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| California Lightning Sprints Press Release |
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Keith Janca Wins
The Jim Smith Racing Turkey Day Classic At Bakersfield Speedway! |
| Bakersfield, CA - November 30, 2002 - Keith Janca led the field of
Lightning Sprints representing several Western United States to the
checkered flag at the year's most prestigous Lightning Sprint event
of the year - The Turkey Day Classic presented by Jim Smith Racing.
Heat 1 went to Donny Van Dyke from the 3rd row ahead of Brent Sexton and Gary Sexton. Heat 2 was won by Wink Schweitzer from the outside front row ahead of Ryan Silva and Doug Hunting. Greg Bragg was unable to make the transfer and settled for a rare B Main appearance. The 3rd Heat was won by Brady Swertfeger of Clinton Utah from the pole ahead of Shannon Adams & Gary Carlton. Scott Kenney won the 4th Heat Race from the 2nd row ahead of Darren Hagen and Paul Townsend. Keith Janca won the final Heat Race from the 6th starting spot ahead of Jesse Dean and Karl Benefeil. Greg Bragg, Mike Barnette and Adam Tjemeland ran away from the B Main field to finish 1-2-3 respectively. Sam Corso & Lonnie Lopez took the final transfer spots to the A Main grid. Brent Sexton's hopes for another T Day podium finish vanished as his car would not start for the A Main. When the green flag waved Keith Janca won the front row drag race against Donny Van Dyke to lead the field into the first turn. Van Dyke retired with mechanical problems on the first lap while Janca quickly opened up a lead on the field. Darren Hagen and Doug Hunting ran 2nd & 3rd. Ryan Silva put on a show moving into 4th from his 10th place starting position by the 2nd lap. Gary Sexton rounded out the top 5. Once in lapped traffic Hagen was able to close the gap on Janca & begin to challenge for the lead. Contact between the two front runners sent Janca into the front straight wall while Hagen took the top spot. Janca continued & hung on to 2nd place. Gary Sexton moved up a spot passing Silva on lap 20 for fourth. Caution flew on lap 22 as several cars came together on the back straight. Upon the re-start lineup Hagen was penalized 2 places for rough driving. Once racing resumed Janca again opened up a large lead on the field. Greg Bragg worked his way up to the 5th spot after starting 16th by lap 25. The race continued on passed the 30th lap as the flag man's head phones malfunctioned. 30 laps or 38 either way... Keith Janca lead 'em to the finish of both to earn the 2002 Turkey Day Classic Victory! Results: Keith Janca, Doug Hunting, Darren Hagen, Gary Sexton, Greg Bragg, Wink Schweitzer, Ryan Silva, Brady Swertfeger, Gary Carlton, Paul Townsend, Mike Barnette, Shannon Adams, Sam Corso, Karl Benefeil, Jesse Dean, Tyler Franklin, Scott Kenney, Lonnie Lopez, Adam Tjemeland, Donny Van Dyke |
