SPOKANE, WASH. - Troy Regier, driver of the S&S Motorsports No. 98 supermodified, and Dale Lamborn, owner/driver of the No. 48 Dangerzone supermod, both based in Carson City, finished first and second, respectively at Spokane Raceway Park Friday night in the 40-lap feature event.
Regier also posted fast time of the 14 cars who qualified, but failed to break the track record, which was broken just last week by the driver of a sprint car during a feature event. The American Speed Association/Western States Supermodified Racing League visited the track for the first time in 21 years.
Regier as well as Lamborn made it worth their while to be there. After posting fast time, Regier drew a six as the invert for the field for the main event. As the fifth-fast qualifier, Lamborn found himself on the front row along with Jim Birges of Fresno, Calif. Other top-six qualifiers included Martin McKeefery of Milpitas, Calif., Bryan Warf and Jeff Russell of Boise.
After the green flag flew, Lamborn found himself in a close battle with Birges for the lead of the race. Several laps went by and Lamborn was at the front of the field, but Regier was working his way up to the front of the field. Birges found himself being passed by Regier on the outside of turns 1-2, and Regier quickly set his sights on Lamborn.
A caution came out on lap 20 when Amy Barnes came to a stop on the back stretch. Barnes later discovered she had issues with a plug wire. At the restart, it was Lamborn with the lead, Regier second, Birges third, Warf fourth and McKeefery fifth.
On lap 34, Eric Silsby slowed and pulled to the infield on the back stretch with an engine fire. Silsby's driveline "spit out the front end of the motor" and put him out for the night. Both cars were expected to be repaired and racing at Wenatchee Valley's Super Oval Saturday.
Several more cautions came out as Regier tried to deceive Lamborn on his starting position for each restart. He was able to pull a good restart and lead on most of them. On what would be the final restart, Lamborn held a close second position on Regier, but with just three laps to go in the main event, Lamborn didn't have quite enough car to pull up and pass on Regier and finished in the second position.
"Overall my car was good," Lamborn said. "I was out there just running. I never saw anyone until Troy flashed that baby blue car inside of me.
"I tried to work him on the restarts, but I had no chance of getting around him."
Final finishing positions were: Regier, Lamborn, Birges, Warf, Rick Veenstra, Wartman, McKeefery, Kenny Hamilton, R.J. Fronsman, Silsby, Barnes, Russell, Rick Cameron, Ernie Coppo.
"The main event was a tough race," Regier said. "It seemed like a 100-lapper. Spokane is a very fast track and Dale and Jim were fast. This was one tough race.
"I was lucky to get the pass early on Dale. I don't think I would have got him later on in the race. The car wouldn't turn. This was one tough race."
McKeefery won the 6-lap trophy dash, the first on his supermodified career. Top-3 in each heat race were: Lamborn, Barnes and Wartman in heat one. Regier, Cameron and Silsby in heat two; and Veenstra, Warf and Birges in heat three.
In addition, McKeefery won the A-dash and Amy Barnes won the B-dash, over Cameron, Hamilton and Coppo.
The ASA/WSSRL raced Wenatchee Valley's Super Oval Saturday. A Web update will be posted after completion of the night's racing action with full results in Monday's Nevada Appeal.
For information on the ASA/WSSRL go to www.wssrl.com.
Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223