S&S Motorsports spanks the field in Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY - After dodging a thunderstorm mid-afternoon Tuesday, the Western States Supermodified Racing League put on a phenomenal show for 70 laps at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City.

The rain wet the track enough to cancel qualifying for the supermodifieds and times were set from two practice sessions held earlier in the day.

Recording fast time was track record-holder Troy Regier, driver of the No. 98 S&S Motorsports racecar based in Carson City. Regier is from Dinuba, Calif. Regier then drew the No. 10 for a 10-car invert for the lineup of the main event, which was scheduled for 75 laps. With Regier starting from the 10th position and having several good drivers ahead of him, he would need time to gain position.

Kurt Wartman in the No. 28 was pole-sitter and early leader of the race, with Eric Silsby, who started fourth, hot on his tail. Silsby was running strong and took the lead from Wartman on lap 6. A.J. Russell had moved into the second position and Regier had moved into fifth.

The field had stretched out the length of the track, which is a 3/8-mile track and wide. It is possible to race 4-wide on Rocky Mountain Raceways.

A caution was called on lap 11 when the 24-car of Rick Cameron pulled to the infield. At the restart it was Silsby leading, Russell second and Regier now in third.

Regier was able to pass effortlessly on the high side of the track and then dive low to pass slower cars. While Regier extended his lead, Russell worked on Silsby and gained the second spot on lap 19. On lap 34, the No. 1 driven by Pat Whittet, hit the wall hard in turn 4 bringing out a red flag condition. Whittet quickly exited the car under his own power and was OK.

The race was green from lap 35 to 70, and the race was called at lap 70 due to rainfall. Regier had lapped cars up to the fifth position and pulled a 1/2-lap lead over the second-place car of Russell. Silsby finished in third, Wartman fourth and Rick Veenstra fifth.

"The car was set up perfectly," said Regier, who picked up his 60th career main event win. "S&S Motorsports did a great job.

"And I'm tired. It wears you out going that fast for that long. It's nice to win again."

"My car was just a little bit tight," Silsby said of his set-up. "But all in all it was good.

"I want to thank the crew and everyone who worked on the car - the Barnes family. I've got to thank them for giving me the opportunity to drive one of their cars."

Rounding out the field were: Mike Baisch, Harold Evans, Rick Castor Jr., Whitey Janssen, Jim Birges, Amy Barnes (of Minden), Jim Pasquin, Whittet, Martin McKeefery, Ray Kaufman and Cameron.

"Troy did a really good job tonight," said Steve Shaw, co-owner of the S&S Motorsports car with Tom Silsby. "He can really show his talent on tracks like this one."

Regier got the crowd warmed up in the first of three heat races. Starting in the sixth position of heat 1, Regier sized up the field on the start of the race and ran high to the outside of Silsby, passing Silsby and Rick Castor, Jr., who started on the front row, outside, in turn 1. Regier eyed just enough room to pass to the inside of pole-sitter Janssen and took the lead of the heat race within the first half-lap of the 8-lap heat race.

Regier went on to win the heat with Silsby taking second and Wartman finishing third.

A.J. Russell, who recorded second-fast time, won the second heat with Jeff Russell taking second and Pasquin finishing third.

Mike Baisch of Salt Lake City, driving for Courtney Lewis of Reno, won the third heat with Whittet finishing second and Ray Kaufman third.

The WSSRL next races July 15 at Shasta Speedway in Anderson, Calif.

Regier is defending champion of that race.