The maverick division championship points race is getting more than interesting at Silver State Raceway. The drivers' competitiveness and sportsmanship is the shining star on Saturday nights when an otherwise black cloud seems to cast a nasty shadow.
Going into Saturday's race, Mike McMordie carried a 28 point advantage over second-place runner Randy Bauer. While 190 points behind Bauer is the battle for third between Mike Fuller and Bill Gould, who have 38 points separating them respectively.
The early advantage went to Fuller who won the division's trophy dash over Bauer, McMordie and Allen Hunter. Then Gould took the win in the first heat over McMordie in second, Bauer third and Thomas Oddone in fourth. The second heat went to McMordie, with Hunter in second, Oddone third and Gould fourth.
Racing was the venue until McMordie came out to receive his trophy for last week's main event win. With video camera rolling and the ever-supportive girlfriend by his side, McMordie, in "redneck style," got down on one knee and proposed to Roberta "Robbi" Arlene Werner, to become his wife. A tearful and surprised Werner accepted. This was a first for Silver State Raceway.
In the 25-lap maverick main, Oddone took the early lead and held on for about nine laps, until Gould made a pass to the outside. Leading to the end Gould took the win with Fuller in second and McMordie third.
Rounding out the field were Bauer, Oddone, Hunter, Rick Garmann, Bob Saxby and Joel Worley.
The only caution came out on lap 14 when McMordie got sideways on the front stretch and took off the passenger door of Fuller as he tried to go inside to avoid him. Better than an in-car camera, both Fuller and McMordie continued the race.
"I'm surprised no one passed me," Gould said. "The car handled like crap because I've run 10 or 11 races on these tires. I'm just glad my teammate (Fuller) was behind me."
In the sportsman class, Chet Danburg appears to be unstoppable as he claimed yet another main event win. His evening started with a 207-point advantage over Dave Lester in second, who finished second behind Danburg. Upon inspection of the top-three cars after the race, Lester was found to have a four-barrel carburetor and other illegal parts on his motor and was disqualified. He will receive no points or money for the night.
Earning the official second place position was Al Goss with Brian Colodny finishing a solid third. Rounding out the field were Rafael Gomez, Frank Sanfelipo, Les Kipler, Jim Bawden, C.J. Bawden, Jay Bradley, Henry Hodges Jr. and Mike Millard.
Three cautions were noted during the race. The first on lap 8 for Hodges and Millard when they got together in turn 4. Hodges spun to the infield with the right rear corner panel tore off and damage to the right rear axle. Hodges was out for the night.
On lap 12, race leader Bradley, whose car was smoking from the onset of the race, started dumping oil from his car onto the track. Bradley stopped his car in turn four, motor dead and oil running to the bottom of the track. He, too, was out for the night.
The last caution was for C.J. Bawden. Bawden had been fighting a loose weight in the rear of the car, causing it to bend and throw the rear of the car loose out of each turn. Bawden finally conceded and headed to the pits.
Bawden discovered a stripped bolt as the cause of the problem.
"This was a good win with my new crew chief," said Danburg, who took on Kris Keller as his new crew chief on Sept. 9. "I'd also like to thank Jim Bawden. We bought four used tires from him, ran on them and won. Except for the left front, that's been run for about 10 races. It was that and a little bit of good luck."
There are only three weeks of points racing left in each division. The final race of the season is Oct. 21 for the Nevada Days 100 open competition race.
For information, call 885-2079 or visit www.silverstateraceway.com.