FERNLEY (July 26) – Round 9 of Fernley 95A Speedway’s season was staged on a mild summer evening. Although the car count could have been better those competing gave the fans a show of hard and sometimes close racing.
During the final laps of the IMCA feature Shawn Natenstedt (1) chased winner Cory Sample (99)
Cory Sample (00), on his way to the front, dives inside of Josh Ogg (68J).
Rick Miller (88) had to work for the hobby stock victory as Carl Barlow (27N) hounded him for the final laps of the race.
Rick Miller (88) was on pole for the start of the hobby stock main. Jake Baker (11B) on the outside followed by Chris Christiano (4U) and Carl Barlow (27N).
Only four Pro Stocks were on hand with Antonio Aragon (7Z) on pole flanked by B.J. Pearson celebrating his 76th birthday. They were followed by Rob Grace (42) and David Rauscher (95).
Justin McIlvain celebrates winning the SSR main.
Eventual Pure Stock winner Mark Serchio Jr. (11) sweeps past early leader Anthony Adams (12) as they lap Rich Innis.
Mark Serchio Jr. takes his lap of honor after winning the Pure Stock main.
Early in the SSR main Stephen Crook (25) had his hands full fending off a determined Jesse James (53).
At the end of the night one driver scored the first victory in his new car while another chalked up another victory in a year marked by success.
“It wasn’t too bad, pretty clean and a lot of side-by-side racing,” Cory Sample said after winning the IMCA feature. “After I got by Josh (Ogg) it was clean sailing from there.”
During the parade laps to work the water in, officials discovered a previous race threw rocks onto the exit of turn 2. So the start was slightly delayed to get remove those from the racing surface.
When the green waved Mark Skender took off in the lead but soon surrendered it to a charging Keith Walsh. Back in the the faster cars began to work their way to the front while, up front, Walter Ball took over third.
Around the 10th lap Ball apparently had contact with another car and spun dropping him from contention. When racing resumed Walsh took off with Josh Ogg in second while Sample got past Royce Goetz to take over third.
Two laps later Sample grabbed the lead as he dove into Turn 3. Now Ogg was after Walsh and second place while behind them Shawn Natenstedt was making his way toward the front.
Six laps later Natenstedt took over second but by then Sample had a two-corner lead that disappeared when a caution came out after Missy Natenstedt slid her car onto the infield at Turn 3.
Now Sample had Shawn Natenstedt as well as Robert Miller and Ogg to contend with as racing resumed. After leading, his advantage again vanished due to a pair of cautions.
The second one ended Missy Natenstedt’s night as she got caught in a tangle that damaged the front end of her car. Walsh was just able to stop in time to avoid being collected.
Now there were only four laps left and it was a two-car battle for the victory but in the end Sample prevailed with Shawn Natenstedt not far behind in second followed by Ogg and Miller.
During the awards ceremony Natenstedt said, “I could stay with him but didn’t have enough to get around.”
Sample later added that out of the 34 races he’s competed in at various tracks this victory was his18th of the year.
The pro stock main was all Anthony Aragon as his main competition fell out of contention early.
During the first laps B.J. Pearson, who usually has Malen Gonzalez driving for him, got a flat tire and had to pit. As it was his 76th birthday he had hoped for a better finish.
Later Rob Grace, who usually contests for the win also fell victim to a flat tire and had to pit for a new one. After that the race was Aragon’s.
During the victory ceremony he said, “The car was hooked up and I’ve got to thank my dad, Chuy Vasques. We finally got it going as it’s been a difficult learning experience.”
Despite only having four cars in the field the Hobby Stock race was a close one. On the green Rick Miller took off with Jake Baker in hot pursuit.
After a few laps Miller was on his own as Baker had his hands full fending off Carl Barlow. Eventually Barlow took second and drew a bead on Miller.
During the final laps Miller and Barlow had a nose-to-tail duel to see which one of them would win. In the end Miller was able to hang on and take a narrow victory.
“It’s my first main event in this new car,” Miller said later. “I didn’t know Carl was there until the last lap when he bumped me. And I need to thank sponsors Shuman’s Custom Cycles, Davidson’s Distillery and Miller’s Chop Shop.”
When the Super Stock 4 main began Stephen Crook took off and it appeared the race might be his. However Jesse James made a race out of it and at one time briefly held the lead before fading.
Behind the leaders Justin McIlvain powered his way past slower cars then put the leader in his sights.
Then Lady Luck dealt her hand.
Just before taking the while flag Crook’s car began to smoke and the motor gave out as he headed through the final corner. McIlvain seized the gift and stormed past to take the lead with James also getting past for second while Crook ended up third.
The show ran pretty fast so the officials had the Pure Stocks run their main just before intermission, which allows the sun to go low enough so it doesn’t blind the drivers as they head into Turn 3.
When that feature began Anthony Adams took off with Mark Serchio Jr. giving chase. Once caution slowed things when Rich Innis spun but the race quickly resumed.
Up front Adams was holding off a determined Serchio. With just a couple of laps to go Adams bobbled as they headed onto the backstretch.
This gave Serchio the opportunity he needed to finally get past Adams and grab the victory.
“I had to work hard for it that’s for sure,” Serchio said later. “The track was rough tonight. But I need to dedicate this victory to my Great Grandmother, Betty Gouveia, who passed away this week.”
Always looking for ways to entertain the fans the track not only wants the winners to take a victory lap but to do some donuts on the front straight. So after a victory lap everyone obliged much to the delight of the fans.
• Outlaw karts also run at 95A Speedway but their show begins around noon. As of July 25 all three division had some tight point races going on.
In Beginners Nathan Creiglow holds a three point lead over second place Temple Sherman while in the Box Stock, Jensen Ternora has a three point lead over Chance Singley.
The 250 class is even tighter with Trey Walters, Shansen Ternora, Jacob Dias and Graysin Ternora separated by only three points.
RESULTS
Fernley 95A Speedway – July 2
IMCA Modifieds:
Heat Winners – #1 Walter Ball, #2 Cory Sample
Main (30-Laps) – !. Cory Sample, 2. Shawn Natensedt, 3.Josh Ogg, 4. Robert Miller, 5.Travis White
Pro Stock:
Heat Winner – B.J. Pearson
Main (15-Laps) – 1. Anthony Aragon, 2. David Rauscher, 3. Rob Grace, 5. B.J. Pearson
Hobby Stocks:
Heat Winner – Carl Barlow
Main (15-Laps) – 1. Rick Miller, 2. Carl Barlow, 3.Jake Baker, 4. Chris Christiansen
Super Stock 4:
Heat Winners – #1 Justin McIlvain, #2 Kenny Martin
Main (20-Laps) – 1. Justin McIlvain, 2. Jesse James, 3. Stephen Crook, 4. Justin Busch, 5. Kenny Martin
Pure Stock:
Heat Winner – Anthony Adams
Main (15-Laps) – 1. Mark Serchio Jr., 2. Anthony Adams,
3. Rich Innis
Outlaw Kart Points as of 7-25
Beginners:
1. Nathan Creiglow, 119, 2. Temple Sherman, 116, 3. ___ White, 78, 4. Kaisen Ternora, 74, 5. Robert McBroome, 37
Box Stock:
1. Jensen Ternora, 120, 2. Chance Singley, 117, 3. Evan Rauscher, 109, 4. Blake Rauscher, 107, 5. #9 Unlisted 106, 6. Jayden Hopper, 73, 7. Ryan McGee, 35, 8. Jole Miles Jr., 34
250cc:
1. Trey Walters, 117, 2. Shansen Ternora, 116, 3. Jacob Dias, 115, 4. Graysin Ternora, 114
