Spencer, Henry Win Finales

Of Louie Vermeil Classic

Defending USAC/CRA sprint car champion Mike Spencer claimed his career first win at Calistoga Speedway Sunday night, taking the finale of the Louie Vermeil Classic on the half mile oval, but only after race leader Richard Ballou's potential clean sweep of the weekend evaporated when he was called into the pits for a flat tire eight laps from the checkered flag.

Jumping into the lead at the start, Ballou looked like he would easily repeat Saturday night's victory.   He dominated the field, often pulling  out to multiple car length leads while running the high groove inches from the wall to maintain his momentum.   With eight laps remaining in the 30 lap event, the field was regrouped under the yellow flag for a stalled car. As the field idled around the track, race officials told Ballou that his right rear tire was going flat and ordered him to the pits to change it.

That forced Ballou to stop, handing the lead to Spencer, who had just claimed the runner-up spot  the  lap before.  Because the field was already set to take the green flag, Ballou had no time to change the tire and rejoin the race.

"I love this place," said a jubilant Spencer in victory circle.  "This is one of the best wins of my career,"

But the three time USAC/CRA champion conceded that he might not have won without Ballou's untimely flat tire.  "I was running a different line than he was," Spencer explained, trying to cut under the race leader through the low groove of the corners.  "It was hard to tell," he conceded, whether he would have closed up enough ground to mount a challenge.

"We were the fastest car," said an obviously disappointed Ballou, as he stood near the flat tire that had cost  him what appeared to be a sure win.

Race officials explained that safety concerns gave them no other choice but to order Ballou to the pits, especially when it became obvious that the tire would no longer hold air.  They also explained that they couldn't wait for Ballou to change the tire because the field was already set to take the green flag, a rule that had been discussed in the mandatory drivers meeting before the race.

Jonathan Henry won the companion midget main event, leading all 25 laps from the pole, but only after holding off a strong challenge from Alex Schutte who finished in the runner-up spot for the second consecutive night.  An excited Henry gave bear hugs to everybody in sight in victory circle, starting with his crew chief.  "This is my first time here," said Henry about racing at Calistoga, as he thanked a long list of people who made the win possible.

Although he led every lap, Henry had to hold off a hard challenge from Schutte, who often got close but couldn't find an opening to go for a pass.  "I was trying to consistently stay on the bottom of the track and one time Henry went to the top," said Schutte.  "He made that one slight bobble and I wasn't close enough to take advantage of it.  He drove mistake-free after that," Schutte acknowledged.

Ballou and Pierovitch Win
One night down, one more to go

California native Robert Ballou enjoyed a successful homecoming, winning the sprint car portion of the Louie Vermeil  Classic at Calistoga Speedway Saturday night.

Scott Pierovitch claimed the companion midget race and both drivers called their wins payback for races they have narrowly lost on the high speed, Napa County Fairgrounds half mile oval.  

Ballou, originally from the Sacramento area town of Rocklin and who has been racing out of Indianapolis the last four years, grabbed the lead midway through the 30 lap race and came out on top of a three-way dogfight to claim the win.  After starting on the pole,he stalked race leader Danny Sheridan as the pair weaved their way through slower lapped traffic. 

Ballou pounced on the opportunity when Sheridan was balked by a slower car that crowded him at the end of the backstretch and dove underneath the leader as the cars ran three abreast into turn three.  

"I gave one away here a couple of years ago, so I was glad to make up for it tonight," said Ballou, who also said that he struggled with the car throughout the race with brake problems.

Sheridan acknowledged that Ballou's move to take the lead was just clean, hard racing.  "He drove a great race and we raced him hard," said Sheridan, who was able to get alongside Ballou briefly but chased him unsuccessfully for the last half of the race.

 "Lapped traffic was really tough tonight," said Sheridan.  "When you're going 30 miles an hour faster than they are, things happen in a hurry."

In the last half of the race Mike Spencer, current point leader in the USAC/CRA points battle who is gunning for an unprecedented fourth consecutive championship, challenged Sheridan for second as the top three cars weaved through the field separated by only tenths of a second.  On the last lap, however, Matt Mitchell ran to the top of turn one and passed Spencer on the outside for the final podium spot.

In the companion midget main event, Pierovitch led all 25 laps from the pole to claim the win.  "This is the best win of my career," said Pierovitch," and I've been waiting four years for this."  Four years ago, in the first Louie Vermeil Classic, Pierovitch narrowly lost after a wheel to wheel duel with Johnny Rodriquez in a race that saw the pair run away from the field and swap the lead at each end of the racetrack almost every lap.

Current USAC championship point leader Cory Kruseman, a Louie Vermeil winner last year, finished third after starting at the rear of the 24 car field.  That march through the field preserved his points lead after he overcame engine problems in qualifying.  "We pretty much struggled all night long," said Kruseman.  "We changed everything on the engine except the valve covers but eventually got a good run."

Defending Champions Enter Louie Vermeil Classic

Gardner, Kruseman Look to Repeat

Sprint car driver Damien Gardner is among the early entries to defend his title for the Louie Vermeil Classic, set for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 3,4, at Calistoga Speedway.

Gardner, originally from the San Francisco Bay area city of Concord and who now makes his home in Indianapolis, won both ends of the sprint car portion of the Louie Vermeil Classic in 2010, coming from deep in the pack to win on Saturday and nursing worn out tires to win from the pole on Sunday.    Gardner currently sits eighth in the United States Auto Club's (USAC) national championship point standings for sprint cars and is taking advantage of a break in that's series' schedule to race at Calistoga.

In addition, Cory Kruseman , Ventura will be a strong contender to claim the midget portion of the Louie Vermeil Classic , repeating his effort of last year.  Kruseman, a former champion of USAC sprint cars on the West Coast, is leading the 2011 United States Auto Club's Western States midget championship standings.  Last year, he finished second on Saturday and won on Sunday night to claim the Arata Trophy given to the driver who collects the most championship points over the two day event.

The Calistoga weekend is a critical stop in the overall championship chase for both USAC/California Racing Association sprint cars and USAC midgets.   While Gardner will be chasing the Louie Vermeil honors, Southern California driver Mike Spencer is gunning for a fourth consecutive USAC/CRA sprint car series title.

The Louie Vermeil Classic, named in honor of the late long-time Calistoga resident who directed racing operations at Calistoga Speedway for nearly 50 years, represents the mid-point of the 15 races that count toward the USAC midget title.  Among those chasing Kruseman is Stockton driver Jonathan Henry, who will bring a winning streak to the Napa Valley after claiming the last two races in Ventura and Chico.

