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Amazing! Wiesz gets 6th Mel Hall win.
Easy McDaniel win in mods. All Star Late Models next week.
by Bob Burbach
Marysville, CA - May 31, 2009 --- The MRP Winged Sprint Cars returned to Paul and Kathy Hawes’ Marysville Raceway Park Saturday for the 10th edition of the classic Mel Hall Memorial Race. The “Colfax Comet” Colby Wiesz roared to an unprecedented 6th victory in a wild event that included spectacular racing, heart stopping flips and a dramatic turn-around in the battle for the title. 29 sprinters took time. Marysville’s Ryan McDaniel went wire to wire to victory in the companion Western States Modified event.
Wiesz started 4th in the 20 car starting field when the flag dropped. Pole sitter and last year’s champion Billy Wallace jumped to an early lead but nearly parked his yellow hot rod in turn 4 on lap 1 and MRP point leader Jeremy Burt shot into the top spot as the field crossed the line on lap 1. Wallace dropped to 7th. 3 time champion Brent Dothage got 2nd and Wiesz advanced to 3rd. On lap 6 Jim Richardson took a wing shattering tumble in turn 3 and the red flag stopped the action with the top 3 drivers unchanged.
The new green provided an exciting duel for the lead as Dothage began a relentless pursuit of Burt. With the 2 leaders side-by-side Wiesz had nowhere to go and followed, waiting for his chance. Burt held off Dothage and Wiesz saw his opportunity for 2nd when the top 2 went nose to tail. Wiesz didn’t waste any time getting by Dothage. Dothage retaliated and drew up beside Wiesz on several occasions, but Wiesz drove his blue 21 onto the cushion and started to reel in Burt as Dothage shadowed Wiesz.
It should be noted here that a tremendous tussle was going on just behind the leaders. Brandon Dozier, Korey Lovell, Mike Monahan, Mark Hall, Wallace and others scratched and clawed their way around the MRP oval looking for any advantage. Wallace started to run the high side and Lovell hugged the inside as both moved forward quicker than the others.
As the race approached lap 10 of the scheduled 30, Wiesz dug his right rear into the cushion in turn 3 and started to rapidly catch Burt. Burt stayed on the bottom out of turn 4 on lap 10 and Wiesz got a tremendous run in 4. He jumped into the lead. Burt drove a desperate race to get back by, but Wiesz was up o the challenge.
A couple of laps later an incidental yellow slowed the field. Race officials noticed that Burt’s left rear tire was low and likely going flat. Burt resisted taking his car to the pits, but with the race at ½ way a tire change would allow him time to make up some spots rather than risk a blowout or race ending flat. Burt made the reluctant right turn to the pits giving Dothage 2nd place. Burt was brilliant in the subsequent laps and would get to 11th at the checkers, somewhat lessening the blow in points.
Wiesz was untouchable in the final laps as Dothage continued in 2nd. Wallace charged hard in the final laps and a great battle with Brandon Dozier for 3rd got everybody’s attention. Dozier, who missed last week’s event, was razor sharp in this race and charged hard all the way. In the end Wallace got by for 3rd, but Dozier was glued to Wallace as the pair took the checkers behind Wiesz and Dothage. Lovell hung in there for 5th and Monahan beat Cort Dozier to the flag for 6th.
Burt, Matt Sherman, Heath Hall and Derek Dozier took the heat races. Quick time qualifier Justyn Cox won the B main event after flipping out of his heat race.
Herman Klein took the toughest ride of the night while leading the B main. Klein’s blue #91 had a straightaway lead as the event was heading to its conclusion. Entering turn 1 Klein’s car dug into the cushion and started to bounce. Klein saved it once, but it bounced again. Klein was a passenger after that as his car flipped wildly coming to rest against the crash wall upside down. After a few hushed moments, Klein emerged and walked dejectedly to the pits.
Wiesz was enthusiastic after his victory and really couldn’t put a finger on why he has been so successful in this particular event. He related that the high side in 3 and 4 was the “fun way to race” at MRP. It has also been very successful for Wiesz. Wiesz was $2500 richer as he came to a stop in victory lane.
Dothage’s run to 2nd got him the Contingency Connection bonus this week amounting to some $1250 in contingency awards. In addition to our cash purse prize money, our track gets $150,000 worth of contingency dollars for our winged and wingless sprint cars annually. The way it works is that Contingency Connection has signed up over 200 sponsors nationwide (including Exxon/Mobil 1) who contribute products or merchandise each race to the winner. The only catch is that drivers must be sporting the decal of that sponsor to earn the bonus. If a driver who wins the MRP Winged or Browns Valley RV Wingless feature race has every decal on his car, he could receive some $1250 in products or merchandise. The vouchers can be saved and traded in for larger ticket items. The bonus is a healthy addition to the weekly $1,000 promoter Hawes already pays to the winner of MRP winged sprint car main events and the $1000 he pays to the Browns Valley wingless sprint car feature winners. You must be a member of the association, but you can become a member at any event throughout the year.
Ryan McDaniel bested a slim field of 6 Western States Modifieds as a companion event for the Hall Memorial. Dad Randy McDaniel finished a distant 2nd. A tip of the straw hat to rookie driver Josh Miller in this one. He led his heat race before overcooking it in turn 3 and showed terrific progress in an effort that doesn’t have the funding of some of the quicker teams .
Next week one of the great annual events at MRP takes shape. The “Outlaw” Super Late Models of the Western All Star Super Late Models Series make their annual stop. Point leader, and nationally recognized star in this division, Bobby Hogge will head the rocket fast contingent of slick Super Late Model Stock Cars at MRP. The race promises to be an interesting combination of All Star Super Late Model Series stars and a fast group of local hot shoes that will challenge the traveling road show.
Yuba City’s Jerry Bartlett, Live Oak’s Matt Michelli, Marysville’s Ryan McDaniel and Yuba City’s John Johnson all have put together quality efforts to give the traveling pros fits this Saturday. The race has been correctly called the King of the Hill Challenge.
The MRP Winged Super Stocks are also on the program in this all professional stock car event.
The spectator gates open at 5PM with hot laps and qualifying at 6PM. This Saturday the races will start promptly after qualifying. Get there early, the grandstand fills quickly for this one. The pit gate opens at 3PM.
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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