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Scott Daloisio
PERRIS, Calif. (March 15) - Murietta, California veteran Jeff Dunham survived a fierce battle to win the rain shortened PASSCAR Extreme Late Model main event at Don Kazarian's famous Perris Auto Speedway on Saturday night. It was Dunham's first win in four outings at the track in 2008.
With rain surrounding the entire area, the question was not if it would rain, but rather when it would start coming down. In hopes of getting all of the show in, PAS officials started the show 15 minutes early and raced through the heats in all four divisions in record time. The Extreme Late Model 25-lap main event rolled onto the track in a few minutes past 7:00.
Dunham started on the pole in the main with series point leader Mike Kirby (Torrance, California) starting outside the front row. When the green flag flew, Kirby set the pace into turn one. The veteran driver, who has won main events at The PAS in six different divisions, quickly opened up a comfortable lead over Dunham and built it into a commanding lead until he slowed coming off turn two on the ninth go round. Dunham inherited first while Kirby slid back to the middle of the pack. One lap later the first yellow flew when Tim Gallagher (Fontana, CA) and John Crow (Fullerton, CA) got together in turn two.
Once racing resumed Dunham held a slim lead. Just behind him Ron Meyer (Anaheim Hills, CA), Zack "The Attack" Forster, fast qualifier Ron Bartels (Marina Del Rey, CA) and 19 year-old Johnny "Lightning" Malcolm slugged out it in an entertaining fight for the second through fifth place spots. Kirby's' once promising night came to an abrupt end on lap 16 when he broke an axle bringing out a yellow flag. At the same time, the night's second fastest qualifier, Dino "The Perris Terrorist" Napier (Corona, CA) retired to the pits as well.
When the green flag flew again, the battle for the top five spots turned into a crowd pleasing, no holds barred brawl. Forster, a regular with the Western All Stars, dazzled the crowd with a turn three slide job that saw him momentarily take the point. However, Dunham, who is returning to his home track to run for the title in 2008 after spending last year with the All-Stars, came right back at Forster and the two drivers put the crowd on it's feet when they slammed together no less than three times on the front straightaway. While they body checked each other back and forth, Meyer, Ron Bartels and "Kid Harley" Nick Bartels (El Segundo, CA), all attempted to take advantage of the situation and went high and low looking for the lead. Dunham and Forster separated in time to maintain their spots at the front of the pack, but another yellow flew when three cars tangled in turn four.
While the inclement weather, which up until then had only included frigid temperatures and an unrelenting wind, kept the crowd to a minimum, those on hand salivated at what may transpire once the green flag would start the festivities again. When racing resumed, they were not disappointed. The green flew again with 19 laps in the books and the fireworks at the front of the pack warmed up everyone in the place. Dunham set the pace, but Forster, Meyer, Ron Bartels, Malcolm and Nick Bartels were hot on his tail and they traded 2nd through 6th several times. It became quite clear that Nick Bartels, who started 12th, was the fastest car on the track. He was making strides towards the head of the head of the pack running on the outside and was third as the field entered turn one to began the 23rd circuit. The young driver, who won the SWDRA season opening main event in Arizona the week before, clobbered and then climbed the turn one wall rode it to turn two bringing out the yellow flag. At the same time, the inevitable happened. The clouds finally let loose and the track was quickly soaked by a heavy downpour. Officials called the race complete at the end of lap 22 and Dunham, in his Bob Goodwin owned, Town & Country Towing/Pick-A-Part/Goodwin Engines #18, had his first win of 2008. He became the fourth different winner in four races in 2008 at The PAS. Forster, who started in third, finished in the runner-up spot with Meyer, Ron Bartels and Malcolm, who turned in his most impressive ride to date, filling out the top five spots.
Ron Bartels topped the 17-car field in qualifying with a sizzling lap of 18.083, which was nearly a half second faster than second fast qualifier Napier.
Kirby won the first eight-lap heat race over his sister Carla Laney and Meyer. Nick Bartels won the second heat ahead of John Piker and Forster.
The main events for the MC Builders Super Stocks, PASSCAR Street Stocks and Pick-A-Part Factory Stocks were all rained out. The Super Stocks and Street Stocks will therefore run double main events when they return to The PAS on April 5th and the Factory Stocks will run double main events on April 19th.
There will be no racing at The PAS this Saturday, March 22nd, so fans, drivers, crews and officials can enjoy Easter weekend. Racing will return to the Riverside County half-mile clay oval on March 29th when Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply presents the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars.
Extreme Late Model Main Event Finish With Starting Positions
Jeff Dunham (1st)
Zack Forster (3rd)
Ron Meyer (6th)
Ron Bartels (8th)
Johnny Malcolm (4th)
John Piker (10th)
Carla Laney (9th)
Bill Bartels (16th)
Jim Giardina (11th)
John Crowe (17th)
Nick Bartels (12th)
Jeff Schumaier (13th)
Mike Kirby (2nd)
Dino Napier (7th)
Mike Hixson (5th)
Russ Wernimont (15th)
Tim Gallagher (14th)
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Super Late Models
Main Event
1. Jeff Dunham
2. Zack Forster
3. Ron Meyer
4. Ron Bartels
5. Johnny Malcolm
6. John Piker
7. Carla Laney
8. Bill Bartels
9. Jim Giardina
10. John Crowe
11. Nick Bartels
12. Jeff Shumaier
13. Mike Kirby
14. Dino Napier
15. Mike Hixson
16. Russ Wernimont
17. Tim Gallagher
Super Late Models
Qualifying
1 12 Ron Bartels 18.083
2 5X Dino Napier 18.568
3 18M Ron Meyer 18.581
4 41 Mike Hixson 18.745
5 15 Johnnhy Malcolm 18.819
6 1 Zack Forester 18.840
7 5K Mike Kirby 18.995
8 18 Jeff Dunham 19.155
9 96 Carla Laney 19.211
10 77 Bill Bartels 19.352
11 40 Russ Wernimont 19.376
12 28 John Piker 19.683
13 58 Jim Giardina 20.033
14 27 Nick Bartels 20.469
15 11S Jeff Schumaier 20.927
16 16 Tim Gallagher 22.208
17 5C John Crowe no time
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