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Packed house sees 1st Fallen Racers Memorial
Olschowka repeats as McDaniel, Morrison, McLaughlin and Mognaga score
By
Bob
Burbach
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Marysville CA - April 12,
2008 ---
With the exception of Jeff Olschowka’s powerful victory in the MRP Street Stocks, your name had to begin with an “M” to win as Marysville Raceway Park celebrated it’s heritage at the former “Triple M” Speedway Saturday. Paul and Kathy Hawes’ speed plant hosted an ambitious 5-division program and a moving tribute to some of the great names in MRP’s storied history. The racers who are no longer with us were honored in the 1st Fallen Racers Memorial. At the break, promoter Hawes talked about the past and had some very humorous anecdotes to relay to the very large crowd. Infield track announcer Sherm Toller read the list of fallen heroes to the hushed, appreciative gathering. All day long, and well into the after hours, racers and their families related stories and shared photos from MRP’s past. Hawes will dedicate the infield obelisk later this year and adorn it with bronze plaques dedicated to the racers who have participated in making MRP’s history.
Jeff Olschowka of Yuba City won the MRP Street Stock main event after a rush to the front in the early laps. Series point leader Bill Knoop of Hallwood followed Olschowka all race long, but didn’t have anything for the high flying #96. An early crash sent John Johnson to the pits for good and Ryan McDaniel to the pits for repairs. There was an early out for consistent front-runner and rookie of the year candidate, Lisa Shelby. She was relegated to the pits for a two-spin infraction. Knoop pulled up on Olschowka at every yellow, but Olschowka would not be denied. He won handily.
Robert Mull turned in another outstanding performance and finished 3rd after dueling with just about everyone in the race. Corey Hall was 4th and will make up some distance in the rookie of the year standings on Shelby. Ray Benkowski was 5th at the flag.
The Winged Sprint Car feature produced a surprise winner as Vern Morrison made the tow from Eldorado Hills and won the abbreviated feature. After a couple of aborted starts including a red flag, Korey Lovell of Yuba City bolted from his pole position start and simply ran away from the rest of the pack. The red flag was quickly displayed for defending track champion Jeremy Burt of Grass Valley, who rolled to a stop in turn one after something hit him in the head and knocked him senseless for a moment. That something was the base of a cone that was ripped apart by another racer just in front of Burt off of turn 4. Burt was OK and continued on.
Point leader Cort Dozier of Marysville was the show in the early laps as he went to the top of the raceway looking for some bite on a track that was rapidly changing from lap to lap. The high flying Dozier could not make it work and became involved in a crash in turn 3 that relegated him to the rear of the field.
As Lovell extended his lead a spirited dice began between Morrison and front row starter Troy Degatan ensued. Lovell pulled into the infield on the backstretch on lap nine and rolled to a stop. He went to the pits to correct the problem, and when he came back out on lap 11, he was two-laps down. Lovell who hammered the backstretch wall after turning in the night’s fastest qualifying lap had a fast, but frustrating night.
In the few laps prior to Lovell’s problem, and in the laps that remained, former track champion Mike Monahan of Sparks figured out the bottom. The “Madman” passed and re-passed racers as a string of yellow flags near the end moved Monahan back several times after having gained several positions. The spin-fest continued and a call for the checkers was made with 12 laps completed. Morrison won with Degaton and Monahan in 2nd and 3rd.
Randy McDaniel of Marysville won the modified main event in the first of six appearances by the division. McDaniel won the best race of the night leading every lap, but it wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Relentless pressure came from Yuba City’s Duane Cleveland. The race was an intense firefight that had the crowd roaring. The short field of 12 was a disappointment, but the racing at the front was amazing. Richard Pappenhousen of Chico joined in the hunt and slugged it out with Cleveland in the last laps. The video clearly shows smoke off of tires as the cars raced side by side. Sparks flew as the intense racing continued unabated.
An early race challenge was made by Ryan McDaniel. Ryan was an early out, though, as he hammered the backstretch wall in an effort to use the high side to go forward. His short but spectacular drive was great to watch.
A late race banzai effort by Cleveland in turns 3 and 4 got him the lead, but a yellow flag negated the hard fought effort. Randy McDaniel got the wake-up call and held on to his lead for the duration of the event. As the race moved into it’s final laps Pappenhousen camped on Cleveland’s tail. As the white flag flew, Pappenhousen made one last try and inched up beside Cleveland. It was a thriller up the backstretch…side by side. They collided in turn 3 sending Pappenhousen spinning to an 8th place finish with Cleveland holding on to 2nd. Live Oaks’ Matt Michelli took advantage of the melee and slipped into 3rd.
Dan Mognaga won the feature in the first appearance of the Winged Micro Sprint 600s. Mognaga took the lead on the sixth lap, passing early leader Joe Stornetta of Napa and was never headed. The 600’s incredible speeds and very impressive lap times got this observer’s attention. This was the first time in several years that this group was able to showcase their class on a big wide fast raceway. The spirited battle at the front early on was a good one, but Mognaga sailed away after ½ way.
Tim McLaughlin of Colusa, the defending series champion, won the SORA Sprint 100 feature race in that division’s first appearance of the season. A short field with numerous yellow flags and mechanical failures overshadowed what was a pretty good tussle up front in the early laps. Nick McColloch was impressive as he thundered into the lead right away. But McLaughlin was on the move. McLaughlin started the feature race 6th and took over second place in turn 4 on the 1st lap. Soon after, McLaughlin dipped low in turn 4 and came out in front of McColloch. A rash of yellow flags, cars rolling to a halt on the track, in the end, drew the curtain on the event. An impressive run by rookie Dave English was the highlight of the race after McLaughlin jetted into the lead. English was coming fast when he lost it in turn 3, while 3rd, and faded to a 7th place in a field of 8. McColloch stayed 2nd at the checkers.
Heat race winners included Burt and Monahan in the Winged Sprint Car division, Ryan McDaniel and John Johnson of Yuba City in the Street Stocks, McLaughlin and Jim Phifer of Vacaville, in a notable run to the front, in the Sprint 100s, Mognaga and Kelvin Lewis of Rocklin in the Micro Sprints 600s, and Randy McDaniel and Cleveland in the Modifieds.
Next Saturday night promoter Hawes will present the MRP Winged Sprint Cars, the MRP Street Stocks and the impressive MRP Mini Stocks. The Minis brought 28 cars to their last show. The Sprint 100s will return and The EXTREME BOMBERS will put on their 2nd Slam-Bang slugfest to bring down the curtain.
Pit gates open at 3 with the grandstands opening at 5. 1st race always runs off at 7PM.
Put www.marysvilleracewaypark.com 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 or incorrect. The text is based on information we have at the time of its release. Complete finishes, stats and points become official and available at the close of business on Tuesday and will be posted to the web site.
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