Forsberg Wins Sprint Car Feature

Five time Civil War series champion Andy Forsberg took command of another title run, winning the main event for sprint cars Saturday night at Calistoga Speedway, but only after challenges by rival drivers blew up with untimely tire woes.

In the middle stages of the 25 lap race, two-time champion Sean Becker, who narrowly lost the title to Forsberg last year, was leading the race by a comfortable margin when his left rear tire exploded on the backstretch, handing the lead to Forsberg.

In the closing laps, Forsberg had to beat back a strong challenge from former state sprint car champion Ronnie Day, who diced nose to tail and side by side with him over the last five laps before Day's bid for the win ended when his rear tire blew on the white flag lap.

"I've won races I should have lost and lost races I should have won," said Forsberg about the bad luck of Becker and Day.  "This was a very fortunate night for us," added Forsberg, who padded his bid for a sixth championship with the win.

Forsberg's strongest challenge came from Day, who hounded the current champion in the closing laps, diving under him on the low groove of turns one and two and then trying to power around him on the outside of turns three and four.   Day appeared to have the advantage as the pair ran side by side down the front stretch with two laps to go before the yellow caution flew for a stalled car, regrouping the field.   "I think without that last yellow flag, I would have passed him," Day contended.

Day said he knew the tire was going low, alerted by another driver on a pace lap.  "But with so few laps to go, it didn't matter," added Day, who chose to push for the win instead of slowing down to preserve the tire.

Hometown racer Mike Benson finished third, his second best career finish on the half mile oval.  "I've finished fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh," said Benson, who won the Civil War series race on this track three years ago.  "We are real happy to be running with the front runners," added Benson, whose crew started building the car he raced on Monday night.  "I made some mistakes and backed up in the field, but I made up for them later in the race," he said about preserving his podium finish.

Sixteen year old driver Chase Johnson saw his dream of a career first win come to a crashing end near the half way point.   The second year driver from Penngrove who races weekly at Petaluma Speedway pulled away from the field and drove confidently on the high speed half mile   But on lap 11 as he caught  lapped  traffic, he ran into the rear of a slower car, ending his night.  "It would have been my first career win said the young driver. 

Racing will return to Calistoga's half mile oval with the Louie Vermeil Classic for non-winged sprint cars and midgets on Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend.

-Bill Sessa

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Calistoga Speedway, Civil War sprint car series (Saturday)  Fast time qualifier:  Ronnie Day, Salinas (17.983 sec).   Heat 1 (8 laps):  Rich Griffin, St. Helena;  Nicole Miller, Loomis; Mike Benson, Calistoga; Day; Chase Johnson, Penngrove.   Heat 2:  Steven Tiner, Visalia; Kyle Hirst, Loomis, Elk Grove; Sean Becker, Roseville. Jeremy Burt, Grass Valley;  Nick Green, San Jose.  Heat 3 : Greg DeCaires, Elk Grove;  Billy  Aton, Benecia; Allissa Geving, Penngrove; Trent  Canales; Andy For sberg ,Auburn; Dennis Harvey,  Orangevale.    Semi-main (12 laps):  Herman Klein, Sacramento; Jeff Parady, Pope Valley; B rett Miller, Chico;  Shain Matthews, Paradise; Cody LaMar, Sacramento; Shawn Wright, Lodi.   MAIN EVENT (25 LAPS):  Forsberg; Hirst; Benson; DeCaires; B. Miller; Matthews; Klein; Geving; Becker; Aton; Lamar; Wright; N. Miller; Parady; Harvey; Day; Tiner; Green; Burt; Canales; Johnson.

Kaeding and DeCarlo...Winners

    Eleven suddenly became Tim Kaeding's lucky number Saturday night, when he was handed a victory in the curfew-shortened sprint car feature at Calistoga Speedway as time and air in his left rear tire were both running out.

    The state-mandated curfew of 11 pm for fairgrounds racetracks was a reprieve for Kaeding, who had been steadily losing ground to a fast-closing Kyle Larsen and was within a lap or two of being shot down as the race leader.  The race was red-flagged to a stop at lap 13 to clear the wreckage after Brad Furr crashed and flipped in turn two.  Minutes later, the checkered flag waved over the field that sat silently on the front straightaway as the clock struck eleven.    

    In victory circle, Kaeding, who started on the pole after winning the dash for the eight fastest cars, sounded like a man who knew had been spared.  "I knew Kyle was coming," he said, and he acknowledged "I had a tire going flat and I might not have made it to the end" of the scheduled 25 laps on the half mile oval.

    Larson, who had flown overnight after racing in Indianapolis the night before, was as confident as a gunfighter in sizing up Kaeding's problem and knowing that he would have taken advantage of it within a lap or so.  "I could see he had a tire going down," said Larson.  "Because of that, he couldn't keep the car down on the low groove and that is where I was going to take him and I knew I could get him in a lap or two."

    Third place went to Sydney, Australia's Ian Madsen, 2010 New South Wales sprint car champion, who started on the outside of the front row and who dueled wheel to wheel with Kaeding for the lead over the first five laps of green flag racing, in addition to four restarts before a single lap was scored.     

    The red flag for Furr's crash was one of five that stopped the race, including one that took out three cars on the front straightaway at the drop of the green flag.  Those stops, plus delays for numerous yellow flag cautions, pushed a ragged race up against the curfew time limit.

    Earlier, Nick DeCarlo of Martinez, led from start to finish to win the 20 lap main event for dirt modifieds, coming out on top of a two man duel with former Silver Dollar Speedway champion Rich Papenhausen, who found himself chasing the engine he had loaned DeCarlo for the race.  The switch was made after DeCarlo's engine failed to meet the rules for the event.

    The pair often pulled out to half a straightaway lead from the rest of the field, with DeCarlo gaining more traction to stay ahead of Papenhausen, who could race close but not enough to get by for the lead.    "My motor had more horsepower, but the track was slick and we couldn't hook up as well as (the smaller motor) we loaned to Nick," said Papenhausen. 

As for volunteering an engine to someone who ultimately beat him with it, Papenhausen, reflecting a high degree of sportsmanship, simply said, "I've raced with these guys for a long time and I didn't want to see them just load up and go home."

    For his part, DeCarlo repaid the favor.  "I gave him half of the winning purse," said DeCarlo.  "It seemed only fair because without his motor, I would have gone home."

