Double the action at Rattlesnake

As the final stretch of the season enters the dog days of summer, the chase for a points title races to the finish line with twice the points on the line.

Competitors in the Hobby Stock, IMCA and other divisions at Rattlesnake Raceway hit the track 6 p.m. Saturday in a double-points event.

Depending on the outcomes, a driver once feared out of the hunt can suddenly be thrust back into contention. Conversely, those sitting atop the standings have the chance to really put some distance between their rivals seeking to climb the ladder.

A sweep of the preliminary heat and the main event comes to 80 points making each lap vital in the quest for the 2015 points championship.

In the Hobby Stock class, Dave Ausano assumes a 13-point lead over Shane Cazel (350-337) after Ausano’s second-place finish on July 25. Also in the hunt are Cody Morris (334), Chris Christiano (321) and Dennis Buehn (307).

Cazel took third in the previous race, while Morris is coming off a disappointing 17th-place finish. Christiano, meanwhile, was disqualified from the July 25 main event making Saturday’s race a must finish.

Ausano, though, has yet to finish outside the top five all season, while Cazel has three, although two of those came in the first two events of the season. Since then, he has racked up two victories and a pair of third-place finishes.

Morris has also been steady throughout the year three second-place finishes, but four outside the top five.

In the IMCA division, Zach Cali holds a 21-point lead over Malen Gonzalez (333-312), although Cali has yet to find the winner’s circle. Cali has yet to finish outside the top 10 all season.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, has been even more consistent than Cali with four second-place finishes and placed third twice. However, Gonzalez missed the July 25 race and Cali used the opportunity to gain space.

The season concludes with races on Aug. 22, Sept. 12 and the Dirt Track Championship on Sept. 26-27.

Admission to Saturday’s race is $10 for adults, $8 for military, $5 for seniors and children 6-13 and children under 5 are free.