LAKEPORT — The 2019 auto racing season returned to Lakeport Speedway on Saturday with a spectacular opening night that began with the Memorial Day Parade down Main Street in Lakeport and ended with the annual Fiberglass 400 boat race.
Feature winners in the Northern California Racing Association (NCRA) classes were Richard Knight of Lakeport in the modifieds, Cody Winchel of Sebastopol in the Legends Cars, Lauren Snider of Kelseyville in the Clauson bombers, and Trey Daniels of Fort Bragg in the bandoleros. The fan’s choice and $200 winner of the 14-entry boat race was John Humphrey of Clearlake towing his shark boat.
Modifieds
Darrin Sullivan of Kelseyville set the fast time of 12.900 seconds in the modified division and started deep in the field of the 30-lap feature. Richard Knight pulled ahead of brother Michael Knight at the drop of the green flag and as Michael Knight faded, Chris Salmina and Sullivan gained positions. Eric Johnson passed Salmina on lap three.
Johnson’s car broke loose and spun on lap seven to bring out the only yellow flag in the race. The double-file restart saw Sullivan out in front, but his lead was short-lived as Knight took back the top spot on lap nine. Mikey Snider drove under Salmina for third place as Johnson was working his way back through traffic.
Richard Knight stayed out front all the way to the Sunoco checkered flag followed by Sullivan, Snider, Johnson, Salmina, Bryan Denton, Michael Knight, rookie driver Anthony Esberg and Guy Minyard. Knight donated his $500 winnings back to NCRA.
Heat race wins went to Richard Knight and Johnson. Johnson also won the trophy dash.
Legends Cars
The Legends Cars feature went was a wire-to-wire win for Winchel, who led all 30 laps. Aiden Daniels passed Dave Allen for second place on lap five and Kylie Daniels drove under Allen for third place on lap 12. Wyatt Hobart swapped places with Allen on the 18th circuit.
Winchel pulled away from the field as the race progressed and had a 10-car-length lead over fast qualifier (13.949) Aiden Daniels, trophy dash winner Kylie Daniels, Hobart and Allen at the checkered flag.
Winchel also won the heat race. J.K. Kenny and Lane Anderson suffered engine problems and were unable to start.
Bombers
Dustin Kuhl set the fast time of 14.022 over the 15-car bomber field and started ninth in the feature. The legendary Ron Duke Sr. led the first five rounds with both Mike Sullivan and Snider passing pole setter Jeremy Nowlin for second and third.
Duke drifted high, allowing Sullivan to steal the lead, but Snider was on a mission and took control of the race on lap eight. Kuhl joined the top dogs, passing Duke on lap 10, but he lost power and retired to the infield on lap 13. At the same time, Simi Tour passed Duke. Three rounds later John McCullough had a wild ride through the infield and dropped out. Corey James and Wade Coleman gained ground, and at the end of the non-stop 30-lapper it was Snider, Tour, Sullivan, James and Coleman.
Rounding out the top 10 were Duke, David Jones, Trevor Abella, Nowlin and Rick Jelton.
Bomber heat wins went to Sullivan and Tour. Snider won the trophy dash.
Bandoleros
Landyn Snider set the fast time in the bandoleros class but it was Trey Daniels who won the trophy dash, heat race and 20-lap main event.
Auto racing returns to the Lakeport Speedway on June 8 beginning at 6 p.m.
Sponsors
NCRA races at Lakeport Speedway are presented by Hillside Honda, Anderson Logging, Napa Auto Parts, S & K Automotive, Carlton Tires, Don Anderson Law Firm, Clearlake Redi-Mix, DFM Wicked Sounds, KXBX 98.3 FM, Lake County Waste Solutions, Lake County Welding, Sheldon Signs, RB Peters, Taco Bell, Strauss Promotions, and the NCRA board of directors.
For more information on the 2019 racing season, visit NCRA-Lakeport Speedway on Facebook.
