95A Speedway was the scene of wild racing this past Saturday.
Fernley (July 11) – 95A Speedway was spared flooding from the recent storms so was ready to go Saturday. Those fans in attendance got a wild night of racing that had something for almost everybody including an altercation between two drivers.
Robert Miller salutes the fans after winning the IMCA feature.
After the dust settled in the caution filled IMCA feature winner Robert Miller was asked if he thought it would ever end.
“No, but I’m glad it did. It was nice to have Alex Stanford to tow all they way up here and run with us,” he said. “And this guy Jake (Holland) coming back from the back twice.”
After what is now the traditional 4-wide salute to the fans the IMCA field formed up for the start of their 30-lap feature. On the green Mike White took off with Mark Skender and the pack in hot pursuit.
The first caution came after Ricky Bobby stopped on the backstretch and was pushed to the infield. He later commented that, after contact with another car, something in is racer broke putting him out for the night.
That restart was immediately followed by another caution. By now Miller was in striking distance and on the restart he used an inside move to take over second.
A lap later the next caution came out after Keith Walsh spun after contact with another car.
Once again the green was followed by another caution as Jake Holland had to get a flat tire changed. At this point the field had five green flag laps under its collective belt.
Robert Miller (59) chases Mike White (27) down the front straight as they duel for the lead in the IMCA feature.
On the restart Miller tried but White was able to hold the lead as they led the charge into Turn 1. Then Matt Murphy spun, bringing out the next caution while he made a quick trip into the pits.
On the restart Miller and White had a side-by-side duel for the lead going. White won that one.
By now Royce Goetz was in third with Stanford right behind him.
There was another quick caution as Mark Skender spun then on the restart, as the field stormed through Turn 2 there was a six-car melee. Among those involved was the leader White and the incident ended his night.
This brought out the red flag as the safety crew and officials rushed to make sure all drivers were all right and get things going again.
During that time an argument ensued and Goetz was sent to the pits for un-sportsman like conduct.
At this red flag it had taken 24 minutes to run 10 green flag-laps.
When the green waved again, Miller took off with Stanford giving chase. As he was involved in the melee Holland had to once again start from the back and soon was engaged in a three-way fight for position.
On lap 12, when the next caution came for a car spinning, drivers were warned that if this continued the race would be cut short.
Once again Miller took off with Stanford and Matt Murphy giving chase. Behind them Holland and Rocky Goetz were moving toward the front.
There was a many lap duel for second place between Alex Stanford (99), Jake Holland (11H) and Matt Murphy (6m).
Holland eventually took second and set out after the fleeing Miller while Goetz was able to get past Murphy and started chasing Stanford.
There would be one more quick caution but in the end Miller reached the checkered flag first. Following him were Holland, Stanford, Goetz and Murphy.
At the awards ceremony Miller was asked about when he was dueling for the lead with White.
“I didn’t want to wreck him as he was running really good and there were no sense of getting into him. So I just raced him like I do,” he said.
He then gave a special thanks to his nephew Nathan, who was with a friend. The boys are 11- and 6-years old and before racing started the pit crew let them help with the tires.
Then Miller thanked sponsors Al Friesen Crate Motors, Mobility Systems, R&J Landscaping, Premier Auto Body and gave special thanks to Wahl Traction Shocks and Bob Oliver, who owns Competition Carburetor.
After that he added special thanks to his fans from Miller’s Face Book page.
After the race Holland said, “It was an eventful race for me. I was up to third, racing Miller for second and think I cut down a left rear,” he said. “Came off the track, changed that, went back and started dead last. Kind of puttered around, caught some breaks then we got caught in a wreck coming out of turn 2 and went to the back again.
“Then the car kind of came to life as we kind of set it up for the end and it came in like we expected it even thought we had to change one tire. I can’t thank my father and brother for all the help they give me every week.”
He added special appreciation to sponsors Granite Propane, Maxima, Erle Motorsports, Advocare Holland. And he added thanks for drivers Alex Stanford and Darrel Hughes for towing in from California to compete in the race.
Finishing third was Stanford, who lives in Chowchilla, California.
He said, “I would have like the turn out to be a bit different. But I just lost the right rear on that thing, the car was just too loose and I had nothing for them”
For the third time this season the Pro Stocks were racing for $1,000 to win. And two-time winner Malen Gonzalez was behind the wheel of B.J. Pearson’s bright yellow Nuclear Banana car.
On the green Gonzalez lead Gary Nevers as they tore into the first turn. Then the race came to a sudden halt a lap later when Travis Petersen’s car hit, slid then came to a stop against the front straight wall.
Once that was cleaned up the field was sent off again with Gonzalez and Nevers leading. Soon Rob Grace took over second and the chase was on.
Nevers then slowed on the backstretch and pitted for a flat tire and broken tie rod. While he was limping around the race was stopped.
Once racing resumed the next caution came out after Al Goss spun. This was followed by another race stopping incident when the car of Gordon Russell had a fire as he was leaving the track.
Safety workers quickly took care of the fire and got Russell back to his pits. And by now, a few raindrops were coming down but they quickly ended.
On the green Gonzalez and Grace took off. Going through Turn 4 Grace clipped the berm, which slightly slowed him.
Rob Grace (42) chases leader Malen Gonzalez (84) in the Pro Stock main.
There would be another quick caution after Goss spun again. He then pulled out of the race.
On the green, with nine to go, Gonzalez took off but this time Grace was closer as they roared around the track. Every lap Gonzalez would extend his lead while Grace ran solo in second.
With four to go Terry Lawrence brought out another caution and bunched the cars. By now Nevers had returned and took his place in the line up.
On the green there was a tangle in Turn 2 involving Nevers, Grace and David Rauscher.
Grace got out of his car and went over to Nevers and there was a short physical altercation. The officials then grabbed Grace.
When track manager Matt Ramthun arrived apparently was a scene right out of a wresting match. The result was Grace been sent to the pits and might have been ejected from the track.
A driver getting out of their car for anything but a fire is a major no-no. Any further disciplinary actions for Grace were unknown when this article was posted.
Malen Gonzalez takes the checkered flag winning his third big bonus race in Pro Stocks.
After the field formed up the green waved and Gonzalez was off and away for the victory. Ed Goss was able to move into second with Derrick Rasucher and Lawrence ending up third and fourth.
Later Gonzalez, who has won all three of these bonus races, said, “We’ve gotten lucky, the first thing is that everything has to stay in the car and you’ve go to finish every lap and then we’ll go from there. It’s all in preparation and the guy that owns the car preps and preps to give me a good piece. To be able to run up front against those guys is pretty good.”
He then added thanks for the track for putting on the show and bringing the talent, which includes track champions, to the event.
Only four Street Stocks took the green and soon J.T. Stark dropped out due to problems with is car. Up front Rick Miller soon made the winning pass when he got by Jake Baker.
Street Stock winner Rick Miller (88) is chased by Jake Baker (11B) during their feature race.
After the race Miller said, “I needed that one rally bad, my confidence was going downhill quick and I can’t let Dwight (Bolton) win all the races. The track was beautiful, just like pavement and that’s how I like it. We’ve been working on the car for a couple of weeks now and think we got it dialed.”
Rick Miller takes a victory lap after winning the Street Stock main.
Then he gave special thanks to his friend Stark as well as Shuman’s Custom Cycle for buying his fuel.
While only a quartet of Super Stock 4 racers took the green it appeared there might be an upset brewing.
On the green Danielle Paine took off while Justin Busch had to start at the back. It only took him a lap before he was on point but Paine wasn’t about to give up.
The first caution came when Kenny Martin was check by the safety crew. His gas cap came off in Turn 3, was retrieved then he was sent on his way.
Up front Paine tried her best but just couldn’t manage to get ahead of Busch, who took off. Then Martin took second after Paine went wide in a turn.
Danielle Paine (9) chases Super Stock 4 winner Justin Busch down the front stretch.
After closing the gap Martin’s car has a problem and came to a stop trying to exit the track. On the restart Paine once again tried to get the lead but Busch held on and stormed away for the win.
“It was a good race but I had to get past her (Paine) first,” Busch said.
Justin Busch celebrates after winning the Super Stock 4 feature race.
Then Paine said, “that was fun, had a great time with Justin. He’s a very clean racer and that’s fun when you’re door to door.
While there were four Pure Stocks on hand a problem kept Jeff Jones out of the race. In the green Jim Paulk briefly led until Rich Innis grabbed the point and just sped away for the victory.
Rich Innis taking his victory lap after winning the Pure Stock race.
“You know, car counts are down, we had five cars last race but I don’t know what happened to the rest of the cars,” Innis said. “The track was junk but the car worked good so we had a good night.”
Then he thanked sponsors IBEW Local 401, Affordable Electrical Services, Northern Nevada Lath and Plaster, Bayshore Truck Equipment and AMES Machine.
The track has been working on some intermission entertainment for the fans. This week is started with a watermelon-eating contest with drivers and fans and they also have a bicycle give away for the boys and girls in the stands.
The highlight was the Chain Races. To compete two cars are chained together, the leader has a working motor but no brakes while the second vehicle has no motor but working brakes.
It takes teamwork to make this happen and getting going was a bit of a challenge for some of the teams.
The first part was dominated by one team but after a caution, that bunched the cars, and the brakeman’s hood flying up, put them out of contention for the win.
The Chain Race winners, Genevieve Ramthun (motor) and Frank Herrera (brake) celebrate as they take the checkered flag.
When the green waved again the team of Geneieve Ramthun and Frank Herrera took off and were never headed as they left everyone in their dust.
Chain race winners Genevieve Ramthun and her “brakeman,” Frank Herrera celebrate their victory.
During the event IMCA driver Robert Miller was in a small truck that acted both as a pace vehicle and then roamed around the competitors.
OTHER RACING NEWS
- NASCAR set up shop this weekend in Kentucky where all three top divisions raced. And the Las Vegas trio competed in two of the events.
In Friday night’s Xfinity race Kyle Busch lad for many laps but wound up third at the end while Brendan Gaughan started 16th and finished 8th.
The Sprint Cup series raced Saturday night where Kyle Busch started ninth and won the race while older brother Kurt finished 10th after starting 13th.
Later Kyle Busch explained he needs another surgery on his injured foot but will wait until season’s end to have this done. Right now his effort is to get into the top 30 in points so he can be in the chase.
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RESULTS
Fernley 95A Speedway – July 11
IMCA:
Heat #1: 1. Robert Miller, 2. Carl Barlow, 3. Mike White, 4. Ricky Bobby
Heat #2: 1. Mark Skender, 2.Royce Goetz, 3. Darrell Hughes, 4. Paris Archie, 5. Will Fryckman
Heat #3: 1. Alex Stanford, 2. Jake Holland, 3. Rocky Goetz, 4.Keith Walsh, 5. Travis White, 6. Matt Murphy
Main (30-Laps): 1. Robert Miller, 2. Jake Holland, 3. Alex Stanford, 4. Rocky Goetz, 5. Matt Murphy, 6.Travis White, 7. Keith Walsh, 8. Mark Skender, 9. Paris Archie, 10. Carl Barlow, 11. Darrell Hughes, 12. Mike White, 13.Royce Goetz, DQ’d 14. Ricky Bobby, 15. Will Fryckman
Pro Stock:
Heat #1: 1. Malen Gonzalez, 2. Gordon Russell, 3. Derrick Rauscher, 4. David Rauscher
Heat #2: 1. Gary Nevers, 2. Travis Peterson, 3. Rob Grace, 4. Terry Lawrence
Main (25-Laps) : 1. Malen Gonzalez, 2. Ed Goss, 3. Derrick Rauscher, 4. Terry Lawrence, 5. David Rauscher, 6.Rob Grace, DQ’d 7. Al Goss, 8. Gary Nevers, 9. Gordon Russell, 10. Travis Peterson
Street Stock:
Heat: 1. Dwight Bolton, 2. Jake Baker, 3. Rick Miller, 4. J.T. Stark
Main (15-Laps): 1. Rick Miller, 2. Jake Baker, 3. Dwight Bolton, 4. J.T. Stark
Super Stock 4:
Heat #1: 1. Danielle Paine, 2. Kenny Martin (DNF), 3. Kenny Schmitt (DNF)
Heat #2: 1. Justin Busch, 2. Dennis Crook (DNF), 3. Steve Crook Sr.(DNF)
Main (20-Laps) : 1. Justin Busch, 2. Danielle Paine, 3. Steve Crook Sr., 4. Dennis Crook, 5. Kenny Martin, 6. Kenny Schmitt
Pure Stock:
Heat Race: 1. Rich Innis, 2. Jim Paulk, 3. Trevor Quell, 4. Jeff Jones
Main (15-Laps): 1. Rich Innis, 2. Jim Paulk, 3. Trevor Quell, 4. Jeff Jones (DNR)
David Rauscher got 5th in the prostock main