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POINTS RACE #3 AT KINGS SPEEDWAY
April 5, 2008 |
This was the only appearance of BAD at Kings Speedway in 2008. Two dates were expected but there were scheduling conflicts. The turnout for BAD Points Race #3 was great - 22 cars. Thanks to all drivers and BAD members for biting the bullet to support your club. Your participation was much appreciated. Clearly, the promoter, track staff and the spectators valued your presence and enjoyed the show. This high-banked, 3/8 mile track has a well deserved reputation as 'King of the Dirt Tracks' but, on this occasion, conditions were not so good. When we arrived Saturday afternoon, the track was nearly bone dry and very little water was added during this event. The surface was hard, rutty, dusty and slick. New clay has been added but track prep was below par. This may have affected lap times which were not as good as last year. For example - best time, A Main 2007 = 19.183 sec, Dave Mosier; best time, A main 2008 = 20.413 sec, Gilbert Toste. HEAT RACES Winners of the three heat races were, Ryan AMELN (HEAT 1), Duane DANIEL (HEAT 2) and Dave MOSIER (HEAT 3). In Heat 1, Ryan Diatte started on the pole and pulled out for a quick eight car-length lead; then, slowed and dropped out (broken shifter bell crank). Also, early in the race, Joel Osias and Doug Penny had a hard crash in turn 4 and both were out. Joel had front end damage but was able to make repairs before the feature. Doug had a hand or forearm injury and sat out the feature with his arm in a makeshift splint. From lap 2, Mark Tillinger was leading with Ryan Ameln in hot pursuit. In a drag race to the line, Ryan took the win. Rookie, Mark Biscardi, came from a 6th place start for a 3rd place finish, off the pace by less than a second - impressive. Mike Weaver and John White Jr were a distant 4th and 5th. Best time = 20.842 sec, Mark Biscardi In Heat 2, Duane broke through the front row starters to take the lead on lap 1; had a huge lead by mid-race and a 3 second margin over Punky Pires at the finish. After two races with problems, Punky made an engine change and appears to be coming back to form. Robert Mesloh, running well but still more polite than ferocious, started and finished 3rd. Polesitter, Chris Weaver, dropped back and finished 4th. Rookie, Leo Anshutz, almost 11 seconds off the pace, finished 5th. Best time = 20.666 sec, Duane Daniel In Heat 3, there were several incidents in the first couple of laps that scrambled the order. Jose Guevara wedged Gilbert Toste in turn 1 and Bill Martinez collected Camron Diatte on the backstretch. Dave, starting at the rear, was running 2nd after the lap 2 restart and continued for the win. Gilbert, 4th on the restart, was 2nd at the finish. John Wear, 2nd until the pass on lap 7, finished 3rd. The lead three cars were no more than a car-length apart for much of the race. Camron, 3rd on the start, came from 6th on the lap 2 restart to finish 4th; off the pace by 4 1/2 seconds with his damaged car (broken frame). Danny Zuger, starting on the pole, was 4th at mid-race but finished a distant 5th. Best time = 20.419 sec, Dave Mosier There was no trophy dash. A MAIN This 20 lap race had a full measure of chaos. With 7 cautions and slow lineups, it lasted over half an hour. The race history on mylaps is useless because the TX system malfunctioned. Gilbert TOSTE started 6th and ran 2nd from lap 3 until lap 8 when he passed Dave Mosier for the lead; stretched his lead and won by a full straightaway. Dave started outside row 1 and, after the pass, was losing ground to Gilbert when he was collected by a spinning rookie on lap 14; restarted at the rear and worked his way back to 8th by the fnish. Duane Daniel was running tight with Dave and Gilbert in the early laps; unfortunately, hooked Dave's bumper, went hard to the wall and left the race. Ryan Ameln held 3rd much of the race; moved into 2nd when Dave went back but could not close on Gilbert. John Wear was 9th in the lineup, 5th on the lap 3 restart, 3rd when Dave went back and 3rd at the finish. Ryan and John were less than a tenth of a second apart across the line. Ryan Diatte started 16th (DNF in his heat); was up to 6th by lap 8 and 4th at the finish. Robert Mesloh started 8th and finished 5th. Rounding out the top ten finishers were, Punky Pires, Mark Tillinger, Dave Mosier, Camron Diatte and Mark Biscardi. Best time = 20.413 sec, Gilbert Toste CONGRATULATIONS TO GILBERT TOSTE, HEAT WINNERS AND TOP FINISHERS. THANKS TO ALL DRIVERS WHO MADE THE SHOW. After the races, a wonderful feast was provided by Joe Brechel. Gene Pires Sr did the cooking and many others pitched in to help. Everybody enjoyed the food and post-race socializing. I hope you will all want to do this again. |