SUSANVILLE, CALIF. (March 26) — Diamond Mountain Speedway in Susanville, California opened its season with a good car count and some hard racing.
There were a few “first race of the season,” things but the crew worked around those. As a result the night ran a bit long but everyone was glad to be back on the track again.
After a series of heats to set the mains everyone was ready as soon as the track maintenance was completed and the order set. Then it was time to open the 2022 season.
First up were the IMCA Stock Cars. On the green Terry Kennemore lead the charge with Rusty McMillan giving chase. After eight laps there was a caution and the race, due to time constraints was reduced to 15-laps.
On the green Kennemore took off but close behind were McMillan and Jesse Gonzalez. Eventually McMIllan used an inside move in Turn 2 to take over the point. There would be one more caution that slowed things down.
When the green waved again McMillan was on point with Gonzalez giving chase. In the end they finished in that order.
When the trophies were presented Rusty McMillian said, “I was in Sport Mods but now I’m in IMCA Stocks. That was a blast, the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Made me happy to be racing again.”
Then he thanked his wife, daughter, parents as well as Campell, Alex, Tagger and Jay Bradley, who built the car’s motor.
Next up were the Mini Stocks and they had a pretty good field. On the green Tom Davis lead Travis Showe, NickBoucher and Jeff Tuttle.
It only took the leaders about three circuits before they began to pass lappers. On Lap 6 there was a caution due to a spin in Turn 2.
On the restart Davis took off with Boucher and Showe close behind. Next caution came on lap 10 ad was followed by another one but in the end Davis scored the victory with Showe not far behind.
When the Street Stock main began Carl Barlow took over the lead with Randy Boyd close behind in second. Behind the leaders Royce Goetz came from fifth to third.
For one driver this was a big night as 8-year-old Grayson Olschowka, and yes he’s that young, was driving in his first ever race. Eventually he would go over the Turn 4 banking, causing a caution, but could not restart as the car’s battery had died so he was pushed to the pits.
On the restart Steve Gordon led Boyd but Goetz made this into a three-way duel for the point. Only a few laps later Gordon spun out of the lead and that gave it to Goetz.
When the green waved Goetz took off with Boyd and Barlow now giving chase. Two more cautions slowed things with the latter involving two cars into the backstretch wall while another had gone over the Turn 2 banking, that driver was able to get back on the track.
The tow truck had to be summoned so help separate both cars that were in the wall. Due to the time the race was cut to 12-laps. After the restart Goetz was again on point as he headed a 5-car duel for the lead. In the end however Goetz claimed the victory.
He drove to the awards ceremony with his 3-year-old daughter. “We came from fifth, I just had to play a little bit of mind games with everybody,” he said. “Once I played some mind games the track came to me and we were doing good. Track was excellent, they always do a good job here.”
Then he thanked Royce Goetz Racing, Winning Attitude Motorsports and Gold Fuss Racing Shocks.
Dwarf Cars were next and, due to the pill draw, Joe Frock was on pole. When the green waved he took off with Dan Geil giving chase.
There was a caution when a car stalled on the back -stretch. After checking the tow truck was summoned and the car taken back to the pits.
On the restart Frock took off but behind him there was a pretty good race for second between Dan Geil and Isaak Geil. In the end Frock scored another victory at the track.
After the race Frock said, “We had a great car tonight and with starting on the pole, made for an uneventful race. I was just focused on making some consistent laps and we laid down some really good times.
“The track was really well prepared. Always enjoy coming to Diamond Mountain Speedway, Jeff and his staff do an excellent job. I’d like to thank my crew guy John Randall and my sponsors R&J Landscaping, Wild Island, Nieman Metal Works, Damron Racing, Zoomaluma Graphics, DRI, Pro Mechanix, Vossfab B&B and Hooked Up Performance.”
Sport Mods were on track next. On the green Ryan Peerey led the charge with Tyler Rodgers, Keith Foux and Cole Olexiewicz giving chase.
However there was a 4-car scramble in Turn 3 so a restart was ordered. Next time the green waved Peery took off with Rodgers giving chase.
Two more cautions slowed the pace but each time Peery held off all challengers. After the last restart Peery was on point with Rodgers, Olexiewicz and Jimmy Ray Huffman giving chase.
In the last laps Peery extended his lead and scored the victory and they finished in that order.
Asked about the race Peery said, “It was pretty good, I had it locked down around the bottom and never seen anyone else coming. I was told I had more than a straightaway lead after every restart so I knew I had it covered.”
Then he thanked Blue Fog Realty, Blue Fog Realty, Paradise Painting, A&J Farms, and his father for he does for him.
