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THREE STRAIGHT FOR FURLONG, FIRST EVER FOR THOMSON
by Gary Jacob
IMCA Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks and Pony Stocks
Ventura, CA -July 10, 1999-- Norwalk's Jim Thomson scored his first ever IMCA Sprint Car feature win Saturday night as he led all 30 laps from his outside front row start Saturday night at Ventura Raceway. Denny McVey used a late race pass to take second from Jeff Heaton. Mike Furlong won his third straight 20 lap IMCA Modified feature with Bill Waltman second ahead of defending track champion Randy McGraw. Tom Stephens won the 20 lap street stock main and Scott Bulpitt from North Hollywood won the pony stock 20 lap main over brother Steve Bulpitt.
The IMCA sprint cars had an 18 car field and they were divided into three heat races with Gary Howard, point leader Kevin Kierce and Heaton the heat winners. John Woodward became the only flip victim of the night in his heat race. He was able to make repairs and start the 30 lap main event. Dale Harwood and Thomson shared the front row for the start and Harwood spun at the start-finish line taking the green flag. Jimmy Crawford and Gary Howard were collected in the incident and Howard's race was over. Thomson outdueled Heaton on the first scored lap to gain the early lead. Dana Crocker spun on lap 2 for another yellow flag. Kenny White joined Crocker in the pits, but returned for the restart. Thomson was running strong in the outside groove as he charged into the lead. Ninth starter Chris Wakim climbed to 4th just past halfway with his pass around Bill Welch. Wakim took third from McVey and White stalled for a lap 21 yellow flag. Thomson now led Heaton and Wakim and Heaton elected to follow Thomson in the outside groove with Wakim making a dive to the bottom. Wakim and McVey were dueling side by side for third when they banged wheels and Welch passed both. Rob Kershaw spun for a lap 28 yellow flag to set up the final restart duel for leader Thomson. Heaton made an inside groove run on Thomson, but he slid up the track and Welch raced by on the bottom for 2nd. Welch appeared to be able to challenge Thomson for the win, but he spun charging off turn 4 on the final lap. Wakim was trapped by Welch's spin. In the chaotic finish, McVey was able to take second from Heaton. Steve Conrad ran fourth ahead of Greg Taylor, Kierce, John Wright, Harwood and Crawford.
The IMCA Modifieds had a 20 car turnout, forcing a rare B Main. Visitor Steve Smith, Ed Shelton and Kathy Pierson all failed to transfer from the B Main and Hobie Conway had her mount break earlier in the night. Furlongs third straight win saw Waltman second ahead of McGraw. Jamie Taylor was fourth and Scott Olsen returned with a fifth ahead of former champion John Aitken, Donald Houghton, Chris Tonoli and Jim Tietz. Aitken is just four points behind point leader Houghton and McGraw has closed his gap to just 13 points.
Ed Perry was the early leader in the street stock main, but Stephens raced to the win ahead of Marty Highland and Craig Germanetti. Scott Bulpitt won the pony stock 20 lapper ahead of Steve Bulpitt, who became a grandfather during the week.
Summary
IMCA Modified Main-Mike Furlong, Bill Waltman, Randy McGraw, Jamie Taylor, Scott Olsen, John Aitken, Donald Houghton, Chris Tonoli, Jim Tietz, Stephen Mitchell, Bob Dias,. Randy Gens, Robert Paquette, Steve Greenland, Gary Curtis, Rich Wolfe.
IMCA Sprint Car Heat 1-Gary Howard. Heat 2-Kevin Kierce. Heat 3-Jeff Heaton. Main-Jim Thomson, Denny McVey, Heaton, Steve Conrad, Greg Taylor, Kierce, John Wright, Dale Harwood, Jimmy Crawford, Ronnie Case, Jimmy Phelan, Rob Kershaw, Chris Wakim, Bill Welch, John Woodward, Kenny White, Dave Crocker, Howard.
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