SPARKS, NV (Oct. 20) – The Ultra 4 season ended at the Wild West Motorsports Park with the Nitto Tire Nationals. As usual it was a wild day of racing with plenty of excitement and organized mayhem.
J.P. Gomez is all smiles after winning the season ending 4400 race.
“Oh man that was exciting,” J.P.Gomez said after winning the season’s final 4400 race. “I just kept my pace, let Loren pass me, he’s super fast and I figured, ‘if he gets a flat I’ll win this race,’ and that’s what kind of happened. I had nothing for him but you keep your pace and race your own race.
“Lap traffic was rough, I couldn’t see half the time, dust was bad so you just had to be patient. I had a good couple of nudges so they knew I was there and they moved right out of the way.”
Then he thanked sponsors Mountain Enterprise, Keyes Shocks, Pro Comp and C&H.
One part of the course is King Hill, where the drivers wind their way up a hill that is full of loose dirt and dust.
The first attempt at a start got that far then a large part of the field got stuck. Officials then red flagged the race, finally got everyone up the hill then reformed the field and tried again.
Second time resulted in another jam up but it also put a few cars out of the running. The third time was the charm and Loren Healy took off and led the charge with Gomez, Shannon Campbell, Cole Bailey and the pack in hot pursuit.
Loren Healy appeared in the cat bird’s seat until he lost a wheel while leading the 4400 main.
At first it appeared to be Healy’s race and some where around the fourth lap the leaders were already starting to lap the slower cars.
Healey’s race ended on the uphill when he lost a wheel just past the half way mark. Campbell dropped back after having to change a flat.
Behind the leader Nick Nelson was making a charge of his own and carving his way to the front. Once in second the chase was on but Gomez reached the checkered flag first.
Nick Nelson came from the pack and finished the 4400 main in second.
Nelson tried his best in the final pass over the front straight rocks and ended his race in spectacular fashion. His car went airborne coming off the rocks, almost wound up on its side then landed facing the wrong way.
Nelson jammed into reverse and to the cheers of the crowd backed across the finish line to claim the runner up spot.
Asked about his day Nelson said, “I believe we started around the fifth row. We had problems in qualifying, had to run the prelim in three-wheel drive. Shawn Stroud, my girl friend, Jimmy’s guys, Jason Blanton’s crew, jumped in as we help each other.”
After the two restarts he kind of missed the last restart. In addition they had just enough fuel to make it to the end.
“I really didn’t know where I was in the field, I figured I was at the back of the lap. Then they said here he is in front of you so we just turned it on and gave it everything we had,” he said.
As for the finish he said, “They told me I couldn’t get him (Gomez) but I figured I’d give it a shot anyway. She landed backwards and I figured the steering wouldn’t work so I just put in reverse, stood on it and it went straight for me.”
Then he thanked Jimmy’s 4X4, Nitto Tires and KMC Wheels for their support.
After the race the 4400 Podium was J.P. Gomez, Nick Nelson and Mike Bergman.
When the 4800 or Legends main began Jeremy Jones was on point with Eric Brinker and pack giving chase. In fact the lead duo were nose-to-tail at that time as they tore around the course.
Their pace was slowed once they caught lap traffic then one driver rolled his racer going down hill. Finding he was injured officials quickly stopped the race and summoned the REMSA medics.
After a time the driver was taken out of his car and got an ambulance ride to Renown Medical Center in Reno. His condition was unknown when this report was filed.
This happened on the final lap of the race where both leaders were stopped along the downhill of rocks just before the front straight.
When the green waved again both drivers gunned it, came off the rock downhill and swung onto the front straight rocks. In the end Jones and his co-deriver Chris Wright won followed by Brinker and third place Cade Rodd.
Jeremy Jones over the rock and onto victory in the 4800 Legens main.
One of the racers came off the rock and rolled just before the finish line. Due to the safety gear and requirements neither driver or co-driver were hurt.
Asked about the race Jones commented, “It was brutal and rough, and gnarly. The drag race at the end, it was crazy but it was fun and we had a great time.”
Then he thanked Race Line Wheels, Maxxis Tires and Trent Fabrication of Sparks for building his racer.
Vaughn Gitten and co-driver Eric Davis dominated the 4500 or Mod main. Right after the green waved when the cars hit the front straight rocks he was on point.
Jimmy Jack was expected to be a contender until he went over the Turn 2 k-rail. While he was uninjured the same could not be said for his car.
That gave Gittin a huge lead over second place matt Howell and Kevin Stearns, who was in third. They finished the eight-lap main in that order.
Vaughn Gittin on his way to winning the 4500 main.
“It was absolutely incredible, this track has gotten super gnarly and rough out there. I was just telling Chris from Nitto, ‘look at these tires, they look brand new,’ after what I went through out there I’m absolutely shocked.
“This is my first year really putting an effort in Ultra 4, got a few wins and to win the nationals back-to-back I’m greatly honored. I’m greatly appreciated of Jimmy’s 4X4 Team and everybody been helping us out. This is a really challenging sport and it takes a team to make it happen.”
Then he thanked sponsors Newbright RC, Nitto Tires, X-Force Performance Exhaust.
While some racers don’t use a co-driver on a short course some do. They just aren’t passengers as the Co-Dog, as they are known, look for the best lines, keep track of the gauges and give encouragement to their driver during a race.
In addition each driver has a spotter. In fact they all must check in with an official that is in the spotter’s area. These people let a driver know what is happening around them, which is important especially when it is dusty.
Next class is the 4500’s or Stock class. They get pretty bouncy going through the front straight rocks.
The start at Nationals is not when the green waves but when the front tires of a car hits the front straight rocks. There can be no passing until that point but when drivers arrive its petal to the metal time.
Right after the start Dawson Allington was on point with Sean Gill and Sean McNamara giving chase. Back in the pack everyone was trying to find a better line or get past another competitor.
A father-son team won the 4600 main. Dawson Allington was behind the wheel while his father Mark rode as the Co-Dog in their winning Jeep.
At one time both leaders actually swapped places but in the end Allington took back the lead.
As the race progressed the Allington team, son driving with his co-driver father Mark, started to distance themselves from the second place Gill.
In the end they finished in that order.
“That was insane, it was a great drive, a great audience, everything,” Dawson said after the race. “Great people to race against, I couldn’t ask for better competitors.”
Then he thanked Rock Jock, Sierra Gear and Axel and Falken tires.
The day began with some Prelims for the classes including three for the 4400 Class. The first main of the day was the 7-Lap UTV or 4900 Class.
These little speedsters are a growing class in all forms or off-road racing. Relatively inexpensive, if anything in racing is, and they are a lot of fun to drive.
Coming down the hill 13 of them took the green flag. On point after the first turn was Casey Sherer followed by James Cantrell and Jacob Versey
Eventually Cantrell got the lead before the front-runners began to over take slower traffic. Scherer lost his chance at a win after rolling over.
The track crew got him back on all four wheels and he took off. By now Cantrell had a huge lead and motored off to the victory.
Behind him Versey was second ahead of Travis Zollinger and Scott Lesage
James Cantrell speeds over the front straight rocks on his way to winning the 4900 UTV main.
Asked about the race Cantrell, who towed all the way from Kentucky, said, “It was brutal, it was everything the Razor could take, I’m sure it’s got some major damage after that one.”
Then he thanked MadRam 11, Super ATV and BFG tires.
Now the season has ended, champions crowned and things have quieted down a bit. Well maybe not as teams began to prepare for King of the Hammers 2019, happens in about three months from now.
It’s a week long affair, kind of like Burning Man for Gear Heads and around 70,000 people will camp in Johnson Valley, California for a week. The event runs from February 1 to 9 and for further information please check the series website at, www.ultra4racing.com.
REPORTER’S NOTE: There is a photo gallery at the end of the results.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
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Two of them are first class motorcycle shops located in Reno.
Our first sponsor is Reno Motorsports. 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.
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RESULTS:
NITTO ULTRA 4 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Wild West Motorsports Park – Oct. 20
Main Events:
+ 4400: (13-Laps) 1. J.P. Gomez, 2. Nick Nelson, 3. Mike Bergman, 4. Paul Horschel, 5. Levi Shirley, 6. Brian Caprara, 7. Rusty Blyer, 8. Clay Gilstrap, 9. Shannon Campbell, 10. Dan Wyrick, 11. Erik Miller, 12. Josh Blyer, 13. Jason Scherer, 14. Marcos Gomez, 15. Raul Gomez, 16. Alex Wacker, 17. Jeff Brown, 18. Ryan Stambaugh, 19. Wayland Campbell, 20. Darren Henke, 21. Loren Healy, 22. Andrew McLaughlin, 23. Jeff McKinlay, 24. Cody Addington, 25. Bailey Cole, 26. Jeff McCullough, 27. Don Fisher, 28. Bailey Campbell.
+ 4500 (8-Laps): 1. Vaughn Gittin, 2. Matt Howell, 3. Kevin Stearns, 4. Mad Mike Bedwell, 5. Cody St. Clair, 6. John Grounds, 7. John Matthews, 8. Sarah Amaral, 9. Justin Hall, 10. Jimmy Jack, 11. Travis Riley, 12. Jesse Balter, 13. Chuck Crossland, 14. Shawn Rants.
+ 4600 (7-Laps): 1. Dawson Allington, 2. Sean Gill, 3. Sean McNamara, 4. Brian Behrend, 5. Chris D’Auria, 6. Nathan Creer, 7. Daniel Applegate, 8. Josh Atteberry, 9. Josh Bacsi, 10. Albert Contreras, 11. David Ball.
+ 4800 (8-Laps): 1. Jeremy Jones, 2. Eric Brinker, 3. Cade Rodd, 4. Wade Coleman, 5. Arturo Soria, 6. Shane Smith, 7. Casey Gilbert, 8. Scott Morse, 9. James Hubbard, 10. Andrew Gorman, 11. Keith Ratzburg, 12. Kyle Wickham, 13. Robby Flandro, 14. David Hartman, 15. Dustin Sexton, 16. Ross Glave, 17. Todd McCullen, 18. Dennis Lapp, 19. Richard Fenton, 20. Rick Lavezzo, 21. Chris Brown, 22. Brad Lovell, 23. Jacob Peek.
+ 4900 (8-Laps): 1. James Cantrell, 2. Jacob Versey, 3. Travis Zollinger, 4. Scott Lesage, 5. Pauly Hart, 6. Casey Scherer, 7. Darian Gomez, 8. Trey McKinley, 9. Jim Henle, 10. Justin Barth, 11. Cole Clark, 12. Scott Decker, 13. Chayse Caprara.
PHOTO GALLERY:
