Visalia, Ca.
September 25, 2015
Opening night of the two event Super 600 Nationals at Keller Auto Raceway at Plaza Park began
on Friday night. The 81 cars that compete regularly in the four track classes were bolstered by 16 mini
sprints making a rare appearance on the 1/8 mile clay oval. Common math reveals that the car count of
nearly one hundred was on prem.
At least half a dozen Junior Sprints came down from the state of Washington to compete against
the Central Valley regulars. An entertaining twenty lap main event then had more drama in the tech
area at the conclusion.
Mattix Salmon paced the thirteen car field for the first fourteen laps. A lap two tangle in turn
four eliminated young Colten Key with Reilee Philips out on the two spin rule a couple of laps later.
Sixth starting Caeden Steele grabbed the top spot from Salmon with an inside pass exiting turn four on
lap fifteen before Ryan Keck hung the turn three berm for a yellow.
Steele then led to the double checkers ahead of Eli Bookout followed by visitors Dakota Drake
and Peyton Hagen. Steele then came up light at the mandatory weigh in following the event. Bookout
was elevated to the feature win, his first at the track.
Twenty five Super 600’s raced requiring a B Main to pare down the field. Paul Javaux and the
next nine in the finishing order transferred to the 30 lap feature event. Raio Morgan led the first pair of
laps from her front row starting spot before Washington’s Chance Crum raced his way into the top spot.
Followed by Tucker Worth and Morgan.
Several yellows plagued the event with Crum holding the top spot at the two thirds mark. A
slight miscue allowed T. Worth to take over the lead spot over Crum and Jake Hagopian. A yellow with
five laps to go found Crum out with rear suspension ailments. Tucker ran on to the coveted feature win
ahead of Hagopian, Morgan, Jake Andreotti and Michael Faccinto.
Non winged 600’s began their 30 lap journey with Dan Mognaga leading from the pole starting
spot ahead of Mason Daniel and Austin Stone. Again, several yellows were waved slowing the pack and
the lap fifteen mark saw Mognaga lead Tim Worth, T.J. Smith and Stone as Daniel was involved In a
yellow.
A classic non wing battle developed the final ten laps with Smith moving into second ahead of T.
Worth, Stone and Koen Shaw. The leading duo swapped the lead back and forth with classic slide jobs
before slight contact between the two then found Mognaga spun aroud backwards heading into turn
three.
A questionable call put Smith back two spots with the scoreboard now showing Stone as the
leader. Stone led the final three laps to take the win ahead of Smith, Shaw, Landon Hurst and Mathew
Moles.
A car count approaching 30 in the Restricted 600’s put the best 22 cars in the feature for their
25 lap main event. A fourteen car semi main saw Greg DeCaries V lead all comers for the win and
transfer spot.
Cole Danell, who has won several feature events here at Plaza this season turned a pole
position starting spot into another feature win at races end. Kyle Peterson chased the quick Danell to no
avail the entire race.
A lap two red for a double flip by DeCaires and Jared Faria halted proceedings before the group
set sail once again. The lapping process of those in the rear portion of the field began in earnest at the
midway point with Danell continuing to lead Peterson, Zane Blanchard and Bryce Eames.
The top four remained in those finishing spots with Canadian Ben Williker also visiting the scales
in fifth spot. A large 19 car field competed the event.
Mini Sprints were at one time a staple group here at the speedway. Through time there are
now two associations, one In the North and one In the South that sanction events in California. A
contingent of Washington cars were also on hand for the non point event.
Washington’s Brock Lemley took full advantage of the pole starting spot to take the opening
lead ahead of Brian Corso. Seventh starting Bobby Michnowicz was in third on lap three and had moved
into second behind Lemley by lap five.
The group performed very well on the tight track with Michnowicz moving right behind the
leader to challenge for the top spot. Doug Nunes had slapped the turn three crashwall on lap seventeen
and as the leaders approached quickly Lemley dogged the stalled car but Michnowicz was not as
fortunate as he hit Nunes and tipped his car to the side sustaining suspension damage and out of the
race.
Lemley led the final lucky thirteen laps to take the win ahead of Dakota Albright, Scott Males,
Jared Gunderson, and Corso. Thirteen of the winged cars finished in the 30 lap affair.
END