QUINCY, CALIF. (Aug. 13) – American Valley Speedway ends the Plumas County Fair with a traditional race on Sunday night. Fans that came over from the fair were treated to an evening of hard, fast racing on this oval.
Cory Sample, after finishing second many times, finally get a win at American Valley Speedway.
“Been coming here for a while and finally got the win here,” Cory Sample said after climbing out of his IMCA Modified. “You know what, I’d race with Jeff (Olschowka) any day of the week, he gave me plenty of room and from my seat it was a hell of a race. I think he was kind of getting moisture on top and he’s able to roll around there and it was tough and he didn’t make it easy.”
Then he thanked his mother, father, girlfriend Vickie and Kyle the pit guy.
When the green flag waved sending the 16 Modifieds off Olschowka led the charge into Turn 1. Things then slowed as two cars tangled in that same turn.
By now Sample had rocketed into second and when the field took off again it became a two-man battle for the lead and probably win. Not that far behind Chris Nieman held down third place.
While the top three were close at the beginning Olschowka and Sample soon pulled a gap on everyone as they continued their private battle. When they caught slower traffic they’d either go around on the same side or slice past on either side.
For a long time Sample seemed to have the advantage going into the corners but Olschowka had a better drive coming out and entering the straights.
Then after a bit of side-by-side racing Sample finally used an inside move to take the point with five to go. He, Olschowka and Nieman finished in that order.
After the race Olschowka said, “We’ve been working on the outside line, Curt (Neiman the promoter.) has been working to get the track better. It’s a lot better than it’s been in a long so hopefully it will put on good races like that. He (Sample) was there every lap so it was good the whole time.”
Then he thanked his wife for putting up with the racing as well as the in-laws, his father and sponsor Icon Pistons, Steve Gordon, Mill Creek Fish and Chips, NAPA and others that help the effort.
Although he tried Chris Nieman wound up solo in third as no one could catch him and he couldn’t catch the leaders.
In the victory ceremony he said, “It was a good race, we weren’t quite as good as the first two guys but it was all right.”
Then he thanked Dan Fisher, his father and all those that help out.
The Northern Sports Mods staged the most emotional and frightening main of the night.
For two drivers things went wrong even before the green first when Mike Helvig had to pit during the parade laps then Brittney Neiman stopped on the front stretch with suspension problems and had to be towed to the pits.
On the green Jimmy Ford and Craig Nieman took off only that have that start called back after Jason Emmot spun before the field completed a lap.
Right after the green waved again two cars tangled coming out of Turn 2 and that sent the car of Tom Froggett over the wall.
Officials stopped the race as they rushed to Froggett’s aid. His car wound up on it’s side after clipping a trailer parked close to the outside of that wall.
During the fair people can pay to camp there and fortunately those around the trailer were on one side of it when the incident happened.
Promoter Curt Nieman operates the crane lifting the car of Tom Froggett back onto the track.
Thankfully Froggett’s safety equipment did its job, he didn’t suffer any major injuries and was soon out of the car. Promoter Curt Nieman then got a boom truck to lift the car back on to the track where it was towed to the pits.
When the race restarted Ford was again in the lead with Nieman giving chase. Behind them Joe Wood and Emmot were engaged in a race long duel for third.
Wood eventually fell out after his car lost a spring so Emmot ended up third.
Up front Ford was able to pull a gap and raced across the line to win the race with Nieman second.
Jimmy Ford heads for the flag as he wins the Sport Mod main. He then dedicated it to a friend lost a month ago in a traffic accident.
For Ford it was a very emotion victory.
“This race is dedicated to Tina Jordon Frank, a good friend of mine, she passed away exactly a month ago today in Susanville in a car accident,” he said with tears in his eyes and emotion in his voice. “I told her husband Greg that I was going to win for her. I saw him (Nieman) a couple of times under me and everyone said not let him down low and he showed me some tricks in the heat race so I learned from him.”
