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Anderson,
Shelby and Ollar grab the Victories
Open Wheel Frenzy and Taco
Bell Night this Saturday
By
Bob
Burbach
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Marysville CA - August 12, 2007 ---
Sacramento’s
John Anderson poked his nose into the lead and won a
sprint car race that nobody seemed to want to win. Yuba
City’s Phillip Shelby padded his point lead with a
virtuoso drive from the back to the front in the KKCY
Stock Car feature and Gary Holsey, also of Yuba City,
could not quite get by Jamey Ollar as Ollar romped to
another feature win in the KKCY Mini Stock feature. All of
this was capped by an outrageous figure 8 task for the
Extreme Bombers at Paul and Kathy Hawes Marysville Raceway
Park Saturday.
The KKCY Stock Cars started the features and arch rivals
Jerry Bartlett and Jeff Olschowka shared the front row. As
expected they roared away from the field at the green.
But, mid-field strife broke out in turn 1 as both Heather
Bartlett and fellow point contender Phillip Shelby were
caught up in a mess. Heather Bartlett kept going, but
Shelby was hammered by rookie Wes Shermantine and was
relegated to the rear for the restart.
Olschowka got the jump on Jerry Bartlett at the new green
and with Chris Warner in tow. The smart money was on the
top two, but Warner won the last time he appeared at MRP.
Heather Bartlett settled into an easy 4th. Ray Benkowski
began to reel her in as Phillip Shelby made a frantic
march to the front from last. Jerry Bartlett and Olschowka
motored away from the field, Shelby arrived in 6th almost
immediately as he sliced his way to the front. He was into
the Benkowski-Heather Bartlett struggle as the race
approached ½ way. Shelby got by Benkowski and started to
look for 4th position.
Then, a most amazing series of events changed the entire
complexion of the event. Olschowka appeared to lose it as
he and Jerry Bartlett diced in very close proximity to one
another in turn 1. Olschowka collected Bartlett AND 3rd
running Warner. All three cars came to a stop and 4th
running Heather Bartlett got a big gift and was the new
leader.
The new green put Shelby behind Heather Bartlett and the
race was on! Shelby hounded Bartlett relentlessly as Jerry
Bartlett and Warner rocketed back through the field.
Benkowski stayed perilously close in 3rd.
As the two leaders came to the white flag, Shelby made his
move as he crept inside the pink 99 of Heather Bartlett.
Under Robin Davies’ white flag, Shelby had a nose on
Bartlett. He extended his lead as the pair reached the
backstretch and motored home with Bartlett and Benkowski
in his wake. It was one to remember.
In the later laps Jerry Bartlett was on the move as he
came in with a fine 4th after his turn 1 troubles. Jerry
Bartlett and Olschowka won the heats and Jerry Bartlett
grabbed the $100 in the Dash for Cash.
The KKCY Mini Stock feature was a whole other matter.
Plagued by early race multi car pileups and uncooperative
back markers who would not get into proper position, the
race was sadly flagged to an early end. Too bad really, as
the race up front was a real nail biter as Jamey Ollar and
Yuba City’s Gary Holsey had a great race for the lead in
the laps that were run under green. Last week’s winner
Robert Luster was in the mix as well. A resurgent Damian
Merritt dueled contender Blane Baker for the 4th spot.
Merritt’s runs to the front have been impressive of
late, and his dice with Baker and 2006 Champion Joel
Giusti was one of the highlights of the event.
Orland Mini-Truck competitor Kevin Brown made his 1st run
at MRP a memorable one as he stayed in the lead swarm for
much of the first part of the race joining Merritt and
Baker in the tussle for 4th. Brown biked his truck on 2
occasions, and fell to 7th in the final standings. The
Orland based Mini Trucks ran a heat of their own as 7
entrants made the tow. Giving them an opportunity to try
out the MRP ¼ mile racing with their own was a good idea
as their heat race went flag to flag without a hitch.
Ollar prevailed as the feature event winner at the
yellow/checkered with Holsey, Luster and Merritt ahead of
Baker.
