Another night of racing at the Northern California oval set in the trees.

QUINCY, CALIF. (Aug. 6, 2016) – American Valley Speedway hosted not only a regular points race but also the final round of the 4-race NAPA Gold Series Tour. This series alternates between here and Diamond Mountain Speedway in Susanville.

After winning the IMCA main Chris Neiman said, “The track was great but somebody kept getting through the water over there and it gets slick when you hit it so I tried to go higher and miss it. I figured I was going to get him (Bill Pearson) over there in three and four. As long as I could get close enough over here I could get underneath him”

Then he thanked his parents, Dan Fisher and everyone that helps him.

When the green flag waved Joe Blackwell briefly led the charge until he rode the wall in Turn 2 but was able to continue. That’s when Jim Turner led until Bill Pearson took the point.

The first caution came after Larry McCarcken and Jeff Olschowka got together in Turn 3. After that was sorted out racing resumed with Pearson on point.

Behind the leader were Chris Nieman and Matt Murphy, the NAPA series points leader. After the half way point Neiman began to close on Pearson.

At first the gap was one second then a half second as the gap closed. Then Nieman made his move, got under Pearson and took the lead.

In the chase Nieman was able to get around a lapper while Pearson was held up and couldn’t get past.

After being put to the back Olschowka was charging through the field and would finish fourth behind Murphy. Up front Pearson ended up second while Neiman took the victory.

After the race Pearson said, “He (Nieman) was better and my tires went away, then we got in that lapper and he got around quicker. Apparently they don’t believe in a blue flag for the second place guy. It’s all right, we’re not tore up and made it through.”

In the NAPA series points Murphy won the championship followed by Neiman then there was a tie for third between Pearson and Chase Nieman with the last two places going to Larry McCracken and another driver.

Asked about his championship, Murphy said, “Well I won the first one and once you win the first one you’re ahead and just keep going. Got a second, fifth and third tonight so that’s how you do it, consistency. The track was really good but I don’t know if they’ve got a move over flag up there.

Then he thanked his wife Cherilyn, Honey Lake Guide Service, Jackson Service Center, Idaho Grocery and sponsor NAPA of Susanville.

When the Sport Mod main began Brittney Nieman briefly led until J.R. Svensson took the point coming out of Turn 2. Not long after that Damien Merritt took over second and the chase was on.

After several nose-to-tail laps Merritt took the point. Things slowed after David Pierce spun and brought out a caution.

Later Svensson would spin out of second handing the position to fellow local Steve Gordon. By that time the gap was too large and Merritt sped off to the victory.

“I’m number 3 in California,” Merritt said later. “Svensson was a hard guy to get around but he made a mistake and I passed him on the inside. I think he just got a little loose.”

Then he thanked his wife, boys and brothers for helping him.

Quincy local Steve Gordon was the runner up and his second place wasn’t easy.

“Started in the back, tried to get through traffic, tried to save the car for the end but just didn’t have enough left. Before the yellow I used a lot of tire trying to catch the pack after the wreck so I didn’t have a lot of racecar left.”

Then he thanked sponsors, Precision Building, Gordon Timber Falling, Keith Barnett and Plumas Motor Supply.

Only four Hobby Stocks were on hand and when the green waved Lance Bain used an outside move to take the lead with Jason Emmet giving chase.

Then as they started the second lap Jared Morris used an outside pass going down the front straight to take the lead. Behind him Sketter Bethel moved into second dropping Bain to third.

Emmit would spin and bring out a caution but afterwards he still managed to finish third ahead of Bain. Up front there was no catching Morris as he cruised to victory with Bethel a distant second.

While it looked easy being up front was a nervous time for winner Morris.

“Had to get in the lead first, we got it working on the bottom pretty good then had to get out there and just cruising,” he said. “A little nervous though because I’ve been out in front before and had problems. It’s kind of scary because you don’t know what’s going on and where the rest of those guys are.”

Then he thanked Riley’s Jerky, O-Show Race Bodies and his wife Megan.

When the Mini Stock main began Kate Robertson and Megan Wilson led the charge through the first two turns. Behind them Connor McMillan was third in his pick up until Larry Whitebird used an outside pass to that the position.

