Sprint cars are featured at Reno-Fernley

The NCMA 360 Sprint Car tour was the feature show at Reno-Fernley Raceway on Saturday night.

The non-winged sprinters' main was slowed by a red flag, numerous yellows, and an attrition rate that left the infield littered with damaged machinery. Troy Caraway of Martinez, Calif., took command at the green flag, and stayed ahead of the carnage for the entire race, taking a wire to wire win.

Napa, Calif., driver David Goodwill lined up behind Caraway with Nick Green of San Jose, Calif., making it a three-car battle for the lead. The leaders soon reeled in the tail end of the 15-car field and Goodwill spun while trying to make a pass, bringing out a caution flag.

On the restart it was Caraway, Green, Billy Wallace of Grass Valley, Calif., Woodland, Calif.'s Gary Koster, and Jason Youngman of Grass Valley in the top five. As the cars came off of turn four Youngman's car slowed and he tried to turn into the infield only to be collected by Modesto, Calif.'s Ed Amador and Jimmy Steward of Auburn, Calif. Then Rob Hammond of Morgan Hill, Calif., came along and vaulted onto the top of the pile, bringing out the red flag.

All four cars were rendered inoperable and were towed to the infield. On the restart Caraway hung onto the lead, but a lap later Green pulled alongside on the front straight. The cars touched, spinning Green into the infield and bringing out another yellow.

Two ensuing restarts resulted in caution flags, one involving Goodwill as he tried to charge back up through the dwindling field. Caraway had a scare when Douglas Gandy, Jr. of Oakhurst, Calif., spun in front of him, but he avoided disaster and drove away from second place Youngman and took the checkered flag.

Youngman hung on for second ahead of Goodwill, who came from the back to third in the closing laps. Koster was fourth, and Phil Pedlar of West Sacramento, Calif., rounded out the top five. Youngman and Wallace split the heat race wins, Wallace took the "fast" dash, and Dave Ellis of Martinez, Calif., was the winner of the "slow" dash.

The IMCA Modified division wrapped up its points season, with Carson City's Steve McGee taking the championship. When the green flag waved to start the main it was Joe Specchio III of Fernley first into turn one followed by Lovelock's Steve Evenson, Bill Smith III of Sparks, Fernley's Shawn Natenstedt, and Nick Reed of Fernley.

McGee advanced from the rear of the pack to sixth, while a quick Kevin Boles of Minden cracked the top five. McGee continued his charge, taking fourth, then third, while Smith passed Specchio for the lead. A caution flag flew when Evenson and McGee tangled in turn two, sending Evenson to the pits and dropping McGee several positions.

On the restart Boles took over second place behind Smith, and McGee slotted into fifth behind Specchio and Natenstedt. After another caution to remove the stalled car of Mike Hamming of Nevada City, Calif., from the back straight, Boles grabbed the lead from Smith on the restart.

McGee charged into third, then put a pass on Smith for second on the white flag lap. At the checker it was Boles with the win, new champion McGee second, Smith third, Natenstedt fourth, and Nick Reid of Fernley in fifth. Evenson and David Ellsworth of Loyalton, Calif., won the heat races, and Reid took the "slow dash" for the four slowest heat race finishers.

Vuki Wilson of Minden came into the final points race in the Dwarf division with a 13-point lead over son Reece Wilson, also of Minden. Minden's Ronald Sampson led the first lap, only to drop to fifth on the front straight. Reno's Joe Frock took the lead, but a yellow flag soon bunched the field as Brett Wilkins of Fallon tangled with Sparks driver Billy Canham in turn three.

Carson City's Jeff Shurley pitted during the caution, done for the night. Reece Wilson took second on the restart and began to challenge Frock for the lead, while Skip Hempler of Zephyr Cove battled with Carson City racers Derek Rosse and Bill Brown for position. Reece soon passed Frock to take the lead, while Vuki moved up to fifth.

Frock returned the favor a couple of laps later, retaking the lead from Reece Wilson. Another yellow flag for a spin by Tim O'Neill of Fallon put the cars into a tight pack for a restart, setting up an exciting finish. Vuki charged into third on the restart and closed up on the lead pair. Reece got a run and took over the lead from Frock, with Vuki following him through into second.

The Wilsons pulled away from the field, and Vuki took the lead from Reece in the waning laps to win the race and the championship. Reece was second in both the race and the point standings. Rosse came home fourth ahead of Frock, and Hempler rounded out the top five. Hempler and Rosse each took a heat race victory, and Brown won the "slow dash."

With one more race remaining in the season for the 318 Modified division, Shawn Natenstedt of Fernley extended his points lead in convincing fashion. Wadsworth's Larry Silas took the lead at the green while Natenstedt, starting at the back, dispatched half the field by turn two. Keith Walsh of Sparks spun out of third place, bringing out the first caution of the race.

Natenstedt moved into first place on the restart, and at that point everybody else was racing for second. Silas had the spot with Wally Looney of Reno third and Fernley's Rick Looney battling with Jim Turner of Loyalton, Calif., for fourth. John W. Paul of Fernley was having problems, and his heavily smoking car finally spun in turn three, bringing out another caution.

Richard Rabe of Silver Springs hit the front straight wall on the restart, and the yellow flag flew again. With four laps remaining on the next restart, Natenstedt and Turner hooked up and motored away from the rest of the field. Natenstedt hung on for the win with Turner second, Silas third, and Rick Looney fourth. Walsh slid high coming off turn four to the checker, and Wally Looney slipped underneath to take fifth. Natenstedt won the single heat race, and Wally Looney took the "slow dash" when Erin Looney spun coming off turn four to the checker.

Next Saturday night the featured event at Reno-Fernley Raceway will be the Mini-sprint Nationals with Vintage Midgets, 318 Modifieds, and Pure Stocks also on the program. Spectator gates open at 3 p.m., with racing action starting at 6 pm. For more information, call (775) 575-7217 or go to www.renofernleyraceway.com.