Calistoga Speedway, King of the West sprint cars (sat):  Fast time qualifier, Jonathan Allard, Chico (17.469 sec).   Heat 1 (8 laps): Kyle Larson, Elk Grove; Allard; Andy Gregg, Placerville; Jeff Griffin, St. Helena; Doug Gandy, Oakley; Matthew Davis, Vacaville.   Heat 2: Tim Kaeding, Campbell; Jason Stattler, Grass Valley; Danielle Simpson, Rio Vista; Nick Rescino, San Francisco; Eli DeChais, Novato; Brad Furr, Stockton; Jamie Barnes, Elma, Wash.  Heat 3: Evan Suggs, San Jose; Bobby McMahon, Elk Grove; Willie Croft, Sacramento; Rico Abreau, St. Helena; Tony Lutar, Whitehorse, British Columbia; Art Moroso, Merced.  Heat 4: Ian Maden, Sydney, Aus.; Brent Kaeding, Campbell; Dan Simpson, Rio Vista; Kenny Allen, Chico; Bjorn Bork; Chad Hawkins, Calistoga.   Dash (8 laps):  T. Kaeding; Madesn; B. Kaeding; Suggs; Allard; Bud Kaeding; Abreau; Lutor.   Semi-main (12 laps): Furr; Croft; Barnes; Bjork; Simpson; Moroso.  MAIN EVENT (13 laps; curfew):  T. Kaeding; Larson; Madsen; Suggs; Lutar; B. Kaeding; McMahon; Furr; Croft; Stattler; Barnes, Bud Kaeding; Moroso; Denise Simpson; Allen; Davies; Allard; Abreau; Gregg; Rescino; Griffin.      

World of Outlaws Sprint Cars Resume Calistoga Tradition

Modifieds Are Undercard for April Season Opener

When the World of Outlaws (WoO) opens Calistoga Speedway's 2011 season on April 2, it will mark the first appearance of the national sprint car tour in California's Napa Valley in four years and the return of an annual tradition that dates back 25 years.

Joining the nation's fastest winged sprint car drivers on the half mile oval will be the UMP Modifieds, which have become immensely popular with open wheel fans at Calistoga over the last three years.

"It is exciting to bring the tradition of the World of Outlaws back to Calistoga Speedway, where the drivers like the ability to race at high speed on the one of the few big, half-mile oval tracks left in the West," said race promoter Chris Morgan, West Coast Director of DirtCar.           

The weekend also will be a homecoming of sorts for many veteran drivers on the national WoO tour whose first victories on the big half mile oval date back decades ago and who still look forward to racing on the scenic and fast track.

"It's a pretty special place," said Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio, a four time race winner at Calistoga, dating back to 1985.  "I won the Louie Vermeil Classic out there," he recalls, referring to one of Calistoga Speedway's biggest races.  "I like racing on the big, high-speed half mile tracks."

Twenty time WoO champion Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Ind., shares that sentiment.  "I've always liked the big race tracks and, out in California, Calistoga is the only track of any great size," said Kinser, a nine-time winner on the Napa County Fairgrounds oval. 

But to Kinser, a visit to the scenic wine country of Napa Valley was also a chance to relax and take a break from the grind of being on the road for nearly nine months a year.   "It was always a lot of fun to be in that part of the country," said Kinser, an avid golfer.  "My family and I got to enjoy quite a few places out there."

Calistoga Speedway, one of the country's oldest continuously running race tracks now in its 74^th year, has been a part of the World of Outlaws tour since it began.  The first WoO race at Calistoga in 1978 featured four traveling "Outlaw" drivers who swept the top positions, with Ohio driver Rick Ferkel winning after starting 18^th on the grid.  Fellow travelers Jack Hewitt of Ohio and Pennsylvania's Bobby Allen finished out the top three, dispatching some of California's best drivers in the process.

Since then, the WoO tour has raced on the Calistoga clay about 40 times, including two and three consecutive nights each year from 1986-2007.  During that time, some of the most elite WoO drivers in the country have appeared in victory circle, including the legendary Doug Wolfgang, Tennessee driver Sammy Swindell, who swept all three nights of WoO action in 1997 on his way to his third national championship (and who spent his days touring the back roads of this premium wine-growing region on his motorcycle.) and former WoO champion Danny Lasoski from Missouri.

Joining Haudenschild, Kinser and Lasoski in April will be a couple of WoO drivers for whom Calistoga is a true homecoming.  Current World of Outlaws champion Jason Meyers, Fresno, the first California driver to win the title, and Paul McMahon, formerly of Sacramento and now making his home in Nashville, Tenn., both ran some of  the first races in their sprint car careers at Calistoga Speedway.

Joining the winged, open wheel WoO sprint cars, will be the UMP Modifieds, which have created a new following of fans since their first appearance at the Napa County Fairgrounds three years ago.

Northern California's best modified drivers will be looking for a triple payout that weekend, racing Friday night on the tight quarter mile bullring in Merced.   A $1,000 bonus will be paid to a modified driver who can win both nights of racing, each of which presents its special challenges.   

"Calistoga is the fastest track a lot of us will ever race on and the biggest thing is the intimidation factor," said veteran driver Bobby Hogge IV, Salinas, a former Calistoga winner.  "Merced is a track that you have to be 110 percent on your game before the green drops. Drawing a good starting position, doing well in your heat and passing without running over another car is important there. You can't win if you don't finish."

Because the Speedway is within easy walking distance to the center of Calistoga, the town has always been an integral part of racing activity.  That will continue on April 2, with a day full of racing-themed activities both downtown and on the Napa County Fairgrounds, including show cars, autograph sessions with World of Outlaw drivers and music.

Also, the Napa Valley offers world-class wineries, food, shopping, and excellent camping and hiking to round out the weekend.  More information on Napa Valley activities can be found at www.legendarynapavalley.com.

BLUE RIBBON AWARD PRESENTED TO:
HAROLD SMITH & SON, STADELHOFER CONSTRUCTION, & DENNIS E. WATSON

We have a dirt track.  And as many of you are aware the dirt doesn't always stay on the track.  And over time, that loss of dirt takes its toll on the quality of the racing experience here.

The Board of Directors and other local racing enthusiasts have spent many meetings talking about how to fix the problem.  We've talked about scraping the pits, scraping the infield, anything that might help get some more clay back on the surface.

And then a call came.

