PETALUMA, CA – JUNE 30, 2012: Former Petaluma Speedway Champion and current point leader Bradley Terrell made a strong statement that he will be a force to be reckoned with for the Pit Stop USA Sprint Car Series championship with a thrilling last lap pass for the win in the Winged 360 Sprint Cars Saturday night.
It was clear from the start of qualifying that the strong eighteen car field would have an outstanding racing surface to compete on for round #6 of the Pit Stop USA Sprint Car Series. Many track veterans commented that it was the best track conditions at the 3/8 mile facility they had seen in many years. Napa’s Richard Bailey set a blistering pace in qualifying with 12.568 second lap followed by former Champion Dave Lindt, Jr., Ryan Rusconi and defending Petaluma Speedway Champion Alissa Geving who made her first Winged 360 Sprint Car appearance of the year in the F&F Racing x1 Pit Stop USA sponsored sprinter normally driven by Andy Forsberg. Chase Johnson, Billy Butler and Geoff Ensign captured heat race wins showing early on how fast the Petaluma Speedway adobe surface would be for the main event.
Richard Bailey started on the pole of the main event and led the first two circuits before former track Champion Art McCarthy, Jr. took a wild ride into the turn 4 fence, climbing over the wheel of Ryan Rusconi bringing out the only red flag of the feature event. It was the second flip of the evening for McCarthy and caused a lot of damage to the #19 sprinter ending his evening.
When the race resumed Dave Lindt, Jr. quickly grabbed the lead on lap number three with Bailey and Alissa Geving in hot pursuit. Lindt began stretching the lead over the following laps, but the real action was heating up behind the third place car of Geving between Bradley Terrell, Chase Johnson, Billy Butler and Geoff Ensign.
Once Terrell got by the x1 of Geving he set his sights on the black and yellow #01 Bailey Brothers machine and the two drivers put on a great show with one slide job after another exchanging positions lap after lap. Once Terrell made the final pass of Bailey, he set his sights on Lindt who was noticibly off his earlier torrid pace. The last two laps saw Terrell pull a perfect slide job in turn four to get past Lindt and looked to have the win locked up. But the savvy veteran Lindt had other ideas and drove the #52 sprinter deep into turn three with a final slide job attempt, briefly passing Terrell in turn four. But Terrell was not to be denied and got the #43 back by Lindt for one of the most exciting finishes in Petaluma Speedway history. Richard Bailey finished third, with Chase Johnson and the winner of the previous two Pit Stop USA Sprint Car Series events Geoff Ensign finishing fifth. Brett Rollag, Kirk Simpson, Alissa Geving, Jake Haulot and Ivan Worden rounded out the top ten.
On Saturday, July 7 the Pit Stop USA Sprint Car Series takes on the California Civil War Sprint Car Series in the second of the three appearances at the Petaluma Speedway 3/8 mile. The Pit Stop USA Wingless Spec Sprint Car Series will also be on hand for a great night of wheel to wheel action. Don't miss this one!
For more Pit Stop USA Sprint Car Series news visit us at www.PitStopUSASprints.com.
June 30, 2012
PIT STOP USA WINGED 360 SPRINT CAR SERIES
Fast Qualifier: Richard Bailey 12.568
Heat#1: Chase Johnson, Jake Haulot, Richard Bailey, Alissa Geving, Kirk Simpson, Roberto Kirby
Heat#2: Billy Butler, Dave Lindt, Jr., Art McCarthy, Adam McCarthy, Matthew Haulot, Kenny Drew
Heat #3: Geoff Ensign, Ryan Rusconi, Ivan Worden, Bradley Terrell, Brett Rollag, Chase Wood
Main Event: Bradley Terrell, Dave Lindt, Jr., Richard Bailey, Chase Johnson, Geoff Ensign, Brett Rollag, Kirk Simpson, Alissa Geving, Jake Haulot, Ivan Worden, Billy Butler, Kenny Drew, Matthew Haulot, Chase Wood, Adam McCarthy, Ryan Rusconi, Art McCarthy, Roberto Kirby
- Admin Account on Jul 03, 2012
- Article Date: 6/30/2012