The night ended with the A Modifieds and when the green waved local Riley Simmons was on point with Jeffrey Hudson and Chris Nieman chasing him. Eventually Nieman took the lead but there was a caution and the order reverted.
On the restart Simmons was on point again with Nieman and Hudson chasing. There would be two more cautions and Hudson fell into the clutches of Gen Kay so they dueled for third.
Toward the front Nieman continued to chase Simmons as they tore around the track. Eventually both Simmons and Nieman were lapping slower traffic and that increased the gap between them.
That was erased by a late 3-car tangle in Turn 3. Due to one jumping the start the field was sent around again for the green. This time Simmons took off followed by Nieman, Hudson and Kay, they would finish in that order.
At the awards ceremony on the front straight Simmons said, “You know I kind of got out there was riding and doing my own racing. Kept having the restarts and them guys tried to pass me even before we took the green. We won it anyway so good start to the year.”
This was an emotional victory for Simmons.
“One of our really good friends passed away this last year,” he said, “Bob Feller was a big supporter of my group and I really miss him. We did a parade lap for him earlier and it was really cool.”
Simmons also thanked sponsors Reno Rock Transport, NAPA and FOCR.
Next up for the track is a two-day show, April 8 and 9 which are Friday and Saturday.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• For those planning to race with VORRA at the Hawthorne 275 registration is now open.
• Teresa’s Garage Radio Show is on the air from 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. In northwest Nevada, it can be heard over the air at 1060 AM.
There is also a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm or it can be seen live on Face Book. The show is focused on all things automotive, trends, new developments and trivia.
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RESULTS: Diamond Mountain Speedway – March 26
+ A Mods:
– Heat Winners: #1 Riley Simmons, #2 Jeffery Hudson,
– (Feature): 1. Riley Simmons, 2. Chris Nieman, 3. (83r) Jeffrey Hudson, 4. (3n) Gene Kay, 5. Scott Foreman, 6. Wade Kennemore, 7. Cole Jones, 8. Tyler Patzke, 9. Paul Stevens, 10. Jeff White, 11. Nevin Kennemore, 12. Kate Robertson, 13. Larry McCracken, 14. Matt Murphy, 15. Rob Robles, 16 Casey Nickerson.
+ Sport Mods:
-Heat Winners: #1 Tyler Rodgers, #2 Ryan Peery.
-(Feature): 1. Ryan Peery, 2. Tyler Rodgers, 3. Cole Olexiewicz, 4. Jimmy Ray Huffmon, 5. Richard Longacre, 6. Colton Chew, 7. Keith Foux, 8. Jace Wright, 9. Bion Wright, 10. Shayna Nieman, 11. Dustin Langston, 12. Ray Talevera, 13. Chad Wormington.
+ Dwarf Cars:
– Heat Winners: #1 Isaak Geil, #2 Joe Frock.
– (Feature): 1. Joe Frock, 2. Dan Geil, 3. Isaak Geil, 4. Glenn Sciarani, 5. Chris Christiano, 6. William Christiano, 7. Jeff Foster, 8. William Lewin, 9. Unknown.
+ Mini Stocks:
– Heat Winners: #1 Travis Showe, #2 Tom Davis.
– (Feature): 1. Tom Davis, 2. Travis Showe, 3. Anthony Hovland, 4. Nick Boucher, 5. Jeff Tuttle, 6. Lary Whitebird, 7. Andi Hast, 8. Joe Marlow, 9. Brian Smith, 10. Bob Kelly, 11. Michael Boyd, 12. Larry Foster, 13. Addison Humphrey.
+ Street Stocks:
– Heat Winners: #1 Randy Boyd, #2 Craig Nieman, #3 Rocky Goetz.
– (Feature): 1. Royce Goetz, 2. Aaron Flournoy, 3. Carl Barlow, 4. Steve Gordon, 5. Rocky Goetz, 6. Joe Conroy, 7. Craig Nieman, 8. Eon Deiter, 9. J.T. Stark, 10. Unknown, 11. Taggart Garland, 12. Logan Sage, 13. Randy Boyd, 14. Ryan Parkhurst, 15. Angela Dias, 16. Greg McCully, 17. David Flournoy, 18. Rachael Goetz, 19. Richie Altman, 20. Jeff Willis, 21. Grayson Olschowka.
– DNS: Scott Longmire, Jacob Dias.
+ IMCA Stock Car:
– Heat Winners: #1 Terry Kennemore, 2. Jesse Gonzalez.
– (Feature): 1. Rusty McMillan, 2. Jesse Gonzalez, 3. Richard Longacre, 4. Terry Kennemore, 5. Mikki Beuchat, 6. Colby Russell, 7. George Markle, 8. Gary Huhtala, 9. Alex Kniestedt.
