QUINCY, CALIF. (May 5, 2018) – This weekend American Valley Speedway in Quincy, Calif. hosted the 5th annual Dave Richardson & Leroy Kay Memorial Race. The event is also the Western States Dwarf Car Association Nationals and it drew around 60 of these little cars.
Gene Kay leads the entire field of Dwarf Cars as they honor his uncle Leroy and Dave Richardson, who were lost in accidents six years ago.
There is racing on Friday but the finals are run Saturday. Before the event got underway Kay’s nephew Gene Kay, who drove in a supporting race, led the field in a 4-wide salute to those two drivers that were lost six years ago.
After that things got going as there were some heats, a B main for the Pros as well as two dashes that set the top 10 for A mains in Vets and Pro division.
It would be a night of sweeps for the Dwarf Car winners.
After sweeping the Pro Class both nights Ryan Diatte said, “I started third and got the lead on lap two or three. The car was good, we were a little bit free towards the end. The track pretty much stayed the same all night, it did loosen up a little bit but we didn’t touch the car from the dash to the main. The biggest adjustment in dry slick is the driver so you have to adjust the way you’re driving and make it work.”
Diatte added that he got his first regional win at American Valley in 2011 and this was his second time back where he again put the car in victory circle. Then he thanked Tony with Advantage Motorsports , D and R Chassis, Diatte Racing Innovation as well as his wife Melissa and son Chase.
The running order for Saturday’s main was set by a dash so when the Pro main began Saturday Darren Brown and Shawn Jones were on the front row followed by Diatte and Joe Frock right behind them.
When the green waved Brown took off but when they started the second lap Diatte used an inside move to take the lead exiting Turn 2. Then Brown and Jones began to dispute second with Frock close behind them.
Soon Frock took over third as Brown held second while Diatte was putting distance between his car an the rest.
Somewhere past the halfway point Diatte started catching an passing slower cars and he continued on his way. Behind him Frock an Brown continued their duel over second place.
Two cautions slowed the pace and erase any advantage Diatte had over the others. But he still held the lead after each restart.
Ryan Diatte takes the checkered flag after winning Saturday’s Pro race. He also made it a sweep as he won on Friday night as well.
After the final green Diatte took off but this time Frock was in second with Brown on his back bumper. In the end Diatte won and made it two-for-two while Brown finished second ahead of Frock.
The Pro class was so large that after the heat races there was a B main to fill the field for their main event.
After a heat race and dash to set the top 10 the Veteran Division was set to go. On the front row Kevin Miragilo was on pole with Kevin Bender right beside him followed by the second row of Scott Dahlgren and Tim Fitzpatrick.
By the time the leaders ripped out of Turn 2 Bender took the point dropping Miragilo to second. Behind them the pack was engaged in some tight wheel-to-wheel racing.
A quick caution early in the race slowed things for just a few minutes. After that the race ran green to the checkered flag.
At one time the top four of Bender, Miragilo,MarkBiscardi and Mike Reeder were running close together. But in the end Bender was able to stretch his lead and won followedby Miragilo, Biscardi and Reeder.
Kevin Bender wins the Veteran main on Saturday and on Friday night.
After the racing was over Bender, who scored a sweep of the weekend, said, “I won last night too and I’ve won this race four years in a row. You know, the guy that sat on the pole did a little mistake I got greedy and took advantage of it. Didn’t hit, just took advantage of him. The track was perfect, I love dry slick, always have either at Fernley or Quincy.”
Then he thanked sponsors GM Specialities, Edwards Collision Studios, and Diatte Racing.
The smallest field was in the Sportsman Division as only five drivers were on hand. A heat race set the order and on the green Shawn Whitney took off and would never be headed although Sam Wren an Bailey Bell did their best to try and catch him; they would finish in that order.
Shawn Whitney won both Sportsman main events on Friday and Saturday.
For Whitney it was a sweep of the weekend and after the race he said, “The race was pretty good, car felt pretty good and Diatte helped me out with the suspension.”
Then he thanked Thompson Toyota GMC, Capitol Ace Hardware, Diatte Racing, Don and Connie as well as his family.
On Friday evening the Dwarfs ran a series of heats but in the end all the Saturday winners also scored victories on the first night.
