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| Press Release |
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POMBO EDGES MURPHY IN SCRA THRILLER by Dan Fleischer |
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HANFORD, CA --- Davey Pombo continued his mastery of Hanford’s (CA) Kings Speedway when he edged Peter Murphy in the thrilling 30-lap SCRA 360 wingless main event Saturday 4/21. Pombo, who has won more sprint features at Kings than any other driver, dogged Murphy for 20 laps, as though they were tied together, until the pair came across a host of lapped cars. Murphy got bogged down behind Richard Harvey’s machine and Pombo pounced on the opportunity. He slipped to the inside and dove into turn three, taking the lead on lap 21. Murphy got back “on track” and then began to dog Pombo, but couldn’t catch the Kerman (CA) resident as they reached the checkers, only three car lenghts behine. Murphy took command from his front row starting position as the green was unfurled. Before two laps were completed however, Steven Williams and John Niggli made contact bringing out the first of two consecutive yellows. Niggli was able to restart, but Williams needed the hook. On the restart, Hamblin spun (yellow number two) but rejoined the group at the back of the pack. When the green reappeared, Murphy gained a slight advantage over Pombo but another yellow number three appeared only two laps later when Adam Frith-Smith looped his machine in turn one. He repeated his spin two laps later bringing out the fourth yellow. It was not the last one however, as two-time main event winner Ryan Kaplan spun on lap nine, slowing the field for the final time. Finally, the real racing started and Murphy appeared on his way to becoming the evening’s fifth driver to go wire-to-wire until Pombo spoiled the plot. Earlier in program, Steven Williams, Richard Harvey and Rusty Carlile took command from the get-go in their respective heat races and were never headed. Carlile repeated the feat in the Dash and Murphy was trying to make it five-for-five, but it was not to be. While most eyes were on the two leaders, incredible battles were taking place behind them. Carlile, Dean Alexander and Garrett Ishii ran nose-to-tail and side-by side for the entire 30 laps. Meanwhile, Jeff Gardner was mowing down cars as he moved from his 12th starting position to enter that fray. Changing positions within the laps, the four drivers had the crowd on their feet as they maneuvered through traffic. Carlile finally took the podium position ahead of Ishii and Gardner while Alexander slipped to sixth. Rookie standout Justyne Hamblin scored another impressive top-ten finish, coming home seventh after her afore-mentioned spin. She was followed by last year’s rookie king Kevin Barnes, last year’s champ Jonathan Logan, and rookie John Niggli. Barnes earned the Hard Charger Award, coming from his 16th starting spot. Jimmy Riddle was the tough-luck participant of the evening when he crashed in turn three during hot laps. His crew was unable to make repairs. By virtue of their one-two finish, Pombo and Murphy jumped to the top of the chart in the points battle (215-209), followed by previous leader Kaplan (190). Carlile remained in fourth (182) while Alexander jumped from ninth to fifth with 146. |
