Local Drivers Post Wins at Fernley

The oval racing season began at Reno-Fernley Raceway on Saturday with IMCA modifieds, street stocks, hobby stocks, and mini-stocks racing on the 3/8 mile dirt oval.

The track has been widened since last season, and the corners are more steeply banked. Permanent lights have been installed, although there were still some shadowy areas on the track. Additional lights will be added before the next event. New spectator amenities include an upgraded PA system and firepits, which attracted knots of fans seeking warmth from the cold and wind.

An even dozen of the IMCA modifieds provided the feature show of the evening, but a myriad of yellow flags slowed the action. Young Nick Rogers of Wadsworth took the lead early on and led just past halfway, when he tangled with eventual winner James Thibodeaux of Tonopah and had to pit. Dayton's Robert Smotherman took up the chase and harried Thibodeaux to the checkered flag but was unable to make a pass and had to settle for second. John Lee Rogers of Lovelock led a snarling pack of Modifieds across the line in third, followed closely by Silver Spings' Glen Plake and Rogers, who recovered to take fifth.

Earlier in the day, Plake won an extreme skiing competition at Lake Tahoe and arrived just in time to take the green flag for his heat race. Thibodeaux and Smotherman won their respective heat races and Carl Barlow of Silver Springs took the trophy dash victory.

Only four Street Stock cars made an appearance, with Carson City drivers Allen Boles and Dean Cichovicz resuming their rivalry from last season. Boles made an adjustment to his Camaro for the main, and it proved to be the right decision.

"I lowered the tire pressure three pounds, and the car really hooked up," Boles said after his victory.

Cichovicz, who had previously won the heat race and the trophy dash, picked up a vibration in his Chevy, possibly from a rock hitting the driveline.

"The thing was really shaking," the second place main event finisher said.

Greg Coppola of Walker Lakes finished third in an Oldsmobile, with Steve Pierson of Silver Springs bringing his Chevelle home fourth in a main that went green for the entire 25 laps.

The Hobby stocks put on arguably the best show of the evening. Their main event also went 25 laps with no caution periods, but a lot of close racing.

Robert Vaden of Hawthorne emerged victorious at the checker, with Jack Coggin from Portola, Calif., all over him in second. Joseph Aigner of Stagecoach finished third ahead of Reno's Joltin' Joe Militello, while Cory LoCicero of Dayton took fifth.

Militello dominated the heat race, and Vaden took the trophy dash.

Although seven cars took the green flag in the mini-stock main, it was a one-car race all the way.

Reno's Demetrius Chesnut quickly took his Toyota to the front and lapped the entire field before the checker flew. Heat race winner Kenny Martin dropped out of the Main after only one lap. Shawn

Natenstadt hung on for second in his Capri, a lap down with a rough-sounding engine. Byron Hutchison of Fernley brought his Chevy Luv pickup home in third, followed by the Nissan of Reno's Dennis Crook in fourth and the fifth-place Toyota pickup of Silver Springs' Steve Pierson.

George Triplett of Reno won the trophy dash, but pitted during the main and finished sixth, several laps down.

Don Degrazia of Silver Springs put on a demonstration run in his Dwarf car, heralding the first Legends/Dwarf weekend, slated for April 29.

The next dirt oval event at the multi-use motorsports facility will take place on April 22. Gates open at noon, with hot laps from 1 to 4 p.m. and racing at 5 p.m. A demolition derby and Tuff Truck competition is slated for April 15, with action starting at 6 p.m.