ROSEVILLE >> Local driver Eric Price Jr. of Rio Linda registered the victory Saturday night during the North State Modified Series’ Sinister Diesel Summer Sizzler at the All American Speedway in Roseville.
The fifth race of the NSMS 2017 season was all about the home track advantage as Price took the checkered flag in front of Loomis driver Michael Mitchell, Jason Philpot of Sacramento, and Kris Price of Rio Linda in the feature race.
Philpot turned the fastest lap in the 21-car field, clocking in at 13.816 seconds to earn the Penney Racing Supply/Sunoco Fast Time Award. He drew the No. 6 for the invert in the 60-lap feature, putting Lake County’s Darrin Knight and Charlie Collins in the front row. Mitchell and Eric Price started in row two with Kris Price and Philpot in row three.
Collins forged ahead at the start until the first yellow flag flew on lap three when Simi Tour’s car lost a spring that rolled down on the track. Collins and Knight ran side by side the next three rounds with Mitchell tight on their bumpers. The race was slowed again in turn two where Dave Campbell spun. When racing resumed, Knight inched into the lead while Mitchell drove under Collins for second. On lap 11, Philpot, Kris Price and Eric Price slipped under Collins.
Adrianna Strugnell battled engine problems all day and finally retired her mount to the pits on lap 13. Knight continued to lead, but Mitchell made several attempts to pass only to settle back into the second spot. The lapping process began on lap 20 and Philpot was hit from behind two laps later, resulting in his car spinning into the dirt infield and back onto the asphalt before shooting across the track right into the side of the Sal Lopez car. Lopez had to retire for the night.
Knight powered ahead again on the restart and at the halfway point it was Knight, Mitchell, Kris Price, Eric Price, Philpot, Collins, Eric Johnson, Richie Potts, Campbell, Darrin Sullivan, Sierra Furia, Jake Andreotti, Rich Cobb, Austin Wentworth and Steven Owens.
Mitchell tried to get around Knight on the high side on lap 33, but when his efforts failed, Eric Price moved to the outside next to Mitchell. Philpot swapped places with Kris Price on the 36th circuit. Knight’s car pushed slightly and it was all Mitchell needed to fill the hole and steal the lead away. Eric Price followed his line, moving Knight back to third.
The race was slowed again on lap 41 when a shock fell off one of the cars, setting the stage for a single-file restart. When racing resumed, Philpot drove under Knight for third place and Kris Price passed Knight on the high side on 49. Meanwhile Eric Price was challenging Mitchell. With only seven laps to go, Eric Price found a hole down low and charged into the lead. The final yellow flew on lap 57 when Sierra Furia drove under Cody Braund and pushed high, both cars spinning in turn two.
Price continued to hold the lead during the closing laps and at the checkered flag it was Eric Price, Mitchell, Philpot, Kris Price, Knight and Collins. Also finishing all 60 laps were Johnson, Campbell, Potts, Cobb, Sullivan and Furia.
Johnson collected $100 for his win in the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash and Potts finished second for $50. Other award winners were Cobb (Keyser Hard Charger Award), Knight (Naake Suspension Award), Strugnell (DJ Safety Certificate) and Dustin DeRosier (Racer Bling Award).
The North State Modified Series comes back north to Ukiah Speedway on July 8 for the “Protect the Harvest Nor Cal 60.”
The North State Modified Series is presented by Protect the Harvest, Lucas Oil, Sinister Diesel, Ward Ranches, Penney Racing Supply, American Racer Tires, Naake Suspension, Sunoco Race Fuels, Five Star Bodies, Racer Bling, Keyser Racing Products, Scribner Plastics, DJ Safety, and the Buckhorn Bar & Grill.
NSMS modified rules, procedures and schedules are available at www.northstatemodifieds.com.
