FALLON (Sept. 19) — This weekend marked the end of a long year for those that compete at Rattlesnake Raceway. It was the final points race of the season when a driver’s efforts can win a class championship, a better points position or go for naught.
Eric Taylor (21E) holds off his father Tony Taylor (11X) as they stage the race of the night. At the checkered young Taylor just edged his father for the Hobby Stock victory
Scott Tenney, after finishing third in the Hobby Stock feature celebrates winning the class championship by taking a victory lap.
Shawn Natenstedt just ran away with the IMCA A Mod feature.
Robert Mull celebrates after winning the IMCA A Mod championship and the track title for 2014.
Zach Cail (6) and Christ Neal spent more of the Sport Mod feature about this close. In the final turn Neal spun his car while Cail claimed another class championship.
After winning the Sport Mod championship and feature race, Zach Cail celebrates by standing onto top of his car and saluting the fans.
Bryan Kaster takes a victory lap after winning the Gen-X feature.
After clinching the Gen-X championship Christy Rasmussen celebrates by taking a lap of honor around the track.
It was all on the line the Friday night and everyone wanted to bring their A game to the show.
While the IMCA A Mods are usually the stars of the show they were upstaged by the more humble Hobby Stocks. In fact that division staged the race of the night during their main event as a father-son duo battled for the win.
After the dust had settled winner Eric Taylor, who just managed to hold off his father said, ““I knew the general area where he was. And he did bump me once. But tonight the track was amazing.”
Then he thanked his parents.
Right beside him was his father who, when asked about Eric not showing respect for his elders said, “No he did not. But he did an excellent job as I couldn’t do anything since he was in the line I needed to be in and both of us can’t be in the same spot. I’m very, very proud and he learned it all himself.”
Then, with some fatherly pride, he thanked his son.
Brooke Donahue was on point when the Hobby Stock feature began and after leading the charge began to put some distance between herself and the pack
The first caution came out after the car driven by Richard Italiano lost a wheel at the end of the front straight. Tami Buehn’s car was launched into the air after she was unable to avoid the wheel.
Her car landed on Italiano’s but was able to continue while he had to be towed back to the pits.
When racing resumed Donahue took off while behind her there was a fair amount of pushing, shoving and some contact as the faster cars moved through a knot of slower cars.
Eventually the Taylors took over first and second while points leader Scott Tenney made his way into third. Then the chase was on.
Lap after lap the Taylors ran nose-to-tail or almost side-by-side while Tenney kept trying to find a way past them. And at the checkered they finished in that order.
“I got through the knot but it was a little bumpy out there,” Tenney said later. “I tried to make a run to the lead but just couldn’t get it on the outside. And this is my first championship and it means a lot to me.
Then he thanked his girl friend Candice and, with some emotion, thanked his father Don for being there as he had only been to the first race of the season.
While racing for points sometimes it’s best to win the war if you can’t win the battle. And the Gen-X feature was a good example of that.
When that feature began Dave Raber initially held the point for the first few laps. It took Bryan Kaster just a little while to clear the pack and zoom into the lead leaving everyone in his dust.
Further back points leader Christy Rasmussen was driving a careful race as she wanted to finish and claim the class title. At the end fourth place was good enough for her to clinch the championship.
After the race Kastner said, “I was on a Sunday drive and got bored. It’s a fast car it’s just I was hoping for some fasters cars would have been her to make it an actual race. But I had a tire that went flat just at the end.”
Then he thanked his wife Yolanda, Chris Jiminez and sponsor Just In Time Heating and Air.
For Rasmussen the evening couldn’t have been better as she now joins the list of class champions at the track.
“This is awesome, I’m so happy, I’m excited and it felt great,” she said. “The track was really muddy as they’d just watered it as we went on there so I was sliding a little bit. And I didn’t want to run into the wall like I did last year.”
Then she thanked her husband Shane, their kids as well as sponsors Roll Apart Buildings, Easy Auto and the Fallon All Stars Cheer Leading team.
Some times less can be more and the Sport Mods were an example of that as only two of them were on at the track. When their feature began Chris Neal took off and it took points leader Zach Cail a lap or two to catch him.
After the it was a nose-to-tail duel for the lead as both cars tore around this bullring. Then in the final corner Neal spun handing the victory to Cail, who sealed this year’s championship.
“That was a really good race as we were neck and neck almost the whole race and coming to the checkered flag lap, right on Turn 4 he spun out,” Cail said. “Still it was a really hard race and one of the best this year.
Then later in the eveing both Cail and Neal drove their Sport Mods in the IMCA A Mod feature. Even though he wasn’t scored, during that event Cail drove his way to a third place finish.
Asked about that run he said, “Eighth to third in the modified race. A pretty good run and probably the most fun I’ve had in that car but a lot of work.”
Right now Cail and his parents are considering their options for next year. Since they might not be able to afford moving up to the IMCA division Cail said they might compete in races at the California tracks.
Then the thanked his parents as well as sponsors, Buehn Air Racing, CFM Fabrication, Shelton’s Pest Management and the Wheel House.
When the IMCA A Mod feature began class points leader Robert Mull was on the point as the field roared into Turn 1.
A few laps later the race came to an abrupt halt after one car came to a halt at the exit of Turn 4 and had a small fire under it. The emergency crew put a quick end to that and the hapless car was towed to the pits.
When the green waved again Shawn Natenstedt grabbed the lead and sailed away from the pack. Back in the pack Dave Sciarroni moved through traffic and ended up second.
Mull had some problems but managed to finish third and clinch that class championship.
Back in the pits Natenstedt said, “The car was probably by far the best I’ve had all year. The track was freaking super fast and I just wish there were more cars. I was glad to see Sciarroni pick up second as it’s nice to see him do good.”
For Mull it marked the end of a long season and he said, “It’s been tough, lost a motor early on and we threw what we got together, came out and just survived all year. Tonight was a little rough as we made some changes on the car, tried to play with it and it wasn’t right. The title means a lot and we’re trying to decide if we’re going to try and back-to-back it next year or just going to let the kids race some.”
Then he thanked the entire Gonzalez family, sponsors Town and Country Dog Grooming and Hassy Chassis Modifieds.
Next up for the track is the annual Dirt Track Championships and both Saturday as well as Sunday have an alter schedule.
On Saturday the Outlaw Karts begin their program at 3 p.m. while the actual racing program begins at 5 p.m. then on Sunday the karts start at 11 a.m. with a 3 p.m. start to the cars.
• Rattlesnake Raceway — Sept. 19
IMCA:
Heat Winner — Fred White
Main — 1. Shawn Natenstedt, 2. Dave Sciarroni, 3. Robert Mull, 4. Steve McKellip, 5. J.D. Jurad
Sport Mods:
Heat Winner — Zach Cail
Main —1. Zach Cail, 2. Chris Neal
Hobby Stock:
Heat Winners — #1 Rob Carey, #2 Richard Italiano, #3 Scott Tenney
Main — 1. Eric Taylor, 2. Tony Taylor, 3. Scott Tenney, 4. Alex Pettit, 5. Jason Irwin
Gen-X:
Heat Winner — Bryan Kaster
Main — 1. Bryan Kaster, 2. Dave Raber, 3. Rian Greenwell, 4. Christy Rasmussen, 5. Jeremy Christen