The Wingless Warriors were next up and, like the Stock Car
race earlier, it was impossible to predict a winner…and,
like the Stock Car race the winner came from last after
being turned around in the 1st turn.
Yuba City’s Mark Hill and pole sitter Tim Barnes roared
into turn 1 side by side. As they exited turn two
Sacramento’s John Anderson was sideways and stopped in
turn 1 after three cars ahead checked up causing Anderson
to throw it sideways and stop.
The new green had Barnes bolt into the lead with both Tim
Sherman Jr. and Pat Russum getting into 2nd and 3rd
respectively. The race was a good one as Sherman and
Barnes had a sweet race going for the top spot. Russum
seemed content with 3rd in the early going. Hill stayed
4th. Quick time qualifier, Josh Tucker of Willows passed
into the top 5 behind Hill. Then Hill and Tucker got
Russum with a slick inside move and on lap 7 of 20.
Moments later Russum lost it in turn 1 and stopped.
As in last week’s barn-burner event (in which he
finished 2nd from 9th), Anderson was slowly picking his
way back to the front as the leaders fought for the top
spots. This Yellow flag suited Anderson just fine. He was
6th at the restart.
Barnes led at the new green with Sherman, Hill and Tucker
breathing down his neck. As the pack approached turn 3,
Barnes slid sideways to a halt. Hill plowed into him then
Tucker hammered them a ton as Sherman escaped unscathed
and into the lead. Tucker and Barnes were finished and
Hill went to the back to continue his point battle with
Russum. Anderson picked up three valuable positions in the
exchange and would restart 2nd just behind Sherman.
Birthday boy Sherman was having his ride of the year
sailing along in the lead. Sherman found the high side and
continued keeping Anderson at bay. In a heart beat,
however, Sherman’s night ended as smoke poured from the
#1jr. Engine problems had cancelled his race leading run.
The groan from the grandstand was considerable as many of
the onlookers were rooting for Jr’s 1st win on his
birthday. The race continued and Anderson easily
outdistanced the field thereafter. But, Russum and Hill
were on a mission and cut and slashed their way to 2nd and
3rd respectively.
Scott Herbert was having his best run ever when he had
problems on the front chute and slid to a stop in front of
heavy traffic. The 3rd car through the mess was Yuba
City’s Tim Burcher and he slammed into Herbert’s
stalled machine. Burcher’s car flipped coming to rest
upside down at the entry to turn 1. Burcher was unhurt and
the race resumed with Anderson in the lead.
With 7 to go Russum and Hill had made it back to the front
and were right behind Anderson. The final laps were green
all the way and try as they might, Russum and Hill could
not get by the crafty veteran. Russum nosed up along side
on the 18th circuit, but could not make the pass. Pat
Couch finished 4th and Herbert finished his best ever 5th
after restarting after Burcher’s flip.
The EXTREME BOMBER FIGURE 8 finale was, as you would
expect, a slam-bang, crash ‘em up affair that was
ultimately won by Mini Stock point leader Lisa Shelby. Her
passenger (I’m told) was sprint car star Brandon Dozier.
He had the brake pedal. We know he doesn’t use it very
much…so that tandem crashed and whirled around the
figure 8 course with significant speed. They won by more
than 2 laps if we’re counting right. A great time was
had by all. Judging from the crowd reaction, the figure 8
task is becoming wildly popular with the fans. Hardened
sprint car fans are sticking around to see the Extreme
Bombers. The Extreme Bombers will once again be given the
figure 8 task on Saturday night August 25th.
An all open wheel extravaganza will highlight next
Saturday Night’s Taco Bell Night at MRP. The mighty
alcohol burning Winged Sprint Cars and the Wingless Sprint
Car Series will be back for complete programs of their
heart-stopping wheel-to-wheel action. The Nor Cal Dwarf
Cars and the SORA Sprint 100s will complete the show.
Pit gates always open at 3PM. 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.
Put www.marysvilleracewaypark on your “favorites”
button on you computer. Watch this site for press
releases, updates and complete results.
Note: Please make this observer aware of any names that
are misspelled. The text is based on information we have
at the time of its release.
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