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Jeff
Gardner Continues CASA Hot Streak at Madera |
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7-9-05
– Madera, CA....The
California Asphalt Sprintcar Association made its return to Madera Speedway’s
immaculate one-third mile oval as a make up for a rainout in the early spring
and Fresno’s Jeff Gardner made his return trip to victory lane as well,
capturing his fourth win in as many races with CASA this season. Gardner, fresh
off his win last week in Carson City, had won in his previous CASA start at
Madera last month and was strong from the outset in tonight’s program setting
fast time at 14.28 and winning the trophy dash as well. Nick
Rescino Jr. and rookie of the year contender Nick Green paced the fast car dash
but after two failed attempts at an even start, they were dispatched back one
row and the Fresno duo of Gardner and Anthony Simone brought the field to green
in perfect formation. Gardner got the win over Rescino, Simone and Green. The
first heat race found “Cowboy” Craig Smith of San Martin victorious in an
excellent drive over Green, Gardner, Jessica Helberg, Scott Clough and Earle
Stanton. Placerville’s Joe Hauck discovered a U-joint problem in qualifying
and couldn’t make the call for his heat, however repairs were complete in time
for the feature event. Second heat race action saw last years CASA championship
runner-up Glenn Hopper of San Jose, fend of Rescino, Simone, and Tony Iacobitti,
Ryan Baumgartner and Marvin Mitchell in a wire to wire win in the Lightning
Sports Embroidery heat race. The
50-lap feature saw 2003 CASA champ Tony Iacobitti aboard Carla McCreary’s #71
pace the field by virtue of his sixth fast qualifying effort as the field was
set to a six-car inversion for the start. Rookie of the year candidate Jessica
Helberg’s maroon #4 rounded out row one. As the field hustled off turn four to
take the green flag, Iacobitti jumped to the early lead for lap one over Anthony
“Cannonball” Simone but as the field entered turn three to complete lap two,
contact was made in the tightly grouped pack and several cars ended up stalled
in the corner including defending CASA champion Rescino, Green, fellow rookie
contender Helberg, and Earle Stanton. Gardner escaped the stalling portion of
the incident but received some significant cosmetic damage to the rear bumper
and tail section. Not surprisingly, another car had matching front-end damage.
Hopper had tagged Gardner in avoiding the mishap but both were able to continue
without losing any positions. Not as fortunate were Rescino and Green. Both made
hasty repairs and were able to return to action but neither was able to mount
charges to the front-runner status they usually enjoy – Green with a balky
front-end alignment and Rescino with damage to his braking system. Helberg and
Stanton returned without noticeable damage. When
the restart green unfurled, Iacobitti and Simone entertained the crowd with a
back and forth dual that lasted several laps. “Yak” would lead one lap, and
then “Cannonball” another, only to find Iacobitti take it back away. Simone
finally appeared to have it in hand when Gardner traded places with Iacobitti
and began pressuring Simone. Simone gamely tried to hold off Gardner as he did
Iacobitti, but Gardner’s #51 was just too strong and he powered past for the
lead. Simone ran in his inimitable style with Iacobitti, Smith and Hopper
bunched tightly behind for a majority of the next several laps. Exiting
turn four near the midway mark, Smith and Iacobitti made contact with Smith
climbing up “Yak’s” left side wheels and both cars spun down the front
straight. As cars flashed past the narrow opening, somehow sixth place running
Ryan Baumgartner, aboard the Joe Hauck Racing #24, got airborne into the fence
and executed a wild rollover into the safety barrier and landed on his wheels at
the entrance to turn one. Baumgartner was OK, however his Oval Chassis Research
car was not, and he was done for the evening. Smith was relatively unscathed and
continued, and Iacobitti’s crew changed a left-front tire and he returned to
action as the green flew over the field again. The top three stayed, Gardner,
Simone and now Hopper but young Jessica Helberg had steadily raced her way back
to a solid fourth place standing after being trapped in the earlier mishap.
Green muscled his unruly mount up to fifth. The
last 20-plus laps were run caution free and Gardner was able to display his
dominance by stretching his advantage over Simone to nearly a half-lap. And when
the double checkers flew above Gardner, he had cruised to his fourth win of his
last four CASA races. Simone maintained a half-straightaway lead over Hopper for
second place, Simone’s second consecutive runner-up finish at Madera. Hopper
ran a similar distance ahead of Helberg who had her best career finish in
fourth. Green toughed out a hard fought fifth at the stripe. Iacobitti
rebounded to finish sixth over Smith in seventh. Rescino nursed his mount to
eighth, Stanton came home ninth and CASA president Scott Clough rounded out the
top ten. Joe Hauck’s #99 finished 11th, late arriving Marvin “I
don’t need no stinking practice” Mitchell ran 12th and
Baumgartner was credited with 13th place. CASA
makes their second visit to Ukiah Speedway’s high-banked quarter-mile in
scenic Mendocino County wine country on Saturday, July 16th. The
“Tire Burning Thunder” of the California Sprint Cars is excited to return to
the wine country for a second exciting show. Please visit www.casaracing.com
for more information on all CASA activities. 7-9-05
CASA Results QUALIFYING TROPHY
DASH 50
LAP MAIN EVENT POINT STANDINGS 7-9-05
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