Local contractor Harold Smith & Son was removing a clay liner from a vineyard pond in Oakville.  The place they were taking the clay to refused it, too much water content.  And then VP John Raybould remembered a conversation he had with local sprint car supporter Mike Griffin.  A quick trip down the valley by Director Mark Porter and we were suddenly the recipients of a very generous donation of over 5,000 yards of clay, including the hauling.

The residents of Calistoga endured two weeks of rumbling as truck after truck after truck made its way up the trail and to the speedway, beginning just three days before the last race of the 2010 season.

So we had to stockpile it.  You can't put new clay on the track and race on it days later.  It has to be worked into the old stuff and then allowed to season through the winter.  We piled it at the pit entrance.  We piled it in the pits.  Anywhere we could pile it, we did.  Volunteers such as Mike Griffin and Ron Schlegel were here every day to keep pushing the loads into the big piles.

We finally had the clay!!  The cost of which was not something we could have afford in a single season, and here was a local contractor gifting it to us.  The sounds of the trucks rumbling up the trail were the racing world's equivalent to Santa's reindeers pulling his sleigh full of presents.

The next challenge was to work the track, to get the clay onto the surface, and to do it right.

So the next wave of volunteers arrived.  Another local contractor, Dennis E. Watson, spent days with our grader operator, Augie Grube, shooting the grades, calculating where the clay needed to be applied, balancing the racing surface to make it fan-friendly!

And then another wave of volunteers came forward, Stadelhofer Construction, with equipment and manpower to "get 'er done."  They spent evenings and weekends trying to beat the weather.  Ripping the track, dumping the new clay on it, and working it in.  Big boys with even bigger toys!

The volunteer efforts of Mike Griffin, Ron Schlegel, Augie Grube, Phil Seavey, Kyle Vella, and Mike Stadelhofer, combined with the generous donations of Harold Smith & Son, Stadelhofer Construction, and Dennis E. Watson has resulted in over $300,000 worth of track improvements, all for the cost of fuel for the equipment.

Please join us in honoring John & Pam Raybould of Harold Smith & Son, Rich Stadelhofer of Stadelhofer Construction, and Dennis Watson of Dennis E. Watson throughout the 2011 season as recipients of the Blue Ribbon Award for their unsurpassed support of the Calistoga Speedway.  Through their generous donations of material, time, and equipment, the 2011 racing season is sure to be a crowd pleaser!

GARDNER, JOSETTE WINNERS ON FIRST NIGHT OF LOUIE VERMEIL CLASSIC

Damien Gardner scored a triumphant homecoming, winning the sprint car feature to open the Louie Vermeil classic at Calistoga Speedway Saturday night, but only after overcoming new car blues that forced him to start deep in the field.   

Gardner, originally from Concord and who now makes his home in Indiana, struggled in qualifying with a new car built by Northern California craftsman Rodney Tiner just for this race, and later dropped out of his heat race when a bolt fell out of the suspension after he had scored a transfer spot to the main event. 

After finishing second in the last chance race to earn a spot in the feature, Gardner, who currently sits in the second spot in the United States Auto Club national sprint car championship standings, moved aggressively through the field from a 13^th starting spot in the main event, getting to the fifth spot in just a half dozen laps.

He took the lead with three laps to go in the 20 lap event, winning a drag race down the backstretch with pole sitter Danny Sheridan, from Santa Maria, who had led from the green flag but repeatedly lost large leads to yellow and red caution periods that bunched up the field.

Gardner dove under the USAC Western States defending champion Mike Spencer, of Temecula, in turn three of lap 13 for the runner- up before making the same move on Sheridan in turn two and getting a run on him down the backstretch for the lead.

"We had a rough go of it tonight," said Gardner, referring to his struggles earlier in the night.  "Those are the kinds of things you deal with when you build a new car.

"I knew that it was going to be tough," he said of starting so deep in the field.  "But I had to be patient and when I was, the car got better."

The battle for the runner-up spot mimicked the championship battle for the Western States series, as Sheridan is trying to wrestle the title away from two time champion Mike Spencer, who is leading the chase for his third consecutive title.  "When you're leading a race, you don't always know where to find the faster part of the track," said Sheridan.

"Coming off turn two, I got the tires over the cushion by just a hair and started to spin my tires, but Damien was right in the middle of the track and found the spot that had better traction" he said about the pass for the lead.

The night was also a successful homecoming for Robert Ballou, originally from the Sacramento area suburb of Rocklin who now makes his home in Indiana while racing on the USAC national tour.  Driving a car owned by Ted Finkenbinder of Fairfield, Ballou passed the most cars of the night, finishing fifth in the main event after starting 17^th.   

Robby Josett of Agua Dulce, used an aggressive move on a lap 7 restart to move past race leader Alex Schutte before winning the 20 lap USAC Western States midget feature of the Louie Vermeil Classic.  As the two tangled wheels on the restart, Schutte flipped hard into the turn four wall, losing the race lead and his championship points lead as well.

From that point on, Josett dominated the race, building leads up to half a straightaway over Cory Kruseman of Ventura and Cody Swanson, of Norco, who dueled most of the race for the runner up spot before Kruseman claimed it for good, along with the championship points lead for the USAC Western States midgets.

"It was disappointing," said a dejected Schutte, originally from Redding but who is currently a marketing major studying at Sonoma State.  "We had the dominant car after starting fourth and getting the lead in just two laps," he said, after struggling with a bent axle to finish 10^th, as the last car on the lead lap.

Calistoga Speedway, Louie Vermeil Classic (Sat).  USAC/CRA Lucas Oil Sprint Cars:

Fast time qualifier, Blake Miller, Yorba Linda; 19.078 sec (NTR).  Heat 1 (10 laps):  Robert Ballou, Indianapolis., Ind.; Jeff Ensign; Miller, Scott Pierovich, Alamo; Josh Ford, Oxnard; Heat 2:  JoJo Helberg, Santa Rosa; Darian Clayton, Indianapolis, Ind.; Mike Spencer, Temecula; Kyle Larson, Elk Grove.  Heat 3: Dave Cardey, Perris; Keith Bloom, Anderson; Mike Spencer, Temecula, Greg Bragg, Visalia.  Heat 4:  Jim Sweeney, Placerville, Dave Cardey, Perris; Tyler Schmidt, Hollister; Keith Bloom, Anderson; Rich Griffin, St. Helena.   Semi-Main: Darian Wyndham, Clayton, Ill; Damien Gardner, Indianapolis, Ind.; Austin Williams, Yorba Linda; Rip Williams, Yorba Linda; Shane Golobic, Fremont; Jim Richardson, Graeagle, Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda.   MAIN EVENT:  Gardner, Sheridan, Spencer, Bloom, Ballou, Clayton, Golobic, Wyndham, Kruseman, Miller, Ensign, Mitchell, Sweeney, Griffin, A. Williams, Richardson, Pierovich, Larson, Cardey, Schmidt, Bragg, R. Williams.     

