FERNLEY (SEPT. 20) With only two races left in its points season things are heating up at the Fernley 95A Speedway. It’s go time for any driver that wants to win a championship or improve their points position.
Corey Sample (00) is about to go around Robert Miller (202) and take the lead in the IMCA feature.
After winning the IMCA main event, Cory Sample takes a victory lap around Fernley 95A Speedway.
Jay Sears is about to make the winning pass on Malen Gonzalez as they duel for the Pro Stock lead.
Jay Sears takes a victory lap after winning the Pro Stock feature.
Rick Miller (88) uses the inside line to take the Hobby Stock lead from Carl Barlow.
Rick Miller takes the checkered flag as he wins the Hobby Stock main event.
Aaron McIlvain, driving his brother’s car, takes a victory lap after winning the Super Stock 4 feature race.
Rich Innis was the Pure Stock winner and afterwards took a victory lap.
Many times in racing patience plays an important part as does the knowledge of when to go, when to just kind of hang back and how a dirt track can change during a 30-lap race.
When the green waved Don Childs was first on point with Robert Miller giving chase. Eventually Miller would take the point but behind him both Cory Sample and points leader Josh Ogg were on the move.
Three laps into the event there was a short caution for a spin in Turn 2. Once racing resumed the quartet of Chids, Miller, Sample and Ogg took off and left the pack in their dust.
Two more cautions slowed the pace and bunched the cars so when things got rolling again Miller took the point with Ogg behind him.
Shortly after that Sample caught Miller and the chase was on.
Finally Sample found the high line had come in and he used it to edge his way around the determined Miller. Behind them Off was holding a solid third followed by Travis White and Childs, who slipped back to fifth.
Once in the lead Ogg began to gap everyone as he roared away to claim another victory.
“The track was actually kind of weird for a while as it felt like it was going to be one lane. Most of the guys were just sliding around, they’d drive in the middle, slide up to the top so it actually rubbered the top. Once it came in I was right there and we were on top of it,” Sample said later.
When the race ended Sample topped the IMCA points so now he and Ogg will duel to determine the track championship, which is still to be decided. Currently, considering the throw aways, Ogg holds the advantage in points.
Sample also thanked his father and Allan Laudenslager for their support and help.
When the Hobby Stock main began Michael Bartlett was on point with Carl Barlow and Jake Baker giving chase. Soon Barlow took the lead while Sun Valley driver Rick Miller moved into third.
Miller’s charge carried him all the way to second where he and Barlow dueled for several laps. Finally Miller used an inside move to make the winning pass as he took the lead.
In the end Miller and Barlow ended up first and second followed by Tom Haxall, Baker and Shane Cazel.
“That was good, from the back to the front. Me and Carl were going at it a little but the track was beautiful and smooth,” Miller said.
Then he thanked his brothers as well as sponsors Shuman’s Custom Cycles, Shumway Mobile Home Services and Drive Line Service in Carson City.
Car counts in the Pro Stock ranks has been pretty thin this season but on this night there was one of the biggest fields. And once driver, veteran Gary Nevers, was welcomed back to competition after being sidelined for two years due to medical issues.
On the green Malen Gonzalez was first on point but Jay Sears, in the car usually driven by Travis Peterson, was right behind him. They ran one and two until Paul Stephens hit the wall exiting Turn 4 and caused the race to be halted.
Stephens was uninjured but the same can’t be said for his car.
When racing resumed there was a short-lived duel before Sears took the lead and roared away to victory. Gonzalez ended up second head of Rob Grace and David Rauscher while Nevers was fifth.
While the victory may have appeared easy for Sears it wasn’t.
“You know we ran all night without power steering, which was pretty tough and I’m pretty tired right now,” Sears said. “Thank God the top came in and it rubbered up so we didn’t have to turn as much. Me and Malen had a great battle, put on a show and it was awesome.”
Then he gave special thanks to car owner, and regular driver, Travis Peterson for putting him in the seat and back on the track.
Two other classes, Super Stock 4 and Pure Stock also have faced weak car counts. The solution was to combine both classes and race them together.
When the green waved first Aaron McIlvain, racing his brother’s car, then Jesse James took his turn at leading. As McIlvain fell back Kenny Martin moved into second.
Toward the back both Pure Stock drivers were having their own race until the hood on Tyler Cheek’s car flew up and he had to pit. That incident caused a very shot caution and Cheek was able to return to the fray.
Up front however James slowed for an unknown mechanical problem that dropped him from contention. And that handed the lead back to McIlvain.
In the end McIlvain scored the victory followed by Martin and Steve Crook Sr., who bested his fourth placed son Dennis. In the Pure Stock Class Rich Innis was the winner.
“That was awesome, feels good to be back on the track and racing again. I got out front, just held my line and went on to win,” McIlvain said. “It was hard getting around Jesse as he’s fast and a good competitor. And I want to thank my brother Justin for giving me the car.”
Later Innis, the Pure Stock winner, said, “It was a lot of fun, the car counts are low so we all came together as a group, decided to put both classes together, and put a show on for the fans and that’s what we’re doing now. And it’s my second main event win this year.”
Then he thanked IBEW Local 401, Affordable Electrical Services, his boss as well as Kenny and Susie Schmitt.
The points season ends on October 4th, starting at 6 p.m., with all the car classes running. Outlaw Karts are not schedule for that date.
RESULTS
Fernley 95A Speedway – Sept. 20
IMCA Modifieds:
Heat Winners – #1 Don Childs, #2 Robert Miller
Main (30-Laps) – 1. Cory Sample, 2. Robert Miller, 3. Josh Ogg, 4. Travis White, 5. Don Childs, 6. Missy Natenstedt, 7. Mark Skender, 8. Jim Klopp, 9. Royce Goetz, 10. Keith Walsh, 11. Dave Sciaronni, 12 Byron Hutchinson, 13.Walter Ball
Pro Stocks:
Heat Winners – #1 Rob Grace, #2 Jay Sears
Main (20-Laps) – 1. Jay Sears, 2. Malen Gonzalez, 3. Rob Grace, 4. David Rauscher, 5. Gary Nevers, 6. Paul Stephens, 7. Jerry Bartlett, 8. Antonio Aragon (DNR)
Hobby Stocks:
Heat Winner – Rick Miller
Main (20-Laps) – 1. Rick Miller, 2. Carl Barlow, 3. Tom Haxall, 4. Jake Baker, 5. Shane Cazel, 6. Michael Bartlett
Super Stock 4:
Heat Winners – #1 Jesse James, #2 Kenny Martin
Main (20-Laps) – 1. Aaron McIlvain, 2. Kenny Martin, 3. Steve Crook Sr., 4. Dennis Crook, 5. Jesse James, 6. Justin Busch
Pure Stocks:
Heat Winner – Tyler Cheek
Main (20-Laps) – 1. Rich Innis, 2. Tyler Creek
