Hawes Earns First Career Winged Sprint Car Win
Marysville, CA (5-13, 2017) – Four years ago Jeremy Hawes made the jump from wingless sprint cars to winged 360 sprints cars. After a lot of disappointing finishes and struggles, his hard work finally paid off. Hawes won the exciting 25-lap winged sprint car main event and earned his first career win in the competitive division. Hawes was challenged throughout the event by slower traffic and three-time track champion Colby Wiesz. In fact, Wiesz passed Hawes at least twice during the race only to have Hawes drive back into the lead a few moments later. Needless to say, Hawes was ecstatic in victory lane as he celebrated with dad, mom and Robert Petersen. Billy Wallace came home in the third spot. Mike Monahan drove up to the fourth spot. Youngster Dustin Freitas rounded out the top five. Wiesz won the first heat race. Tyler Seavey dominated heat two. Rowdy McClenon returned to action and won the third heat. Wiesz was the fastest car in qualifying. Twenty sprint cars appeared for point race #5.
Promoter Dennis Gage had to be smiling as 87 race cars entered his pit area for the normal Saturday night point race. It was nice to see a full grandstands as people took advantage of the discounted Mother’s Day ticket special.
The IMCA Sport Mod division was given another shot in the arm because of the West Coast Sport Mod Tour was in the house. A brilliant 34 cars attended the event. In the end it was a local named Phillip Shelby who won. Joining Shelby in victory lane in what seemed to be half of the entire town of Marysville. Shelby is a popular driver at the top of his game. Last night he was leading the race at Chico until a mechanical issue sidelined him late in the race. “I have to thank my friends who put the car back together while I was at work today,” said Shelby in victory lane. Shelby also thanked third place finishing Fred Ryland. Nick Spainhoward finished in the second spot. Spainhoward should be credited with a great race in where he doesn’t have a ton of laps at Marysville but looked fast all night. Ryland thanked his wife who gave up her car tonight so Fred could race. “My car was wrecked and she was nice enough to step out of her car so I could run tonight,” said Ryland. Michael Johnson finished fourth and his now the current point leader of the West Coast Sport Mod Tour as they leave Marysville after point race # 3. Shane Devolder had another solid showing and finished fifth.
The Cooper brothers finished first and second in the semi-main event. Todd Gomez, Les Friend, Jimmy Ford and Igor Gandzjuk were the final four transfers to the main event.
Shelby won the first heat race. Johnson grabbed the honors in heat two. Jordan Hagar did an excellent job in winning heat three. Local hot shoe Damian Merritt won the fourth heat.
Cody Spencer won an entertaining wingless sprint car main event. Even though only four cars entered, Spencer and Gary Paulson waged a good race amongst each other for the win. In the end, it was Spencer holding off Paulson. Paul Vandenberg and Bruce Morrow finished out the order. Paulson won the lone heat race.
The Dwarf Cars put on another great show. Buddy Olschowka took home the honors during a competitive main event. Yet, the real star of night was the fans and drivers who donated money to help the family of family racer Joe Bresnyan, who was tragically killed earlier that week. The Dwarf Cars went four wide to salute the Bresnyan family before their main event. Jeremy Blackshere ran one of his best races and finished second behind Olschowka. Danny Wagner finished third. Wagner continues to be one of the top drivers. Mike Reeder is another racer who is always up front and finished fourth. Brian Quilty continues to get the job done and finished fifth. Wagner, Reeder and Blackshere all won their respective heat races. So, it wasn’t surprising that they all finished within the top five during the main event.
Rob Waldrop has the right set up. He was the class of the field Saturday night during the Vintage Hardtops. Waldrop won the main event and heat race.
Full results at www.marysvilleraceway.com
