7-4-08

The Riverside FANatic

By Alan Plummer

The Independence Day Race at Riverside Speedway, a PASS sanctioned track, was spectacular.  The Late Models could be a little less impatient and wreck a little less. Twenty cars started the race, only nine finished.  Ernie Laplant walked away from a heck of a flip in the Dwarf Cars.  The Daredevil rookies put on a spectacular showing, again running flag to flag without a caution.  The fireworks display after the races was also great.

The Daredevil Rookies started the evening off.  Aaron Poulin started on the pole, with Randy Whittum outside.  Poulin took the lead, with Nick Miller moving into 3^rd.  On lap 7 Lyndsay Christman moved into 3^rd.  Poulin took the checkers, followed by Christman and Whittum.

In the Daredevil Veterans, Keith Lord started on the pole, with Cameron Bowen outside.  Lord took the lead and Brandon Lambert moved into 3^rd.  Lambert moved to 2^nd on lap 2.  The yellow flag flew on lap 3.  Lambert took the restart and Kyle Pembroke moved into 3^rd.  Then on lap 4 Pembroke overtook 2^nd.  Jesse Switser tried for the last five laps to get by Dilyn Switser for 3^rd, but couldn’t make it stick.  Lambert takes the win followed by Pembroke and Dilyn Switser.

Ciara McCoy started on the pole for the Dwarf cars, with David Hartshorn outside.  McCoy took the lead.  On lap 2, Ernie Laplant moved to 3^rd.  On lap 3, Laplant went barrel rolling down the front stretch, as Hartshorn lost a wheel.  Laplant was in and out as the safety crew got on scene, but he insisted on getting out of the car under his own power.  McCoy again took the lead as Dana Huoppi moved into 2^nd and Eric Hall moved into 3^rd.  On lap 4 Hall took the lead and began to pull away from the field.  Bobby Riley overtook 3^rd on lap 7, Huoppi regains on lap 9.    On lap 11 Huoppi overtakes 2^nd.  Hall wins by a ¾ lap advantage over Huoppi and McCoy.

Brendan Hunt started on the pole for the Street Stocks, with Tyler Therrien outside.  Therrien took the lead, but Hunt regained.  Daniel Gooden spins on lap 4 bringing out the yellow.  Therrien takes the restart.  On lap 5 Tori Delabruere moves to 3^rd.  On lap 9 Bill Stebbins regains 3^rd, but only for 1 lap as Alex Theroux moves to 3^rd then 2^nd.  On lap 12 Nick Pilotte moves to the 3^rd spot, only to have it taken away on lap 19 by Shawn Swallow.  On lap 23, Hunt blows something on the car, laying down a patch of fluid in turn 3.  Therrien and Theroux both slide through it into the dirt, but keeping their momentum.  Therrien takes the restart and the win, followed by Swallow and Theroux.

Allyn Briggs started on the pole for the Super Stocks, with Jeff Fysh on the outside.  Fysh took the lead.  On lap 3 Denny Degreenia moved into 3^rd, and he overtook 2^nd on lap 8.  Nathan Swallow moves to 3^rd on lap 11, 2^nd on lap 13, and takes the lead on lap 22.  Swallow takes the win followed by Degreenia and Fysh.

Pete Gilcris started on the pole, with Jean Leblanc outside for the Late Model feature.  The two immediately get together, sending Leblanc over the bank.  It is Jeremy Lacoss, and Bob Ailes Sr on the restart, with Lacoss taking the lead.  A bunch of cars get together in turn 3 bringing out the caution.  Jeff Marshall and Mark Baxter tangle on the next restart sending Marshall into the tire wall at the end of the front stretch, and Baxter over the bank.  Marshall immediately complained of side pain and collapsed as he exited the car.  He was transported to the Hospital.  Unofficially I have heard he fractured a vertebrate and broke a few ribs.  I am sure he will be sidelined for a while, and wish him a speedy recovery.  Lacoss took the restart and Paul Scharter moved to 2^nd, and Howard Switser to 3^rd.  On lap 4, Switser takes the lead.  On lap 12, Mike Mills Jr. spins, and is t-boned by Gilcris, since he has no were to go.  Switser takes the restart, and Corey Mason moves to 3^rd.  Ailes goes around in turn 4 bringing out the caution on lap 21.  Grant Folsom takes the restart, but Switser regains.  Folsom again takes the lead on lap 38, but again Switser regains.  On lap 42, Switser and Randy Potter tangle, as Potter makes a move for the lead.  Folsom again takes the restart then Mason takes over the spot.  Switser lost a tire on lap 43.  Mason takes the restart.  Mike Kensison moves to 3^rd on lap 45.  On lap 60 Switser and Nate Brown get together.  Mason again takes the restart.  On lap 61 Bryan Mason, Folsom, and Potter are involved in bringing out the caution.  Corey Mason again takes the lead, and Reno Gervais moves to 3^rd.  Corey Mason takes the win followed by Kenison and Gervais.

The final race of the night was the Cyclone Enduro.  My pen died, so I didn’t get all the particulars.  It was nearly a flag to flag, but on lap 34, Adam Bergeron rolled on the back stretch infield with the car returning to its wheels.  A quick check was made to see if he was o.k., and ok he was and wanted to finish the race.  Charlie Rockwell was the eventual winner followed by Rick Utley Jr, and Dustin Poulin.  Jean Leblanc and Andy Hill rounded out the top 5.

Riverside races again next Saturday July 12^th.  On the card will be the Late Models, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, Dwarf Cars, Angels, and Cyclones.  Post time 6pm.  Hope to see you there.  Pictures and archived FANatic articles can be seen at http://racing.apcomptech.com   If you have any questions or comments email me at riversidefanatic@apcomptech.com