Post by Media on 04/17/11 at 3:45pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2011
Johnson wins Bill Baker Memorial race at Santa Maria Speedway
The Super Late Models started their 2011 season on Saturday night running a 30-lap main event on the 1/3 mile clay oval at SMS. Jerry Stewart of Bakersfield returned to Late Models and started on the pole, and held the lead for several laps before being overtaken by Clay Daly of Watsonville. Mike Johnson of Lompoc made his way to second place and was pressuring Daly for the lead by lap 22. On lap 26, Daly and Johnson were nose to tail when a yellow flag came out to set up a single file restart with just 4 laps remaining. On the restart Johnson passed Daly on the outside for the lead and held it for his second win of the night (more on that later). Daly finished second and Steve Drake of San Luis Obispo finished third.
The MMI Hobby Stock division 20-lap main event started with Dan Bryant of Templeton taking the lead in the early laps with Pete “Ricky Bobby” Lethcoe of Santa Maria moving up to second. Bryant expanded his lead during green flag racing until a caution and a red flag (due to a tire coming off Sean Martin Jr’s car) created a final restart. But Bryant was able to pull away from Lethcoe and continued on to win. Lethcoe finished second in what was a good run for the #33 Hobby. Third place went to Tom Breshears of Santa Maria who came out of retirement to compete in the Hobby Stocks.
The Papich Construction IMCA Modifieds had their first points race of 2011 at SMS with a full field of 22 race cars. Mike Johnson of Lompoc muscled his way to the front by the end of the first lap and held onto the lead through several restarts to take what would be the first of two victories of the night. Danny Lauer of Santa Maria and Tony Toste of Arroyo Grande tried to apply pressure to Johnson for most of the race as second place switched between several cars throughout the race. But at the line it was Lauer who finished second with Toste right behind him. However, a post-race inspection disqualified Toste and Josh Vogt of Santa Maria captured third.
In the Toste Grading & Paving Mini-Stocks 20-lap main event it was it was Dustin Ensign of Nipomo who took the early lead before last week’s winner Robby Cervantes of Arroyo Grande passed Ensign on lap 5. But on lap 17 Pat Fausel of Santa Maria was able to get by Cervantes and held on to take the victory. Cervantes finished second in another great run. David McMullen of Arroyo Grande finished third.
The Mini-Dwarfs ran on the Mini-Oval at SMS bringing two age groups to the speedway. In the Senior (9-12) division main event it was Bobby Hood of Bakersfield who took the win with Cameron McCauley finishing second. Tony Lamas of Bakersfield took third. In the Junior (5-8) division Devon Pearson of Ridgecrest who was victorious. The rest of the podium was dominated by the young ladies. Sunni Simkins of Bakersfield took second with Ryley Millard of Bakersfield taking third.
Next Saturday at the Santa Maria Speedway brings the Papich IMCA Modifieds to the track to headline a night that also features the first 2011 running of the West Coast Street Stocks. Also on board for the night are American/Enduro Stocks and another fan favorite, the Spectator Races, anyone can run with their street legal vehicles. And for the kids, the bicycle races, just bring your bikes. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for Senior, Military, and Students, $6 for kids 6-12 and free for kids 5 and under.
Late Model Main Results
1. Mike Johnson
2. Clay Daly
3. Steve Drake
4. Nick Bartels
5. Jason Papich
6. Mike Kirby
7. Tony Toste
8. AJ Kirkpatrick
9. Jerry Stewart
10. Ron Bartels
11. Andy Obertello
12. Tommy Malcolm
13. Jimbo Clark
14. Dino Napier
15. Carla Laney
16. Rob Sanders
Hobby Stock Main Results
1. Dan Bryant
2. Pete Lethcoe
3. Tom Breshears
4. Tom Renner
5. Matt McEwan
6. Austin Ruskauff
7. Sean Martin, Sr.
8. Taelor Janes
9. John Hanson
10. Paul Miller
11. Ryan Smith
12. Sean Martin, Jr.
13. Mark Brummitt
DNS Gary Rayburn, Jr.
Papich Const. IMCA Modified Main Results
1. Mike Johnson
2. Danny Lauer
3. Josh Vogt
4. Cody Burke
5. Doug Thornton
6. Chris Crompe
7. Logan Drake
8. Chad Weber
9. Kyle Heckman
10. Joey Claborn
11. Willy Oathout
12. Ryan Lauer
13. Justin Crockett
14. Jeff Dye
15. Curtis Lowers
16. Kenny Kirkpatrick
17. Austin Burke
18. Mike Hyland
19. Sam Montgomery
20. Paul Terrones
21. Robert Dye
DQ Tony Toste
Toste Mini Stocks Main Results
1. Pat Fausel
2. Robby Cervantes
3. David McMullen
4. Brooke Toste
5. Hardy Ensign
6. Kurt Larsen
7. Justin Marsh
8. Troy Medeiros
9. Bill Jewell
10. Ed Rains
11. David Paine
12. John Penaflor
13. Eric Wilson
14. Dustin Ensign
15. Danielle Paine
16. Ben Caswell
Senior Mini Dwarf Main Results
1. Bobby Hood
2. Cameron McCauley
3. Tony Lamas
4. Joe Snyder
5. Jake Mahan
6. Kyle Peterson
7. Tristen Ung
8. Omar Macias
Junior Mini Dwarf Main Results
1. Deven Pearson
2. Sunni Simkins
3. Ryley Millard
4. Kabe McClenny
5. Cameron McCauley
6. Chloe Jones
7. John Spainhoward
8. Carson Enos
9. Lela Brogdon
10. Cassidy Claborn