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Hammer Down opener at MRP
Bartlett, Baker, Cleveland and Pappenhousen score
Spring Open Wheel Open next week!!
By
Bob
Burbach
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Marysville CA. Drifting on dirt at 100 MPH was never more ably demonstrated as at Paul and Kathy Hawes Marysville Raceway Park Saturday night. The first annual Taxi Cab Open played host to monster slides and racecars pawing their way on three wheels around the perfectly prepared clay surface. 4 open stock car divisions opened the season.
Yuba City’s Jerry Bartlett returned to victory lane in the Open Street Stock portion of the event. Bartlett’s stirring pass of Marysville’s Jeff Olschowka after a monster duel for the lead had the cheering crowd on their collective feet. As a matter of fact, lap 2 provided a three-wide drag race up the back chute that included the aforementioned pair and Heather Bartlett, Jerry’s daughter. Olschowka won that battle of nerves only to be passed by Jerry Bartlett a couple of circuits later.
The race was slowed by two caution periods that allowed the charging pack to close on the lead trio. Olschowka used the new greens to renew his challenge of Bartlett while Heather Bartlett nipped at their heels. Olschowka never could get back beside Bartlett.
The lead battle overshadowed a great drive to the front by Yuba City’s Ray Benkowski. Benkowski was mired in traffic at the outset, but continually nipped past cars and finished a fine fourth. Antioch’s Terry DeCarlo came in a competitive fifth in his first appearance at MRP in three years.
Jerry Bartlett was frank in victory lane. “I hit the clutch instead of the brake early…I have never driven a 4-speed here before”, He quipped. It was about the only mistake he made. “Paul Hawes has done a good job with this track. It is fast and tacky.”
Yuba City’s Blane Baker was a rocket as he dominated the MRP Open MiniStock feature after a spectacular backstretch crash nearly eliminated him from the competition. His battered racer showed the signs of a narrow escape as he pulled into victory lane.
Brothers Mike and Damian Merritt were battling for the lead in the opening laps with Baker watching from third. The lead pair headed up the back chute with Damian Merritt slightly ahead. Mike Merritt moved on the inside and they got together. Damian Merritt started a long lazy slide up the backstretch and was hammered by pole sitter Ryan Francis. The impact was significant and Francis’ car was heavily damaged in the impact. Baker also bounced into the wreck, but kept on going. His brush with fate put him in the lead at the restart.
After the crash, it was all Baker as he pulled to a half-lap lead at the checkers as he wound his way through lapped traffic without hesitation. It was a great effort for a deserving racer. Mike Merritt was penalized for his move on the Damian Merritt #22 and never was a challenger after that. The Merritt 22 also re-entered the fray, but was not a factor.
Baker noted, “I had a good run tonight, even after a bad hit on the front”. He was referring to the backstretch crash.
Yuba City’s Duane Cleveland blasted his way into victory lane in the Modified portion of the four division extravaganza. He pretty much three-wheeled his way to the victory in an awesome display of power and speed. He nearly flipped in turn three on one occasion, as the underside of his potent 2c was clearly visible to the fine crowd. Cleveland was the man to beat, but perennial favorite Randy McDaniel kept it interesting as he continually came through the field after a series of problems that sent him to the rear of the field on several occasions. McDaniel wound up second in a race that saw an unusually high attrition rate.
The hooked up raceway provided an ideal setting for the powerful Modifieds to show their stuff. Oregon’s Travis Perry made a sweet late race pass of Stock Car ace Richard Pappenhousen to secure a well deserved third.
Pappenhousen put on a remarkable display of speed and daring in the featured Late Model main. Pappenhousen slugged it out with Bakersfield Speedway’s Late Model Champion Zack Forrester in the early laps before setting sail for the checkers, unchallenged. Yellow flag periods had no effect on the high-flying Pappenhousen. He simply rocketed away from the field at will. Pappenhousen’s orange racer seemed almost to float on the hooked up and quick clay ribbon. Forrester stayed second, with Merced’s Marcus Aue in third. They were the only racers on the lead lap at the end.
Pappenhousen was thrilled with the surface. But, his run in the front was not without it’s problems. “The track was great up high…but I broke a right front shock”.
The final checkered flag flew at 9:26PM with the entire show in the books. Each feature event was previewed by a crowd-pleasing introduction of each of the participating drivers on the front stretch. Promoter Hawes’ new format and pre-race lineups formula had the program flowing. The early out included two intermission breaks.
Next Saturday night, the Spring Open Wheel Open will be on tap at the new Marysville Raceway Park. Winged Pacific Sprint Cars, Wingless 360 Sprint Cars, The Nor Cal Dwarf Cars and the Sprint 100s. The open wheel slugfest should be outstanding.
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Pit gates open at 3PM. Pit meeting at 5PM. Spectator Gates Open at 5PM with racing getting underway at 7PM. Contact the promoters at 1.530.743.1327 or email as indicated on the home page.
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