Olschowka grabs the bounty  
Eckman, Hall, McDaniel & Blackshere win.
Sarcomo slugs his way to #4 in BOMBERS. Dilly Bar Nite Sat.  

By Bob Burbach
Marysville CA - August 1, 2010 --- Marysville Raceway Park was a roaring good time Saturday night as Paul & Kathy Hawes hosted the 2010 version of Fan Appreciation Nite. Super Stock star Jeff Olschowka finally ended Misty Castleberry’s stranglehold on victory lane with by winning a thrilling duel with the 10 time feature winner. Cory Hall showed this point battle isn’t over for the MRP Super Stock title. “Scary Gary” Eckman won the Pro 4 Sprint Car feature for his 1st ever feature win. Randy McDaniel easily outdistanced a quick Cal Modified feature field. Armand Sarcomo was one of only 2 cars running and won his 4th straight EXTREME BOMBER finale. Jeremy Blackshere took the Nor Cal Dwarf Car main.

In MRP’s own Mini Stock division a zero pill put Olschowka and Castleberry on the front row for the main and the dynamic duo slugged it out for the entire distance. Castleberry seemed to have this one in hand putting as much a 5 car lengths between Olschowka hand her quick #95. But, as the laps wound down Castleberry chose a high line through 1 and 2 and Olschowka found his opportunity. He closed rapidly and finally snared the lead with pair of quick laps, hooking up hard on the bottom of 1 and 2. With 2 to go he finally made it stick after they exchanged the lead on 2 occasions. Castleberry didn’t give up and pressed Olschowka to the very end. Once again, the crowd could be heard over the motors as the checkers waived. Olschowka not only won the race, but picked up the MRP Bounty that was placed on Castleberry 3 weeks ago. Olschowka picked up a cool $700 for his winning effort. Howard Law had a great race and finished 3rd ahead of a rejuvenated Jimmy Ford who clawed his way forward in a fine effort. Two of the pre-race favorites, Jason Clayton and Mike Merritt got 5th & 6th respectively. Olschowka, Castleberry and Olin Crane grabbed the heat race wins.

The MRP Super Stock feature was a fast and wild event that Hall led wire to wire. But….Chris Neimans came out of the hills and made an infrequent visit to MRP. Neimans kept the young charger honest all race long. Neimans showed Hall his nose a couple of times that seemed to be a wake up call for the driver of the beautiful #56. Hall needed a good ride after the dastardly luck he has experienced lately. Hall beat Neimans to the stripe with Ray Trimble coming in 3rd. Point leader Jeff Olschowka had an easy 3rd in hand when late race mechanical ills slowed the black 96. He limped to a 6th place finish. Neimans and Hall picked up heat race victories. Hall took a nice chunk out of the Olschowka point lead with his fine run to the checkers.

In MRP’s own Pro 4 Sprint Car feature Gary Eckman flashed under the checkers 1st. But the race was filled with bizarre drama that sidelined 3-time champ Tim Maclaughlin and caused point leader P. J. Petersen to work hard for his eventual 6th place finish. Actually Petersen and Maclaughlin looked unbeatable prior to their mechanical misfortunes. Their exit put the spotlight on Eckman and a rocket fast John Cardoni. This duo slugged it out back and forth for the last 5 circuits with Cardoni slipping by with 4 to go. A quick yellow with set up a final 2-lap shoot out. At the green Cardoni didn’t go. Eckman flashed by and stayed ahead as Cardoni battled back to 2nd at the flag. It was Eckman’s 1st ever win and the victory lane celebration featured a 4.5 second 100 yard dash by Eckman’s wife from the pits to the start/finish line that had the fans cheering and chuckling. Petersen and Maclaughlin gathered heat race victories as MRP’s Pro 4s start to bring faster, larger fields to the raceway.

Randy McDaniel parlayed a front row start into an easy run to the checkers in the Modified finale. McDaniel had it pretty much under control until 2nd running Duane Cleveland showed him his front end with about 5 to go. McDaniel got the message and literally smoked the rest of the field into submission. It was a short field of cars, but a quality one as several of the classes fastest, most famous racers took to the track.

Ryan McDaniel appeared to be the quickest of the competitors. In his drive from the back he pawed his way toward the front. Mechanical issues sidelined him, however. Veteran racer Terry DeCarlo showed he hasn’t lost a step as he powered his way into 3rd at the stripe. Randy McDaniel swept the show by winning the heat race earlier in the evening.

Don’t bet against Armond Sarcomo when it comes to MRP’s own EXTREME BOMBER class. This articulate young man just put win #4 together and is becoming MRP’s newest member in the “Win-Streak” club. Sarcomo was one of only 2 cars that took the checkers in the crash-fest that has become monstrously popular with the spectators (and drivers from other divisions, alike. You should see the driving suits that wind up in the grandstands for these races). It has become a habit for spectators to stand for the entire duration of the EXTREME BOMBER events. On lap 5, while Sarcomo flew away from the field, Zach Johnson was nailed and pressed into a giant rollover in his 6 passenger SUV. It brought the event to a stop: one of two red flags that would fly over the raceway. When the green flashed on again, the “cop” car (never found out who was driving the car with the gumball machine on top) slammed head on into the vacated Johnson machine, bang!… duh. Johnson’s vehicle had been sitting there for 15 minutes while everyone was rescued and a backhoe was used to right the battered machine. A big fire stopped the proceedings again as the “cop” burst into flames on impact.

With 2 to go, the green flew again and Sarcomo beat Deitmar Green to the stripe by over a lap. The Bombers will return in 2 weeks. If you haven’t seen it…you simply must see the MRP EXTREME BOMBERS sometime this season

2003 MRP Mini Stock champion Jeremy Blackshere seemed to be wrestling with an ill-handling car early on, but got to the checkers 1st after race leader Pat Weger had a flat tire on the last lap. Blackshere’s car seemed to get quicker as the event proceeded, but Weger was motoring along with a ½ lap lead when his tire exploded as he took the white banner. Blackshere just beat Weger back to the line rapidly making up the enormous gap. Mike Grenert grabbed 3rd in the rapid-fire 20 lapper.

Next Saturday night is Dilly Bar Nite at MRP. Remember, everyone in attendance will get a free dilly bar; compliments of the Yuba City Dairy Queen and the Hall family. It’ll be warm so Dilly Bar night #2 couldn’t happen at a better time. Join us for spectacular, heart stopping action this Saturday night at MRP. The MRP Winged Sprint Cars will return with MRP’s own Super Stocks and Mini Stocks.

The pit gate opens at 3PM. The spectator gates will open at 5 PM with Hot Laps at 6 PM. The first event will be underway immediately after Hot Laps at about 6.30.