EUREKA >> Darrin Sullivan of Kelseyville was declared the winner during the Protect the Harvest North State Modified Series 60-lap feature race on Saturday night at Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka.
After race leaders Kris Price of Sacramento and Darrin Knight of Kelseyville made contact and spun on the final lap, Knight regrouped and drove to the finish line first but was penalized for his part in the incident. That moved Sullivan up to first place. Price is the current NSMS points leader while Knight is the defending champion.
Sullivan collected $1,000 for his win plus a $250 bonus from Ward Land Management and Development (WLM&D). Cameron Austin of Santa Rosa finished second for a $850 payday, and Eric Price II of Rio Linda placed third, earning $700.
Knight clocked in fastest of the 15-car field with a 16.482-second lap, earning $100 from Ward Land Management and Development. Sullivan ran second at 16.588, Austin was third at 16.636, and Kris Price fourth (16.641). Knight pulled the No. 4 pill for the lineup inversion, placing Price and Austin in the front row and Sullivan and Knight in row two.
The start of the race was called back for an uneven start. On lap two a yellow flag came out when Randy Houston and Terry Deal came together, resulting in both spinning in turn two. The restart saw Austin run side by side with Price. Austin led the next few rounds until he lost ground on the high side, allowing Price to pull ahead on lap five.
Knight drove around Austin for second on lap seven and set his sights on Price. Meanwhile Eric Price II made the pass for fourth on the 25th circuit. Dustin DeRosier was battling Ian Elliot for sixth when the leaders began lapping the slower cars.
Knight caught and tapped the back of Price’s car several times, but Price kept his cool and continued his forward motion. Deal was working his way back to the front and made it all the way to ninth by mid-race. The running order at the halfway marker was Kris Price, Knight, Austin, Eric Price, Sullivan, DeRosier, Elliott, Eric Johnson, Jake Andreotti, Deal, Houston, Stuart Campbell, Richie Potts, Herman Pulyer and Rick Avila. Potts was driving the Bob Strauss No. 11L two-passenger modified.
The long green-flag run saw the leaders gracefully weave through slower traffic with Knight gaining and losing ground on Price. Houston dropped out on 41. With only 10 laps to go, Sullivan was able to steal fourth place back from Eric Price. Just when it look like it would be another win for Kris Price, Knight’s final attempt for a winning pass resulted in both Price and Knight losing control and driving into the infield in turn three.
With no yellow to slow the action, the lapped cars of Deal, Elliott and Andreotti raced to the line, picking up their lost laps. Knight got back on the track and raced to the checkered flag first. Sullivan passed Austin in the melee and followed Knight to the checkered. Austin crossed third, Eric Price fourth and Kris Price raced back to fifth. As the final cars were coming around, Avila and Campbell stopped in turn three and were collected by Deal and Elliot. Deal limped around to the finish the race while Elliott had to be towed to the pits.
After Knight was penalized to the back of the lead lap, Sullivan was announced as the winner. The final Sunoco checkered flag finishing order was Sullivan, Austin, Eric Price, Kris Price, DeRosier, Johnson, Andreotti, Deal, Knight, Elliott, Campbell, Potts, Pulyer, Avila and Houston.
Additional money was added to the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash courtesy of Redwood Acres Raceway and Bob and Carol Rosenthal. DeRosier collected $200 for his win, $100 went to Eric Price for second, and Kris Price earned $50 for third. Both DeRosier and Eric Price received the Scribner Plastics jugs, and DeRosier also was the recipient of the Naake shocks certificate. Frank’s Radios awards were given to Potts, Avila and Houston. The Keyser Hard Charger for the night was Andreotti.
Earlier on both Friday and Saturday, retired veteran driver Mark Baldwin of Eureka piloted Strauss’ No. 11L modified, giving rides to anyone brave enough to go 100 mph on the 3/8-mile oval. Strauss donated the $250 that Redwood Acres Raceway promoter Blair Aiken gave him for Pott’s 12th place finish to the “NSMS Driving Out Cancer fund.” That donation brings the fund to $4,655.07.
Shasta Speedway is the next stop on the North State Modified Series “Driving Out Cancer Tour” on Sept. 29. The third annual Lloyd Burton Against the Wind Modified Challenge will offer the largest purse ever in NSMS history with $1,500 going to the winner in the 60-lap main event.
The North State Modified Series is presented by Protect the Harvest, Lucas Oil, Ward Land Management & Development, Hoosier Tire West, Sunoco Race Fuels, Naake Suspension, Five Star Bodies, Racer Bling, Keyser Racing Products, Scribner Plastics and Frank’s Radios.
