Fernley 95A Speedway Race Report for June 9, 2012

The weather was cool and the track fast as nearly 70 racecars competed at Fernley 95A Speedway on Saturday, June 9.

The Hobby Stock division led off the evening on the 3/8 mile clay oval, with 15 cars taking the green flag for the main. The race got off to a rough start with an early caution for debris, then a crash on the restart between Carson City driver Derrek Ramthun and Fernley’s Brittany Neese that brought out a red flag. When the race resumed, Joe Pierson of Fernley took the lead, followed by Dayton drivers Randy Boyd and mike Carpenter with Fernley’s Brian Moore in tow. Royce Goetz of Dayton and Silver Springs driver Carl Barlow, who started at the tail of the field, worked their way into fifth and sixth, with Barlow picking off cars and taking over fourth, then third, then second. Barlow took the lead when Boyd tried a move on Pierson’s faltering car in turn two and the pair tangled, bringing out the caution. Both Pierson and Boyd retired, and the green and white flags waved together for a last-lap shootout that Barlow won easily. Moore finished second, followed by Carpenter, Reno’s Rich Italiano, and Goetz. Italiano and Barlow each won an earlier heat race.

The Pure Stock Minis were up next, with Fernley’s Shawn Burton taking the lead at the green flag. There was wild action behind him, as Silver Springs driver Bracee Langevin battled with Fernley’s Cody Reeves and Mark Serchio Jr. of Stagecoach for second. Fallon’s Al Bishop soon charged up from the rear to join the leaders, running nose to tail with Burton and Langevin. A tap from Bishop sent Langevin through the infield, but she recovered to stay in third. Bishop took the lead from Burton and held it until Burton spun in turn 3, bringing out the caution. On the restart Reno’s Travis Barr rocketed from fourth into the lead, holding it through another restart after Serchio spun in turn two. At the checker it was Barr, Bishop, Langevin, Dayton’s Loghan Cologna, and Justin Schilling of Silver Springs. Heat race wins went to Barr and Bishop.

Dennis Crook of Reno checked out at the green flag in the Modified Mini main opening a huge lead on the field. Sparks racers Stephen Crook and Justin McIlvain battled early for second, but Crook faded back and eventually pitted. Fernley’s Steve Singley took over third with a healthy gap back to Will Richey, also of Fernley. Dennis Crook maintained his lead to the checker, with McIlvain a distant second followed by Singley, Richey, and Fernley’s Zach Barchi, who was one lap down at the flag. Richey and Dennis Crook took a heat race win apiece.

The Dwarf cars had some trouble getting started with an aborted first start. On the second complete restart, Zephyr Cove’s Skip Hempler took a vicious hit into the front straight wall that brought out a red flag and a 45 minute delay while an ambulance was called. Hempler was transported to be checked out for lower back pain, but waived to the crowd from the gurney as he was loaded into the ambulance. When the race finally got underway, Billy Canham of Sparks took the point, and behind him the action was fast and furious. IMCA Modified driver Shawn Natenstedt of Fernley, making his first start in the Dwarf division, was disqualified for rough driving after a collision with Carson City’s Shane Ramthun. Reno’s Joe Frock had worked his way to the front and grabbed the lead from Billy Wilson of Carson City on the last restart, holding Wilson off to the checker. Canham salvaged a third place, followed by Jason Crosby and Leroy Kay of Yerington. Canham won a heat race, as did Chase Nieman of Quincy, California.

Fallon’s Rob Grace scored a wire-to-wire victory in the Pro Stock main, leading every lap. Dwight Bolton of Gardnerville battled with Fernley’s Chris Coclich for second in the early going, with Reno’s Scott Deutsch staying in contact. Craig Nieman of Reno staged a charge through the pack, despite ominous-looking smoke issuing from his car. When Coclich spun and brought out the yellow, Nieman was all over Grace on the restart. Unfortunately for him, the smoke signaled a serious problem and he coasted to the infield, out of the race. This gave Grace a clear run to the checker, taking the win with a big margin over second-place Gary Nevers of Carson City. Bolton finished third, and Reno’s Jim Klopp snagged fourth from Deutsch on the last lap. Nieman scored a heat race win, as did California driver Terry Lawrence

The IMCA Modified division was the last to run, and Minden’s Russ Cazier of Gardnerville led the way at the green flag, followed by Fernley’s Mark Skender, Lovelock’s Don Childs, and Bill Pearson of Reno. It didn’t take long for Fernley’s Shawn Natenstedt to work his way from the back of the field to second, but Cazier was able to hold him off after a caution when Steve Boucher of Susanville spun in turn one. The lead pair ran nose to tail, then side by side before Natenstedt finally got by. A late caution and the subsequent restart gave Pearson a shot at Cazier, and he took advantage to take over second place. When the checkers flew, Natenstedt took the win, followed by Pearson, Cazier, Will Zinn of Litchfield, California, and Childs. Heat race winners were Fernley’s Melissa Natenstedt and Chris Nieman of Quincy, California.

Fernley 95A Speedway will be dark until July 7, when racing resumes with a points race for all divisions. Visit fernley95Aspeedway.com for more information.