Then he thanked his wife Tammy, car owner Marty, Greg Trainque and all the fans supporting the races.
It took two tries to get the Hobby Stock main rolling but things slowed when the car of Jimmy Ray Huffmon would up with its back end on top of the wall at the exit of Turn 2.
After it was pulled off he took his place for the restart but soon fell out. Up front the race was between Richard Longacre and Shayna Robertson.
There would be two more cautions that slowed the pace but up front it became a three-way duel for the lead and win when Mark Hain joined the battle.
In the closing laps Hain actually took over second only to lose it after trying to take the lead so he had to settle for third while Robertson ended up second behind winner Longacre.
The second biggest field of the night was in the Mini Stock division. A dozen of them started their main as Suzie Schmitt led the charge into Turn1.
No far behind were Hunter Merritt, Tyler Eckels and Colton Lawson but up front Schmitt seemed to have everything going her way. Back in the pack Larry Whitebird, who is usually a contender was moving through traffic toward the front.
Then with about six to go the leader’s advantage was erased by a caution that came after one car starting going very slowly.
On the restart Merritt used an outside pass to grab the lead while Eckels got the inside line and Schmitt fell back to third ahead of Lawson. They would finish in that order.
Next race for American Valley Speedway is on August 16th and there will be only one more in the season as the September 16th event has been canceled.
REPORTER’S NOTE: There is a photo gallery after the results.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
- As usual I will be on Teresa’s Garage radio show tomorrow around 2:15 p.m. but the show runs from 2 until 3 p.m.
Although it’s slanted towards women that are involved in the automotive trades or racing everyone can get something out of the show. Hope you’ll listen and the graphic has where you can listen or stream the show.
Teresa’s Garage graphic.
- Speaking of women motorcycle racers there will be a meet and greet for many of them competing in next week’s flat track races in Carson City.
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Our newest is Big Valley Honda and is the first dealer we have as a sponsor. They sell everything from motorcycles, UTV’s, ATV’s and about anything else things one could want.
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Sponsor PJ & Co Restaurant and Saloon located at 1590 Wells Avenue in Reno is familiar to most in the riding lifestyle.
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Concours Body Shop, owned by racer and race supporter Gil Grieve, is a business doing quality repair work on cars and trucks.
The business is located at 240 Telegraph Street in Reno and their website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
If you are into karting or want the most cost effective way to start racing then check out Nevada Kart Sport, our only full service kart shop in this region.
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RESULTS
American Valley Speedway – Aug. 13
Plumas County Fair Races
- IMCA Modifieds: 1. Cory Sample, 2. Jeff Olschowka, 3 Chirs Nieman, 4. Chase Nieman, 5. Scott Foremann, 6. Richard Papenhausen, 7. Erica Buhr, 8. Larry McCarcken, 9. Ryan Lauer, 10. Danny Lauer, 11. Jim Turner, 12. Jake Dewsbury, 13. Jim Smith, 14. Joe Blackwell, 15. James Riggs, 16. Dustin Sell.
• Sport Mod: 1. Jimmy Ford, 2. Craig Nieman, 3. Jason Emmot, 4. Joe Wood, 5. Tom Froggett, 6. Mike Helwing, 7. Brittney Nieman.
• Hobby Stock: 1. Richard Longacre, 2. Shayna Robertson, 3. Mark Hain, 4. Jim Erie, 5. Lance Bain, 6. Colby Russell, 7. Jimmy Ray Huffmon.
• Mini Stock: 1. Hunter Merritt, 2. Tyler Eckels, 3. Suzie Schmitt, 4. Colton Lawson, 5. Larry Whitebird, 6. Conner McMillian, 7. Mad Maddy, 8. Fred Kreske, 9. Ryan Hunter, 10. Billy Gibson, 11. Matt Canada, 12. Kate Robertson.
PHOTO GALLERY:
