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Swanson Dazzles in CASA/USAC “Best in the West”
Opener By Glenn Hopper |
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4-14-07 – Madera, CA...Former champion Kody Swanson returned to a familiar
Madera Speedway sporting the more familiar family number 17 and handily placed
his sprint car in victory lane of the Fred Gerhardt Open Wheel Classic on a cool
spring evening. After a series of afternoon cloudbursts eventually gave way to
track drying efforts, a determined band of racers and fans were rewarded with an
exciting Fred Gerhardt Memorial Race honoring the central valley racing pioneer.
Defending CASA, USAC, and “Best in the West” Series Champion Tony Hunt immediately staked his claim as 2007’s man to beat by posting fast time during “Euro-style” qualifications in which cars were grouped according to practice times. With all the rain delays, standard two-lap solo qualifications were scrapped to both speed up qualifying procedures as well as allow cars which had been idle for some time to qualify at normal operating temperatures. Each car in the five-car session was allowed 10 yellow flag warm up laps before a one and a half minute green flag session commenced. All times were recorded via the transponder computer system and Hunt’s 13.811 was the fastest elapsed time of the 18 cars presented for qualifications. Unfortunately for Michael Zarevich, qualifications were as far as his evening would allow as he reportedly suffered a broken rear end which caused his car to veer into the backstretch wall and into a series of barrel rolls. He was okay but his number 42 was finished for the evening. Heat races were cancelled due to the unstable weather and the 40 lap feature event was set with the standard eight-car inversion. However two-time CASA Champ Nick Rescino, Jr’s ever potent #11 sounded off song during the warm-up period and he retired to the pits after apparently ingesting a foreign object through his intake breaking the tip of a spark plug and ending the fifth fast qualifier’s night. Ryan Kaplan’s black number 21 took to the pole position with 2006 CASA Rookie of the Year Joe Helberg on his wing. As Kaplan and company roared off turn four to the green flag, third starting Matt DeMartini executed a 360 spin collecting Anthony Simone and Jessica Helberg. DeMartini suffered some exhaust damage yet he and Simone were able to continue. Jessica Helberg was not as fortunate and her mount was towed to the infield. The field reformed for a restart and by the time they hit the back straight, fourth starting Swanson had swept into the lead. As lap two began second quick qualifier Greg Anderson spun in turn two with DeMartini spinning to avoid him. Both rejoined the field for the single file restart. As Swanson’s light blue #17 accelerated for the start, contact behind him involving some of the top five cars triggered another caution resulting in Jim Kaiser’s mount suffering undercarriage damage after climbing wheels in a tangle involving Simone, Brian Geiszler, and DeMartini. Only Geiszler was able to continue, unfortunately the other three were retired from the event with only one official lap in the books. When the green unfurled over Swanson the racing took on a more business-like manor for the next 17 laps. Joe Helberg held second repelling all attempts by Hunt to displace him from the runner up spot. Kaplan battled Shauna Hogg and Brian McClish as Anderson began advancing towards the front from his earlier spin. Lap 17 saw contact between two northwest competitors, Brian Geiszler and Evan Funk that left Funk sitting at the edge of the turn four infield for another caution flag. When racing resumed Swanson again set sail ahead of all comers but the battle intensified between young Helberg on the outside and the master Hunt digging down low. After several laps Hunt eventually inched his way past and once clear of Helberg, took to reducing the gap Swanson had built. But the margin built by Swanson was more than enough as the dual checkered flags fanned over the Kingsburg, California native as he flashed past the flag stand with win number one of the 2007 season. Hunt was a solid second, Helberg held third matching his best career finish to date, Ryan Kaplan was an impressive fourth and Anderson charged back to a solid fifth place finish. Shauna Hogg was sixth followed by McClish, Geiszler, Eric Humphries in ninth and Funk rounding out the top ten. Pavement first timer Dave Gilmore ran 11th and Scott Clough was 12th. Next up: CASA will co-sanction with USAC Western States for round 2 of the “Best in the West Series” when Roseville, California’s All-American Speedway witnesses the return of sprint cars for the first time in decades at their newly reconfigured facility on Memorial Day weekend, Saturday May 26th. For more information on CASA activity, visit www.casaracing.com QUALIFICATIONS: FEATURE: (40 laps) NT FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-40; Swanson. CASA Point Standings as of 4/14/2007 Driver Points “Best in the West” Series Points as of 4/14/2007 Driver Points |