Up front Robertson was leaving everyone in her dust. When Whitebird, her grandfather, took over second she had over a straight lead on him.

As the chase went on Whitebird began to close the gap and at one point was making up a second a lap on the leader. Behind him Colton Lawson was also giving chase.

With three to go they were nose-to-tail and after taking the white flag Whitebird made his move and took over the lead. Behind him Lawson was able to claim second while Robertson fell to third.

“That was my granddaughter ( Kate Robertson) in front of me, she was doing good,” Whitebird said later. I was real proud of her as she got out there in a good start and checked out. She was slowing up at the end, that was the lap traffic and then she went a little high coming out of Turn 2 and left me an opening.”

Then he thanked Bullseye Recycling, Les Schwab Tires, Reese’s Mini Storage as well as Craig Neiman, who helps him with both cars.

Next up for American Valley Speedway is the annual Fair Race on Sunday, August 14.

• The Nevada Pro Stock Association visited Rattlesnake Raceway this Saturday and once again Gene Kay won the main. This is becoming a profitable series for him and his car owner.

Dave Sciarroni scored his first IMCA victory while David Ausano was the Hobby Stock winner and Steven Crook Sr. won the SS4 main.

OTHER RACING NEWS

• The Dwarf Car Nationals were in Medford, Oregon this weekend. While most area drivers had mixed results, former motorcycle racer Tim Fitzpatrick scored his first Dwarf Car victory when he won the Vet Class.

• Several Nevada riders competed at the Amsoil Loretta Lynn Amateur Nationals this week. The list from the overall finishes is the end of the results.

We here at NVracingnews want to give a shout out to all our Nevada riders and drivers that competed at both events.

• NASCAR visited the Watkins Glen International road course this weekend and the sell out crowd saw plenty of action as well as a trio of native Nevada drivers compete in two series.

In Saturday’s Xfinity event Brendan Gaughan started 12th and finished eighth while Kyle Busch started fifth but a wreck dropped him to 37th at the end. On Sunday, in the Sprint Cup event Kyle made some mistakes and ended up sixth while brother Kurt ended up 11th after starting 17th.

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RESULTS:

• American Valley Speedway – August 6

Mini Stock:

+ Heat: 1. Larry Whitebird, 2. Kate Robertson, 3. Megan Wilson, 4. Colton  Lawson, 5. Conner McMillan 6. Joey Blackwell.

+ Main (15-Laps): 1. Larry Whitebird, 2. Colton Lawson, 3. Kate Robertson,  4. Conor McMillian, 5. Megan Wilson, 6. Trenton Longscre.

Hobby Stock:

+ Heat: 1.Jared Morris, 2. Sketter Bethel, 3. Jason Emmet, 4. Lance Bain.

+Main (14-Laps): 1. Jared Morris, 2. Sketter Bethel, 3. Jason Emmet, 4. Lance Bain.

Sport Mod:

+ Heat #1:1. J.R. Svensson, 2. Damien Merritt, 3. Joe Wood, 4. Brittney Nieman.

+ Heat #2: 1. Mike Merritt, 2. Steve Gordon, 3. Robert Patterson, 4. David Pierce.

+ Main (20-Laps): 1. Damien Merritt, 2. Steve Gordon, 3. Joe Wood, 4. Mike Merritt, 5. J.R. Svenson, 6. David Pierce, 7. Brittney Nieman, 8.Robert Patterson.

IMCA Modifieds:

+ Heat #1: 1. Jeff Olschowka, 2. Jim Smith, 3. Chris Nieman, 4. Bill Pearson, 5. Jim Turner.

+ Heat #2: 1. Larry McCracken, 2. Matt Murphy, 3. Erica Buhr, 4. Chase Nieman, 5. Joe Blackwell.

+ Main (25-Laps): 1. Chris Nieman, 2. Bill Pearson, 3. Matt Murphy*, 4. Jeff Olschowka, 5. Chase Nieman, 6. Erica Buhr, 7. Unlisted, 8. Jim Turner, 9. Jim Smith, 10. Joe Blackwell, 11. Larry McCracken.

