First time winners, big crashes mark memorable night at Redwood Acres Raceway

Eureka, CA (May 13, 2018) – It was a wild night of racing at Redwood Acres Raceway this past Saturday on Pepsi Night at the Races. Several major incidences slowed the competition in multiple divisions but there still was some thrilling racing all night long.

Unfortunately, the Fortuna Wheel & Brake bomber division was not in action for the evening due to the car count. In the division championship, Nick Green holds the points lead by three over Ryan Walters. Jim Redd is another point behind Walters in third. Sam Brown is fourth and Kolby Jackson rounds out the top five.

Qualifying for the Compass Community Credit Union roadrunner division was lead by Dylan Ford with a 20.334 time-in. Race one was a battle between brothers Dylan Ford and Nick Ford. Patrick Sproul was a big challenger in the early going but contact with lapped traffic cut his right front tire which sent him into the wall. The Fords continued their fight for the lead all race long but Nick was unable to get by Dylan. At the finish it was Dylan Ford winning over Nick Ford, Amanda Lohr, Lindsey Zito and Sprout.

The second main proved to be more chaotic. The Fords again were the front-runners but the 21-second rule played into the race several times. The rule is in place to ensure fair competition in the division and to keep costs down. Both Fords broke out three times and had to allow third-place Lindsey Zito into the lead. With both Fords trying to regain the lead on lap 15, Nick got into the grass while trying to pass Zito and Dylan. Nick lost control and lost control sending both he and his brother hard into the turn three wall. Both drivers were able to climb out of their cars safely. Zito inherited the lead and was able to go on to win her first-ever main event win. Ronnie Crump placed second, Amanda Lohr third. Dylan Ford was credited with fourth and Nick Ford fifth.

Lane Anderson continued his hot-streak in qualifying for the Bandoleros with fast time, a 21.617. Anderson followed up his trophy dash victory with a win in the heat race. The feature event saw more of the same as Anderson jumped to the lead and pulled away from the rest of the field. Anderson went on to win followed by Aiden Kimberling and Kadence Mace.

Chris Lawrence has made a successful transition from the Thunder Roadster division to the NorthCoast Lighting And Electric Legends division. His 18.167 was good enough to set fast time for the class. Aiden Daniels was the trophy dash winner while the heat went to Lawrence. Wyatt Hobart jumped to the lead initially before being overtaken by Tyler Peach. Lawrence moved to second and the front pair looked to be superior to the rest of the field. They pulled away as the rest of the field sorted out. On lap 10, Tyler Krupa’s left front wheel came off between turns one and two sending him into the wall and ending his night.

After that yellow, another caution flew when Brent Mack’s car broke. Lawrence used the restart to his advantage as he was able to get by Peach on lap 14. It was Lawrence’s race from then on as he took his first main event win in the Legends division. Peach was second followed by Aiden Daniels, Hobart and Brad Henderson.

Brian Murrell, Sr. was fast time for the Humboldt Hydroponics mini stock class with a 19.001. Murrell followed up with a victory in the dash. Scott Taylor pulled through to win heat race one while the second heat featured a little more excitement than some drivers wanted. Trevor Eacret and Murrell tangled on the front stretch sending Murrell into the wall. Eugene Palmer would take the victory in the race. Dylan Hagmann and C.J. Dalton led the field to the green with Dalton getting the initial lead. Just after the green, Hagmann, Brian Murrell, Jr. and Brian Murrell, Sr. all went into the pits. On lap four Dalton spun in turn four collecting Taylor.

The restart saw Jordan Paiment lead with Nick Ford in second place. Eugene Palmer’s truck lost power forcing him the pits for the duration of the race. The major turning point in the race occurred in turns one and two. Rick Estes was pulling his car into the pits. Behind him, R.C. Brown slowed just as the leaders were gaining at a high rate of speed. The result was Paiment slamming into Brown’s rear bumper. From that point on, Paiment’s car was not the same. On lap 10, Eacret took over as Paiment’s car was definitely off pace compared to earlier in the race. Gary Klinetobe did all he could as he got to within three to four car lengths on Eacret but it was not enough. At the finish it was Eacret winning his first feature over Klinetobe. Ford took third with Paiment placing fourth. Brown placed fifth.

