Pahrump Valley Gazette, Thursday, September 18, 1997 27
by Andy Holtmann & Geoff Kreis
What better way to celebrate Harvest Festival than with a
night at the races. This weekend featured two of them, both
having their moments.
Friday's Action
After testing the track for durability, the dwarf cars lined,
signaling the beginning of the Harvest Festival Classic. In the
first heat, car number 25, driven by Corey Lasiter of Las Vegas
began with the pole position. He maintained a hefty lead until
car number 2X, driven by Ronnie Williams, also of Las Vegas,
spun out and caught on fire. This allowed for the cars behind
Lasiter to gain ground. Lasiter held his position, fighting off the
number 30 car, Bob Clark who took a close second. Jay Thom
(number 10) took third.
The second heat was similar to the first, the leader at the start
of the race, number 17, Jay Ewing),held his position long
enough to pull out a victory. Good Sportsmanship was shown
in this heat by Jim Bonetti ,number 9X. Bonetti aided a fellow
driver whose car stalled halfway through the race by pushing
him into the pit area. Bonetti finished in second place, with
Donald Miller, number 7, in third.
The IMCA cars hit the track running. In the first heat a three
car wreck occurred on the first turn of the fourth lap, between
cars number 9, James Deines, number 12 ,Larry Mechek, and
number 66, John Jewell. Car number 88, Phil Clendennin Jr.,
won, with Mechek second and Jim Kimbalrs number 00 car in
third.
Danny Fitzgerald's crash on the first turn ended hi,'s chances
of placing in the second heat. His number 87 car was in second
before he lost control. This allowed 87A, Jim Perkins, to grab
the checkered flag. Car 72, driven by Frank Bridwell came in
second and number 77, Michael Berger taking third.
Two more three car collisions occurred in the third IMCA
heat. This time, cars number 50, Donovan Allison, car number
32, William Gates, and number 18, George Scott, hit each other
early in the race. A little while later, car number 17, Levi Kiefer,
and car 41, Deane Fountain bumped each other. The collision
forced Leland Hibdon, number 24, to brake hard and spin out.
In the end, Kiefer won, with Hibdon in second and Donovan
Allison in car 50 in third.
The Street Stocks roared onto the track with three heats. In
the first Wyatt Ehrp drove Levi Keifer's number 3 car to a
strong finish, successfully defending his position from a very
aggressive Michael Hildebrand, number 17, who gave him a
run for his money. Alan Levinson's number 13 truck finished
third.
Bob Taylor, the grand-pappy of the Pabrump Speedway
reappeared on the track after a missing the last few races. He
proved he hadn't missed a beat as he took control of first place
early on and fended off number 52, Anthony DeBiase, who
wound up settling for second. Homer Rush, number 46 took
third.
In the last heat of the night, car number 78, Dannie Holding
survived several bumps, a near collision, and many close calls
on the turns to take the checkered flag. His position was
constantly threatened by both car number 2, Tom Baird, who
. took second and number 28, James Ray who placed third.
The trophy races followed. Ewing won in the dwarf race,
witia Bonetti second and Lasiter third. In the IMCAtrophy dash,
Perkins took first, Clendennin grabbed second and Mechek
was third. The Street Stock trophy went to Ehrp with Taylor
second and Hildebrand third.
Only the dwarves and the IMCA's featured main races.
Bonetti grabbed an early lead in the dwarf race as car number
5, Angelo Monticelli, spun out on the third lap. Lasiter's
number 25 car wound up in fwst when Bonetti's car suddenly
stalled. Lasiter' s luck would not last however, as he had to pull
into the pit area. Car number
30, Clark, ended up taking the
lead and winning the race. Car
0 (Bryan Schuette) took sec-
ond and Monticelli took third.
In the IMCA main event,
Robin Ruud took control early
and maintained his positio n .
Hibdon spun and hit a tire
halfway through the race, end-
ing his chances. Jason Pike,
number 23 made a strong
showing as be crept from sixth
place to second. He caught up
with Ruud on the ninth lap
and the two cars were bumper
to bumper for the remainder
of the race. On the final turn of
the last lap, Pike squeaked by
Ruud amid a rousing cheer
from the audience to steal the
checkered flag. Ehrp in car 3
took third.
Saturday's Action
Once again, the track was
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wet and the cars pounded out a few laps before the show to mold
it they way they wanted it. After an hour delay, the Dwarf cars
hit the track ready to rumble.
In the first heat, Schuette, car 0, held off strong competitors
to grab the checkered flag. Anthony Mann, number 12, finished
second and Ewing took third. The second heat began with
Williams in second place. He passed Thom to move into the
lead position. Williams eventually won with Thom finishing
second and Clark taking third.
The IMCA cars hit the turns next and in the first heat, car
number 75, driven by Jim Justice began in first, but lost control
on the first lap sending him spiraling into the wall. Mechek
wound up first and held his position to grab the checkered flag.
Car number 50, driven by Donovan Allison took second and
Lynn Deines, number 10 placed third.
In the second heatear 77, driven by Michael Berger took the
lead position early on and maintained it to the finish. Car
number 2, driven by Randy Thornell gave him a good race and
finished second. Bill Gates finished third with his number 32
car.
In the last IMCA heat, Bridwell stole the show after passing
the leader, George Scott, number 18. Bridwell was caught in a
collision but managed to keep his lead. He went on to win the
race, with Kimball in second and Ruud in third.
Late Models, a new addition to the speedway made their
premier after the IMCA's. In the first heat car number 55,
driven by Chet Buckle)' grabbed an early lead and never looked
back. His car was probably one of the fastest ever to drive on
the short speedway. Number 7N, Bill Pearson's car finished a
distant second, while car num-
ber 1, Rick Berker took third.
The second heat featured an-
other strong performer in
Malen Gonzales, number 21.
He also took the early lead
and cleverly fought off com-
petition in the form of Pike,
number 23 and Michael Fitch,
number 43, the second and
third place finishers.
In the trophy dash, Schuette
won thedwarftrophy, Mechek
secured the I.M.C.A. trophy,
and the late model prize went
to Buckley.
Four main races rounded
up the second half. The
dwarves came out first. Aside
from a few wrecks, the race
went very quickly. Ewing
grabbed the lead early and
avoided several near wipe outs
to grab the checkered flag.
Second went to Clark
with Williams coming on strong at the end to take third.
Before the IMCA race even got underway, a 10 car pile up
occurred as they were lining up. Cars were separated and they
lined up again. Before the fn'st lap was complete Pike jumped
Justice's back tire and flew into car number 08, Dave Erwin.
After that was cleared, the race began and Mike Bergerjumped
to an early lead. As was the case with most races that night, he
kept his lead until the end. Pike and Ruud both made dramatic
moves at the same time as they went to the outside to move into
the number three and four positions. Pike would later pul! out
with mechanical problems. Berger wound up winning easily
with Jim Perkins coming from 19th place to grab second and
car number 67, Don Berger finishing third.
In the late model main of 50 laps, it was once again the
speedy Buckley out in front early. He would hold his lead until
just over halfway through when he lost his front tire forcing him
out of the race. Larry Wall, number 7, found himself in lust and
stayed there the rest of the race. Gonzales finished second and
Pike took third.
In the street stock main event Wyatt Ehrp started and
finished in frost. Several accidents occurred in this race, one of
which involved cars 555, Keith Gott and 89, J.C. Hilbig and
took over a half an hour to clear off the track as both cars were
intertwined. Closing in on Eh in the end was Kimball, who
had been threatening all night. He had to settle for second. Tom
Baird took third.
In the end racing fans got their fill this weekend. Saturday' s
race, due to delays, lasted until 1:30 a.m. Nothing could match
the excitement that was offered, a truly genuine weekend of
thrills.
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