Competition was top-notch Saturday at Silver State Raceway with exciting side-by-side battles seen throughout the evening in both divisions.
Maverick driver Mike Fuller started his division out by winning the trophy dash over Randy Bauer, Mike McMordie and Thom Eldridge. Earlier, while practicing in hot laps, Bauer broke the axle in his car. But with the help of Shelton Racing, Po' Boy Racing, Quicksilver Racing and McMordie, Bauer was able to return to action.
In the first 10-lap heat race, Don Hill made a strong pass on the outside of Guy Perry then Juanita Perry to take the lead and finish first, more than 10 car lengths over Joel Worley in second and Juanita Perry in third. Bill Gould won the second heat with Fuller taking second and Eldridge third. Eldridge, for the first time this season, recorded fast time with a 16.35 lap in qualifying.
In the championship points race, Bauer has some ground to make up to leader McMordie. After having a DNF in last week's main event, the margin grew larger. Bauer had a good qualifying time, second to Eldridge, which would find him starting the main event at the rear of the field.
The first caution came out on lap 1 when Rick Garmann got sideways coming out of turn 2. Gould and Fuller had nowhere to go and each spun. Gould sustained a flat left front tire and went down a lap while in the pits changing the tire. Fuller was able to continue.
The second caution was for Hill, who was tagged in the left rear by Allen Hunter in turn 3/4 and spun to the infield. Hill was able to get the car restarted, but not until going a lap down to the leaders. Meanwhile, Bauer picked his way through most of the field, aiming for the lead.
At the checkered flag, it was Bauer with a 10-car length win over McMordie in second. Eldridge, who had a great night all-around, was third.
Rounding out the field were Worley, Fuller, Hunter, G. Perry, Garmann, J. Perry, Hill and Gould.
"After the guys helped me fix the axle, the car ran great," Bauer said. "The car was on rails, it was hooked up. And, I have to thank Guy and Juanita Perry for racing me clean tonight. We had a talk before the trophy dash and got things smoothed out."
In the sportsman division, many of the drivers were preparing their cars for an open competition show in Anderson, Calif. this coming Saturday by trying out new gears and chassis set-ups. It worked out very well for a couple of Silver State drivers.
The main event belonged to one driver - Al Goss - who ran the race from start to finish. Second-place finisher Dean Heller moved in from the sixth position and Chet Danburg, now officially Silver State Raceway's 2000 Late
Model Sportsman Champion, finished third.
Rounding out the field were Jim Bawden, Gary Nevers, who also had a strong run all evening, Rafael Gomez, Virgil Miller, Gary Chandler, Les Kipler, Frank Sanfelipo, C.J. Bawden and Scott Bohemier.
"The car was perfect," said Goss. "We put on new outside tires for the main and it helped a lot. Last week I broke the rear end in the car, so I went ahead and put in the gears we'll be running in Anderson. The car was hooked up all the way, it worked.
"We'll be ready for Shasta (Speedway). I've really got to thank Ceramic Tile Center and Quicksilver Racing. They've helped me out a lot this year."
Bohemier won the trophy dash over Chet Danburg, Jim Bawden and C.J. Bawden. Goss won the first 10-lap heat over Miller and Nevers, and Bohemier won the second heat over C.J. Bawden and Jim Bawden.
After the main event, Bohemier and his crew learned they should not have been running a 4-barrel carburetor and voluntarily forfeited their trophy dash win and heat race win to the second-place finishers. The trophy dash win went to
Danburg, while the finish of the heat race officially was C.J. Bawden, Jim Bawden and Danburg.
"They didn't have to do this because there was no pre-tech," said Tom Price, acting competition director. "After finding out they shouldn't have, they did this completely on their own. They're good men and good sports."
Silver State Raceway will be dark this Saturday to allow local drivers to race at Shasta Speedway in Anderson. Four categories will be racing: late model tour cars, street stock, Legends and IMCA modifieds.
Local drivers competing in the street stock division include: Dean Heller, C.J. Bawden, Scott Bohemier, Chet Danburg, Brian Colodny, Al Goss, Frank Sanfelipo, Craig Paulsen, Gary Chandler and Mike Millard. Shane Kline will
compete in both late model tour car and Legends divisions.
Racing will resume with the final points race in the sportsman and maverick divisions at Silver State Raceway on Oct. 14, it is a double points night. The final race of the season is Oct. 21, the Nevada Days 100. More than 25 cars are expected to compete.
For information, call 885-2079 or visit www.silverstateraceway.com.