The track’s regular classes supported the Dwarf Car show with two divisions racing each night.
Probably the most emotional victory came in Saturday’s IMCA main where 17 cars took the green. On point was Gene Kay, driving a car owned by Jeff Olschowka, followed by Bud Wallburg and Erica Buhr.
Chris Nieman joined the chase but up front Kay had the upper hand. Two cautions slowed the pace but each time the green waved Kay as off and running.
At the end Kay scored a narrow victory as Galin Hainline chased him across the finish line. They were followed by second and third place Nieman and Olschowka.
Gene Kay wins the IMCA main on Saturday as he’s chase across the finish line by Galin Hainline.
The Mini Stock man was won by Colton Lawson with Kate Robertson and Conner McMillian taking second and third.
Friday night’s Hobby Stock main was won by James Erie, who led from start to finish although runner up Shayna Nieman and third place Dias tried to make a race of it.
The IMCA Sport Mod race began with Jason Emmot leading but soon Craig Nieman took the point. In fact for most of the race Nieman was on cruise control as he motored to victory followed by Brent Curran and Brittney Nieman.
Now the track crew gets a weekend off until the next schedule race on the evening of May 19th.
REPORTER’S NOTE: There is a photo gallery at the end of the results. Track photographer Kealey Froggatt was on hand Saturday so one might also check her site at, www.facebook.com/kfroggattphotography.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Several Northern Nevada racers were down south for the Silver State 300, a Best In The Desert race. Congratulations to the team of Brody Honea, Tallon Taylor and Gil Cooper for being first overall on Open Pro for the motorcycle group.
Other that did well were Reece Honea, Danny Cooper and Gil Cooper (Won 30+ Pro) as they ended up third other all. Eighth overall was the Open Pro team of Wyatt Brittner and Jason Alosi while, ninth overall were Open Pro riders Ricky ahlberg and Stephen Helms.
Finishing 11th overall in 30+ Pro were Chris Maas, John Lovie and Dan Capparelli. The team of Colton Scudder and Ian Prince, in Open Expert, were 17th overall while 21st overall, in 40+ Expert were Jeff Robertson, Dean Yale an Paul Ziegler.
In the four wheel 7300 class was the team of Chad Hall, Chris Woo and Austion Hall, who finished 89th overall.
• On Tuesday I will be on Teresa’s Garage Radio Show, which runs from 2 until 3 p.m. My preview segment comes on at 2:15, hope you’ll give us a listen.
Teresa’s Garage Radio Show graphic.
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RESULTS:
American Valley Speedway – Western States Dwarf Car Association Nationals
• Saturday, May 5:
Sportsman:
+ Main (15-Laps): 1. Shawn Whitney, 2. Sam Wren, 3. Bailey Bell, 4. Skip Wise, Justus Hester.
Veteran:
+ Dash: 1. Kevin Miragilo, 2. Kevin Bender, 3. Scott Dahlgren, 4. Tim Fitzpatrick, 5. Mark Biscardi, 6. Jack Haverty, 7. Kenny Martin, 8. Mike Reeder, 9. Buddy Olschowka, 10. Fred Hay.
+ Main (20-Laps): 1. Kevin Bender,2. Kevin Miragilo, 3. Mark Biscardi, 4. Mike Reeder, 5. Tim Fitzpatrick, 6. Scott Dahlgren, 7. Jack Haverty, 8. Steven Kapaun, 9. Glenn Sciarani, 10. Roy Petersen, 11. Kenny Martin, 12. Jeff Fitch, 13. Bryan Bender, 14. Dennis Hively.
DNS: Buddy Olschowka, Fred Hay, Wade Ehrlich, Dan Zuger.
Pro:
+ B Main (20-Laps): 1. Zach Price, 2. Shane Youngren, 3. Adam Teves, 4. Punky Pires, 5. Jeremiah Hester, 6. Chad Matthias, 7. Daniel Weger, 8. Mark Hanson, 9. Jessica Clark, 10. John Chrisman, 11. Guy Tow Jr., 12. Dustin Loughton, 13. Mikie Clark, 14. Josh Weisz, 15. Calvin Ryle, 16. Ron Jones, 17. Chris McCleary.
DNF: Brandon Gentry, Toby Brown, Brad Ernst, Brady Beck, Justin Yanez.
+ Dash: 1. Darren Brown, 2. Shawn Jones, 3. Ryan Diatte, 4. Joe Fock, 5. Michael Grenert, 6.Ryan Winter, 7. Danny Wagner, 8. Mac Marmon, 9. Tony Steffensmeier, 10. Ben Wiesz.
+ Main (30-Laps): 1. Tyan Diatte, 2. Darren Brown, 3. Joe Frock, 4. Mac Marmon, 5. Tony Steffensmeier, 6. Adam Teves, 7. Shawn Jones, 8. Danny Wagner, 9. Ryan Winter, 10. Zach Price, 11. Ben Wiesz, 12. Shane Youngren, 13. John Chrisman, 14. Jeremiah Hester, 15. Mikie Clark, 16. Daniel Weger, 17. Dustin Loughton, 18. Chad Matthias, 19. Punky Pires, 20. Michael Grenert, 21. Mark Hanson, 22. Guy Tow Jr., 23. Josh Weisz, 24. Jessica Clark.
IMCA Modified:
+ Main (20-Laps): 1. Gene Kay, 2. Galin Hainline, 3. Chris Nieman, 4. Jeff Olschowka, 5. Erica Buhr, 6. Matt Murphy, 7. Bud Wallburn, 8. Brian Lewis, 9. Dustin Jenks, 10. Chase Nieman, 11. Richard Papenhasuen, 12. Jim Smith, 13. Mark Skender, 14. James Rigs, 15. James Hight, 16. Joe Wood, 17. Unlisted.
Mini Stock:
+ Main (10-Laps): 1. Colten Lawson, 2. Kate Robertson, 3. Conner McMillian, 4. Fred Kresge, 5. Jonny Moya, 6. Chuck White, 7. Rider Christensen.
• Friday, May 4, 2018:
Sportsman:
+ Main (15-Laps): 1. Shawn Whitney, 2. Sam Wren, 3. Brad Ernst, 4. Skip Wise.
Veterans:
+ Main (20-Laps): 1. Kevin Bender, 2. Mike Reeder, 3. Steven Kapaun, 4. Glenn Sciarani, 5. Fred Hay, 6. Jack Haverty, 7. Bryan Bender, 8. Dennis Hively, 9. Mark Biscardi, 10. Scott Dahlgren, 11. Buddy Olschowka, 12. Tim Fitzpatrick.
Pros:
+ B Main: 1. Ryan Winter, 2. Shawn
Jones, 3. Punky Pires, 4. Guy Tow Jr., 5. Jeremiah Hester, 6. Jessica Clark, 7.Mikie Clark, 8. Justin Yanez, 9. John Chrisman, 10. Chad Matthias, 11. Ron Jones.
DNF: Brandon Gentry,Toby Brown, Daniel Weger, Mark Hanson.
DNS: Brady Beck.
+ A Main (21-Laps): 1. Ryan Diatte, 2. Mac Marmon, 3. Darren Brown, 4. Joe Frock, 5. Shawn Jones, 6. Ryan Winter, 7. Michael Grenert, 8. DannyWagner, 9. Tony Steffensmeier, 10. Ben Wiesz, 11. Guy Tow Jr., 12. Shawn Youngren, 13. Adam Teves, 14. Chris McCleary, 15. Calvin Ryle, 16. Jeremiah Hester, 17. Mikie Clark, 18. Punky Pires, 19. Colby Wiesz.
DNF: Jessica Clark, Josh Weisz, Justin Yanez, Dustin Loughton, Zach Price.
IMCA Sport Mod
+ Main (15-Laps): 1. Craig Nieman, 2. Brent Curran, 3. Brittney Nieman, 4. Jason Emmot, 5. David Woods, 6. Tyler Eckels, 7. Keith Brown Jr, 8. Tom Froggatt.
Hobby Stock:
+ Main (15-Laps): 1. James Erie, 2. Shayna Nieman, 3. Dan Dias, 4. Seaton Montgomery.
PHOTO GALLERY:
