FALLON, NV (Sept. 10) — Rattlesnake Raceway ended the 2022 points season with a Friday/Saturday show. Saturday ended with a memorial race dedicated to a former driver and a large payout to the Hobby Stock winner.
The IMCA Stock Cars got the night’s feature races started. On the green Jesse Gonzales jumped into the lead with the pack chasing him. There was a quick caution after a car spun in Turn 4 but got going again.
When racing resumed “Rocketman” Gonzalez took off with Marie Curtis giving chase. It was an easy victory for Gonzalez while Curtis, after a strong run, ended up second ahead of Mikki Beuchat ended up third.
Four mini trucks were on hand and they were classed as Street Stocks. When the green waved Wyatt Lakin took off while Howard Miller gave chase.
There was one caution during the race. That’s when one of the trucks was stuck on the infield and needed a push to get going again.
From that point on Lakin was in cruise control and claimed the victor. Howard Miller ended up second ahead of third place Page Miller.
Only eight A Mods took the green flag and Wade Lumsden was on point when their feature began. Then Dave Sciarroni slipped into the lead.
Behind them Shawn Natenstedt, who started in the back had moved into second. After a quick caution Sciarroni and Natenstedt led the pack.
Soon Natenstedt found an opening and as they tore down the backstretch he grabbed the lead. There would be one more caution when Tyler Jones spun in Turn 4.
In the end Natenstedt won the race followed by runner up Lumsden and Melissa Natenstedt while Katelynn Robertson was fourth.
A dozen Gen-X or Mini Stocks took the green and Kaden Beuchat briefly led until Joseph Cook took the point. Soon after the start three cars tangled in Turn 4.
There was a long caution for the clean up that ended with one car being pushed to the pits while another had to be towed away. When the green waved again Joseph Cook was on point with Mike Miller giving chase.
Lap after lap these two had their own private race while Colton Blankenship held down third. In the end the closest finish of the night came when Cook reached the checkered flag with Miller inches from his back bumper. Blankenship was third followed by fourth place Kent Knisley.
When the Sport Mod feature began Jason Jovanelly was on point with Ray Ballard giving chase. Unfortunately Jovanelly wound up on the infield, causing a caution, which gave the lead to Ballard.
In the first part of the race there were five cautions but up front points leader Shayna Nieman had taken the lead. On one restart Brysyn Simeral tried to get the lead but Nieman held on to the position.
She would hold off all challengers and end her season not only with a victory but the class championship.
Only four Bootleggers took the green when their feature began. Up front Sheri Hollis and Ray Blankenship were side-by-side going into Turn 1.
Soon Blankenship took the point and soon had point’s leader Bob Vaden giving chase. Unfortunately Joseph Keough fell out of the race.
Up front Vaden was doing his best to try and run down leader Blankenship. In the end Blankenship won the night and took the victory lap.
Vaden, who won the class championship also took a victory lap of honor. He began racing at age 17 and not the 54-year-old is hanging up his helmet for good although he intends to help some other racers.
Next up was the big race of the night, the Dennis Johnson Memorial that honored a former competitor. This was an open race so cars from other tracks were invited as long as they conformed to the rules of their home tracks.
When the night started there were 32 cars so it took four heat races and a C as well as a B main to set the final field. Before the green waved the field did a 4-wide salute to the fans.
Heading to the green the 24-car field covered all of Turns 3 and 4. Up front Jacob Dias was on point but soon thing slowed when the car of Richie Altman nosed into the wall.
On the green Richard Italiano used an inside pass to grab the lead. Then there was another scramble and the back bumper of Italiano’s car was almost torn lose. The track crew removed it but he soon headed for the pits and was out of the race.
Later there would be a 4-car scramble in Turn 2 then another car stalled before the green came back out. After that the race settled down as Randy Boyd took over the point.
Soon after that he was being challenged by Jesse “Rocketman,” Gonzalez. A few later laps later Gonzalez used an outside move to take over the lead. After that he and Boyd left everyone one in their wake.
At the checkered Gonzalez took the victory with Boyd second. Behind them Dan Jinkerson was third followed by fourth place Jacob Dias.
After taking his victory lap with the checkered flag Gonzalez said, “It was fun buddy, it was a lot of fun. I can’t the crew at Fallon at Rattlesnake Raceway for putting this on. Rusty McMillan and Alex and everybody else that put their blood sweat and tears into this place to get us to where we have tonight. It was great, my hat’s off to them.”
While he won it took some work on his part.
