Carson drivers strong at Rattlesnake Raceway

FALLON - The season's first points race Saturday evening at Rattlesnake Raceway featured excitement from the opening practice laps to the final race.

And Mother Nature's lightning and thunder show provided most of the fireworks for the first two hours before the racers could compete.

After the rains subsided and the track was prepared, more than 70 racers tested their intrepidness and skills on the new track.

"It was great. Everyone loved the track, and it was as fast as we expected," said Rusty Baglin, president of the Lahontan Auto Racing Association.

He said some of the IMCA modifieds zoomed around the track near 110 miles per hour.

"Bill Smith (IMCA racer) said the fastest track he has raced on was Chico (Calif.), that was until Saturday night," Baglin said.

During the offseason, volunteers improved the track by widening the straightaways and banking the corners 15 degrees.

Once the storm clouds pushed themselves out of the Lahontan Valley and the rain stopped, Baglin said it turned out to be a good night.

Baglin said the 73 racers and most of the crowd stayed until the early morning hours.

"This made opening night one of the best season openers in years," Baglin said.

Fallon's Bob Thomas won the first GenX race with a win over Lynda Crook and Mikki Beuchat. Thomas, though, didn't figure into the heat race. Chris Jiminez won the first heat, while Tim Wegren captured the second heat over Crook.

Hawthorne racer "Big" Bob Vaden held off Fallon's Pete Baglin for the win in bombers. Michael Ellison finished third.

Vaden won the points race several years ago, and Baglin said the veteran racer had decided to return to Rattlesnake.

Several Carson City racers dominated the pro stock. Ed Goss won the main event over Jay Sears and Tim Carr. Goss, though lost the second heat to Fallon's Gilbert Dixon. In the first heat, Al Goss took third over Sears.

The largest number of IMCA modifieds in several years raced Saturday night. In the finals two veteran racers battled the track for first place with Smith defeating fellow Sparks racer Malen Gonzalez and Steve McGee.

Smith had won the first heat. Tonopah racer James Thibodeux paced himself to a first-place win in the second heat over Bill Pearson. Lovelock's Galen Rose held off Kevin Boles in the third heat.

Fernley racer Wally Looney stayed in front of Fallon's Bryan Kaster for first place in the 318 modifieds. Rick Looney came in third. Wally Looney won the first and only heat.

Baglin said Rattlesnake added more members to its organizations.

Racing notes: Baglin said LARA would like to thank all volunteers and businesses for their help to make the new Rattlesnake Raceway ... the next race is May 13. Both points racing and mud bogs are scheduled for that night.