ROSEVILLE >> Jay Linstroth of Citrus Heights didn’t mind competing in the biggest field in a North State Modified Series (NSMS) event this season – 25 cars – or in the 100-plus-degree heat on Saturday while winning the Sinister Diesel Summer Sizzler 60 at the All American Speedway in Roseville. The 2014 NSMS points champion nailed down the victory and took home the $1,000 first-place prize to cap the action-packed race.
Upper Lake’s Charlie Collins challenged the course record earlier in the evening while setting the fast time of 13.792 seconds, just .089 seconds shy of the track mark of 13.703 by Kris Price.
Collins drew a 6 pill for the invert start, placing Keegan Walmer of Charlotte, North Carolina and Michael Mitchell of Loomis in the front row. Mitchell pulled ahead at the drop of the Buckhorn Bar & Grill green flag with Walmer in second, Rich Lindgren of Rio Linda third, Collins fourth and Linstroth fifth.
Jim Badeker and Sal Lopez were running side by side near the end of the first lap when Badeker’s car wheel-hopped Lopez’s mount. The contact sent Badeker’s car airborne and when it touched the track again it shot straight into the turn one concrete. The impact broke the fuel pump and dumped burning fuel across the race track. Badeker climbed out of the burning car uninjured as the All American Speedway safety crew worked hard to extinguish the re-igniting flames.
After a lengthy cleanup, which included a medical emergency in the grandstands, the cars were re-aligned. Before another lap was completed the yellow flew again when Josh Blackwood and John Baker made contact, causing Baker to spin in turn four. Walmer pulled into the pits under the yellow, relinquishing his second-place spot. This left Mitchell and Lindgren sharing the front row, but after three unsuccessful even starts, officials moved both cars to the second row as they swapped placed with Collins and Linstroth.
Collins and Linstroth had a clean start and Collins moved into the lead. Linstroth dove under Collins to steal the lead the following round. Collins’ car pushed high on lap five, allowing both Mitchell and Lindgren to slip by. Rick Andersen swapped places with Collins on lap 12 as points leader Darrin Knight and Rookie of the Year contender Darrin Sullivan were fighting for sixth.
Lap 18 saw Mitchell’s car slow and stall on the track to bring out a third caution. Mitchell was pushed to the pits, ending his bid for the win. The single-file restart gave Linstroth the advantage and once again he took control of the race. Four circuits later Andersen drove under Lindgren for second. Lindgren’s car also experienced mechanical problems and he pulled off the track on lap 29.
At the Swartz Diesel halfway mark, the top 10 were Linstroth, Andersen, Charlie Collins, Sullivan, Knight, Nick Lyons, Richie Potts, Mike Collins, Walmer and Bryan Denton.
The second half of the 60-lapper saw Codi Barba, Luke Kaper and Dave Campbell gain position on Denton, but Denton took the spot back from Campbell in the final rounds. Linstroth held off Andersen to take the win with Charlie Collins, Sullivan and Knight next across the finish line. Rounding out the top 10 were Mike Collins, Lyons, Potts, Walmer and Barba.
Linstroth celebrated his victory before a packed house with a series of spins and burnouts.
In the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash, Lindgren collected $100 for the win, with Linstroth getting $50 for second. Barba earned the Wenteq Hard Charger Award for starting 23rd and finishing 10th. Charlie Collins took home the Naake Suspension award, and the DJ Safety Certificate went to Mike Collins. The Scribner Plastics awards went to Andersen and Lyons. Charlie Collins also earned the Penney Racing Supply/Sunoco Fast Time Award.
NSMS returns to action on July 9 at Ukiah Speedway for the Protect the Harvest North Coast 60.
Presented by Protest the Harvest, the NSMS is presented by Swartz Diesel, Lucas Oil, Sinister Diesel, Penney Racing Supply, American Racer Tires, Naake Suspension, Sunoco Fuels, Five Star Bodies, Wrap Star Pro, Wenteq, Scribner Plastics, DJ Safety, and the Buckhorn Bar & Grill.
