Melby wins WMRA Opener
By Dolan Lannan
On a cool Saturday evening Dalls Melby in the family owned Mopar powered Blue Dot began the 2007 WMRA season the same way he ended 2006, with a feature win at South Sound Speedway. Evan Margeson was a close second, followed by Kenny Ferris, Brea Lopez and Tony Seidelman.
Fifteen cars were present with fourteen taking the green in qualifying as Randy Bauer developed motor problems in his first ride in the #4 Glen Seidelman entry. In another repeat of the 2006 WMRA finale, Evan Margeson, in the Harold and Verda Beal Beast/Pink Ford, began the event with fast time, 13.25, just narrowly missing the track record of 13.221 set last year by Brad Curtis. Two rookies were making their WMRA debut, Portland, Oregon’s Chris Peterson in the beautiful red Tom and Judy Maples #98 entry and Parker Kligerman, coming all the way from Westport, Connecticut to compete in their recently purchased former Tom Margeson Beast/Gaerte.
The trophy dash was won by Brad Curtis, in mom Joan’s Beast/Mopar, taking the lead out of turn two on the first lap and never relinquishing it. He was followed to the line by Brea Lopez in the #25 Beast/Esslinger, Snake Livernash in the #55 Beast Esslinger, and Margeson.
The first heat had a rough start with pole sitter Skeeter Flake fighting his ill handling Beast/Ford getting together with Kenny Burns, in the Gatrell #8 Hawk/Gaerte getting into the wall. On the restart, Flake jumped out to a good lead only to slip to the back as Darren Linder in the Linder TCR/Fontana got the lead and was never seriously challenged. He was followed by Matt Stone in the Gang Green Beast/Esslinger, Kligerman and Kenny Ferris.
Chris Peterson led the pack to the green in the second heat. On the backstretch of the first lap, Dallas Melby made a charge on the outside, only to slide up the track and fade to the back. Peterson led until going wide in turn two allowing Tony Seidelman in the Randy Manners Hawk/Gaerte and Brad Curtis to get underneath him. On lap five Seidelman and Curtis got together, causing a yellow flag and sending both to the back. Brea Lopez in the Dan Press Beast/Esslinger led on the restart and was never headed as she beat Livernash, Margeson amd Melby across the line.
The 35 lap main even saw Chris Peterson start outside pole sitter Kenny Ferris in the family Beast/Pink. After the first lap, Ferris led a tight pack followed by Melby and Seidelman. A slowing Peterson caused the first of three yellow flags on lap seven. At this point the order was Ferris, Melby, Seidelman, Margeson, Curtis, Lopez, Livernash, Stone, Kligerman, Burns, Linder, and Skeet Flake still battling a balky car. On the restart, Melby ducked under Ferris on the backstretch. Soon after, Brad Curtis retired from the sixth spot with throttle problems and Margeson got under Seidelman for third place. Melby opened up about a ten car lead until a lap thirteen yellow for Skeeter Flake who stalled on the backstretch. Matt Stone’s night ended on lap sixteen with a failed rear brake rotor. By lap 23 the top five were Melby, Ferris, Margeson, Seidelman and Lopez. Kligerman pulled into the pits with an overheating problem after an impressive run fromthe back up to seventh place. The final yellow occurred on lap 25 when Melby and Kenny Burns touched when Melby was trying to put a lap on him. Melby continued while Burns went to the back. Evan Margeson used the restart to get under Ferris on the backstretch. For second place. Lopez was able to drive around the outside of a loose Tony Seidelman late in the race giving her fourth place. At the finish Melby was ahead of a slowly closing Margeson, Ferris, Lopez and Seidelman, Snake Livernash, Darren Linder and Burns.
The WMRA will next compete Saturday, May 5th at Joe Doellefeld’s Stateline Speedway. Go to www.WMRAracing.com for more information.
Qualifications
1. Evan Margeson, 50, 13.25
2. Snake Livernash, 55, 13.35
3. Brea Lopez, 25, 13.38
4. Brad Curtis, 12 13.42
5. Dallas Melby, 9 13.47
6. Tony Seidelman, 44 13.47
7. Chris Petersen, 98 13.64
8. Kenny Ferris, 28 13.64
9. Parker Kligerman, 33, 13.70
10. Matt Stone, 10 13.78
11. Kenny Burns, 8 13.91
12. Darren Linder, 6 14.04
13. Doug Kammerzell, 45, 14.05
14. Skeeter Flake, 17 14.91
15. Randy Bauer, 4 NT
Dash
1. Curtis, 2. Lopez, 3. Livernash, 4. Margeson
Heat #1
1. Linder, 2. Stone, 3. Kligerman, 4. Ferris, 5. Flake, 6. Kammerzell, 7. Burns
Heat #2
1. Lopez, 2. Livernash, 3. Margeson, 4. Melby, 5. Seidelman, 6. Curtis, 7. Peterson
Main Event
1. Melby, 2. Margeson, 3. Ferris, 4. Lopez, 5. Seidelman, 6. Livernash, 7. Linder, 8. Burns, 9. Kligerman (dnf), 10. Curtis (dnf), 11. Flake, 12. Stone (dnf), 13. Petersen (dnf)
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