ANDERSON, CALIF. - The one thing Troy Regier will say time and again when he goes out to race, is he races to win.
As driver of the Carson City-based S&S Motorsports Supermodified race team, Regier, from Dinuba, Calif., continues to focus and do what he does best - win races.
The Western States Supermodified Racing League visited Shasta Raceway Park Saturday for the fourth of nine scheduled races; three of which Regier has won. Five of the 15 cars in the main event were from Northern Nevada.
In qualifying, Regier breaking his own track record of 13.690 seconds by more than two-tenths of a second with a 13.480. The top-four qualifiers were Regier, Rick Veenstra, Eric Silsby of Minden and A.J. Russell.
Jeff Russell won the first of two 10-lap heat races with A.J. Russell taking second and Mike Baisch third. Amy Barnes of Minden finished fifth.
Regier won the second heat race over Jim Birges, who took second, and Whitey Janssen of Dayton, third. Silsby finished fourth.
On the fourth lap of the second heat, driver Pat Whittet in the No. 1 car was loose (with a possibly stuck throttle) driving the front stretch of the track and hit the tire barrier hard in turn 1. Whittet quickly exited the car but destroyed the front end and was towed to the pits. He was out for the night.
By a random draw, the top-10 cars on qualifying times were inverted for the lineup of the main event. As fast qualifier Regier would start in the 10th position. With Whittet out, Regier was moved to the ninth spot, inside row five.
Baisch, Martin McKeefery and Jeff Russell were the top three cars at the start of the race. Baisch and Russell were moving quickly on the field with Russell moving around Baisch for the lead on lap six, and Birges showing a strong car to take over the third spot, A.J. Russell was in fourth and Regier fifth.
On lap seven, the leaders came upon slower cars which were being radioed to move to the high side of the track for the leaders. Jim Pasquin in the 84 car, moved down on Russell in turn 3, collecting him and Birges. All cars were extensively damaged and out of the race.
On the restart, A.J. Russell inherited the lead with Regier at second and McKeefery third. Barnes had moved her way into fourth.
Russell and Regier battled tail to nose for several laps with Russell keeping the lead each time Regier would try high or low. The series' two rookies, McKeefery and Barnes began their own battle for third position with Barnes eventually taking the spot on lap nine.
After a caution for Kurt Wartman, who lost power on lap 10, the battle for the lead began again. Regier tried high and low but couldn't get the pass on Russell, until they came upon slower cars on the back stretch of lap 26.
It was good timing for Regier as a caution came out one lap later for a solo spin on the 41 car of Rob Carlotto.
The 50-lap race went green for the remaining laps with Regier eventually pulling a near one-half lap lead over Russell, who ran a good race. Baisch finished in the third spot with Rick Veenstra fourth and Barnes having her best-ever finish in a supermodified at fifth. Barnes was the last car on the lead lap.
"Passing A.J. using those lapped cars was an opportunity," Regier said. "I saw my opportunity on the outside, then saw a little hole in the middle and I took it and shut the door.
"I knew I had to be on my game tonight. I was making adjustments to the shocks and brakes and kept getting better. I think A.J. was getting a little worse. It was a great win."
"It was a very good race," said car co-owner Tom Silsby. "Troy was very methodical. The kid really knows what he's doing.
"We give credit to our sponsors, too, for helping us out. Valley Chevrolet, T and D Machine, Capital City Auto Parts (NAPA) and Ron Burdg at Sierra Racing Products."
Rounding out the field were: Janssen, Rick Cameron, McKeefery, Silsby, Carlotto, Wartman, Jeff Russell, Birges and Pasquin. Silsby pulled off the track on lap 35; he had run out of fuel.
"I also ran out of fuel, on the last lap," Barnes added. "But it felt good to finish well tonight.
"Rick Veenstra complimented me on doing so well."
Barnes is the first female to race a complete season in any supermodified racing series.
Steve Shaw, co-owner of the S&S Motorsports car, compliments Regier on his driving prowess.
"He's very good at what he does," Shaw said. "We have all the confidence in the world in him.
"It's a patience thing. He has the awareness of where he is at all times, knows what he needs to do and he's going to get what he can out of the car. And we do our best to give him a great car, every race.
"The biggest thing is, he has the desire to win."
The WSSRL next races on Aug. 5 at Madera Speedway in Madera, Calif.