Fast time for the Mid-City Motor World Super Six Challenge Series late models was Mic Moulton with a 15.780. Things got too exciting on the first lap of the heat race. Going into turn three, several cars got together resulting in major damage to Leonard Ward’s car. Fortunately, he was able to make the main event. The heat winner was Dane Nissen. The NorthCoast Lighting and Electric feature was led to the green by Dane Nissen and David Henderson. Things got too wild on the first lap going into the third turn when Tim Crenshaw and Kenny Demello got together. Both drivers hit the wall hard, seriously damaging both of their vehicles. Thankfully both drivers were able to walk away from their badly beaten cars.

Nissen took the lead off the restart. Marty Walsh looked to be Nissen’s main competition in the early going but the handling on his car appeared to fall off after the first 10 laps into the race. Henderson and Moulton were able to get under and past Walsh and the two tried to close in on Nissen. Both drivers were eventually able to close on Nissen and the three raced bumper-to-bumper for several laps. Henderson appeared to have the advantage handling-wise but Nissen was able to use his power down the straights to keep his lead. With 20-laps remaining, Moulton began to make a serious move to the lead. He was able to get by Henderson on lap 40. With 12 laps left, Moulton was able to get under and by Nissen. From that point on, Moulton was able to pull away. At the checkered flag it was Moulton winning over Nissen, Henderson, Marty Walsh and Ward.

Race three for the 2018 season at Redwood Acres Raceway is set to be a big event. It’s a rare Sunday night race on Memorial Day weekend, May 27th The Super Six Challenge Series Late Models will have the night off but the ever-popular North State Modifieds will be making their first visit to the 3/8-mile paved oval for the series’ second race of the year.

For more information including race results, points and division rules please visit Redwood Acres Raceway’s official website, www.redwoodacresracing.com You can also find the track on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/RedwoodAcresRaceway

Remaining 2018 Redwood Acres Raceway Schedule:

Sunday May 27th – O’Reilly Auto Parts Night At The Races (Featuring North State Modifieds, Late Models off)

Saturday June 9th – Renner Petroleum Night At The Races (Featuring Super 6 Late Models)

Friday June 22nd – Fair Race (Featuring Demolition Derby and Boat Race, Late Models and Bombers off)

Saturday June 23rd – Tractor Pulls (VIP tickets available, no oval racing)

Saturday July 7th – Don Graham Memorial Firecracker 100 (Featuring fireworks, Bandoleros and Legends off)

Saturday July 21st – Harper Ford Night at the Races (Featuring Super 6 Late Models, North State Modifieds, Mustang car show, roadrunners off)

Friday/Saturday August 3rd and 4th – Monster Trucks

Saturday August 18th – Anderson Logging Driver Appreciation Night (Featuring Super 6 Late Models, Murrell 500)

Friday/Saturday September 7/8 – Mid-City Motor World Fall Spectacular (Featuring North State Modifieds on Friday, Super 6 Late Models on Friday and Saturday)

KNIGHT INCREASES NSMS POINTS LEAD WITH REDWOOD ACRES VICTORY

Darrin Knight - Winner
Darrin Knight with Redwood Acres trophy queens and North State Modified Series flagman Johnny Miskill after his big win. (Carrie Lauenroth photo)

July 23, 2016. ….Eureka, CA….. The North State Modified Series, presented by Protect the Harvest, returned to Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka Saturday night as a part of the Lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram night at the races. Seventeen modifieds took part in the action with NSMS points leader Darrin Knight of Kelseyville the man of the hour, first setting fast time of 16.192 seconds and then passing Darin Snider (Kelseyville) on lap 35 to collect $1000 for his win in the Swartz Diesel Super 60 feature.

Mike Collins (Lakeport) lead the field to the start but when the cars entered into the first corner it was Snider who blasted into the early lead. All cars finished lap one, but on the second circuit Rick Andersen (North Highlands) slapped the wall on the backstretch, and when he tried to recover he clipped Eric Johnson’s car. The impact sent Andersen into a 360 spin, and although all cars continued, the incident created a blinding dust barrier bringing out the yellow flag.

Snider chose to restart in the outside lane and once again took control of the race with Mike Collins second, Knight third, Charlie Collins fourth and Darrin Sullivan fifth. Richie Potts swapped places with Sullivan to join the top five.

Knight was on a mission and dove under Mike Collins for second on lap four. Charlie Collins followed his line, also moving under Mike Collins for third. Meanwhile Snider was putting a healthy distance between him and the rest of the pack. Knight slowly lessened the gap and was tight on Snider’s bumper by lap 18. Knight looked high and low, waiting for Snider to make a mistake.

Snider continued to lead, and at the Wrap Star Pro half-way marker it was Snider, Knight, Charlie Collins, Mike Collins, Potts, Sullivan, Johnson,, Rich Cobb, Sierra Furia, Andersen, Herman Pulyer, Codi Barba, Ian Elliott, Adrianna Strugnell, Orion Mosher and Randy Houston.

Five rounds later Snider’s car pushed slightly and it was all Knight needed to fill the space and take over the lead for good. Once again Charlie Collins capitalized on the move, followed Knight, and stole the runner-up slot from Snider. As the top four pulled away it was a good battle at mid-pack with Sullivan taking position away from Potts, and Andersen batting with Sierra Furia. The last half of the race saw the leaders flawlessly move through lapped traffic.

Snider’s car lost its power steering ending his run on lap 42. Barba lost a rear end and drove to the pits on 51. Knight lead the pack to the checkered flag followed by Charlie Collins, Mike Collins, Darrin Sullivan and Eric Johnson. Rounding out the top 10 were Potts, Andersen, Cobb, Pulyer and Furia.

In the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash Potts collected $100 for the win, with Johnson getting $50 for second. Charlie Collins earned the Wenteq Hard Charger Award. Cobb took home the Naake Suspension award, and the DJ Safety Certificate went to Sullivan. The Scribner Plastics went to Furia and Snider. Knight earned the Penney Racing Supply/Sunoco Fast Time Award.

Race #7 of North State Modified Series will be at Madera Speedway on August 13. The modifieds will run on the same card with the Pacific Challenge Series Late Models.

The North State Modified Series is presented by: Protect the Harvest, Swartz Diesel, Lucas Oil, Sinister Diesel, Penney Racing Supply, American Racer Tires, Naake Suspension, Sunoco Fuels, Five Star Bodies, Wrap Star Pro, Wenteq, Scribner Plastics, DJ Safety, Renner Petroleum and the Buckhorn Bar & Grill.

SUNOCO/PENNEY RACING SUPPLY TIME TRIALS: Darrin Knight (16.192), Darin Snider (16.278), Randy Houston (16.382), Mike Collins (16.411), Darrin Sullivan (16.412), Rick Andersen (16.579), Charlie Collins (16.639), Eric Johnson (16.666), Richie Potts (16.667), Sierra Furia (16.726), Rich Cobb (16.772), Herman Pulyer (16.806), Adrianna Strugnell (16.843), Codi Barba (16.903), Ian Elliott (17.141), Ryan Mosher (N/T), Bryan Denton (N/T)

LUCAS OIL DASH FOR CASH: Richie Potts, Eric Johnson, Charlie Collins, Rick Andersen, Sierra Furia, Darrin Sullivan

SWARTZ DIESEL SUPER 60: Darrin Knight, Charlie Collins, Mike Collins, Darrin Sullivan, Eric Johnson, Richie Potts, Rick Andersen, Rich Cobb, Herman Pulyer, Sierra Furia, Adrianna Strugnell, Orion Mosher, Codi Barba, Darin Snider, Ian Elliott, Randy Houston

20 carrying checkers
Darrin Knight of Kelseyville takes a victory lap after winning the Swartz Diesel Super 60 at Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka.