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Jim Pluhar
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 14) - Western AllStars Late Model Stocks make their first appearance at Santa Maria Speedway Saturday night. D&S Automotive IMCA Modifieds and Mini Stocks are also on the schedule.
Thirty or more cars are expected to compete in the AllStars event, led by Bobby Hogge of Salinas. Hogge, with two wins, leads Chris Shannon, of Merced, who has no wins but does have 6 top-five finishes out of 7 events, by only 8 points. Castroville's A.J. Kirkpatrick, also with two victories, is third, 116 markers back. Fourth place Ron Bartels, of El Segundo, trails by 126 and fifth place Nick Bartels, also of El Segundo, is 156 out of first.
A feature victory in the IMCA Modified division last weekend catapulted Danny Lauer into the point lead over Doug Thornton by 7 markers. The two Santa Maria drivers moved ahead of previous point leader Kenny Kirkpatrick, of Nipomo, who had his worst finish of the season. Kirkpatrick is 12 points in arrears, 1 point ahead of a fourth place tie between Rich Denman, of Coalinga, and Clay Daly of Watsonville. The top-five in this fierce points battle are separated by a total of 13 points.
In another close contest Justin Marsh is fighting it out with fellow Nipomo driver Jeremy Heroux for the lead in the Mini Stock points. Heroux is on a tear with a second and two thirds in Mini Stock main event action. Marsh's two wins and a fourth keeps him in the lead by 9 points. Arroyo Grande's Justin Crockett and Santa Maria's Frank Nyback are tied for third, 2 points farther back, after Nyback's first main event win of the season last Saturday night. Fifth place Matt Sweeney, of Van Nuys, is 26 out of the lead.
Spectator gates for Saturday night's event will open at 3:00 p.m., with qualifying at 5:15 p.m. and racing at 6:00 p.m. Admission prices will be: $20.00 for adults, $16.00 for seniors (65+), $5.00 for children 6 to 12, 5 and under free. SMS does not accept credit cards.
The Speedway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange on Hutton Road. For information call: 805-922-2233.
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