QUINCY, CALIF. (June 9) – Before the annual 4th of July break American Valley Speedway hosted another points race this weekend. There was some close racing and the Sport Mod class may have had the closest finish ever.
When the green waved on the 15-lap main Tom Froggatt lead the charge with Brittney Nieman second. As the field headed down the back straight Richard Longacre used an inside move to take the point.
The first caution came when Longacre spun then on the restart he came back to second only to stall in Turn 2 bringing out another caution.
There would be two other cautions and the lead was scrambled a couple of time as the leaders would get loose in the turns allowing others to get past them.
Tyler Echkles night ended when something in his car broke and he pulled onto the infield.
In the final laps there were only four cars left but up front Longacre was on point until the went wide in Turn 3 and allowed Froggatt to slip into the lead with Nieman not far behind in second.
The race ended with a side-by-side charge toward the checkered flag. From the visual it appeared that Froggatt won but the transponder scoring gave the nod to Nieman by two one thousands of a second.
The Sport Mod feature ended with a photo finish between Tom Froggatt (50) and Craig Nieman, who won by two one thousands of a second.
Later and after seeing a video both drivers agreed to abide by the transponder results. They might have made the closest finish in the track’s history.
Nine IMCA Modifieds took the green to start their 20-lap main event. However things immediately stopped when one of the cars went wide in Turn 4 and ended up on top of the K-rail.
After a tow truck was able to get the car off the barrier the field formed up and took the green again.
Like the first time Buddy Walberg lead the charge with Larry McCarcken close behind. Behind them the duo of Chris Nieman and Jeff Olschowka set their sights on second place.
Jim Smith’s night went sour when he spun in Turn 2 but since he was inside the tires that mark the corner there was no caution. He lost several laps getting restarted.
While Walberg was extending his lead the three-way duel for second was heating up. Finally Olschowka faded to third but Nieman was keeping the pressure on McCracken.
In the end Walberg reached the checkered flag first while McCracken ended up in second place only a half second before Nieman reached the line.
After winning the IMCA main Buddy Walberg waves to the crowd of fans.
After taking the victory Walberg said, “The car felt great, Richard (Papenhausen) helped me set it up this week and it was on a rail.”
Then he thanked Papenhausen for his help, his wife Jamie as well as everybody that helps him.
Second place McCracken then said, “We gave it everything we could to try and keep up with him (Walberg) but you know what, this is the best finish we’ve ever had here and the car is faster. So I think we’re going to be doing good here.”
Then he thanked his sponsors NAPA, Les Schwab Tires, Sierra Desert Properties as well as his fans and family that show up and support him.
Battle for second in the IMCA main as Chris Nieman chases Larry McCracken.
Asked if he knew how close Nieman was, he said,, “I could see him and kept trying to pinch him down. Yea he was there.”
Then third place Nieman said, “It was a good race, you had to run the top over here in 1 and 2 so I couldn’t try the bottom, just didn’t have enough to get him on the bottom.”
After that he thanked Lonnie, Jack, Dan, his grandmother and everybody that helps him.
Unfortunately, mainly due to problems, needed repairs and others having to work, only three Dwarf Cars were present.
Joe Frock won both his heat and the main but Glen Sciarani did make a race of it. At first Sciarani was on point but eventually Frock took the lead and sailed off to claim the victory followed by Sciarani and Kenny Martin.
Later Frock said, “The turn out was dismal at best but a lot of guys have motor problems and work commitments. The track was really nice and smooth, had a good low line and top line. Glen was doing really good, he had the bottom all locked up so I tried the top and it was just as good.”
Then he thanked Wild Island, Damron Racing Las Vegas and R&J Landscaping.
When the 15-lap Hobby Stock main began James Huffmon was on point followed by Rick Higby and Seaton Montgomery. Right at the first Huffmon had some kind of problem and fell back while Montgomery and Shayna Robertson were chasing the leader
Soon after that Montgomery made a mistake and Robertson grabbed the lead. There was one caution when Huffmon spin in Turn 2.
On the restart Robertson took off while Lance Bain moved into third. But at the end Robertson scored the victory followed by Huffmon and Bain.
Shayna Robertson won the Hobby Stock main.
The Mini Stock feature began with a three-wide charge into the first turn with Annie Froggatt in the lead. By the time they exited Turn 2 Kate Robertson had the point,
Soon after that there was a caution when Johnny Moya slowed on the front straight. The restart ended as quickly as it began when James Wooddell wound up in the wall.
