The second race at Rattlesnake was quite an exciting night for all, especially for some drivers. Most of the photographs are at the end of the article after the results.

FALLON (April 15) – Rattlesnake Raceway hosted its traditional Easter Saturday races this weekend. The pits were packed with around 87 cars including Sprints, Dwarf Cars and the Nevada Pro Stock Association.

Before racing started the Pro Stock field made its way to the front straight. The track was honoring the memory of long time racer, builder and supporter Sabio Gonzalez.

He was a fixture at Rattlesnake for many years and sadly lost his life last year in a traffic accident. Two of his sons Jesse and Maylen race as does his nephew Jesse.

Veteran driver Steve Evenson led the memorial that ended with the field taking a slow lap around the track.

It was to be a challenging night for both the racers and track crew.

The headliner class was again the Nevada Pro Stock Association as their drivers were racing for a $1,000 winner’s check and trophy.

Things got off to a slow start when one driver stalled during the parade laps then it would take two attempts to get the race itself underway. On the green California driver Mike Learn was on point while Jesse Gonzalez moved into second.

Back in the pack Shawn Natenstedt was carving his way through traffic toward the front.

A quick yellow slowed things but when the green flew again Learn took off with Gonzalez and now Natenstedt chasing him. Eventually Natenstedt took second and the chase was on.

Things went south for Learn after he encountered the car of Rocky Boice that had bounced off the front straight wall and was almost sideways as it crossed the track. The resulting contact sent Learn’s car sideways down the front stretch where it then barrel rolled three times before landing on its wheels.

In the melee Gary Nevers was unable to stop in time and his car had its front end torn up after hitting the car of Boice.

The officials stopped the race as soon as they saw him rolling down the front straight and rushed to his aid. Fortunately all the safety gear drivers wear and are surrounded by worked and he emerged relatively unscathed although the same couldn’t be said for his destroyed car.

It took a bit but once the track was cleared racing began only to slow again as the car of Eddie Stidham had its hood fold back and he headed for the pits.

Three more cautions slowed the pace but up front Natenstedt was on a roll and no one was going to catch him. In the end he took the checkered and later the winner’s check as well as a good looking trophy.

Steve Worstell was second followed by Travie White, Brent Lawrence and Gonzlaez.

Back in the pits Natenstedt said, “It was good, I know we started about 15th. Again Chewy, Antonio Aragon gave me a great car, I’m just fortunate to do this, I really am. I got into second running down the 11H (Learn) and all of a sudden I saw him twirling and I thought ‘oh shoot,’ this isn’t good.

“I guess that put us in the lead and I enjoy those double file restarts, they’re fun. Feels good and just stoked to win the first annual Sabio Gonzalez race we get a kick ass trophy out of the deal.

Then he thanked Arro-Gunn, American Auto Center, JB III Racing, QSR and Gunslinger Chassis.

It took two attempts before the IMCA main got underway. First on point was Malen Gonzalez while behind him Cory Sample was moving through the pack into fourth.

Soon Chris Neiman took the lead but was soon being chase by Sample while Robert Miller was running a close third. Eventually the leaders caught a lapper and Sample threaded the needed to take over the lead.

A few laps later the race was halted due to a two car tangle. But once the track was cleared Sample and Nieman took off.

Two more cautions slowed the pace including one where part of a car’s bodywork came off. That deprived Shawn Natenstedt of second as the driver causing a caution has to go to the back of the pack.

After that it was clear sailing for Sample followed by Neiman, Jeff Olschowka, Malen Gozalez and Joel Myers.

While five Sprint Cars showed up, including three from the Lovelock Posse, only four made it on the track. At the end of their main event Bruce Ferrier won followed by Jeff Macedo and the pair of Bob and Robert Cooney.

This season the Street Stock class has moved from Fernley to Fallon. This time it took three tries to finally get the race going.

The last caution came right after a green when Michael Burns caused a red flag because it would take a few minutes to get his car back to the pits.

Finally the green waved and away they went with Trevor Quell on point followed by Crystal Kotney. Soon however Bob Vaden took over second then used an inside move on the backstretch to take the lead.

At the checkered Vaden claimed the victory followed by Shayna Nieman and Quell.

The largest class of the night was the Hobby Stocks. At first it appeared a B main might be necessary to set the field but in the end 22 cars took the green and charged into the first turn.

Shane Ramthun was first on point and was chased by Shane Boyd and Dennis Buehn. A few laps later the first caution flew when Edwin Cedeno hit the wall followed by Jeff Willis who also clipped the wall.

Once racing resumed there was another caution a few laps later caused by a spin at the exit of Turn 4. There would be four more cautions that slowed the race and put the event on its time limit.

The final two laps took a bit to complete as the field never reached the white flag before a six-car tangle on the backstretch scrambled things. On the next try the caution waved again after Jeff Willis spun and was hit by Tami Buehn, who was unable to avoid him.

