MILLER TOPS IMCA AT 95A
FERNLEY (April 11) – The speedway here hosted its second points race of the season. A warming afternoon set the stage for some hot racing on the clay surface.
It’s becoming a tradition at the Fernley 95A Speedway that before the IMCA main the field does a 4-wide salute to the fans.
“We had to start back there in ninth so it was being patient,” Robert Miller said after winning the IMCA feature. “Some of the water they put on had to go away then the center started taking rubber. Have to thank Lyle Hopper, who is my chassis guy gave me a good car and my brother Randy, R&J Landscaping, of course gave me the car and everybody on the crew.”
When the green waved on the 20-car field Walter Ball led the charge with James Thibodeaux and Cory Sample close behind. Sample’s car developed a tire rub that flattened one tire and he had to pit for a new on.
That brought out a quick caution and when racing resumed Ball led the charge into Turn 1 but a lap later Galen Hainline slowed and was clipped by Keith Walsh, who was unable to avoid him.
Once again Ball led the charge buy by now Royce Goetz was up to third while Miller had worked his way into fourth.
There was a race stopping incident next when five cars piled into each other at Turn 4. And once again Ball led the charge but surrendered it when Goetz took over the point.
By now Jake Holland was second chasing Goetz as Miller was gaining on the lead duo. And soon it became a three-way duel for the point.
With nine to go Miller made his move as they tore down the backstretch and took over the lead. Another short caution slowed the pace but in the end Miller scored his second victory of the season while Holland and Goetz ended up second and third.
Robert Miller (59) leads Jake Holland (11H) and Royce Goetz in the IMCA feature’s final restart.
While Holland didn’t bring his car out for the award ceremony Goetz did and said, “I was in the lead I think for about 15 laps, the car was awesome but it started going away and Miller found out how to get around me. The track held up awesome, we were up front so we didn’t have too much dust but I’m sure everybody in the back had a little bit of dust so hopefully we can get that fixed.”
Robert Miller celebrates after winning the final afternoon IMCA main at the Fernley 95A Speedway.
Then he gave special thanks to Bob Crossley, his family as well as sponsors Auto Marine Machine and Livotti Poultry.”
The Pro Stock’s started with five care but Gordon Russell wasn’t able to make the feature and Rob Grace’s car had a suspension failure so he never completed on of the parade laps.
This meant that Travis Peterson was in the cat birds seat as soon as the green waved. Although Al Goss and Gary Nevers kept him honest as they weren’t too far behind during the race.
Travis Peterson (56) leads Al Goss and Gary Nevers in the Pro Stock main.
In the end Peterson won while Carson veterans Goss and Nevers took the next two spots.
“That was a great race, Jason and Jay, Josh and my nephews they all tuned on the car. We had a really not so good heat race and made a bunch of changes, we’ll call them wholesale changes as we did about everything we could do to it. Went out for the main event and it was a rocket, absolute rocket.”
Then he thanked his hard working pit crew as well as High Sierra Auto Sales and Superior Machine for giving him a great motor.
It took a pair of attempts to get the Street Stock feature rolling but once the race started Jesse Vanko and J.T. Stark led the charge. However by the second turn Dwight Bolton had taken second while behind him Rick Miller was moving toward the front.
During the Street Stock main, Dwight Bolton (5150) leads Jesse Vankol, while Rick Miler, who ended up second, is catching the leaders.
After a short duel Bolton swept into the lead while Miller would take second ahead of Vankol. They would finish in that order.
At the awards ceremony Bolton said, “That was a good race, we’ve been fighting this car since the last race and I think we got it a little bit closer this time. I’d like to thank all my sponsors, Silver Springs NAPA, T&H Paints, Tom Brong, as well as Carson Valley Signs, and my wife Valerie all my friends and the pit crew of 5150. And give a special thanks to the fans, staff and volunteers at Fernley 95A Speedway.”
The Dwarf Car main was all Joe Frock as he just left everyone in his dust when the green waved.
There was a race-stopping incident when Chris Knight spun coming out of Turn 4 and slammed backwards into the front straight wall. The flagman red flagged the race, and everyone stopped while the safety crew raced to check on Knight, who was uninjured in the scary looking incident.
Joe Frock (16) leads Rodney Sweet (10) and Billy Wilson to a restart during the Dwarf Car main. In the end Fock scored a runaway victory.
