LAKEPORT — The 21st annual Kelseyville Lumber Deake Lyndall Memorial and ALSA benefit roared into the Lakeport Speedway during Fourth of July weekend. A full Saturday racing card featured the Airport Auto Brokers Late Models, Jammers and exhibition races by the Super Modifieds, while King of the Hill Series racing included the modifieds, mini-stocks and bombers.
The event also served as a fundraiser for the ALS Association to help those afflicted with ALS (Lou Gehrig”s Disease). Derek Thorn, a local racer who has gone on to competes on the NASCAR circuit, attended to help with the cause and to race in the Late Models division. Lakeport Speedway donated 10 percent of gate admissions and sales of Thorn T-shirts to the ALSA. More information about the ALSA and Thorn can be found at http://www.RacinForACure.com, a NASCAR race team he founded with manager and ALS patient Scott Pfeiffer.
Late Models
The Late Models fast time of 11.803 seconds went to Kevin Ostern. Eric Williamson and Allen Gibney led the 17-car field to the 75-lap main event green flag. Williamson took the lead, Corey James advanced to second, and Gibney battled Chris Straka on the outside for 11 laps ahead of Derek Thorn and Eric Graham.
After a couple of early cautions because of spinouts, Thorn got pinned behind Gibney and Forrest Kuecker, and Jeremy Hopkins passed both drivers on the outside. Thorn swung around after them followed by Mike Doss and Ostern.
After more cautions, James started too slow and was freighttrained to the back. Kuecker swung outside Williamson and took the lead on lap 29. It took seven laps to shuttle him on back by Hopkins, Thorn, Doss, and Ostern.
Hopkins got outside of Kuecker and took the lead on lap 41. The inside groove was not the place to be as he lost ground for four laps back to fifth. The race was stopped on lap 45 so that drivers and spectators could watch the Lake County fireworks display.
On the restart, Hopkins and Doss battled hard for the lead in front of Thorn. Doss saw an inside opening on lap 48 but Hopkins slammed it shut on the backstretch. In turn three, it opened again and both drivers went for the same space at the same time and collided. Hokpins spun around on Doss” nose for a caution that sent both the leaders to the back.
Thorn found himself leading the restart and he took off, with Ostern and Kuecker running side by side for second. When the last caution was thrown for a Blair Aiken spin into the turn one wall, Kuecker had taken second.
Hopkins, followed by Doss, made a hard charge from the back through the field. Hopkins passed Charlie Collins on the outside and was coming on strong behind James when Doss swung to the inside. Hopkins was pinned behind the slower James as Doss passed both in one lap for fifth.
At the checkered, it was Thorn, Kuecker, Ostern, Williamson and Doss.
More details about the race and the Late Models can be found at http://www.AirportAutoBrokersLateModels.com
Modifieds
Darrin Knight from Kelseyville set the Modified fast time of 12.567 seconds and Noel McCormack Jr. won the trophy dash. Heat wins went to Codi Barba, Tommy Lyndall and Thomas Wright.
In the B-main event, Barba topped the field, finishing in front of Mike Smithhart, Randy Houston, Mike Sullivan and Rich Schramm.
In the A-main, Mark Marek took the checkered flag in front of McCormack Jr., Knight, Sean Sweeney and Thomas Wright.
Mini-stocks
It was a clean sweep for Robert Schmidt from Lucerne in the mini-stock division. He set the fast time of 13.903 second, won the trophy dash and his heat race.
Schmidt capped his big night with a victory in the main event. A lap-15 yellow flag led to a restart and Schmidt took the lead for good. Kevin Barba came in second, Don Presler was third, Kyle Tellstrom came in fourth and Marcus Hatfield was fifth.
Bombers
The bomber fast time of 14.141 seconds went to Mike Rose, who was driving for Roman Rose of Lakeport.
Gino Buchignani won the trophy dash, while heat race victories went to Robert Byers and Mike Bray.
Dylan Rose crossed the finish line first in the main event, finishing ahead of Mike Rose, Gary Collins, Mike Nielson and Buchignani.
Roman Rose continues to lead the bomber division with 1,308 points, followed by brother Dylan with 1,282.
Jammers
Gary Judd won the trophy dash and the main event during Jammers action. Judd won the main event in front of Darrell Lavier, Carl Gronroos, James Atkins and Casey Crawford.
Coming Up
The King of the Hill Challenge Series moves to the Ukiah Speedway this coming Saturday and will feature the Legends Cars, Pro-4 Modifieds and Bandoleros.
The second Ukiah Boat Race will cap the night”s action. During the Boat Race, cars towboats and seek to sink the boats of others while preserving their own .
For more information, browse http://www.KingOfTheHillChallengeSeries.com