* – Napa Series Champion.

• Rattlesnake Raceway – August 6

Nevada Pro Stock Association:

+ Heat #1: 1. Jesse Gonzalez, 2. David Paine, 3. Al Goss, 4. Robby Grace, 5. Ed Goss.

+ Heat #2: 1. Gene Kay, 2. Robert Miller, 3. Gary Nevers, 4. Mike Learn, 5. Rocky Boice.

+ Heat #3: 1. Darrick Rauscher, 2. Travis White, 3. Gordon Russell, 4. Mike McMordie, 5. James Gonzalez.

+ Main (25-Laps): 1. Gene Kay, 2. Mike Learn, 3. Travis White, 4. David Paine, 5. Mike McMordie, 6. Jesse Gonzalez, 7. Robby Grace, 8. Gary Nevers, 9. Darrick Rauscher, 10. Gordon Russell, 11. Ed Goss, 12. Rocky Boice, 13. Robert Miller, 14. Al Goss, 15. James Gonzalez.

IMCA Modifieds:

+ Heat #1: 1. Fred White, 2. Travis White, 3. Jake Aker, 4. James Riggs, 5. Andy Strait.

+ Heat #2: 1. Dave Sciarroni, 2. Robert Miller, 3. Mark Skender, 4. Don Childs, 5. Mike White.

+ Main (20-Laps): 1. Dave Sciarroni, 2. Andy Strait, 3. Robert Miller, 4. Fred White, 5. Don Childs, 6. Mark Skender, 7 James Riggs, 8. Jake Aker, 9. Travis White, 10. Mike White.

Hobby Stock:

+ Heat #1: 1. Bob Vaden, 2. Jeff Tuttle, 3. Raymond Davis, 4. Ronny Goetz, 5. Ryan Galvin, 6. Michael Bartlett.\+

+ Heat #2: 1. David Ausano, 2. Chris Christiano, 3. Shane Cazel, 4. Tim Russell, 5. Alex Kniestedt,6. Cody Thunder, 7. Tony Taylor.

+ Heat #3: 1. Dan Diaz, 2. Tori Edgington, 3. Cody Morris, 4. John Schilling, 5. Tami Buehn, 6. Mikki Beuchat, 7. Ray Miller.

+ Main (15-Laps): 1. David Ausano, 2. Shane Cazel, 3. Tory Edgington, 4.Dan Diaz, 5. John Schilling, 6. Tami Buehn, 7. Ray Miller, 8. Cody Thunder, 9. Mikki Beuchat, 10. Chris Christiano, 11. Cody Morris, 12. Tim Russell, 13. Alex Kniestedt, 14. Ronny Goetz, 15. Jeff Tuttle, 16. Michael Bartlett, 17. Ryan Galvin, 18. Raymond Davis, 19. Bob Vaden.

DNS: Tony Taylor.

SS4:

+ Heat #1: 1. Steven Crook Sr., 2. Rich Innis, 3. Janet Lyford, 4. Galen Reese.

+ Heat #2: 1. Dennis Crook, 2. Dan Pieretti, 3. Danielle Paine, 4. Tom Vukovich, 5. Chris Jimenez.

+ Main (18-Laps): 1. Steven Crook Sr., 2. Tom Vukovich, 3. Janet Lyford, 4. Danielle Paine, 5. Dennis Crook, 6. Rich Innis, 7. Galen Reese, 8. Chris Jimenez, 9. Dan Pieretti.

• Nevada Riders in the Amsoil Loretta Lynn Amateur Nationals*.

+51cc (4-6) Special Limited: 8th O.A. Wesley Baldwin, Elko.

+ 45+: 28th O.A. Kirk Lewis, Henderson.

+ 250c: 7th O.A. Alec Green, Battle Mountain.

+ 250c Limited: 15th O.A. T.J. Taylor, Gardnerville.

+ 250c Jr. (12-16) Limited: 4th O.A. T.J. Taylor, Gardnerville.

+ 450B Limited: 20 O.A. Chad Heishman, Verdi.

* – Overall results for the week.