“I’m getting past that last restart and Randy Boyd was second row outside. He got Jacob on the start and I’m like “oh shoot.” Then the leader spun out in front of Randy, they bottlenecked us up so it’s okay,” Gonzalez said. “I was watching Randy and he started over driving the car a little bit. Just kept waiting for him to make a big enough mistake and I got him. Just had to do it as it was there.”
Then he thanked car owners Chuck and Laura Davis as well as Colton from Colt’s Speed Shop, his cousin Ben Gonzalez and Competition Carburation from a great carburetor.
Then he said, ”Chuck, can’t thank him enough for giving me a good car, this car is great. We threw everything at it but the kitchen sink and a loose nut behind the wheel and we got it done tonight.”
During the tech part on the front straight Robert Vaden gave Royce Goetz the “Hard Luck,” trophy. His good run was derailed when he was put into the wall although he came from the back to finish 8th.
Finally after his car was weighed and found legal Gonzalez got the winner’s trophy and check for the victory.
• When the dust settled the 2022 class champions were known. They are; Bootleggers – Robert Vaden, Gen-X-Cooper Lee, Hobby Stocks – Angela Dias, B Mods – Shayna Nieman, IMCA Stock Cars – Jesse Gonzalez, A Mods – Wade Lumsden. Congratulations to all of them.
Next up for the track is the annual Dirt Track Champions on October 8 and 9. It’s a Saturday Night, Sunday afternoon weekend of racing.
REPORTERS NOTE: The results from both nights are at the end of this article.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Wednesday, from 5 until 9 p.m. is another cruise-in at the Sparks A&W. Only three more to go for this year and as usually there is music and prizes.
• From Thursday through Saturday the Topaz Lodge, from 8 until 3 p.m. is having a Show ‘N Shine.
• 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.
SPONSOR LIST:
• 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 up on the site.
We now have five very appreciated sponsors supporting this site. Please patronize them as they support your sport and help nvracingnews continue. And let them know you heard about them through this site.
• One of our sponsors is General Transmission and Power Train Specialists owned by former motorcycle racer Pete Attashian. The shop is located at 2515 Sutro Street in Reno, a few blocks below Hug High School.
The shop services older and new transmissions and now has a section for high performance units and those used in towing. Phone number is 775-786-5888 and the shop’s website is www.generaltransmissionreno.com.
Two of our sponsors are first class motorcycle shops located in Reno.
• Our first sponsor is Reno Motorsports (RMS). Not only do they have about anything a rider might want or need and the store also has a full service shop.
Their location is at 964 Terminal Way, by the intersection with Mill Street. Store’s phone number is 775-322-1499 and the site is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
• The next shop is Moto-Source located at 3180 Mill Street. Once again they are a full service shop plus the showroom has about any thing a rider might need or want.
The phone number is 775-856-3855 and the website is, www.moto-source.com.
• Concours Body Shop, located at 250 Telegraph Street in Reno, is another sponsor. The shop does quality collision repair for cars and trucks.
Owner Brian Saul is a car enthusiast himself and is committed to continuing the shop’s reputation of quality work. Phone number is 775-329-4557 and the website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
• Hungry, want a great place to eat, then try PJ&CO for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and it’s a great place to watch your favorite sports. Wednesday evenings, starting around 5 p.m. is Bike Night, good time to meet fellow riders and have a great dinner.
The location is 1590 South Wells Avenue, just north of the round about. Phone number is 775-323-6366 and their website is www.pjandco.net.
Have a business targeted toward motorsports or car enthusiasts? This site is a great way to expose your services to those communities. Sponsorships are very reasonable and one can contact us either through the comment section of this site or on our Face Book page.
RESULTS:
RATTLESNAKE RACEWAY:
• Saturday, September 10:
+ Mini Stocks:
– Heat Winners: #1 Jeff Tuttle, #2 Cooper Lee.
– Main: 1. Joseph Cook, 2. Mike Miller, 3. Colton Blankenship, 4. Kent Knisley, 5. Cooper Lee, 6. Bryle Parsley, 7. Kaden Beuchat.
– DNS: Emanuel Mello, Mikki Beuchat, Jeff Tuttle, Ryan Stevenson, Jerome Kleve.
+ Street Stocks (Trucks):
– Heat Winner: Wyatt Lakin.
– Main: 1. Wyatt Lakin, 2. Howard Miller, 3. Page Miller.
– DNF: Emanuel Mello.
Hobby Stocks:
– Heat Winners: #1 Russell Murphy, #2 Dan Jinkerson, #3 Oroville Owens, #4 Don Deiter.–
– C Feature: 1. Carl Barlow, 2. Taylor DeCarlo, 3. Brandon Carpenter, 4. Ryan Murphy, 5. Ray Elder, 6. Angela Dias, 7. Clayton Holloway, 8. Dan Wilder.– DNS: Dan Edgigton, Dwayne Inlow.
– B Feature: 1. Steve Stringer, 2. Jason Robles, 3. Joe Conroy, 4. Dan Dias, 5. Mike Murphy, 6. Tony Palmieri, 7. Brian Maehler, 8. Ryan Parkhurst.
– DNF: John Duncan.
– DNS: Les Friend.
– A Feature: 1. Jesse Gonzalez, 2. Randy Boyd, 3. Dan Jinkerson, 4. Jacob Dias, 5. Jason Robles, 6. Madison Hood, 7. Steve Stringer, 8. Royce Goetz, 9. Joe Conroy, 10. Taylor DeCarlo, 11. Ryan Murphy, 12. Dan Dias, 13. Mike Murphy, 14. Don Deiter, 15. Tony Palmieri, 16. Antela Dias, 17. Oroville Owens, 18. Ray Elder, 19. Carl Barlow, 20. Jimmy Berhorst, 21. Russell Murphy, 22. Richard Italiano, 23. Richie Altman, 24. Brandon Carpenter.
+ Bootleggers:
– Heat Winner: Bob Vaden.
– Main: 1. Ray Blankenship, 2. Bob Vaden, 3. Shari Hollis.
– DNF: Joseph Keough.
+ Sport Mods:
– Heat Winner: Shayna Nieman.
– Main: 1. Shayna Nieman, 2. Brysyn Simeral, 3. Ray Ballard, 4. Stuart Satathite, 5. Mark Hain.
– DNF: Logan Sage, Jason Jovanelly, Beau Reynolds.
IMCA Mods:
– Heat Winner: Shawn Natenstedt.
– Main: 1. Shawn Natenstedt, 2. Dave Sciarroni, 3. Melissa Natenstedt, 4. Wade Lumsden, 5. Katelynn Robertson.
– DNF: Tyler Jones.
– DNS: Les Friend.
+ IMCA Stock Cars:
– Heat Winner: Marie Curtis.
– Main: 1. Jesse Gonzalez, 2. Marie Curtis, 3. Mikki Beuchat, 4. Taggart Garland.– DNS: Jeff Olschowka, Rusty McMillan.
• Friday, September 9:
MINI STOCKS:– Heat Winners: #1 Cooper Lee, #2 Joseph Cook.
– Main: 1. Jeff Tuttle, 2. Kaden Beuchat, 3. Mike Miller, 4. Cooper Lee, 5. Kent Knisley, 6. Joseph Cook, 7. Howard Miller, 8. Jerome Kleve.
– DNF: Colton Blankenship.
– DNS: Thomas Jensen, Brylee Parsley.
+ Street Stock:
– Heat Winner: Wyatt Lakin.
– Main: 1. Wyatt Lakin, 2. Page Miller, 3. Howard Miller.– DNF: Trinity Jackson.
+ Hobby Stock:
– Heat Winners: #1 Jesse Gonzalez, #2 Jacob Dias.
– Main: 1. Les Friend, 2. Jesse Gonzalez, 3. Brayden Stepper, 4. Richie Altman, 5. Oroville Owens, 6. Ryan Murphy, 7. Jacob Dias, 8. Don Deiter, 9. Dan Dias, 10. Jimmy Berhorst, 11. Brandon Carpenter, 12. Clayton Holloway, 13. Ray Elder, 14. Dan Wilder, 15. Angelia Dias.
– DNF: Madison Hood.
+ Bootleggers:
– Heat Winner: Ray Blankenship.
– Main: 1. Ray Blankenship, 2. Bob Vaden, 3. Joseph Keough.
+ Sports Mods:
– Heat Winner: Jason Jovanelly.
– Main: 1. Jason Jovanelly, 2. Stuart Satathite, 3. Shayna Nieman, 4. Logan Sage.
+ IMCA Mods:
– Heat Winner: Shawn Natenstedt.
– Main: 1. Shawn Natenstedt, 2. Wade Lumsden, 3. Dave Sciarroni, 4. Les Friend.– DNF: Melissa Natenstedt, Katelynn Robertson.
+ IMCA Stock Cars:
– Heat Winner: Jesse Gonzalez.
– Main: 1. Jesse Gonzalez, 2. Marie Curtis, 3. Mikki Beuchat, 4. Rusty McMillan, 5. Jeff Olschowka, 6. Taggart Garland, 7.Craig Nieman.