Calistoga Speedway, Louie Vermeil Classic, (Sat.) USAC Western States midgets.

Fast Time qualifier, Ryan Kaplan, Chico 20.927 sec (NTR).  MAIN EVENT (20 laps).

Robby Josett, Agua Dulce; Cory Kruseman, Ventura; Cody Swanson, Norco, Randi Pankratz, Atascadero; Josh Ford, Oxnard; Donny Ebberts, Canyon Lake; Scott Pierovich, Alamo; Jake Swanson, Anaheim; Alex Schutte, Redding.

by Bill Sessa

SPENCER LOOKING FOR REPEAT WIN IN LOUIE VERMEIL CLASSIC

USAC Midgets Join Sprint Cars in Calistoga

    Last year, Southern California driver Mike Spencer won the Louie Vermeil Classic at Calistoga Speedway with a daring dive under race leader, Tennessee driver Kevin Swindell, on the last lap of the race on his way to winning his second United States Auto Club sprint car championship.

    As the USAC sprint cars return for their traditional Labor Day weekend appearance this Saturday and Sunday, Spencer is again in a position to claim his third consecutive championship and looking to repeat as the Vermeil Classic winner.

    Spencer, from Temecula, improved his title chances by winning at Perris Speedway in Riverside County last Saturday night and, in the process, broke a streak by the hottest mid-summer driver on the tour, Dave Cardey.  Cardey, from Riverside, will be looking to start another streak after winning four in a row since early August.   

    But this year's Louie Vermeil Classic will also be a homecoming of sorts, for a pair of Northern California drivers who have become consistent winners and nationally ranked in USAC.

    Damien Gardner, formerly of Concord, was a winner at Calistoga in the Golden State Challenge Series before moving to Indianapolis and touring with the USAC National series.  Gardner is currently second in the USAC national sprint car standings with four wins and 15 finishes in the top 5, including a second place finish a week ago on the high banked Winchester Speedway in Ohio.

    Robert Ballou, formerly of Rocklin, Ca., began his sprint car career in Northern California and is currently ranked 12^th in USAC national standings.  He claimed one of the biggest wins of his career earlier this summer at the infamous Eldora Speedway near Columbus, Ohio.

    The weekend marks the only appearance of the year for the non-wing, "traditional" sprint cars on the Napa County Fairgrounds' half-mile oval.

    Also on the schedule are the USAC Mopar Western States Midgets as three drivers are locked in a tight battle for the series' championship.

    Alex Shutte, Redding, was the fastest qualifier both nights of last year's Louie Vermeil Classic and he is hanging on to a slim three point lead over Cory Kruseman of Ventura for the USAC western midget championship.

    In all, 30 of the best non-wing sprint car drivers this side of the Mississippi and 30 of the top midget teams from the west will be at Calistoga both Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 4.5.  A full program of heat races, a "last chance" semi main and a main event will be run for both sprint cars and midgets each night.

    
by Bill Sessa

ALLARD WINS AT CALISTOGA SPEEDWAY

    Steven Allard claimed his first career victory at Calistoga Speedway Saturday night, declared the official winner after being the second car across the finish line in a caution-filled and curfew-shortened sprint car main event on the half mile oval.

    Allard, from Chico, jetted into the lead from the front row at the drop of the green flag and led 20 of the 21 laps completed, but was chased down and passed for the lead at the start/finish line by Mike Henry moments before a yellow caution flag ended the race to meet a state-mandated curfew.

    But Henry, the apparent winner, was set back three spots by race officials for jumping a restart on lap 10, crediting Allard with the win.  "I've wanted to win at Calistoga for so long," said the elated, veteran driver in victory circle.  

    After dominating most of the race, repeatedly building leads of several car lengths, Allard said he got overly cautious approaching slower, lapped cars, which allowed Henry to reel him in and eventually dive under him in turn four for what appeared to be the winning move.  "I prematurely moved to the bottom of the race track to deal with lapped cars," he said, which slowed him down instead of allowing him to make clean, high speed passes.

Henry, of Sacramento, disputed the officials' call, claiming that the car in front of him driven by Herman Klein balked on the restart, giving him no choice but to pass before the start/finish line.  Despite Klein's admission that his engine just didn't respond on the restart, officials insisted that rules required Henry to remain behind Klein until they reached the allowed passing spot.

Klein, also of Sacramento, took the runner-up spot and, coupled with a top five finish the previous night at Petaluma Speedway, ended the weekend as the apparent leader in a five-way battle for the Civil War Sprint Car series' championship.  "This is one of the best runs we have had here," said Klein.  "We're looking forward to the last three races because they are at tracks where we do well."

The race got off to a ragged start, stopped for red flags twice before a lap was scored.  On the first drop of the green flag, Calistoga driver Mike Benson was bounced around in a tight traffic jam in turn one and flipped his car through turn two.  He was unhurt.
    On a subsequent attempt at a start, the championship points leader and pole sitter Sean Becker stopped suddenly on the back stretch when his rear axle snapped in half.   Officials stopped the race to clean up fuel spilled on the track caused by a sharp piece of metal from the axle that punctured Becker's fuel cell.   "It just snapped in two with no warning," said Becker, who unofficially lost the points lead he had padded with a win at Petaluma the night before.  "We will just try to get all the bad luck out of the way and finish strong," said Becker, who is attempting to be the first driver to win three consecutive championships in the Civil War series.

Jeff Parady, from Pope Valley, appeared to be headed to his best career finish at Calistoga Speedway before he brought the race to a stop after crashing hard into the turn three wall while chasing down Allard for the lead.  "I had my sights set on catching Allard and got a little greedy," he said to explain how he overcooked his entry into the corner by inches, which sent him into the wall.   

Four time series champion Andy Forsberg was one of the biggest movers through the field, finishing sixth after being forced to re-start the race at the back of the 20 car field after being caught up in the wheel-banging traffic jam that caused Benson to get upside down.   He preserved his chances to earn a fifth driving title by passing cars in clusters, running on the high-speed top groove of the track despite losing a shock absorber on the very critical left rear corner of his suspension in the first lap melee.

Calistoga Speedway, Civil War Sprint Car Series (Sat.).   Heat one (8 laps): Cody Lamar, Sacramento; Steven Allard, Chico; Robbie Whitchurch, Chico; Mike Henry, Sacramento; Mason Moore, Penngrove.  Heat two: Andy Forsberg, Auburn; Herman Klein, Sacramento; Jerome Burt, Grass Valley; Sean Becker, Oroville; Willie Croft, Sacramento.  Heat 3:  Rich Griffin, St. Helena; Jeff Parady, Pope Valley; Moore; Henry; Marty Hawkins, Calistoga.  Heat 4: Mike Benson, Calistoga; Becker; Klein; Croft; Burt.

Main Event (21 laps):  Allard; Klein; Whitchurch; Henry; Griffin; Forsberg; Jimmy Trulli, Placerville; Lamar; Burt; Trent Canales, Roseville; Joey Magaruh, Vacaville; Hawkins; Brenton Nugent, Lotus; Jim Richardson, Graeagle; Moore; Geoff Ensign, Sebastopol; Parady; Benson; Croft, Becker.   

KAEDING, McDANIEL SCORE WINS

AT CALISTOGA SPEEDWAY

            Bud Kaeding came out on top of a friendly family feud Sunday night, beating his brother Tim in a wheel to wheel duel that was all speed and part strategy to win the feature race for the Golden State Challenge sprint cars at Calistoga Speedway.

            From the outside front row starting spot, Tim Kaeding, the night's fastest qualifier, initially set a blistering pace on the half mile oval, reaching backmarkers in just four laps, while Bud Kaeding ran fifth.  But a critical restart on lap 18 set the stage for what would be a duel between brothers.  Third-place Jonathan Allard, the series' championship points leader, banged wheels with Kyle Larson, who had challenged Tim Kaeding throughout the race. As Larson spun in front of most of the field, Bud Kaeding slipped through the traffic scramble to grab second.

            As the green flag flew again, Bud Kaeding, who finished second on the one-mile Indiana Fairgrounds oval Friday night, showed his  big track finesse, running right up against the fence through turns one and  two to claim the lead after the pair drag-raced  wheel to wheel down the backstretch.

            On a subsequent restart with only three laps to go, Tim Kaeding, taking a break from the national World of Outlaws sprint car tour to race in California, fought back.  He dove under his older brother through turn one to temporarily re-take the lead.  But Bud used his momentum on the high groove to draw alongside Tim as the pair raced down the backstretch side by side, allowing Bud to claim the high groove through turns three and four to pin his brother on the slower, low side of the racing line.

            The move sealed the win, a first-ever victory at Calistoga for the veteran driver, who is a three time and defending champion of the national Silver Crown series, which runs most of its races on high-speed one mile ovals.

            "I've been coming here since I was a kid and been racing here since 1999 and haven't finished any further back than fifth, but I've never won here," said an excited Bud Kaeding, minutes after a fist-pumping celebration of the victory with a Spiderman-like climb up the straightaway fence to acknowledge the cheers from the crowd.

            "I knew the top of the race track was fast and I gained on everybody by running up there," said Kaeding.  Strategically, he said he had to keep Tim on the lower groove.  "His car was no good on the bottom, said Kaeding. "It was too tight down there and wouldn't turn."

            Ryan McDaniel moved to the lead from this third starting spot at the halfway point to win the companion event, the 20 lap Calistoga Modified Invitational.  The veteran driver was clearly the fastest car on the track, opening up almost a straightaway lead on the field, only to see it evaporate with a caution flag with two laps to go. 

            Over those two laps, McDaniel drove a flawless line to hold off a hard-charging Paul Stone, who chased the leader as they pair ran nose to tail on a racing groove that was just off the fence.  "I knew I could run up on him, but he would have needed to make a mistake for me to capitalize on it," Stone conceded.

            Calistoga Speedway, Golden State Challenge Series sprint cars (Sun):  Fast Time Qualifier;  Tim Kaeding, Campbell (17.296 sec).  Heat 1 (8 laps): T. Kaeding; Zach Zimmerly, Vancouver, Wa.; Bobby McMahon, Elk Grove; Mitch Hawkins, Calistoga; Brian Speery, Sacramento, Jason Statler, Nevada City.  Heat 2: Jonathan Allard, Chico; Brent Kaeding, Campbell; Colby Copeland, Roseville; Pat Henry, Nevada City.  Heat 3:  Alissa Geving, Penngrove; Kyle Larson, Elk Grove; Bud Kaeding; Campbell; Mike Bensen, Calistoga; Dan Simpson, Rio Vista.   Dash (8 laps): Larson; Tim Kaeding; Allard; McMahon; Brent Kaeding; Bud Kaeding; Zimmerly; Copeland.   Main Event (25 laps):  Bud Kaeding; Tim Kaeding; Allard; Evan Suggs, San Jose; Statler; McMahon; Larson; Brent Kaeding; Zimmerly; Copeland; Bensen; Simpson; Matthew Davis, American Canyon; Speery; Hawkins.  

-by Bill Sessa

ALLARD WINS SPRINT FEATURE

AT CALISTOGA SPEEDWAY

            Jonathan Allard came out on top of a two-man duel with Tim Kaeding to win the sprint car feature at Calistoga Speedway Saturday night after the pair played a game of chase through slower lapped traffic for most of the 25 lap event.

            Bud Kaeding, Tim's older brother, paced the early laps from the pole after traveling from Indianapolis and his second place finish at the Indiana Fairgrounds the night before. 

            But Allard powered by the elder Kaeding on the fifth lap and the younger Kaeding took advantage of a scramble on the front straightaway as the field came up on a slower car to grab second.  For the remainder of the race, the pair ran nose to tail several car lengths ahead of the field, with Kaeding closing up on Allard's rear bumper as they got bottled up behind slower cars on a track that was ultra fast but with little passing room.

            "I definitely knew Tim was right there behind me," said Allard.  Besides coping with a the narrow racing groove and the pressure of Kaeding chasing him, Allard said the air coming off the wings of the cars in front of him posed a problem as well.  "I just kept the car straight and rode the brakes to keep the car stable in the dirty air," he said.

            Kaeding, taking a break from the national World of Outlaws sprint car tour to race in California, believed he had the horsepower to pass Allard, but just never got the chance.  "We had something for him, but we just couldn't get to him," said Kaeding, the night's fastest qualifier.  "Lapped traffic tried to stay out of our way, but they played havoc with us," he added.  "But when the track is this fast, somebody has to make a mistake and Jonathan didn't." 

            Kyle Larson took advantage of lapped traffic, making a bold move to power past 13-time Golden State Challenge champion Brent Kaeding and Bud Kaeding in one sweep through turn three as the two cars in front of him got temporarily bottled up behind a slower car, moving him from sixth to third, where he finished.

            Randy McDaniel won the companion "Calistoga Modified Invitational," a crash-marred and curfew-shortened race that no one seemed to want to win, as four drivers broke or crashed while leading.  Minutes before the state-mandated 11 pm curfew, the race was ended after running only six of the scheduled 25 laps after a multi-car crash wadded several cars up again the wall in turn one at the end of the straightaway.  No drivers were seriously injured.

            The Golden State Challenge Sprint cars and the California Modified Invitational returned for a second round of racing Sunday night on the half mile oval at the Napa County Fairgrounds.

Calistoga Speedway, Golden State Challenge Sprint Cars (Sat.):  Fast Time Qualifier; Tim Kaeding, Campbell, Ca. (16.761 sec.).   Heat 1 (8 laps):  Zach Zimmerly, Sacramento; Alissa Geving, Penngrove; Tim Kaeding; Bud Kaeding, Campbell; Colby Copeland, Roseville; Pat Harvey, Nevada City.   Heat 2: Mike Bensen, Calistoga; Jason Statler, Nevada City; Brent Kaeding, Campbell; Jonathan Allard, Chico; Denise Simpson, Rio Vista; Mitch Hawkins, Calistoga/  Heat 3: Evan Suggs, San Jose; Kyle Larson, Elk Grove; Bobby McMahon, Elk Grove; Matthew Davis, American Canyon; Dan Simpson, Rio Vista; Brian Sperry, Sacramento.  Main Event:  Allard; T.Kaeding; Larson; Bud Kaeding; Brent Kaeding; Suggs; Zimmerly; Statler; Bensen.

Calistoga Modified Invitational:  Heat 1 (8 laps):  Randy McDaniel, Hurst; Mark Abouzeid, Chico; Duane Cleveland, Plumas Lake; Jeff Olschouka, Chico.  Heat 2: Shaun DeForest; Kevin Fitzgerald, Brentwood; Mark Haas, Petaluma; Bobby Motts, Jr., San Pablo.  Heat 3: Keith Brown, Pittsburg; Steve Stone, Winton; Nick DeCarlo, Martinez; Scott Busby, Martinez.  Heat 4:  Paul Anderson, Windsor; Jeff Thomas, Penngrove; Jeremy Petrell, Oakley; Sean O'Gara, Fairfield.

-by Bill Sessa

CALISTOGA SPEEDWAY OPENS SEASON OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Rare "Three-Peat" for Golden State Challenge Sprint Cars in North Bay

Second Annual "Calistoga Modified Invitational" Features Top 50 Drivers

            North Bay area sprint car fans will have a rare opportunity to see three consecutive nights of racing over Memorial Day weekend, as the Golden State Challenge Series arrives at Calistoga Speedway on Saturday and Sunday nights, following a Friday race at Petaluma Speedway.

            In a "racing doubleheader" at Calistoga, the region's premier touring series for high horsepower sprint cars will be joined by 50 of the area's top modified drivers who will make their only appearance of the year on the half mile oval in the second annual "Calistoga Modified Invitational."

            "Last year, the modified race was so competitive that fans were emailing us before the checkered flag fell asking that we bring them back," noted Carlene Moore, CEO of the Napa County Fairgrounds.

            One of last year's winners, Jeff Olschouka of Chico, is returning and will be challenged by modified drivers from several Northern California tracks, including veterans Scott Busby of Martinez, Richard Papenhausen of Chico, Joe Carr of Petaluma, and Jeff Thomas of Penngrove.

            One of three drivers could walk away from Calistoga at the end of the weekend with the championship point lead in the Golden State Challenge Series, including two-time titleholder Jonathan Allard, who has found victory circle a series-leading three times in the first 10 races this season.

            Easily within striking distance, however, is 13 time champion and former Calistoga Speedway champion Brent Kaeding and 17 year old Kyle Larson in a car owned by Kaeding and sponsored by Calistoga businessman Lyle Stadelhofer.

            Napa Valley drivers Mike Benson of Calistoga, a former winner on the half mile oval, and Rich Griffin of St. Helena are also expected to compete for the checkered flag, as will North Bay driver Allisa Geving of Penngrove.

            This weekend is an unusual opportunity for Geving, a third generation driver, to race locally after making a season-long commitment to traveling Golden State Challenge Series.  "It's always nice to race so close to home," said Geving, who returned to her home track of Petaluma Speedway last Saturday night to get some track time in preparation for the coming weekend.  "The Golden State Challenge Series is very competitive and it requires a lot of traveling each week.  I'm looking forward to racing just a few minutes away for another weekend."

            A full racing program is scheduled for both nights at Calistoga, including heat races, a semi-main "last chance" race and main events for both sprint cars and modifieds, beginning at 7 PM.

-by Bill Sessa

MIDGETS, MODIFIEDS, MOTORCYCLES JOIN SPRINT CARS AT CALISTOGA SPEEDWAY IN 2010

    Calistoga…..A racing doubleheader for sprint cars and modifieds over Memorial Day weekend will kick off the 2010 season at Calistoga Speedway that offers the track's most diverse schedule in recent years, including the return of flat track motorcycles for the first time in over 30 years.

    In keeping with its tradition of open wheel racing, sprint cars from three different sanctioning groups will be the main attraction at the half mile oval on the Napa County Fairgrounds and will be joined by midgets, modifieds and the American Motorcycle Association over four summer weekends through Labor Day, which will feature the third annual, two-day Vermeil Classic.

    "We believe this summer offers excitement and quality entertainment with open wheel racing for every taste," said Carlene Moore, CEO of the Napa County Fairgrounds.  "The modifieds had fans on their feet during their first appearance at Calistoga last year.  The Golden State and Civil War tours offer the toughest competition for winged sprint car in this part of the country and the Vermeil Classic has quickly become a fan favorite to end the summer racing season with traditional, non-winged sprint cars and midgets."

    In addition, a new highlight of the season will be the return of  AMA-sanctioned flat track motorcycles, including Pro Single and Twin Expert classes, which last raced at Calistoga in the late '60s and that haven't raced anywhere in Northern California since 1999.

    Opening weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 29-30, will feature the high speed Golden State Challenge sprint cars, a series that crowns California's statewide champion for the 850 hp machines, and the California Modified Invitational, limited to 35 of Northern California's best modified drivers.

