LAKEPORT — The final day of the Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino INEX Legends Cars Spring Nationals saw 14-year-old Austin Murphy of Lancaster win a six-lap side-by-side battle with Todd Thompson of Reno and then drive the final 35 laps for the $400 victory on Sunday night at the Lakeport Speedway.
Murphy also won the 25-lap Legends Cars feature on Friday night. Saturday night”s 30-lapper went to 15-year-old Zachery Kavert of Redding.
Sunday”s event was a qualifying race for the Legends Cars Asphalt Nationals. The top 18 qualifiers and two transfers from the B-main event took the green flag in the A main. Thompson ran strong in the inside groove with Murphy next to him in the outside lane. David Winchel ran third, also in the high lane, with Randy Fellman in fourth.
Murphy moved into the lead on lap six just before the race was slowed for a Rick Andrews spin. The restart saw Steve Fensler Jr. dive under Fellman for fourth, and as Fellman faded, Kavert, Thomas Leiby and Frankie Winchel gained position.
Thompson”s car began to push and when David Winchel tried to fill the gap, Thompson came back down and the two cars hooked bumpers and slid up against the turn two wall to bring out the second yellow flag. Winchel retired his car to the pits and Thompson went to the rear. This put Fensler in second behind Murphy, Frankie Winchel in third, Kavert in fourth and Leiby in fifth.
Twelve-year-old Broc Murphy picked up position and was running in sixth when the final caution flag flew on lap 26. The closing laps saw Frankie Winchel challenge Fensler on the outside, but he could not make his car stick and pulled back in line.
Murphy continued to lead all the way to the checkered flag. Fensler finished second with Frankie Winchel third. Murphy passed Kavert on the white flag lap to claim fourth place.
Kelly Martin of Modesto won the B-main event ahead of Steve Brown, David Allen, Cynthia Fisher and Patty Clement.
In Saturday”s main event, the finishing order was Kavert, Rob Lathrop, Fisher, Leiby, Frankie Winchel, Fensler, Ryan Mosher, Randy Fellman, Frankie Marks and David Winchel.
Friday”s event was open to the 20 fastest qualifiers and the drivers drew for their starting positions.Murphy took the win over Thompson, Leiby, Mosher and Lathrop.
The Legends Cars return to the Lakeport Speedway on July 15.
