LAKE COUNTY — The North State Modified Series (NSMS) now has five years of history in the record books.
During the 2018 season, the series traveled from Redwood Acres Raceway on California’s north coast in Eureka, up Highway 5 to Shasta Speedway in Anderson, over the mountains to Lakeport Speedway on the west shore of Clear Lake, west to Highway 101’s Ukiah Speedway, back down the valley to All American Speedway in Roseville, and all the way over to the middle of the state at Madera Speedway. The schedule will once again expand in 2019 as the Stockton 99 Speedway joins the rotation.
NSMS dedicated its 2018 racing season to cancer awareness and research and the “Driving Out Cancer Tour” collected and donated more than $5,500 toward cancer awareness.
The 2018 season saw 49 different drivers compete with a high car count of 27 and an average of 20 cars per event. There were six different feature winners this year and seven different winners in the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash. Eight drivers shared the Ward Land Management and Development Fast Time Award. The fields were close all season long with usually less than one second per lap separating the fastest and slowest cars.
Kris Price of Sacramento was the dominant force in 2018, taking home four NSMS wins and capturing the NSMS points championship. He won both the season opener in May and a September race at Shasta Speedway. Price also had back-to-back victories in July at All American Speedway and Ukiah Speedway. He only finished out of the top five one time.
Other feature winners in 2018 were Jason Philpot of Sacramento (May 27 at Redwood Acres Raceway), Cameron Austin of Santa Rosa (June 9 at Madera Speedway), Kyle Tellstrom from Ukiah (June 23 at Ukiah Speedway), Darrin Sullivan of Kelseyville (July 21 at Redwood Acres Raceway, and Eric Price II of Rio Linda (Oct. 13 at All American Speedway).
Dustin DeRosier of Cloverdale finished second in the 2018 championship points race, chalking up six top-five finishes. His season bests were third-place runs at Ukiah and Roseville.
Eric Price II’s big October Classic win at All American Speedway boosted him from fifth in the standings to third. Eric Johnson and Darrin Sullivan, both from Kelseyville, placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Sixth through 10th in points went to Terry Deal of Roseville, Cameron Austin, Jason Philpot, Ian Elliott from Lakeport, and Rick Avila of Pleasanton.
The 2018 NSMS Championship Awards Banquet and end of the year celebration is set for Jan. 26 at Granzella’s Restaurant in Williams.
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.