-by Bill Sessa

GARDNER SWEEPS LOUIE VERMEIL CLASSIC AT CALISTOGA

Kruseman wins midget race, takes championship lead

Damien Gardner swept the Louie Vermeil Classic at Calistoga Speedway on Sunday, backing up his preliminary win on Saturday with another trip to victory lane, but only after doing a high speed version of a soft shoe dance on the throttle in a race where tires and fuel were in short supply.

Unlike the night before, when he started deep in the pack, Gardner led every lap from the pole on Sunday night, but had to hold off a hard charge over the last three laps on the half mile oval from Indiana driver Darin Clayton who was on fresher rubber in a race that saw many of the top contenders shot down by flat tires in the closing laps.

When the field was stopped to refuel with three laps to go, water was more critical for Gardner as his crew poured buckets of it on the rear tires in an effort cool them down for the stretch run to the checkered flag.  "From the beginning, I knew that tires would be a problem," said Gardner, who nonetheless ran the distance on a softer tire than many in the field.  "But I could see my left rear tire," he said, and he checked it periodically as he went down the straightaways at over 100 miles an hour to monitor how much rubber he had left. 

Gardner, a crowd favorite originally from Concord and who now makes his home in Indiana as he races in the United States Auto Club national sprint car series,  rocketed into the lead at the drop of the green flag, occasionally building multi-car length leads over Danny Sheridan and newly crowned Golden State Challenge Series champion Kyle Larson.  Eventually, they and other challengers would fall to tire woes.  With seven laps to go, a crowded pit lane looked more like NASCAR as several top contenders were forced to change flat tires.

Meanwhile, defending USAC/CRA western sprint car champion Mike Spencer, Temecula, stalked Gardner while running in the lead pack in a cautious pace to preserve his tires. 

Behind him, however, Darin Clayton, the night's fastest qualifier, was storming through the field after being forced to start at the rear of the grid when officials determined that his car was lighter than USAC rules allow.  Contact with another car had cost Clayton a right rear tire after only seven laps, making his tires marginally fresher as the race wound down.

On the restart after the fuel stop, the driver from Indianapolis charged under Spencer to take away the runner-up spot and set a course to reel in Gardner, but fell short at the checkered flag.  "I just tried to keep my nose clean and stay out of trouble," said Clayton about weaving his way through a field of cars with tires more worn than his.  "I still got caught up in two crashes but managed to pull out of them," he said as he kept his car running to avoid being penalized for stopping on the racetrack.   

"I tried to make a run on Gardner," said Spencer, who stayed on the same tires for all 30 laps.  "But at the half way point, I knew I was using up my tires by racing so hard and I wanted to conserve them so I could finish."

Hometown favorite Marty Hawkins from Calistoga has his best career finish on the half mile oval, finishing sixth after starting 20^th on the grid.  "I just focused on going forward," said Hawkins, by driving the car as straight as possible to avoid abusing his tires.  "But we also got a couple of really lucky breaks," he said.  "At about lap 20, I could feel my right rear tire go down, but a yellow flag gave us the chance to change both rear tires on a pit stop," he said.  "And about the time I felt we were running out of fuel, they stopped the field so everybody could refuel."  

Former USAC/CRA sprint car champion Cory Kruseman of Ventura improved on his runner up finish the night before, winning the 25 lap companion event for the USAC Western States midgets from the pole, but only after losing several positions in the early laps and rebounding late in the race.   

While Kruseman was falling behind, the defending series champion Alex Schutte, a Sonoma State student originally from Redding, bolted into the lead from outside row two, building leads as large as 10 car lengths, only to see them evaporate due to yellow and red flag caution periods.  On a restart with three laps to go, Kruseman dove to the outside of Schutte and went on to win when the engine in Schutte's machine balked at the drop of the green flag.

"We started on the pole with a hard tire and it took a while to come in," said Kruseman about his slower pace at the beginning of the race.  "I tried to roll around the top, but that wasn't cutting it," said Kruseman, before he became more aggressive in traffic to work his way back to the front.   

With his win and runner-up position the night before, Kruseman was presented with the Mark Arata Memorial Trophy, a mini-championship for compiling more points than any other midget driver over the two nights of the Louie Vermeil Classic.  The award was presented by the Arata family in memory of the long time midget car owner from Sonoma County.

His win and runner-up finishes over the Louie Vermeil Classic weekend also gave Kruseman the championship points lead in the USAC Western States midget series.  

Calistoga Speedway, Louie Vermeil Classic, USAC sprint cars (Sun):

Fast time qualifier:  Darian Clayton, Indianapolis, Ind. (19.340 sec).  Heat 1 (10 laps):  Mike Spencer, Temecula; Robert Ballou, Indianapolis, Ind.; Dave Cardey, Perris; Cory Kruseman, Ventura; Jeff Griffin, St. Helena.  Heat 2: Kyle Larson, Elk Grove; Greg Bragg, Visalia; Keith Bloom, Anderson; Tyler Schmidt, Hollister; Blake Miller, Yorba Linda.  Heat 3: Damien Gardner, Indianapolis, Ind.; Shane Golobic, Fremont; Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda; Scott Pierovich, Alamo; Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria.  Semi-main (12 laps): Clayton; Geoff Ensign, Sebastopol; Josh Ford, Oxnard; Jim Richardson, Greagle; Andy Forsberg, Auburn; Austin Williams, Yorba Linda; Marty Hawkins, Calistoga.  Main Event (30 laps):  Gardner, Clayton, Spencer, Larson, Miller, Hawkins, Cardey, Forsberg, Pierovich, A. Williams, Sheridan, Bloom, Kruseman, Schmidt, Ensign, Griffin, Bragg, Ballou, Mitchell, Golobic, Ford, Windom, Richardson.   

Calistoga Speedway, Louie Vermeil Classic, USAC Western States midgets (Sun):

Fast time qualifier: Ryan Kaplan, Chico (20.795 sec).  Main Event (25 laps):  Cory Kruseman, Ventura; Alex Schutte, Redding; Scott Pierovich, Alamo; Randi Pankrantz, Atascadero; Jake Swanson, Anaheim; Cody Swanson, Norco; David Prickett, Fresno; Josh Ford, Oxnard; Kaplan; Shane Golobic, Fremont; Danny Ebberts, Canyon Lake; Jerome Rodelo; Chris Swanson; Robby Josette.

by Bill Sessa