The 1/8 mile Fuji Park dirt oval was fast and smooth Saturday night, allowing
a number of drivers to post their best qualifying times of the season.
The 500cc Open Outlaw division ran an unusual format for the main event in
preparation for the 50-lap season finale to be run September 23. Some
drivers were concerned about having enough fuel for the season-ending race, so 15 laps were added to Saturday night's 25 lap main to give the drivers a chance to gauge their fuel mileage.
The checkered flag and the green were both displayed at 25 laps and finishing points were determined at that juncture for season scoring. The "extra inning" 15 laps were not scored for points, but there was a $50 winner's bonus posted by Don Jackson for the driver who was in front at the end of the 40 laps.
As the karts came off Turn four for the start, Joshua Diehl of Corning,
Cal. clipped a hay bale and spun into the infield, necessitating a
restart. Diehl and front-row partner Danae Wilson of Reno were out of shape
on the second starting attempt, and were sent to the back of the pack for the
third try, which was successful.
Once underway, the troubles continued for Diehl, who spun twice in Turn two, bringing out yellows. Up front, there was a great three-way battle for the lead among Stuart Goehring of Tahoe Paradise and Carson City drivers Bill Brown and Kyle Dargert.
Dargert finally got by Brown, but was unable to find a way past Goehring, who held the lead to the 25-lap checker/green. Dargert then passed for the lead, only to lose it when things got really weird.
Diehl's kart seemed to become magnetically attracted to the other karts, and he hit just about everyone in the field within the space of two laps, finally ending up in the wall on the front straight.
When the green waved again, Goehring held off Dargert to take his second checker of the race. Brown finished third with Don Jackson and Diehlscored fourth and fifth respectively, although they finished the race in the pits.
Dargert and Jackson won the 500cc heat races, and Dargert added a trophy dash win and fastest qualifying time to his stats for the evening.
The Box Stock Outlaws put on a good show, starting with the field fully
inverted from the qualifying order. Stevie Hettrick of Carson City made good
use of his start from the pole, holding off challenges for the first several
laps.
Fast qualifier Jordan Dargert of Carson City worked his way to the
front with the help of three yellow flags, and soon found himself at the head
of the pack. Carson City driver Matt Vallarino had a quick kart, but had to
work his way from the back three times due to spins.
He finished third behind John Harrington of Gardnerville, who took over brother James's kart when James moved up to the 125 class. Kyle Lever of Minden came home fourth and Jesse Diehl of Corning rounded out the top five.
Heat race wins went to Dargert and Harrington, with Lever taking his second
trophy dash win of the season. The 125cc Main was scrubbed when two of the karts were unable to make the grid.
Engine woes struck both Joshua and Samantha Diehl of Corning, leaving James Harrington of Gardnerville the winner by default.
Earlier, Joshua Diehl won the 125cc heat race, and Harrington took his
first trophy dash victory in the class.
Three drivers took the green flag in the beginner class main, with Nicole
Buffa of Zephyr Cove scoring yet another clean sweep - heat, trophy dash,
and main wins. Buffa, the veteran of the beginner class, beat 4-year-old
Zachary Heinz and James Nelson (both of Carson City) to the checker in the
main, while Nelson took second in the heat and trophy dash, with Heinz third.
The Super Outlaw Karts will hold their final race of the season Saturday,
September 23. Qualifying starts at 6 p.m. Racing is at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and free for under 12 and seniors. Pit passes are $15.