Finally the last two laps were completed and Randy Boyd, who let the last half of the race was able to claim the victory after holding off Dan Dias and Bob Shank.

After the race Boyd said, “That was difficult, it was very bumpy, there was some good cars out there and I’m surprised as I went to the outside of them, somehow it stuck but it was fun.”

Then he gave thanks to supporters Dean’s Machines, ICON Pistons and his wife.

The Dwarf Car feature looked like the usual race with Kenny Martin and Race Shelton side-by-side at the green. By the first turn Martin had the lead but at the back of the 10-car field was Joe Frock and he wasted no time moving forward.

Shortly after the start there was a three-car tangle in the front stretch sending the car of Calvin Ryle rolling and also put the cars of Martin and Shelton into the wall.

The race was stopped while the officials started to clear the track. Sitting on the track Frock realized something was wrong with his car and signaled his pitman, John Randall.

Once the cars could roll again Frock headed for the pits where Randall changed the offending wheel and tire. Once the green waved again Dan Geil was on point but Frock zoomed into third then soon took the lead.

At the checkered Frock won again followed by Geil and Nick Winters.

Afterwards Frock commented, “Started 10th, got a flat on the first lap when I was passing someone on the outside and two laps later there was a big pile up on the front stretch when I came to a stop. When we went back to caution went in, got the tire replaced and tagged the back of the field. Think it was only a matter of laps thewe took the lead and never looked back.”

Then he thanked sponsors Damron Racing Las Vegas, Wild Island, Diatte Racing Innovations, Acel Sports, Voss Fabrications and gave a special thanks to Leo’s Awnings.

When the Super Stock 4 race began Steve Singley and Galen Reese led the charge. Soon however Dennis Crook roared past to take the lead.

Then his brother Stephen Crook took the point and both of them began swapping the lead as they left everyone in their dust. Eventually Dennis Crook spun out of second causing a caution.

Once racing resumed Stephen Crook took off and ran away with the victory. Steve Singley finished second followed by Dennis Crook and Jesse James.

Travis Showe was first on point when the Gen-X main began but that race also was slowed when the car of Jesse Showe stopped in Turn 4. That started a series of caution with four more slowing the pace and having the race reduced to 12-laps.

In the end Showe claimed the victory as no one could keep up with him. Josh Evans was second followed by third and four place Sienna Burgess and Colby Russell.

Each feature race has a time limit and due to the amount of cautions most of them had laps cut to stay within the allotted time.

Another challenge for the track crew, besides having to clear multiple wrecks, was the track’s surface. After holes began to develop they graded the surface to smooth things out for the features. After the Dwarf Car main winner Joe Frock complimented them on working to improve the surface.

Then before the IMCA and Hobby stock mains, that ended the night, got going the water truck had a fuel pump problem. Fortunately that was fixed but there was a lot of dust although not bad enough to really affect the races.

So it was a long but action packed night and racing will resume in two weeks.

• The Rattlesnake Outlaw Karts also raced and there were so many Box Stock drivers it was necessary to hold a B main to set the final grid. That race was won by Logan Cassel while Evan Galarte was the A main winner.

Other winners were Peyton Albury in Beginners, Blake Rauscher topped the 250cc class and the 500cc winner was Jacob Dias.

REPORTERS NOTE: The article was delayed as due to the Easter holiday didn’t have all the results until Tuesday morning.

• If anyone is interested in photographs of the race, I would recommend checking one of two sites. Both are from the same photographer Melissa Coker, who does a wonderful job.

The sites are (1) www.melissasoutonalimb.com or (2) www.melissasoutonalimb.smugmug.com.

OTHER RACING NEWS

• At this week’s Best in the Desert race at Laughlin, Nevada at least two MRANN riders found success.

Dennis Belingheri, the Desert Fox, teamed with Mark Weirich as they raced for Chad Thornton as part of the C&J Equipment Racing Team. They finished 1st overall in the Over 40 Pro Class.

There were several Northern Nevada riders competing in Open Pro. The best finish was 4th by riders Wyatt Brittner and Drew Chattin.

Finishing 8th was the team of Nolan Rudd and Brody Honea. After the race Chattin flew back home so he could attend his senior prom.

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RESULTS

Rattlesnake Raceway – April 15

Pro Stocks:

+ Heat Winners – #1 Tavis White, #2 Shawn Natenstedt.

+ Main – 1. Shawn Natenstedt, 2. Steve Worstell, 3. Travis White, 4. Brent Lawrence, 5. James Gonzalez,      6.Gordon Russell, 7. Eddie Stidham, 8. Robert Miller, 9. Jay Sears, 10. Mike Learn, 11. Jesse Gonzalez, 12. Robert Mull, 13. Gary Nevers, 14. Rocky Boice, 15. Ed Goss, 16. Derrick Rauscher (DNS).

