QUINCY, CALIF. (June 2) – American Valley Speedway hosted the Nevada Pro Stock Association as well as the track’s regular classes this weekend. It was a long night of hard and sometimes wild racing.
Bill Pearson driving his uncle B.J. Nuclear Banana car wins the Pro Stock main.
After the Pro Stock main ended winner Bill Pearson said, “I just had to slow myself down, seemed like slower was faster tonight. I want to thank my uncle B.J. for letting me run this car as it’s a really good car, Pearson Realty, my son, my wife and everybody that helps us out. This has been fun, I know with Jeff, Jay and Travis it’s a battle.”
When the Pro Stock main began 16 cars took the green flag and Pearson, in the Nuclear Banana car, was on point but due to a spin the field had to restart. When the green waved again Jeff Olschowka grabbed the lead with Pearson a close second.
Three laps into the 30-lap main is when the wheels came off when several cars were involved in tangles including Darrick Rauscher, who wound up nose first into the wall at the exit of Turn 4. That ended his night and he wasn’t pleased.
At that same time over in Turn 3 four cars tangled and Shawn Natenstedt’s got the worst of that so his night was also ended. In fact the carnage around the track claimed five cars.
All racing had to be halted for a long clean up. By then it was late but the decision was made to run the full race so the cars formed up and the green waved again.
Up front Pearson was on point but being chased by the duo of Olschowka and Jay Sears.
Two more cautions slowed things down and eliminated two more cars so the field was cut down to eight but all would finish. After one more quick caution for a spin the restarts were going to be single file. That seemed to do the trick and off they went.
Up front Pearson had an advantage exiting the corners but the duo of Olschowka and Sears would catch him going on the entry. Behind them Travis White was starting to gain on the lead trio.
The duel for second between Jeff Olschowka (2) and Jay Sears during the Pro Stock main was the race of the night.
The race of the night was between Olschowka and Sears as they were either door-to-door or nose-to-tail. Usually there was no more than a foot or two between them.
Lap after lap the duel for second was hot and heavy and that allowed Pearson to extend his advantage and claim the victory. Behind him Olschowka ended up second with Sears a very close third while White finished fourth.
Asked about any contact Olschowka said, “you mean side-by-side like that, it was racing.”
The Sears replied, “Like Jeff said, it reminds me of the good old days back at Hawthorne when I was 16 years old duking it out. Was probably one of the funnest races I’ve had in a couple of years to run door-to-door with some body and be nice and clean, its fun.”
Then he thanked his crew guys, Joey, Joe, Jason, Louie as well as car owner Travis Petersen.
After the Pro Stock main NPSA president Travis Petersen has handed Bill Pearson and his son the winner’s money.
Now the Pro Stock teams will repair any damage and get ready for their next race, which is on June 23rd in Cedarville, California.
Eight Mini Stocks were on hand but the night belonged to Katelyn Robertson. After winning the heat race she was able to hold off a challenge from runner-up Cody Froggatt while Connor McMillian ended up third.
Katelyn Robertson was the Mini Stock winner.
There were nine Hobby Stocks on hand including Rick Miller, who towed in from Reno. But the longest tow was by Bob Vaden as he came all the way from Hawthorne, Nevada.
When the green waved James Huffman took off but was soon passed by Miller while Brian Compton was slicing his way toward the front.
For a time it appeared the Miller just might win but a spin erased any advantage. On the restart Miller was first challenged then passed by Compton, who took the lead.
A lap or two later one car spun and two others spun to avoid tangling with him in Turn 2. With five to go Compton will Miller giving chase and Lance Bain holding down third; they finished in that order.
Brian Compton wins the Hobby Stock main.
It took two starts to get the Sport Mod main rolling but when it did Tom Froggatt was on point until Craig Nieman took over. Two cautions due to spins slowed things down but on the restart Tyler Rogers briefly took the lead until Nieman got it back.
They’d swap the lead a couple of times until the next caution.
But in the end Nieman won with Rogers second ahead of third place Brittney Nieman.
Craig Nieman wins the Sport Mod main.
