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| Press Release |
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Dozier, Bartlett, Russum and Grenert score by Bob Burbach |
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Marysville CA - May 13, 2007 --- Yuba City’s Mark Hill didn’t win,
but he was the show in the Wingless Sprint Car feature at Marysville Raceway
Park Saturday night. Paul and Kathy Hawes also hosted the Winged Pacific Sprint
Cars, The MRP Street Stocks and the Nor Cal Dwarf Cars in a full 4 division
program. Hill’s exciting evening began with an easy run into the lead at the opening green flag of the feature. A 5-car tangle bent some iron in turn one as the field started lap 2. Most of those involved restarted at the rear. Hill was the leader at the new green, but was tagged from the rear by 2nd running Keith Shippard as the field headed into turn one. Hill tried to save it, but chugged to a stop headed backwards at the bottom of the track. Hill went to the rear. The new leader Shippard then hammered the front stretch wall on the restart and left parts from the flag stand to the pit entry. He turned the rear portion of his drive train into shrapnel with larger pieces twirling through the air as the car wobbled to a halt. Two time feature event winner, Sacramento’s Pat Russum, was the beneficiary of both Hill’s and Shippard’s misfortunes. He inherited the lead and went on to win, going away. But Hill’s great drive to the front was remarkable. Hill sliced high and low through the field with a smooth and calculated precision. A couple of mid race yellow flags helped, but Hill was on a mission. His ride garnered him a 4th place finish behind Russum, Tim Sherman Jr. and a consistent Jimmy Steward. It was an excellent show. The finishes will likely jumble the point standings once again when the event becomes official at the close of business on Tuesday. For the 3rd consecutive event Pat Russum has picked up the feature event checkers at MRP. This talented youngster has won three of the four events he has entered. A two car pass on the high side through three and four as the field came to the checkers in his heat was among the finest moves we’ve seen in a while. Russum continues to impress as the field of Wingless Warriors continues to improve at MRP. 3-time MRP champion Jerry Bartlett of Yuba City held off a mighty challenge from Ray Benkowski mid way in the feature to take the checkers in the MRP Street Stock main event. A six-car pile-up in turn one on the original start mixed the starting order for the restart and Bartlett started outside the pole. He out dragged the field into turn one and seemed to pull away at will. At ½ way Benkowski, also from Yuba City, slipped by Bartlett with a move reminiscent of last week’s late race pass that the driver of the blue #25 made stick. This week was another matter. Bartlett got up on the wheel and roared back by Benkowski and immediately put 3 car lengths between them. Bartlett was uncatchable after that and easily took Robin Davies checkered flag with room to spare. Benkowski stayed 2nd and point leader Heather Bartlett finished 3rd. She was able to pad her point lead over last week’s winner Phillip Shelby. Shelby’s night came to an abrupt end when his car was badly damaged in the 1st lap melee. Though he drove away from the crash, his suspension was a mess and he could not continue. Guy Bean was 4th. Last time out Cort Dozier had to go from last to 1st. This time he went from 1st to 1st in a dominating display. Behind Dozier was an entertaining slice and dice session going on that included as many as six cars at any given time. The MRP Pacific Sprint Car main event was another satisfying, competitive event. Sacramento’s Tom Baker was lifting his wheels on several occasions as he battled with a host of other racers. Point leader Jeremy Burt was in the hunt for 2nd all night long as was Brad Bumgardner and, while he lasted, Brandon Dozier. Derek Dozier started making serious progress as the race went into its final stages. He pulled off a nifty high side pass of Burt to secure 2nd and stayed there to the flag. Baker and Brandon Dozier weren’t around at the checkered flag but, Bumgardner was to finish 4th. Greg Sherman finished in 5th. Sherman came back from an early race spin to pick up the 5th place money. Once again the wide MRP track provided multiple passes and exciting racing action in the Pacific Sprint Car class. The Nor Cal Dwarf Cars were the hosted travelers this weekend and Mike “Spanky” Grenert of Travis AFB took his 2nd victory of the season here. 2003 Mini Stock Champion at MRP Jeremy Blackshere of Marysville stole the show, however. Blackshere was penalized to the last starting position for a jumped start at the initial green. All eyes were on Blackshere who, like Hill in the Wingless Sprint Car feature carved his way to the front. Blackshere actually made it to the front and was the leader at ¾ distance. Then Grenert started to move. Grenert was running inside and outside as his car approached the leader. Grenert got by with two to go and Blackshere slipped to 3rd, but it was and outstanding effort by both drivers. Next week the Outlaw Karts will kick off the weekend on Friday night. On Saturday night, the MRP Winged Pacific Sprint Cars, the MRP Mini stocks and the MRP Street Stocks will be on hand for complete programs. The Extreme Bombers are also scheduled as an extra-added attraction. The Nor Cal Dwarf Cars will also be on the card for a back to back return. Watch the website for details on the MRP $1000 bonus offered by promoter Hawes for MRP members at the upcoming Civil War Show on Friday May 25th. Make our website (marysvilleracewaypark.com) one of your “favorites” on you computer. 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. Note: Please make this observer aware of any names that are misspelled. The text is based on information we have at the time of its release. |
