LOVELOCK, NV (June 30) – The Lovelock Speedway bid June good-by with another race. Although the car count could have been better there was some good racing on this Nevada bullring.
Joel Meyers takes the checkered flag as he wins the IMCA Modified main.
After the Modified feature, winner Joel Myers said, “Robert (Miller) got under me in lap traffic. I knew the race was getting down to the end, they gave me the position back because the yellow came out and I just protected the bottom. Racing with Robert is unbelievable, the guy’s the best, he’s fun to race with, clean, we’ve never had any issues. It’s fun to race with such a gentleman for the win.”
Then thanked Ron and Sheri Tomas from CT Racing, Emmit, Stan, DeVilbiss Race Chassis, Mobility Systems and Lovelock Speedway.
When the Modified main began James Thibodeaux and J.D. Jurad led the charge but Joel Meyers used an outside charge to be second then take the lead.
James Thibodeaux (2jt) and J.D. Jurad led the charge when the Modified main began
The first caution came when Mark Skender had to slow for cars in Turn 2 and was collected by another driver. Fortunately all were able to continue.
On the green Meyers made short work of Thibodeaux while Andy Strait soon took over second. Behind them Robert Miller was working his way to the front.
Soon the race was divided into a pair of groups with the fast four pulling away from the slower five
Contact with another car broke the left front steering of Jurad’s car and he brought out the next caution. Now Meyer’s advantage disappeared.
On the green Meyers took off while Strait kind of got left and was now toward the back. Behind the leader Miller had moved into second while Skender had a problem so pulled onto the infield.
Due to lap traffic Miller actually took the lead but when he and Meyers came upon a slower car there was contact that send that driver sliding in Turn 1.
During the final lap of the Modified main, Robert Miller chased winner Joel Meyers to the ling.
At Lovclock the order reverts to the previous completed lap to Miller, after getting a warning, was put back to second. Once the green waved again Meyers was off and protected the inside line so he finished ahead of Miller at the end.
Behind the leaders Strait was able to work his way back to third ahead of fourth placed Thibodeaux.
Although there were only four Hobby Stock running they put on a good race, one where drivers had to figure out where the best place to run on the track was.
When the green waved Ray Davis was on point with Jeff Tuttle close behind. Shortly after that Davis got a left flat and apparently his car’s steering was damaged so a caution was called.
After Davis was towed to the pits the race began anew but was cut down to 15-laps rather than original 20.
Up front Tuttle was on point with Rusty McMillan giving chase. Michael Burns was holding down third not far behind.
Eventually McMillan found he car worked best up high so he used that line and eventually took the lead. Tuttle kept trying the low and shorter line but had some problems with slick spots.
Rusty McMillan took the lead on the final lap and won the Hobby Stock main.
With one lap to go McMillan took charge, used the inside line and went from third to the lead, which won him the race. Burns ended up second ahead of Tuttle.
“It was a rough one but I was just taking my time,” McMillan said. “Just watching everybody’s lines and seeing what I could do. One and two was really bad it was slick, pushing us off the track and three and four wasn’t so bad. They slid up the track so I took my opportunity, it’s my first win.”
Then he thanked Jeff and Chris, his crew members that built his car and motor. And the thanked his wife Ashley McMillan and daughter Hailee.
The Northern Winged Sprints had the night on their schedule but unfortunately only three cars were present and two of them are from Lovelock.
When their main began Jeff Macedo was briefly in the lead until Bob Cooney swept past him. Running third was Wade Lumdsen.
It was a race long chase but in the end, Cooney took the win with Macedo not far behind him while Lumdsen was a distant third.
For Cooney it hopefully marked a turn around in his fortunes as he lost a driveline during the heat race.
Bob Cooney wins the Sprint Car main.
Asked about the race Cooney said, “Well with all the trouble I’ve been having in the last three weeks, it was pretty good,” he said. “I lost the drive line in the heat and put a longer one in it but it was a good race.”
Then he thanked his brother Jack, son Robert and his son. He added Cooney Phillips Racing, Bob’s Farm Supply, Northern Nevada Internet and the Powder Man.
Five Gen-X cars showed up and when their feature began Kevin Reuter and Travis Showe were leading the way. Then Robert Blankenship used an inside move to grab second and an outside move in Turn 3 to grab the lead.
Right after that Kevin Reuter slowed and headed for the pits. Soon after that Showe hit one of the tires that mark the course and broke his car’s steering.
After Showe was towed away racing resumed with Blankenship motoring off into the next Zip Code. A bit later after that Kevin Reuter pulled onto the infield and his race was over.
Robert Blankenship wins the Gen-X main event.
Behind the leader Robert Crane and Jon Gibbins had a dandy duel for second right to the end of the race. Up front Blankenship scored the victory followed by Gibbins and Crane.
Next up for the Speedway is the annual Lovelock Frontier Days, July 27/28, which has races both Friday and Saturday night. It’s also a stop for the Nevada Pro Stock Association so should be two wild nights of action.
REPORTER’S NOTE:
- There is a photo gallery after the results.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
- NASCAR visited Chicagoland Speedway this weekend. Kyle Busch won Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race after starting 16th while his brother Kurt started fourth but ended up 17th.
• Remember this reporter will be on Teresa’s Garage Radio Show on Tuesday. The show runs from 2 until 3 p.m. and covers all things automotive.
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RESULTS:
Lovelock Speedway – June 30
- IMCA Modifieds:
+ Heat #1: 1. Andy Strait, 2. Robert Miller, 3. James Thibodeaux, 4. Mark Skender, 5. Unlisted.
+ Heat #2: 1. Joel Myers, 2. Alec Childs, 3. Shawn LeRoque, 4. J.D. Jurad.
+ Main (25-Laps): 1. Joel Myers, 2.Robert Miller, 3. Andy Strait, 4. James Thibodeaux, 5. Alec Childs, 6. Shawn LaRoque, 7. Unlisted, 8. Mark Skender.
• Hobby Stocks:
+ Heat: 1. Jeff Tuttle, 2. Rusty McMillan, 3. Ray Davis, 4. Michael Burns.
+ Main (15-Laps): 1. Rusty McMillan, 2. Michael Burns, 3. Jeff Tuttle.
DNF: Ray Davis.
• Sprint Cars:
+ Heat: 1. Jeff Macedo, 2. Wade Lumdsen.
DNF: Bob Cooney.
+ Main (15-Laps): 1. Bob Cooney, 2. Jeff Macedo, 3. Wade Lumdsen.
• Gen-X:
+ Heat: 1. Robert Crane, 2. Robert Blankenship, 3. Travis Showe, 4. Jon Gibbins.
DNF: Kevin Reuter.
+ Main (15-Laps): 1. Robert Blankenship, 2. Jon Gibbins, 3. Robert Crane.
DNF: Kevin Reuter, Travis Showe.
PHOTO GALLERY:
