The Legends cars returned to Reno-Fernley Raceway for their fifth points race of the season with 19 cars competing on Saturday night.
Actually, 18 were competing with each other, because Michael Morrissey of South Lake Tahoe was in a class by himself. Morrissey capped a perfect evening with a dominating performance in the main event after winning both his heat race and the trophy dash.
On every restart, Morrissey easily motored away from the field, leading every one of the 30 laps in the main. However, behind him was some spirited racing among a group of drivers battling for the next 10 positions. D.J. Krentz of Reno held second place in the early going, with Kew Kulikowski of Henderson, Sonny Wahl of Las Vegas and Eric Flodman of Fernley among the early leaders. Sparks driver Dennis Jeanguenet recovered from an early spin and forged ahead into second by the halfway mark after a spin dropped Krentz well back in the field. Jeanguenet held off a late challenge from fellow Sparks driver Bob Oliver to take the runnerup spot. Oliver finished third, Wahl recovered from a late-race spin to charge back up to fourth and Gary Warren of Reno drove a steady race to round out the top five. Former points leader Jovon Halen of Carson City finished ninth in a car rented from John Donaldson to replace his own car, damaged in a crash at Fernley two weeks ago.
Kulikowski won the first heat race, while Larry Henkes of Reno took advantage of a last-lap melee to shoot from third to first in the second heat. Carson City driver George Weeks took second in his heat race, but retired shortly after the start of the main.
Eight super trucks also competed, but only four were able to answer the bell for the main. Roy Peterson of Yerington came into the main with victories in the heat race and trophy dash under his belt, but was unable to stay with the leaders. Gerry McFall and Tony Taylor, both of Fallon, put on a great race, never more than a couple of car lengths apart in a race that went green wire-to-wire. Taylor held off a charging McFall for the win.
Reno-Fernley Raceway hosts a full stock car program next Saturday night, with Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Compacts joining the IMCA Modifieds. Admission is $7 for adults, and the action starts with hot laps at 5 p.m.
NOTE: Photo attached. Caption: Carson City's George Weeks (60) follows Brian
Dow of Reno (36) through the first turn at Reno-Fernley Raceway on his way to
second place in Heat Race #1. (Photo Courtesy of Reno-Fernley Raceway)