Cautions and green flag runs mark June 26 Lakeport Speedway action

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Robert Schmidt leads Anthony Esberg and Sean Keown in the Mini Stocks at the Lakeport Speedway in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, June 26, 2010. Photo by Melissa Coburn.






LAKEPORT – Both the Bomber and Modified classes had a night with few cautions and long green flag runs in their respective main events on June 26.


Bombers started their main event off by parking the cars on the front stretch. Drivers and passengers got out of their race cars and honored the flag with the national anthem. All pit members came out to the infield while the national anthem was sung.


Before climbing back into their cars, participants threw t-shirts into the stands to the spectators.


As the first green flag dropped, it saw Andy Norton take the advantage over Rick Jelton and take the lead the first 11 laps. Scott Griffin and Robert Byers pulled into the infield early.


Charlie Collins quickly moved up from the ninth position to take the lead on lap 12 from Norton, and maintained the lead by a large margin for the rest of the 40 laps.


Collins took the main event win, following were Mike Neilson, Norton, Ryan Sweeney, Justin Dutcher,, Evan Smith, Jelton and Caity Miller.


The Bomber trophy dash saw Byers lead every lap and take the win. Andy Norton, filling in for daughter KC Lynn, won the first heat with Jelton in second and Smith coming in third.


It was a major battle in heat two, with Collins coming from the back to take the win after a long hard fight between Byers and Sweeney.


In lap eight, Mike Swaney went into the wall; after a caution to remove the car and debris, racing resumed with Neilson being put to the back. Second place went to the Starsky and Hutch car driven by Sweeney and third to Neilson.


Mini Stocks also were on hand Saturday night. Six cars took the field for the main event. Thomas Esberg dominated the field most of the race.


Sean Keown, who began the race in the sixth and final spot, fought hard and took the lead on the last lap to claim victory. Thomas Esberg took second, followed by Robert Schmidt, Jason Pratt, Strugnell and Anthony Esberg, who later won the trophy dash.


The heat race also was a fairly close battle with Jason Pratt taking the win, followed by Thomas Esberg and Anthony Esberg.


Jammers main event combined both the Pros and the Juniors. The race began with a full field of

cars.


Kayleigh Sullivan took the green and kept the lead for the first five laps. Caity Miller took over the lead in lap six, but lost it to Ellis Thornton on lap 10. Thornton never looked back.


At the end of the race the pros were Thornton, Eddie Klein and Mike Peterson. The juniors were Miller, Jackson Long and Sullivan.


Pro Jammers trophy dash went to Deake Lyndall, the Jr Jammers trophy went to Sullivan.


The heats were crazy with spinouts, cautions, red flags and tight-fought battles.


The Pros heat race was a battle at the end between Mike Petersen and Thornton, racing neck

and neck with Peterson coming in for the win. The Jr Jammers win went to Caity Miller.


The Modified main event was another set of long green flag runs, with Thomas Wright eventually taking the checkers.


Fifteen cars started the race with Mike Smithhart taking the lead in lap one, only to be passed by Potts in lap five. Potts was strong in keeping the lead through lap 36.


Wright was finally able to get around Potts in lap 37 and bring it to lap 50 for the win. Potts took second, Chuck Pruett brought it home in third, Lyndall was in fourth and Mark Marek rounded out the top five.


Modified trophy dash had David Lyndall take the lead at the line. The four cars were bunched up in tight formation. Aaron Hicks had his nose under Mark Marek and made it impossible for Thomas Wright to get around. Lyndall took the trophy.


Heat one started with Steve Olvera and Mike Smithhart taking the green with six cars following close behind. On lap three Olvera spun out and Smithhart took the lead and held on for the win.


Heat two started with Richie Potts and Sean Sweeney on the front row. Steve Taylor, David Lyndall, Mark Marek, Aaron Hicks and Thomas Wright filled out the field. Lyndall got shuffled to the back and Potts took the win with Sean Sweeney coming in second.

 

 

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Rick Jelton and Evan Smith race at the Lakeport Speedway in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, June 26, 2010. Photo by Melissa Coburn.
 

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