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| Press Release |
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Anderson, Shelby and Ollar grab the Victories Open Wheel Frenzy and Taco Bell Night this Saturday by Bob Burbach |
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Marysville, CA - August 12, 2007 ---- Sacramento’s John Anderson poked his nose into the lead and won a sprint car race that nobody seemed to want to win. Yuba City’s Phillip Shelby padded his point lead with a virtuoso drive from the back to the front in the KKCY Stock Car feature and Gary Holsey, also of Yuba City, could not quite get by Jamey Ollar as Ollar romped to another feature win in the KKCY Mini Stock feature. All of this was capped by an outrageous figure 8 task for the Extreme Bombers at Paul and Kathy Hawes Marysville Raceway Park Saturday. The KKCY Stock Cars started the features and arch rivals Jerry Bartlett and Jeff Olschowka shared the front row. As expected they roared away from the field at the green. But, mid-field strife broke out in turn 1 as both Heather Bartlett and fellow point contender Phillip Shelby were caught up in a mess. Heather Bartlett kept going, but Shelby was hammered by rookie Wes Shermantine and was relegated to the rear for the restart. Olschowka got the jump on Jerry Bartlett at the new green and with Chris Warner in tow. The smart money was on the top two, but Warner won the last time he appeared at MRP. Heather Bartlett settled into an easy 4th. Ray Benkowski began to reel her in as Phillip Shelby made a frantic march to the front from last. Jerry Bartlett and Olschowka motored away from the field, Shelby arrived in 6th almost immediately as he sliced his way to the front. He was into the Benkowski-Heather Bartlett struggle as the race approached ½ way. Shelby got by Benkowski and started to look for 4th position. Then, a most amazing series of events changed the entire complexion of the event. Olschowka appeared to lose it as he and Jerry Bartlett diced in very close proximity to one another in turn 1. Olschowka collected Bartlett AND 3rd running Warner. All three cars came to a stop and 4th running Heather Bartlett got a big gift and was the new leader. The new green put Shelby behind Heather Bartlett and the race was on! Shelby hounded Bartlett relentlessly as Jerry Bartlett and Warner rocketed back through the field. Benkowski stayed perilously close in 3rd. As the two leaders came to the white flag, Shelby made his move as he crept inside the pink 99 of Heather Bartlett. Under Robin Davies’ white flag, Shelby had a nose on Bartlett. He extended his lead as the pair reached the backstretch and motored home with Bartlett and Benkowski in his wake. It was one to remember. In the later laps Jerry Bartlett was on the move as he came in with a fine 4th after his turn 1 troubles. Jerry Bartlett and Olschowka won the heats and Jerry Bartlett grabbed the $100 in the Dash for Cash. The KKCY Mini Stock feature was a whole other matter. Plagued by early race multi car pileups and uncooperative back markers who would not get into proper position, the race was sadly flagged to an early end. Too bad really, as the race up front was a real nail biter as Jamey Ollar and Yuba City’s Gary Holsey had a great race for the lead in the laps that were run under green. Last week’s winner Robert Luster was in the mix as well. A resurgent Damian Merritt dueled contender Blane Baker for the 4th spot. Merritt’s runs to the front have been impressive of late, and his dice with Baker and 2006 Champion Joel Giusti was one of the highlights of the event. Orland Mini-Truck competitor Kevin Brown made his 1st run at MRP a memorable one as he stayed in the lead swarm for much of the first part of the race joining Merritt and Baker in the tussle for 4th. Brown biked his truck on 2 occasions, and fell to 7th in the final standings. The Orland based Mini Trucks ran a heat of their own as 7 entrants made the tow. Giving them an opportunity to try out the MRP ¼ mile racing with their own was a good idea as their heat race went flag to flag without a hitch. Ollar prevailed as the feature event winner at the yellow/checkered with Holsey, Luster and Merritt ahead of Baker. The Wingless Warriors were next up and, like the Stock Car race earlier, it was impossible to predict a winner…and, like the Stock Car race the winner came from last after being turned around in the 1st turn. Yuba City’s Mark Hill and pole sitter Tim Barnes roared into turn 1 side by side. As they exited turn two Sacramento’s John Anderson was sideways and stopped in turn 1 after three cars ahead checked up causing Anderson to throw it sideways and stop. The new green had Barnes bolt into the lead with both Tim Sherman Jr. and Pat Russum getting into 2nd and 3rd respectively. The race was a good one as Sherman and Barnes had a sweet race going for the top spot. Russum seemed content with 3rd in the early going. Hill stayed 4th. Quick time qualifier, Josh Tucker of Willows passed into the top 5 behind Hill. Then Hill and Tucker got Russum with a slick inside move and on lap 7 of 20. Moments later Russum lost it in turn 1 and stopped. As in last week’s barn-burner event (in which he finished 2nd from 9th), Anderson was slowly picking his way back to the front as the leaders fought for the top spots. This Yellow flag suited Anderson just fine. He was 6th at the restart. Barnes led at the new green with Sherman, Hill and Tucker breathing down his neck. As the pack approached turn 3, Barnes slid sideways to a halt. Hill plowed into him then Tucker hammered them a ton as Sherman escaped unscathed and into the lead. Tucker and Barnes were finished and Hill went to the back to continue his point battle with Russum. Anderson picked up three valuable positions in the exchange and would restart 2nd just behind Sherman. Birthday boy Sherman was having his ride of the year sailing along in the lead. Sherman found the high side and continued keeping Anderson at bay. In a heart beat, however, Sherman’s night ended as smoke poured from the #1jr. Engine problems had cancelled his race leading run. The groan from the grandstand was considerable as many of the onlookers were rooting for Jr’s 1st win on his birthday. The race continued and Anderson easily outdistanced the field thereafter. But, Russum and Hill were on a mission and cut and slashed their way to 2nd and 3rd respectively. Scott Herbert was having his best run ever when he had problems on the front chute and slid to a stop in front of heavy traffic. The 3rd car through the mess was Yuba City’s Tim Burcher and he slammed into Herbert’s stalled machine. Burcher’s car flipped coming to rest upside down at the entry to turn 1. Burcher was unhurt and the race resumed with Anderson in the lead. With 7 to go Russum and Hill had made it back to the front and were right behind Anderson. The final laps were green all the way and try as they might, Russum and Hill could not get by the crafty veteran. Russum nosed up along side on the 18th circuit, but could not make the pass. Pat Couch finished 4th and Herbert finished his best ever 5th after restarting after Burcher’s flip. The EXTREME BOMBER FIGURE 8 finale was, as you would expect, a slam-bang, crash ‘em up affair that was ultimately won by Mini Stock point leader Lisa Shelby. Her passenger (I’m told) was sprint car star Brandon Dozier. He had the brake pedal. We know he doesn’t use it very much…so that tandem crashed and whirled around the figure 8 course with significant speed. They won by more than 2 laps if we’re counting right. A great time was had by all. Judging from the crowd reaction, the figure 8 task is becoming wildly popular with the fans. Hardened sprint car fans are sticking around to see the Extreme Bombers. The Extreme Bombers will once again be given the figure 8 task on Saturday night August 25th. An all open wheel extravaganza will highlight next Saturday Night’s Taco Bell Night at MRP. The mighty alcohol burning Winged Sprint Cars and the Wingless Sprint Car Series will be back for complete programs of their heart-stopping wheel-to-wheel action. The Nor Cal Dwarf Cars and the SORA Sprint 100s will complete the show. Pit gates always open at 3PM. 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. Put www.marysvilleracewaypark on your “favorites” button on you computer. Watch this site for press releases, updates and complete results. 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. |