The IMCA Modified main also needed a pair of starts after the initial leader spun. When the field finally got going Joe Wood used an outside pass to grab the lead.
The first caution came after James Riggs was slowed by a flat tire and had to pit. Once the field got rolling again Gene Kay charged into the lead as the field exited the second corner.
Soon he was in a nose-to-tail or side-by-side duel with Jeff Olschowka. Oddly enough both were in similar team cars.
With only a few to go there was another caution but when the green waved again Kay was on point with Olschowka challenging him.
In the end Kay won the race followed by Olschowka and Chase Nieman with Erica Buhr ending up fourth.
During the IMSA main Gene Kay (121k) and Jeff Olschowka had a long duel for the victory.
Next race at American Valley will be Jun 9th and this time the Nevada Dwarf Cars will be joining the regular classes.
REPORTER’S NOTE: There is a photo gallery after the results.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
- This weekend Winnemucca Regional Speedway was able to run the High Desert Shootout that was canceled earlier due to rain.
Saturday’s winners were Joe Fock (Dwarf Car), Shayna Nieman (Hobby Stock), Bob Gardner (Mini Stock) and Robert Miller (IMCA Modifieds.).
Sunday’s winners were Michael Quillici (Dwarf Car), Jake Aker (Hobby Stock), Cole Jones (Mini Stock) and Cory Sample (IMCA Modfieds).
• Two of NASCAR’s top divisions were at Pocono Raceway this weekend.
Kyle Busch won Saturday’s Xfinity race then on Sunday, in the NASCAR Cup race he ended up 5th while old brother Kurt finished 19.
• This reporter will be on Teresa’s Garage Radio show Tuesday. The show is from 2 until 3 p.m. and my preview segment is at 2:15 p.m.
Teresa’s Garage Radio Show graphic.
The show covers all things automotive; from mechanical, types of cars to racing, hope everyone will listen in.
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RESULTS:
+ Nevada Pro Stock Association:
+ Heat Winners: #1 Darrick Rauscher, #2 Jeff Olschowka, #3 Travis White.
+ Main (30-Laps): 1. Bill Pearson, 2. Jeff Olschowka, 3. Jay Sears, 4. Travis White, 5. Phil Marino, 6. Donny Richardson, 7. Mike McMordie, 8. Brent Lawrence, 9. Tommy Sampson, 10. Tyler Jones, 11. Scott Rogers, 12. Jesus Aragon, 13. Darrick Rauscher, 14. Alan Pace, 15. Shawn Natenstedt, 16. Dale Tatmun.
DNS: Blane Hill.
+ IMCA Modifieds:
+ Heat Winners: #1 Gene Kay, #2 Ericas Buhr.
+ Main (20-Laps): 1. Gene Kay, 2. Jeff Olschowka, 3. Chase Nieman, 4. Erica Buhr, 5. Shawn Natenstedt, 6. Larry McCaracken, 7. Unlisted, 8. Jim Smith, 9. Joe Blackwell, 10. James Riggs, 11. Joe Wood, 12. Chris Nieman.
+ Sport Mods:
+ Heat Winner: Craig Nieman.
+ Main (16-Laps): 1. Craig Nieman, 2. Tyler Rogers, 3. Brittney Nieman, 4. Tom Froggatt, 5. Tyler Eckels, 6. David Woods.
+ Hobby Stocks:
+ Heat Winner: Jim Erie.
+ Main (15-Laps): 1. Brian Compton, 2. Rick Miller, 3. Richard Longacre, 4. Lance Bain, 5. Bob Vaden, 6. James Huffman, 7. Jim Erle, 8. Ian Upton, 9. Seaton Montgomery.
+ Mini Stocks:
+ Heat Winner: Katelyn Robertson.
+ Main (16-Laps): 1. Katelyn Robertson, 2. Cody Froggatt, 3. Connor McMillian, 4.Tyler Cheek, 5. Fred Kresge, 6.Billy Gibson, 7. Unlisted, 8. Colton Lawson.
PHOTO GALLERY:
