LAKEPORT — After setting the fast time earlier in the evening, Dave Henderson of Eureka rallied from a four-car pileup to make a late four-car pass and win the Thunder Roadster main event on Saturday night at the Lakeport Speedway.
In other action Sat-urday, Richie Potts of Petaluma returned to the Northern California Racing Association modified series after a four-year absence and led the main event from start to finish; Codi Barba of Windsor dominated the field in the Pro-4 modified main event; and Rick Bryant of Lakeport pulled out a win in the 20-lap L.A. Cruisier main event, a race that featured six lead changes.
Thunder Roadsters
Jay Bahner and Ray Elliott moved to the front early in the Thunder Roadsters main event. On lap four, Elliott made an outside pass of Bahner to gain the lead, with Henderson, Bill O”Neill, and Chris Sarvinski close behind.
Bahner”s car then broke loose, drifted high into the nose of Henderson and spun in front of the pack. Bahner, Henderson, O”Neill and Sarvinski all piled up into the turn two infield and O”Neill wound up literally on top of Henderson. Elliott escaped unscathed. All four drivers emerged OK and, amazingly, all four cars were able to continue once they were untangled.
Elliott and Chris Wallan restarted the field ahead of Marc Arroyo and Bob Strauss, driving in a car donated by O”Neill. Elliott stretched his lead while Strauss made a clean inside pass of Arroyo to gain third. Elliott”s car then broke loose in turn two, allowing the lead pack to catch up and Wallan to make a run on Elliott, who recovered and retained the lead.
Elliott and Wallan stretched their lead while Strauss, Arroyo, Dave McMurry and Michael Ward fought for position.
By lap 12, Henderson had climbed back up to contend with this pack. As they lapped Rob Nelson, Strauss caught up with Wallan while Wallan worked on Elliott. Henderson had just passed Ward for sixth when Arroyo spun in turn one, bringing out another yellow.
Elliott and Wallan led Stauss, McMurry, and Henderson on the restart. Henderson moved to the outside and passed all four lead cars in just two laps to take the lead. Just as Strauss made the outside pass on Wallan for second, Elliott spun in turn three, bringing out the final yellow. Elliott retired to the pits with a flat tire.
Henderson and Strauss led the restart and outpaced the pack. O”Neill was black-flagged from the race for an oil leak. Strauss gained on Henderson but ran out of laps and claimed second. Wallan came in third followed by McMurry, Sarvinski, Ward, Arroyo, Bahner, Nelson, Elliott and O”Neill.
Pro-4 modifieds
John Barker and Scott Bundschuh led early in the Pro-4 modified main event. Barba and Kelly Gray immediately passed both to take over the top two spots.
Bob Snyder retired to the infield on lap four as Barba and Gray stretched their lead as Bundschuh, Andy Leuzinger and Willie Leuzinger tried everything they could to get by Barker for third place.
Jake Tillman steadily moved up through the field and moved into fourth place on lap 15. At the same time, Bundschuh began to lose position as fire was seen flaring from his engine. Tillman”s engine also started to smoke and his car then dumped water all over the track. A yellow was thrown and then a red to clean up the mess.
Tillman headed to the pits for repairs and Bundschuh”s engine was checked and appeared to be OK.
Barba and Gray led Barker and Ken Gifford at the restart. Gifford quickly passed Barker and Gray for second as Willie Leuzinger passed Barker for fourth. Fire again was seen coming from Bundschuh”s engine and he was black-flagged. Zach Gifford stalled on the frontstretch to bring out another yellow on lap 22.
Barba and Gray led the restart with Ken Gifford and Willie Leuzinger hot on their heels. On lap 26, Zach Gifford spun in turn two and retired to the pits.
Barba and Gray led the restart again and Ken Gifford swung to the outside past Gray and fought hard to overtake Barba for the lead but couldn”t get around him.
At the checkered it was Barba, Ken Gifford, Gray, Willie Leuzinger, Andy Leuzinger, Kevin Barba and Barker.
N.C.R.A. modifieds
Richie Potts and Mike Smithhart set the pace early in the NCRA modified main event, with Steve Taylor and Jeremy Nowlin all close behind. Nowlin and David Furia quickly passed Taylor, then Smithhart slipped wide and was passed by Nowlin.
Strauss and Terry McIntire took the outside line on lap five and moved around Taylor for fifth and sixth. Furia tried an outside pass on Smithhart but broke loose in turn three. He recovered from the wide swerve, but it allowed McIntire to take advantage and pass Strauss for fifth.
By lap 17, the race settled into a battle between Potts and Nowlin in front, with Furia working Smithhart hard for third and Strauss repeatedly trying to hold the outside groove to pass McIntire for fifth.
McIntire tried to pass Furia on the outside on lap 28 but Furia held on. At the checkered flag it was Potts followed by Nowlin, Smithhart, Furia and McIntire.
L.A. Cruisers
The L.A. Cruiser main event began with Paul Lauenroth and Rick Bryant leading Rod Gard (in the Bob Strauss 11LA) and Smithhart. Bryant took the early lead and had to “Move It On Over” to the outside lane. Lauenroth spun in turn 2 to bring out a yellow.
Gard had to “Move It On Over” and Smithhart pulled into first on the inside. Smithhart moved to the outside as Gard regained the lead. Bryant worked Gard hard and, when Gard moved to the outside, passed him for the lead. On lap 10, Lauenroth spun into the turn four dirt and brought out the yellow flag.
Bryant and Smithhart led on the restart. Smithhart gained and lost the lead to Bryant on lap 13. Bryant held a strong line on the outside all the way to the finish line, taking the checkered in front of Smithhart.
Auto racing continues at the Lakeport Speedway this Saturday night with the annual Kids Rides event. Kids and families get to ride in real race cars before the start of the night”s racing program, which will feature N.C.R.A. modifieds, mini-Stocks, bombers and L.A. Cruisers.
