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Marysville CA. Yuba City’s Mark Hill and Grass
Valley’s Jeremy Burt set the bar for the 2007 sprint car season at Paul and
Kathy Hawes’ Marysville Raceway Park Saturday night. The opener was action
packed with competitive fields entered in both of the local sprint car classes.
A stiff south wind was ever present and an atmosphere of renewal was in the air.
The doors were open and the racers came. It was electric, it was the 39th
consecutive opening day.
Pre-race ceremonies honored a couple of the young lions of the sport for their
respective rookie efforts. Trowbridge’s David Derr Jr. was honored with a
monster trophy and congratulations all around for his 2006 Rookie of the Year
run in the Pacific Sprint Cars. Derr was there with dad David Sr. to enjoy the
hearty round of applause at the packed driver’s meeting. Yuba City’s Kevin
Sprague was similarly honored for his gallant effort on behalf of his good
friend Hill. Hill’s bizarre injury at the beginning of the season opened the
seat for Sprague and he parlayed it into a fine 3rd place in the final point
standings, securing Rookie of the Year honors in the process. Sprague doesn’t
have a ride this year. Someone should consider putting him in a seat. He goes
forward and doesn’t crash.
The MRP Wingless Sprint Car feature event was a nip and tuck, pass ’em -
repass 'em slugfest that wasn’t really settled until the checkers flew.
Sacramento’s Steve Fletcher surprised a number of observers by taking a
competitive lead on the windswept raceway banging wheels with pole sitter and
early leader John Anderson in the process. Anderson roared on by into the lead a
couple of circuits later with Hill in tow. Anderson, a two-time winner here last
season slipped to 3rd by half distance, but re-passed Hill for second shortly
thereafter. Then Hill got up on the wheel. Hill’s white #8 was coming and
coming fast.
Back in the pack a determined Tim Sherman Jr. was having problems getting
rolling, but soon he found a rhythm and started to pick off cars. Aided by
yellow flag caution periods, Sherman was on the march and showed up in the top
five by ½ way. Meanwhile back at the front: Hill, Anderson and Fletcher were at
war.
Hill, using smooth, calculated moves picked off Fletcher and carried the lead
into the last five circuits. Enter Sherman.
All of a sudden Sherman was on top of the lead trio. First Anderson washed out
on turn four and lost four positions. Sherman was 3rd and put his eye on
Fletcher. He reeled him in.
Hill was in command now and would not be headed. Sherman became the show. In a
last ditch effort with but two to go Sherman got by Fletcher with a nice
backstretch effort and secured second for the final checkered flag.
Hill’s notable effort combined with a heat race win will catapult the likable
chauffer into the top spot in points. Hill’s dismal 2006 is history and is
looking for success in the new season. Hill led Sherman and the surprising
Fletcher across the line. It was a solid win for Hill.
Burt led wire to wire in the winged Pacific Sprint Car feature showing
concentration and an uncanny cool hitting his marks on every lap. His ability to
roll into the throttle off of turns four and two made the difference as the
track slicked up. Others were buzzing their tires while Burt drove away into the
night.
The wheel banging took place early and often as Burt sailed off to big leads a t
every new green flag. Burt has to be considered a real favorite in the hunt for
the title. However, a backstretch yellow flag incident may have eliminated
Burt’s most pressing competition for the win. An early race yellow for a minor
spin brought the field under caution, but 8th starting Brandon Dozier of
Marysville never saw the light. Dozier collected another car and flipped on the
back chute. While the accident was not a serious one, it KO’d the quick
contender from further competition.
The new green saw Burt, once again, disappear as Gridley’s Shawn Amos, 6th
starting Cort Dozier of Marysville, 2004 Champ Mike Monahan and Sacramento’s
Tom Baker contested 2nd. Amos held the runner-up spot for a while then Baker
would slip by…then Monahan…and so on in an entertaining tussle. Burt however
was distancing himself from everyone else in a dazzling display of disciplined
driving.
The checkers flew on Burt. It was a rout at the front. 2nd through 5th was
another story. A last lap pass by the surprisingly competitive Baker netted him
4th as he braved his way by Monahan in the last set of turns. Amos cruised in
for a fine 2nd with Cort Dozier in a steady 3rd.
In victory lane, the ecstatic Burt described the surface as a “driver’s
track”. Burt will take the point lead into the April 21st point competition at
MRP. The event will be official at the close of business on Tuesday, but there
were no known protests or controversies at this writing.
Next Saturday night, the California Sprint Car Civil War will bring 40 plus
Winged Pacific Sprint Cars to MRP. Fairmont Indiana’s Brandon Wimmer brings a
slim point lead into the event, with MRP 3-time champion Colby Wiesz a short 15
points out of the lead. The fire breathing alcohol-burning sprinters will take
to the track at about 6PM with qualifying scheduled for 6.30PM and racing at
7.30PM. Burt, Dozier, Monahan and most of the players in Saturday’s contest
will be at MRP to compete.
In Saturday’s companion Nor Cal Dwarf Car competition “Hollywood” Kevin
Bender exacted personal revenge on Mike “Spanky” Grenert. He led Grenert
across the line by a car length in an excellent race. Grenert beat Bender by a
paper width in their last outing here. Saturday’s reversal of fortunes
tightened the already tight Nor Cal point chase. A full field of the colorful
racers was on hand for MRP’s opening point race. Check out www.dwarfworld.com
for the latest details on the Nor Cal group.
In Saturday’s caution plagued SORA Sprint 100 feature Tim McLaughlin of Colusa
picked up his second consecutive victory. Once again he came from the back row
to the front. McLaughlin’s quick racer seems to be the class of the field in
early season competition. Champion Tony Gaioran was not running at the finish
after an altercation mid way in the race.
Friday night’s inaugural Outlaw Kart event saw 4 winners take home the
hardware. Ryan Robinson won the Beginner Box Stock feature event while Justin
Bradway won in Box Stock. It is interesting to note that Justin's dad Alan
Bradway prepared racecars for Ryan's dad David Robinson in Civil War Sprint Car
Racing. The team was so successful that it resulted in Civil War championships
for both dads.
Yuba City's Cameron Bartlett trounced the 250 Class with relative ease and John
Michael Burch was the class of the 500’s. The Karts will return next Friday
for a full program getting underway at 7PM.
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Watch this site for press releases and updates.
Pit gates always open at 3PM. Pit meeting and pill draw are at 5PM. Spectator
Gates Open at 5PM with racing getting underway at 7PM. Contact the promoters at
1.530.743.1327 or email as indicated on the home page.
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