Once the track was cleared the green waved and Frock was on his way. Billy Wilson tried his best but had to settle for second while Rodney Sweet, who had been second wound up third.
“The car was hooked up, didn’t see any challengers so just kind of put it out there and kept it straight,” Frock said later.
Then he thanked his supporters and sponsors, HRT Racing, Wild Island, DRI, Excell Sports, Nature’s Bakery, Todd Damron, Robert Miller and RWW Fabrication.
Two cautions early in the Super Stock 4 main slowed the pace but on each restart Justin Busch led the charge. When things finally got rolling Busch again was on point.
Justin Busch (4J) and Kenny Schmitt (25) had a lead swapping duel during the Super Stock 4 main. In the end Busch pulled off the victory.
However Kenny Schmitt made a race of it as he and Busch swapped the lead a few times during the race. In the end Busch prevailed with Schmitt and Kenny Martin coming home second and third.
Later Busch said, “I did a lot better than last race, a big improvement from last race but I’m going to be changing out my rear end gears by next race. Hopefully I’ll do a lot better.”
Runner up Schmitt then added, “That was fun, we swapped lead a few times, he messed up, I messed up, had an awesome wonderful time. Need to thank Jerry Nunes, Tom Vukavich, my wife Susie, the people that helped us put this thing together.”
Only three Pure Stocks were on hand and their race was won by Rich Innis, followed by Jim Paulk and Trevor Quell.
Rich Innis leads Jim Paulk and Trevor Quell during the Pure Stock main at the Fernley 95A Speedway.
At the post race awards ceremony Innis said, “It was a fun race, we’re having motor struggles right now. Got to thank my sponsors, IBEW Local 401, Affordable Electrical Services, Northern Nevada Lathe and Plaster, Ames Machine and Bayshore Truck and Equipment and my guys.”
OTHER RACING NEWS
- The next event at 95A Speedway will be on Saturday, April 18 when the track has a demolition derby as well as chain races.
Only two Nevada Natives are currently racing in NASCAR’s upper divisions and this week both of them were at Texas Motor Speedway.
In Friday evening’s Xfinity event Brendan Gaughan didn’t have luck on is side after starting 12th a wreck dropped him to 33rd at the finish. Kurt Busch once again earned a pole position for Saturday’s Sprint Cup race but finished 14th.
Hopefully Kurt Busch will rejoin the racing within the next few weeks as he’s still healing from injuries suffered at Daytona.
RESULTS
Fernley 95A Speedway – April 11, 2015
IMCA Modifieds:
Heat Winners – #1 Walter Ball, 2. Cory Sample, 3. David Paine
Main – 1. Robert Miller, 2. Jake Holland, 3. Royce Goetz, 4. Walter Ball, 5. Russell Rosario, 6. Cory Sample, 7. James Thibodeaux, 8. Matt Murphy, 9. Riley Simmons, 10. Travis White, 11. Jeff Chew, 12. Paris Archie, 13. Carl Barlow, 14. Rocky Goetz, 15. Galen Hainline, 16. David Paine, 17. Keith Walsh, 18. Jay Bradley, 19. Mark Skender, 20. Joe Frock
Pro Stock:
Heat Winner – Rob Grace
Main – 1. Travis Peterson, 2. Al Goss, 3. Gary Nevers
Street Stock:
Heat Winner – Dwight Bolton
Main – 1. Dwight Bolton, 2. Rick Miller, 3. Jesse Vankol, 4. J.T. Stark, 5. Jimmy Berhorst
Dwarf Cars:
Heat Winners – #1 Rodney Sweet, #2 Joe Frock
Main – 1. Joe Frock, 2. Billy Wilson, 3. Rodney Sweet, 4. Calvin Ryle, 5. Roy Peterson, 6. Glen Sciaroni, 7. Unlisted, 8. Chris knight, 9. Cameron Knight
Super Stock 4:
Heat Winner – Kenny Schmitt
Main – 1. Justin Busch, 2, Kenny Schmitt, 3. Kenny Martin, 4. Danielle Paine, 5. Aaron McIlvain, 6. Dennis Crook, 7. Steve Crook Sr.
Pure Stock:
Heat Winner – Rich Innis
Main – 1. Rich Innis, 2. Jim Paulk, 3. Trevor Quell
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