ROSEVILLE — Eric Price II of Rio Linda took home top honors in the Hoosier NSMS October Classic on Saturday night at the All American Speedway in Roseville. His brother, Kris Price of Sacramento, clinched the 2018 North State Modified Series championship with his second-place finish in the time-shortened event.
In the 60-lap main event, Keith Bloom of Redding drove the Bob Lehman/Steve Thomas No. 27B to a season-best third-place finish. Guy Young, also from Redding, placed fourth while Lakeport’s Ian Elliot had a season-best fifth-place run.
Twenty-five modifieds were on hand for the season finale, which ran in conjunction with the NASCAR K & N Pro Series and the championship race for the Pacific Challenge Series Late Models. The Ward Land Management and Development time trials saw Michael Mitchell clock in quickest in his Sinister Diesel modified with a 14.196-second lap. Kris Price was next at 14.255. Other top qualifiers were Cameron Austin (14.302), Eric Price (14.317), Travis McCullough (14.367) and defending points champion Darrin Knight (14.372).
Mitchell pulled the six pill for the invert, placing Knight and McCullough in the front row for the start of the feature. Row two belonged to Eric Price and Austin. Kris Price and Mitchell shared row three.
Knight powered out in front of McCullough at the drop of the green flag with Eric Price riding his bumper into second. With only two laps down, McCullough lost control in turn four. With nowhere to go, Sal Lopez was collected up in the spin and he smacked the track’s newly-placed interior barrier.
The following round Lopez stalled on the track to bring out the second yellow flag. When racing finally resumed, Knight led the way with Eric Price second, Cameron Austin third, Dustin DeRosier fourth and Mitchell fifth. Austin slid by Eric Price for second place on lap five.
At the same time Knight’s engine started to smoke. When he entered turn one, Knight’s car dropped oil the entire width of the track and in front of the hard-charging pack. Knight slid sideways but was able to regain control, which wasn’t the case with the rest of the frontrunners. Austin was the first to spin in the oil, touching off a nine-car pileup that involved Mitchell, Dustin DeRosier, Darrin Sullivan, Eric Johnson, Hunter Corbitt, McCullough, Rick Avila and Terry Shannon. All the drivers were able to continue except Knight and Mitchell.
The lengthy cleanup put a damper on the the 45-minute time period allotted for the main event, but when the track was race-ready again Eric Price found himself in the lead followed by Kris Price, Terry Deal, Bloom, Jason Philpot and Guy Young.
The next 12 laps ran smoothly until lap 19 when Deal hit the temporary interior barrier, knocking it off-course and into the infield. Once again it took precious time to remove Deal’s car from the track and replace the chicane. Speedway officials called for a green-white-checkered finish, but that also ended in turmoil when Austin hit McCullough, causing McCullough to spin coming down for the final lap.
Eric Price was declared the winner followed by 2018 points champion Kris Price, Bloom, Young, Elliott, DeRosier, Philpot, David Campbell, Sullivan, Corbitt, Shannon, Didoha, Mike Neilson, Johnson, McCullough, Austin, Deal, John Baker, Avila, Mitchell, Knight, Lopez and William Camara. Don Shalla and Bud Anderson developed mechanical problems and were unable to start the race.
Eric Price earned the Ward Land Management first-place bonus of $250 to add to his $1,000 top prize. He also received a tool chest from Napa Auto Parts.
Bloom captured his second straight Lucas Oil Dash for Cash worth $100. McCullough earned $50 for his second place. The Naake shocks certificate went to Guy Young while the Frank’s Radio gifts were given to David Campbell, Terry Shannon and Dale Didoha.
The next event for the North State Modified Series is the 2018 Champions Awards Banquet on Jan. 26 at Granzella’s in Williams. Visit www.NorthStateModifieds.com for more information on the series.
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, Scribner Plastics and Frank’s Radios.