IMCA Modifieds:

+ Heat Winners: 1. Robert Miller, 2. Gene Kay. 3. Jeff Olschowka .

+ Main – 1. Cory Sample, 2. Chris Neiman, 3. Jeff Olschowka, 4. Malen Gonzalez, 5. Joel Myers, 6. Shawn Natenstedt, 7. Melissa Natenstedt, 8.  Rocky Goetz, 9. Bill Pearson, 10. Joe Blackwell, 11. Robert Miller, 12. Mark Skender, 13. Gene Kay, 14. James Thibodeaux, 15. Jeff Macedo, 16. Fred White, 17. Larry McCracken, 18. Don Childs.

DNS – Alec Childs, Will Fryckman.

Sprints:

+ Heat Winner – Bob Cooney.

+ Main – Bruce Ferrier, 2. Jeff Macedo, 3. Bob Cooney, 4. Robert Cooney.

Dwarf Cars:

+ Heat Winners – #1 Joe Frock, #2 Nick Winters.

+ Main – 1. Joe Frock, 2. Dan Geil, 3. Nick Winters, 4. Christopher  Winters, 5. Roy Peterson, 6. Glen Sciaranni, 7. Kenny Martin, 8. Race Shelton, 9. Calvin Ryle, 10. Tim Fitzpatrick.

Hobby Stocks:

+ Heat Winners – #1 Dan Dias, #2 Dennis Buehn, #3 Jimmy Ray Huffman, #4 Bob Shank.

+ Main – 1. Randy Boyd, 2. Dan Dias, 3. Bob Shank, 4. Cody Morris, 5. Shane Ramthun, 6. Bob Vaden, 7. Rob Carey, 8. Steve McKellip, 9. Shane Boyd, 10. Cameron Knight, 11. Dennis Buehn, 12. Ray Miller, 13. Shayna Nieman, 14. Jeff Willis, 15. Tami Buehn, 16. Crystal Kotney, 17. Scott Tinney, 18. Jeff Tuttle, 19. Mikki Beuchat, 20. Jimmy Ray Huffmon, 21. Ronny Goetz, 22. Edwin Cedeno, 23. Chris Jiminez.

Street Stocks:

+ Heat Winner – Dillon Kintz.

+ Main – 1. Robert Vaden, 2. Shayna Nieman, 3. Trevor Quell, 4. A.J. Kintz, 5. Crystal Kotney, 6. Dillon Kintz, 7. Michael Burns, 8. Owen George  (DNS).

Super Stock 4:

+ Heat Winner – Dennis Crook.

+ Main – 1. Stephen Crook, 2. Steve Singley, 3. Dennis Crook, 4. Jesse James, 5. Galen Reese, 6. Tom Voukovich.

Gen-X:

+ Heat Winner – Josh Evans.

+ Main – 1. Travis Showe, 2. Josh Evans, 3. Sienna Burgess, 4. Colby  Russell, 5. Ryan Belli, 6. Jesse      Showe.

• Rattlesnake OutlawKarts

+ Beginner:

– Heat Winners: #1 Logan Goffinet, #2 Peyton Albury.

– Main: 1. Peyton Albury, 2. Jake Myers, 3. Logan Goffinet, 4. Adien Albury, 5. Kiley Detomasi, 6. Corbin Seay, 7. Michael Johnson, 8. Alexis McBroome (DQ).

+ Box Stock:

– Heat Winners: #1 Evan Gallarte, #2 Guage Felzke, #3 Brysyn Simeral.

– B Main: 1. Logan Cassel, 2. Saddie Galindo, 3. Aaliyah Galindo, 4. Tanner Danielson, 5. Ryatt Older, 6. Ragen Shupe, 7. Austin Enox, 8. Madison Felzke, 9. Hayden Leach, 10. Bo Taylor.

– A Main: 1. Evan Galarte, 2. Gage Felzke, 3. Brysyn Simeral, 4. Rowyn Shupe, 5. Ragen Shupe, 6. Shaylah Taylor, 7. Saddie Galindo, 8. Logan Cassel, 9. Ryatt Older, 10. Aaliyah Galindo, 11. Tanner Danielson (DQ), 12. Robert McBroome (DQ).

+ 250cc:

– Heat Winner: J.R. Meyers.

– Main: 1. Blake Rauscher, 2. Evan Rauscher, 3. J.R. Meyers (DNF), 4. Ollie Givvins (DQ), 5. Tommy Sorensen (DNS).

+ 500cc:

– Heat Winner: Jacob Dias.

– Main: 1. Jacob Dias, 2. Mike Tiehm (DNF), 3.Kevin Kentopp (DNF), 4. Chase Cassel (DQ).

PHOTO GALLERY: