Despite Mother Nature playing tricks all the races were able to be completed.
QUINCY (May 14) – American Valley Speedway staged the first of its $1,000 to win races for the IMCA Modifieds this weekend. The night was a little odd as it started out dry but ended with a light rain.
“The rain had me a little scared there but it really didn’t hurt the track at all, just kind of blurred your vision but it was good, took a little moisture and was nice,” Jeff Olschowka said after a green to checkered victory in the IMCA main. “We had motor issues in hot laps so we went home, changed the motor then won our heat and main so it was a good night.”
Jeff Olschowka salutes the crowd after winning the IMCA feature and the $1,000 winner’s prize.
Then he thanked Icon Pistons, that helped his open motor, Ferrari Engines, Blackwell/Olschowka Racing, O-Show and his wife as, “she puts up with a lot.”
When the green waved on the 20-lap race, which was the first of the $1,000 to win series the track will have this summer, Olschowka jumped into the lead.
Two laps later a car spun in Turn 4 and collected the car of Mark Skender, whose night ended right then. Once things were cleaned up racing resumed with Olschowka took off again.
There was attrition including former track champion Erica Buhr and Chris Nieman.
Up front Olschowka had things going his way while behind him Chase Nieman and Matt Murphy were engaged in a almost race long duel for second.
A spin by Joe Blakwell brought out another caution and a few laps later there would be another spin. By this time Murphy held second.
On the final restart Jeff Olschowka has Chase Nieman (left) and Matt Murphy (white car) right behind him.
And a light rain began to fall so the track would be getting a little slick. One more spin bunched everyone up again but as with the other restarts Olschowka led the charge into Turn 1.
He went on to win the contest but in the final laps Chase Nieman was closing in on him but fell short and had to settle for second ahead of Murphy and fourth place Larry McCracken.
Jeff Olschowka wins the IMSA feature at American Valley Speedway.
In the victory celebration Chase Nieman said, “I thought Murphy had me for a while. I ran out of tear offs, tried to wipe my visor and it just smeared. I could keep up with Jeff but wasn’t going to get around him.”
Then he thanked Spanish Peak Engineering, Kunsman Fence, Kevin Moore and Environmental Enterprises.
This year the track has a Sport Mod class. When the green waved on their main Steve Gordon led Joe Wood as they roared into Turn 1.
By the four lap the leaders were about ready to lap the slowest cars. A spin in Turn 4 slowed things but when racing resumed it was the Gordon-Wood show once again.
Steve Gordon won the Sport Mod feature and here he’s chased by runner up Joe Wood.
In the end Gordon won the race followed by Wood and Jr. Sevensson.
Eight Hobby Stocks took the green with a very light rain falling on the track. Fortunately it didn’t get any heavier than that.
Up front Shanya Robertson led Mark Hain and Michael Nichols. Unfortunately Robertson’s car had a problem and Hain, who right behind her, had to slow as well.
By the time Hain got going again he saw the field was already entering Turn 1 so the chase was on. Up front Nicholas briefly led until Richard Longacre too the point with Jared Morris right behind him.
Nicholas spun out of contention and brought out a caution. By then Morris had taken the lead but Hain was on the move and was second when the next caution came out.
Mark Hain, heading for the front, is about to pass Richard Longacre.
When the green waved again it was go time for the leaders. Hain eventually took the lead then held it until he claimed the victory with Morris and Longacre second and third.
Mark Hain with a come-from-the-back drive won the Hobby Stock feature.
“The lead car got a little wide so I dove into Turn 1 and drag raced him down to Turn 3. Didn’t know there was a wall on the inside but basically made a really good pass and the rest was smooth sailing,” Hain said. “The rain was the worst part as I only went out with two tear offs and mistakenly wiped my visor so I couldn’t see anything. The last lap down the back stretch was kind of using memory to get into Turn 3 as I couldn’t see anything.”
Then he thanked RWW Fabrication, Rob Wood and Need 2 Speed.
Although the track was dry when the Mini Stocks began their main this race had to be cut short due to the time it took.
On the green Gabrielle Lewis and Madison Hood led the charge into Turn 1. Exiting Turn 2 Lewis had the advantage until Kyle Belli took the point.
The first caution came when Hood spun and needed to be pushed to the pits. When racing resumed Belli was briefly second until he regained the lead.
Over in Turn 4 Gabrielle spun her truck, was hit and sent through the k-rail at the edge of the track. The officials stopped the race as the rushed to make sure she was all right.
This clean up took some time as they first had to remove her truck from where it was on top of what was left of the rail section. Then the officials had to put the k-rail back together and backstop it with dirt.
Gabrielle Lewis looks on as the track crew removes her truck from the Turn 4 k-rail. Then they had to rebuild it before racing could resume.
When racing resumed Larry Whitebird was on point but soon he had Belli on is back bumper. They swapped places for a lap or two until Wyatt Spalding put his car on the Turn 2 K-rail, which brought out another red flag.
There was another long red flag after Wyatt Spalding put his car on the k-rail at Turn 2.
It took the track crew a bit to get the car off the rail and clear the track. With only a couple of laps to go in the shortened race, Whitebird took and held the lead to score the victory with Belli second ahead of George Bumb.
Larry Whitebird wins the Mini Stock feature race.
Fortunately all the mains were able to finish despite the light rain that was falling. Now the track goes dark until May 28 when racing resumes.
OTHER RACING NEWS
NASCAR’s three top divisions spent the weekend at the Monster Mile, Dover, Delaware. Three native Nevadan’s competed in two of the races.
On Saturday Brendan Gaughan finished 15th in the Xfinity race. In Sunday’s Sprint Cup event Kurt Busch finished fifth while younger brother Kyle was involved in a wreck and ended up 30th after starting 3rd.
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RESULTS
American Valley Speedway – May 14
IMCA:
+ Heat Winners: #1 1, #2 3, #3 121
+ Main (20-Laps): 1. Jeff Olschowka, 2. Chase Nieman, 3. Matt Murphy, 4. Larry McCracken, 5. Chris Olexiewicz, 6. Jim Smith, 7. Shawn Natenstedt, 8. James Riggs, 9. Nevin Kennemore, 10. Joe Blackwell, 11. Eli Zucker, 12. Terry West, 13. Erica Buhr, 14. Chris Nieman, 15. Mark Skender.
Sport Mods:
+ Heat Winner: Steve Gordon
+ Main: 1. Steve Gordon, 2. Joe Wood, 3. Jr. Svensson, 4. Ethan Koswb, 5. Brittney Nieman, 6. Robert Patterson.
Hobby Stocks:
+ Heat Winners: #1 Jared Morris, #2 Richard Longacre
+ Main: 1. Mark Hain, 2. Jared Morris, 3. Richard Longacre, 4. Sketter Bethel, 5. Ian Upton, 6. Jim Erle, 7. Michael Nichols, 8. Shanya Robertson.
Mini Stocks:
+ Heat Winners: #1 Kyle Belli, #2 Larry Whitebird, #3 George Bumb
+ Main: 1. Larry Whitebird, 2. Kyle Belli, 3. George Bumb, 4. Rick Higby, 5. Colton Lawson, 6. Joey Blackwell, 7. Madison Hood, 8. Brandon Bumb, 9. Ray Talavera, 10. Connor McMillan, 11. Wyatt Spalding, 12. Gabrielle Lewis.
