Naida, Wheeler, Busch among Opening Bell Winners
Darin Naida made history becoming the very first 600 Micro Sprint winner at Mountain Creek Speedway in the “Opening Bell” Weekend presented by Bell Helmets Pro Shop of Mooresville. Neal Allison took the lead from an outside pole starting position. He led the majority of the event as Allison and NASCAR Truck Series Champion, Sheldon Creed traded sliders for the top spot. Third place Darin Naida slipped past Creed for second after Creed bounced off the wall in three. With three laps remaining Naida grabbed the lead after diving low as Allison clipped the wall coming off two. Naida would lead the remaining laps to park his CB Industries entry into victory lane for the very first time. Creed finished second with Cannon McIntosh charging back from incidents to finish third.
The day started with the Cadets on the track with Spencer Bickling picking up the win over pole sitter Wyatt Linker who finished, second and Maverick Bradshaw, third. The Cadet B Feature was won by Mackenna Wilson over Rhett Vasconcellos and Tatum Burnett, son of NASCAR Cup Series crew chief, Randall Burnett.
Brexton Busch made it a clean sweep in both the Beginner Box Stock and Box Stock division. Starting from eleventh, Busch stayed out of trouble and avoided incidents including leaders Slate Harrel and Will Spencer making contact and Carson Slade spinning off the bumper of Carson Hammill. With five to go, the leaders went three wide with leader, Caden Outz high, Busch went low with Hammill in the middle for second. Busch would go from third to first, leading the remaining laps for the win. Carson Hammill was second with Eddie Massencup, third.
In the Box Stock A-Main, Zoey Smith led early with Chase DeMarco, Karter Beattie and Liam Kane in tow. Kane grabbed the lead on lap, seven and appeared to be in command until a late caution with three to go allowed DeMarco and Brooklyn Newman, daughter of Ryan Newman to slip past. A caution with two laps left set up a green-white-checkered finish. On the restart, Newman slipped past Demarco for the lead. Coming to the checkered Demarco and Newman made contact spinning in front of Brexton Busch who dove low to dash across the line with the win. John Marshall Pursley and Liam Kane completed the podium.
Outlaw kart ace, Mike Wheeler picked up the win in the Yamaha 450 Outlaw division. Travis Stanley led early which turned into a thrilling four car battle between, Stanley, CJ Sweatt, Michael Hubert and Mike Wheeler. With eleven to go Sweatt took the lead from Stanley while Wheeler chipped away at the bottom moving past Hubert, Stanley and eventually Sweatt to take the win. Sweatt was followed to the checkered by Michael Hubert in third.
Ryder Hughart was the winner in the Intermediate division while the 600 Restricted division was won by Carson Smith. Evan McReynolds topped everyone on the Junior Wing A Main taking the win over Gavin Marlin and Nicholas Sluss. The next race for micro sprints and outlaw karts will be Sunday April 30th. When the track isn’t racing, it’s busy Monday through Friday with testing and practice sessions for everything from flat karts to national midgets. The track will also be available for testing and practice days throughout the year. Those wishing to reserve rental or testing days can contact Jason Queen at (828)413-6890 for details and availability.
Contact information:
Mountain Creek Speedway
5237 Little Mountain Rd.
Catawba, NC 28609
Phone: 828-244-7249
Website: www.mountaincreekspeedway.com
email: info@mountaincreekspeedway.com
- Derek Pernesiglio on Apr 03, 2023
- Article Date: 4/3/2023 by Mountain Creek Speedway Staff