
masterfully kept his silver eighty-one from flipping. Lovell appeared to have
it saved as he slid through turn three doing a half-spin. Lovell corrected and
his car nosed toward the infield. As Lovell corrected Richardson slammed into
him. All three cars came to a halt. The front of Richardson’s car was
damaged and the left side exhaust header and suspension was bent on Kevin
Lovell’s car. Guilarte had left side suspension damage where Lovell used it
as a launching pad. Only Lovell restarted. The race went
green to its conclusion after the turn three accident and Wiesz trounced the
competition. Lapped traffic toward the end gave Monahan some hope, but he
could never really challenge Wiesz for the win. A titanic
struggle was going on for fourth position. Two-time champion Mike Wasina Jr.
and Dothage traded the position five times in the final fifteen laps. All the
while they started to catch third running Schild. On more than one occasion
the duo placed lapped cars in a three wide sandwich as they battled. Wasina
secured fourth position at the checkers after a real crowd pleasing duel.
Schild held on to finish a strong third. Schild who has several victories at
TCS to his credit had his best night of the year. Korey and Kevin
Lovell soldiered on in their wounded racers and salvaged eleventh and
fourteenth places respectively in the final rundown. Korey Lovell has suffered
an incredible string of bad luck since he took his main event victory three
races ago. At the same time Monahan has taken advantage of Lovell’s
circumstances and benefited with stellar performances of his own, including
three top five finishes and quick time last week. The final point
tally at the end of the night showed Monahan and Korey Lovell deadlocked in
the battle for first place in the championship point standings. In the Speedway
Sprint Car Series Chris Magoon claimed the inaugural championship while
watching from the grandstand. Magoon’s potent number seventy-seven broke its
camshaft in qualifying and the point leader became a spectator. Runner-up in the
standings was Sacramento’s Rick Eversult. His only chance for an opportunity
at the championship was for Magoon to break and Eversult to sweep. With phase
one complete, Eversult nearly ended all his chances by sailing over the
cushion in turn three on his qualifying attempt. Eversult saved the car but
suspension damage prevented him from posting a time. Eversult fought his way
into fourth position in his heat race keeping his slim chances alive. That
race was won by Auburn’s Jimmy Steward. Jeremy Hawes took the other heat
race in a nice smooth ride. Eversult had to line up in the last row of the
feature, having not posted a timed lap. The feature was
a whirlwind of racers vying for position as the field made short work of the
first few laps. Woodland’s Kenny Bair rocketed to the front at the start and
was never headed. Bair had his sparkling racer flying. The race
wandered through two minor yellows and then everyone got serious. Especially
Eversult. Eversult carved through the field in his best drive ever. He was in
second with four laps to go and started to catch Bair. A yellow flag appeared
with but three to go. This was just what Eversult needed. The new green
had Eversult camped on Bair’s tail. Eversult tried high and low to no avail.
On the last circuit Eversult drifted high in turn two and Bair moved away.
But, the yellow flag flew before Bair could get to the checkers. By rule the
race was reverted to a green-white-checkered and Eversult had another shot at
it. The final two laps were great. Eversult did everything but stand his car
on its nose to get by Bair. He pulled along side leaving turn two on the last
lap but Bair was up to the challenge. Bair remained steadfastly in control of
the top spot and won. It was Bair’s second triumph of the current campaign. Magoon won too.
Eversult could not amass enough points to have a shot at the title next week.
A couple of costly early season flips may have been the difference in
Eversult’s being able to take advantage of Magoon’s misfortune. Corning’s
Nathan Johnson, Steward and Tim Sherman followed Bair and Eversult across the
line. The Nor Cal
Dwarf cars were the visitors this week, and, as always, put on a rip-roaring
show. Howie Ross won again as he
bested a fine field of stars. His job was easier when Zack Hurst, Mike Grenert
and Steve Albirdi all had problems by the time the race reached half way. It’s
Featherlite Championship Night at Twin Cities Speedway this Saturday night.
The winged Featherlite Pacific Sprint Cars will headline the competition. The
Speedway Sprint Cars, the TCS Stock Cars and Mini Stocks will also be
featured. This will be the final point race of the 2004 championship season
and all divisions will crown their champion. It should be a thriller!! Gates open at 5
with racing set to get underway at 7. Visit us on the web at the Official Web
Site for Twin Cities Speedway www.twincitiesspeedway.net or call (916)
985-2089 to reach the business office. All the latest updates are always
posted to the website first. TWIN CITIES SPEEDWAY - MARYSVILLE, CA AUGUST 21, 2004 - POINTS RACE #18 Pepsi Night FEATHERLITE PACIFIC SPRINT CARS HEAT RACE WINNERS MAIN EVENT SPEEDWAY SPRINTS MAIN EVENT |
