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Wingless Spec Sprints
Petaluma Speedway
Saturday, April 25, 2009
By Debbie Shipherd
Bernal Brings Home the Win at Petaluma
S & S Automotive’s Ryan Bernal won the feature event at Petaluma Speedway on Saturday April 25 from an eighth starting spot, throttling into the lead on a lap nine restart over pole sitter Devon Ostheimer of Morgan Hill. Ostheimer held the second spot at the shortened lap fifteen checkers, followed by Atlas Piping’s Tommy Laliberte, Elkhorn’s Lucas Nerlove, and Sebastapol’s Geoff Ensign.
A full field of twenty-three Wingless Spec Sprint contenders showed for Petaluma’s second Spec Sprint race on the tacky 3/8 mile track, with a wonderful mix of seasoned veterans, young new stars, and new drivers in this fast growing class.
Three heat races ran with Bernal taking the early lead over pole sitter S & J Machine’s Rick Sharp. Lincoln’s Marc Zieske unfortunately flipped hard on the backstretch and at this writing his condition is unknown. Saturday night he was in ICU at Santa Rosa, so please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Bernal won the heat and was chased to the checkers by Lucas Nerlove, Red Line Oil’s Sparky Howard, Dave Press, Rick Sharp, Johnson Custom Machine’s Brandon Davis and Matt Streeter.Santa Rosa’s Arvo Backholm won the second heat from a pole start in non-stop flag to flag action. Terry Schank of Santa Rosa moved up to the second spot from a fourth starting spot and was followed by Ostheimer, Marcus Hardina, Jason McIntosh, Alan Clark, Gary Deemer and Amanda Alves. Geoff Ensign took the heat three win which was slowed by a few rookie spins. He was followed by Atlas Piping’s Tommy Laliberte, Zack Lynskey, Joel Myers, Pope Valley’s Dusty Barton, Lucas Nerlove, and Red Line Oil’s Sparky Howard. Hunt Magneto’s Terry Schank won the quick trophy dash.
The main event lined up with young Ostheimer and veteran Sparky Howard on the front row. Ostheimer charged into the lead at the green with Howard, Schank, and Streeter all hot on his tail. A tight battle for the second spot ensued until lap five when Streeter rolled several times in turn three. He emerged unharmed but his car was done for the night. On the restart Ostheimer held the lead with Howard and Schank heavy on the throttle still battling for second, and Bernal patiently moved from fifth to fourth as he passed Laliberte. Schank and Howard tangled in turn three to slow the action again and then rookie Gary Deemer took an easy tumble. On the restart Bernal throttled into the lead and took the $800 win. Ostheimer, Laliberte, Nerlove and Ensign rounded out the top five spots. Thanks once again to the Petaluma staff for all of their warm hospitality and to our fellow racers for always keeping it fun. Drive safe, take care and have fun.
Summary:
Heat 1: Ryan Bernal, Lucas Nerlove, Sparky Howard, Dave Press, Rick Sharp, Brandon Davis, Matt Streeter, Marc Zieske
Heat 2: Arvo Backholm, Terry Schank, Devon Ostheimer, Marcus Hardina, Jason McIntosh, Alan Clark, Gary Deemer, Amanda Alves
Heat 3: Geoff Ensign, Tommy Laliberte, Zack Lynskey, Joel Myers, Dusty Barton, Frank Addiego, Scott Dupont
Dash: Schank, Laliberte, Ostheimer, Nerlove, Howard
Main: Bernal, Ostheimer, Laliberte, Nerlove, Ensign, Lynskey, Davis, Backholm, Press, Dupont, Schank, Myers, Howard, Sharp, Addiego, Clark, Deemer, Alves, Streeter, McIntosh, Hardina, Zieske
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