Roger Diez: Childs wins IMCA Modified race

Fernley 95A Speedway’s fourth points race was in jeopardy of cancellation Saturday afternoon, as high winds and clouds of dust blanketed the facility. Fortunately, the winds abated and the races went on as scheduled.

Don Childs was the winner in the IMCA Modified division, leading every lap and holding off some very determined competitors. Robert Miller surged through the field to take second ahead of Josh Ogg, while points leader Cory Sample made a late-race charge to fifth behind Shawn Natenstedt in fourth. Sample holds the points lead by seven over Natenstedt. David Rauscher let Conner Tatum to the checkered flag in the Pro Stock division, while Kenny Martin beat Jesse James in Super Stock Four. Mark Serchio Jr. consolidated his points lead in Pure Stock, coming home ahead of Rich Innis. Carl Barlow pulled off yet another back-to-front run, charging through the Hobby Stock field to take the win over Rick Miller and Jake Backer. Barlow has a 14-point lead over Baker in the championship standings.

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Carson City’s Mackena Bell will be in action today, as she competes in the combined NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West race at Iowa Speedway. The race will air on Fox Sports 1 on tape delay on May 24. Bell will also be featured during the Indy 500 in a Public Service Announcement launching LUNG FORCE, a national health education movement for women sponsored by the American Lung Association. Bell said, “Being one of the few woman racecar drivers, I feel a responsibility to call attention to important issues, like women’s lung health.”

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Jeff Gordon has been knocking on victory’s door in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series all season, and last Saturday night at Kansas Speedway he kicked that door down to secure a spot in the Chase. Gordon nipped a charging Kevin Harvick by half a car length at the line, and added that crucial victory to his lead in the point standings. And I’m not sure he’s through winning yet this season. At age 42, “Wonder Boy” is back.

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This will be a busy weekend for Kurt Busch, as he will be shuttling back and forth between Indianapolis qualifying and the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte. Airplanes are waiting to ferry Busch from today’s qualifying sessions at Indy to Charlotte for tonight’s race, but in case he can’t make it Parker Kligerman is standing by to take over the No. 41 Chevy. Kligerman will also be on call next Sunday night for the Coca-Cola 600 if need be. Busch got his first taste of running an Indy car in traffic last Sunday, and has run near the top of the order in every practice session, with a best lap of 224.739 on Thursday. Ed Carpenter put the rain-shortened “Fast Friday” session to good use, setting fast time of the month so far at 230.522 mph. Expect even faster times in qualifying today, as teams will be allowed extra turbo boost and many will have fresh engines.

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Of course, Busch was otherwise occupied at Kansas for the previous day’s inaugural Indy Grand Prix on the road course at the famed facility. Aside from a teeny little problem on the start, the race was an artistic success. The wreck at the start, caused when polesitter Sebastian Saavedra’s car failed to launch, fortunately did not result in any injuries. Simon Pagenaud stretched his fuel to the limit and a bit beyond to take the victory. However, James Hinchcliffe suffered a concussion when struck by debris later in the race. E.J. Viso, filling in for Hinchcliffe, set the fastest time in Tuesday’s rain-shortened practice. Hinchcliffe was cleared to return to driving duties on Thursday, so should be able to participate in today’s qualifying runs.

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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton continues to dominate the 2014 Formula 1 season, scoring his fourth consecutive victory last Sunday in Spain. Teammate Nico Rosberg finished second, with Red Bull drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel third and fourth. The victory puts Hamilton at the top of the point standings.