Wooddell was allowed to compete even though he was racing a Mini Mod rather than the usual Mini Stock.
Once things got going Robertson and Froggatt took off then apparently hooked bumpers and came to a stop in Turn 2. Once they got untangled both had to go to the back of the field.
Next time when green waved James Wooddell took off but Robertson caught him. Going into Turn 1 she may have gotten a bit over eager and the resulting contact spun Woodell, which ended his night.
There would be at least one more caution but in the end Froggatt took the lead and the victory. Following her were Connor McMillian and Robertson while Billy Gibson was fourth.
Annie Froggatt wins the Mini Stock main.
Now the track is on a 5-week break for the traditional music festival but action on the oval resumes on July 14th.
REPORTER’S NOTE: There is a photo gallery after the results.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
- Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race at Michigan International Speedway was shortened by rain. At the end Las Vegas natives Kurt and Kyle Bush ended up third and fourth.
Kyle also ran in Saturday’s Xfinity race and while he started on the pole sixth is where he finished.
• This weekend three NNKC members raced at Prairie City for an All Start Karting event. Zach Rivera won his race while Harry Fisher and Andy Fecko had podium finishes.
This was a tune up for next week’s KPX event
• Remember Teresa’s Garage Radio Show can be heard or streamed on Tuesday afternoon from 2 until 3 p.m. The show covers all things automotive and at 2:15 I have a preview segment.
Teresa’s Garage Radio Show graphic.
If you enjoyed this article please “like,” and share it as widely as possible. Comments are welcome.
Subscribers have articles posted to their inbox as soon as they are on the site.
We now have five very appreciated sponsors that are helping support this site. Please patronize them as they support your sport.
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.
They are located at 2225 Market Street in Reno and their website is www.bigvalleyhonda.com and they have a Face Book page, www.facebook.com/bigvalleyhondareno.
Our first sponsor is a full service motorcycle shop, Reno Motorsports and they too have a full service shop as well as about anything a rider could want.
They are located at 964 Terminal way, by Mill Street and their website is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
Sponsor PJ & Co Restaurant and Saloon located at 1590 Wells Avenue in Reno is familiar to most in the riding lifestyle.
Good food, great place and they have Bike Night every Wednesday. For further information please check their website at, www.pjandco.net.
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.
The shop has moved to 894 Deming Way in Sparks and their website is, www.nevadakartsport.com.
Have a business targeted toward the motorcycle, motorsport or off road demographic? Well we are looking for more sponsors.
You can contact us either through the comment section of the site or our Face Book page.
RESULTS:
American Valley Speedway – June 9
+ IMCA:
+ Heat Winners: #1 Larry McCracken, #2 Chris Nieman.
+ Main (20-Laps): 1. Bud Walberg, 2. Larry McCracken, 3. Chris Nieman, 4. Jeff Olschowka, 5. Richard Papenhausen, 6. Chase Nieman, 7. Matt Murphy, 8.Galin Hainline, 9. Duane Cleveland, 10. Jim Smith.
Sport Mods:
+ Heat Winners: Craig Nieman.
+ Main (15-Laps): 1. Craig Nieman, 2. Tom Froggatt, 3. Jason Emmot, 4. Richard Longacre, 5. Brittney Nieman, 6. Tyler Eckles.
+ Dwarf Cars:
+ Heat Winner: Joe Frock.
+ Main (14-Laps): 1. Joe Frock, 2. Glen Sciarani, 3. Kenny Martin.
+ Hobby Stock:
+ Heat Winner: Shayna Robertson
+ Main (15-Laps): 1. Shayna Robertson, 2. James Huffmon, 3. Lance Bain, 4. Jim Erle, 6. Rick Higby, 7. Seaton Montgomery.
+ Mini Stock:
+ Heat Winner: #1 Connor McMillian, #2 Colton Lawson.
+ Main: 1. Annie Froggatt, 2.Connor McMillian, 3. Kate Robertson, 4. Billy Gibson, 5. Ray Taleeavera, 6. Colton Lawson, 7.James Woodell, 8. Johnny Moya, 9. Joe Marlow.
PHOTO GALLERY:
Could I please get a 8x 10 of 5° and the 7n car crossing the finish line at the June 11th race at American valley Speedway?? You can bring it to the track, the next race. I work in the pit trailer with Judi Madden
Sure. Would please mail me a check for $15 to
Dan McGee, P.O.Box 4704, Sparks, NV 89432. And make
the check out to Dan McGee.
I’ll deliver it when I’m down there for the Pro Stock
race.
Thanks – Dan