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Wingless Spec Sprints
Marysville, Ca
May 12, 2007
By Debbie Shipherd
A Visit to Marysville
Sacramento’s Patrick Russum powered his Rex Hutchison Racing Engines’ Spec Sprint to a third feature win on Saturday May 12 at Marysville Raceway Park. Russum gained the lead on the lap three restart after several mishaps and was closely followed to the line by Tim Sherman, Jr., Jimmy Steward, Yuba City’s Mark Hill and Gridley’s Pat Richards.
New promoters Kathy and Paul Hawes and their crews have made many improvements at Marysville. We were greeted by friendly faces at the pit gate, the power and water in the pit stalls was extremely convenient, and the helpful, positive attitudes of the personnel made racers feel welcome.
A field of eighteen Spec Sprints made up this evening’s roster. Many were familiar names and faces in this growing class, but four were new drivers, two just getting their first laps in a Wingless Spec Sprint.
Three heat races ran, with Butte Auto Parts’ Mark Hill picking up the first win, followed by Eldorado Hills’ Brad Virga and Rancho Cordova’s Jerry Cisco in his Inter City sponsored machine. Heat two was won by Sacramento’s Patrick Russum with a last lap pass on Grass Valley’s Brett Youngman. Roy’s Welding’s Jimmy Steward finished a strong third. Keith Shipherd took the heat three win in his Contra Costa Auto Parts/ Jackl Masonry sprinter with Wayside Lumber’s Gary Lewis and Nelson Family Classics’ Pat Richards close behind.
The twenty lap feature began on a rough, rutty track with Russum and Hill on the front row. Hill took the lead at the green but a tangle in turn two stopped the action, eliminating Cisco, Youngman, and Fletcher. On the restart Hill led, checked up in turn two, got tagged and unfortunately spun. Shipherd led the next restart briefly but slid into the front stretch wall and lost a torque tube. Russum inherited the point with Lewis, Steward, Richards, and Tim Sherman, Jr. in the top five spots. A few yellows slowed the pace as Hill worked his way back from the rear to sixth at lap ten. Sherman skillfully carved his way up several spots as he chased Russum to the checkers. As they crossed the line, it was Russum, Tim Sherman Jr., Steward, Hill, and Richards in the top five.
Overall, the visit to Marysville showed us major efforts to make improvements, and it is indeed a work in progress. The quarter mile track’s surface on this particular night was less than good, but even the best at track prep have their off days. With all of the new growth in the Spec Sprints and new drivers coming in from other classes, it would be nice to see the use of rookie flags and rules regulating their starting positions for safety reasons. It is great to see the continuing interest in the Wingless Spec Sprints and a track providing us all with a place to race. Have fun, drive safe and take care.
Summary :
Heat 1: Mark Hill, Brad Virga, Jerry Cisco, Pat Couch, Tim Sherman Jr., Tim Burcher
Heat 2: Pat Russum, Brett Youngman, Jimmy Steward, Steve Fletcher, Eddie Gardner, Blaine Varner
Heat 3: Keith Shipherd, Gary Lewis, Pat Richards, Buddy Olschawka, Bobby Nichols, Scott Herbert
Main: Pat Russum, Tim Sherman Jr., Jimmy Steward, Mark Hill, Pat Richards, Buddy Olschawka, Gary Lewis, Nate Herbert, Brad Virga, Eddie Gardner, Pat Couch, Blaine Varner, Bobby Nichols, Keith Shipherd, Tim Burcher, Brett Youngman, Jerry Cisco, Steve Fletcher
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