by Devin Mayo & Rick Faeth
An overcast, warm, windy, and sunny evening brought fans to the famed Petaluma Saturday night to find out who would be victorious in the first of four Pit Stop USA Shootout races. 17 winged warriors signed into the pits Saturday night with “The Human Highlight Reel” Geoff Ensign picking up quick time awards with a time of 14.384. The three heat races would see “The BT Express” Bradley Terrell, Zack Lynskey, and long-time Petaluma Speedway regular Norm Johns pick up heat race victories. Ensign and Cody Lamar would lead the field to green for 25 laps around the Adobe 3/8th’s. Ensign would take an early advantage with Lamar in tow. As Ensign hit lap traffic, the door for Lamar was open but the caution would fly. Terrell and “Mr. Excitement” Andy Forsberg would make the charge towards the front. With a late race yellow for a spinning Lamar, Ensign would have to hold off hard charging Terrell and Forsberg but Ensign would once again hit his marks on the restart, rim riding the high side, and lead all 25 laps claiming his first victory of the 2017. Ensign and his crew were choked with emotion after the recent passing of car owner Ivan Worden’s father Paul. Terrell would finish second and Forsberg rounded out the top 3.
The Pit Stop USA Spec Sprints also had their first Shootout race. Last year’s track champion Klint Simpson would set quick time with 16.235 effort. Shayna Silvia and Matthew Haulot would pick up heat races victories. Simpson would lead the field to green with Haulot taking over second in the early going. Fourth starting Shayna Sylvia would move into third as the top 3 would battle for the lead through lap traffic. Mid way through the race a yellow would fly, bunching the field back up for the upcoming restart. Sylvia, who took over second before the yellow flag, would get a run on Simpson but run over the right rear of Simpson and flip coming off of turn 2. Sylvia would climb out on her own power and walk away. Simpson would lead the field back to green with Haulot stalking his rear nerf. Simpson would hold him off and capture his 2nd victory of the season. Haulot finished 2nd and veteran Sparky Howard was third.
Petaluma Speedway returns this Saturday, April 29th, with The Elk Grove Ford Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Abreu Vineyards. This will be the first of two visits by the traveling Winged 360 tour. For more information, please visit our website at
http://www.petaluma-speedway.com or messaging our Facebook page.