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Last Updated July 17, 2008

Elko, NV… With a top notch racing surface to race on, 47 IMCA Modifieds and ECAR stock cars put on a great show on the quarter-mile D-shaped clay track. Four drivers in the five divisions extended their current hot streaks, and one, Joe Hood picked one of the hottest days to the year to record his first career IMCA feature victory. Hood, a regular competitor at Summit in years past, recently ran on exclusively on asphalt tracks but returned here late last season in a modified car. It took him a little more than a handful of races here this season to grab the golden ring for a win. On Saturday, the Spring Creek star pulled off a win on the final lap in his heat race, serving notice for what was he take place in the feature. The phase ‘hooked up’ in the dictionary should have a picture of Joe Hood and his car right next to it. Starting in the third row, Hood took only two laps to get by leader Dan Basanez after a restart. After that, it was all Hood, as even former three-time track champion Corey Steensen couldn’t touch him. Steensen moved up to fifth during the sixth circuit, and only had Cory Sample, Tracy Greenwood and Basanez to pass before he would meet Hood. He got by Sample on the lap eigth restart, but it took him three more to move around Greenwood and Basanez. Meanwhile, Hood was checking out early, extending his lead to up to a one-half lap. Nevada point leader Chad Farstveet had enough problems and retired on the same lap. Track point leader Wade Taylor, who had a hot streak going into the event, joined the party with a run into fifth. At the halfway mark, it was Hood, Steensen, Sample, Greenwood, and Taylor, with Basanez lurking in sixth place. Taylor would only move up one more position before a melee in turn three on lap 26 ruined his night, giving fourth place back to Greenwood. On the restart, Sample went into second, as Steensen, Greenwood and Tim Mazour followed. At the white flag, Hood was far enough ahead of the pack that a major bobble might not have affected the finish; but he never got out of shape. At the checkered it was a happy Hood, Sample, Steensen, and Greenwood. Greenwood seems to improve every time out and this young lady should contend in the coming weeks. As it stands, Tracy leads the Rookie of the Year candidates in the Western Region, and is second in the national points. IMCA heat races were won by Hood, Steensen and Sample.

In ECAR Pro Stock action, defending champion Brian Thorp, another of those Spring Creek cats, and George Quintana went into the event tied for first in points. Elko’s Quintana, however had won the previous three features here, but Thorp was the champion here for three out of the past four seasons. Early on in the feature, Thorp’s car was damaged in a wreck and was out of contention. Meanwhile, Quintana romped to his fifth victory out of the eight races run here. He led wire-to-wire in the 20 lap race. John Levie finished in second, Terry Lister third, with Marnie Thorp in fourth. Brian Thorp finished in the fifth spot; however he lost four points to Quintana. Quintana had the hot hand as he also took the victory in the heat race.

The ECAR Mini Mod feature was another 20-lap event, with three drivers within three points of one anther. Elko ace Mike Fietzek was the point leader but Lamoille’s Dennis Pruitt won the past two races here. Pruitt was dialed in, as he matched Quintana by turning in another wire-to-wire win for his fifth win. Fietzek was second at the checkered, Jack Hammond was third, and Shawn LaRocque finished fourth driving Lee Bosch’s car. Bosch left the track after the driver’s meeting to return to Winnemucca to evacuate his home due to a fire alert, and latest news reports that his home is still untouched. Fietzek’s point lead is now down to a mere point over Pruitt.

16-year old Geoffrey Bullock has taken the Gen-X division by storm, as the Elko lad won seventh feature, with six of them here. He was looking for his fourth in a row at Summit, but had to beat the tough Cody Maier. Maier led the first lap from his fourth starting position, and continued to do so for the next six, that is, until Mr. Bullock had enough of it The youngster sized the point from Maier and led the final 13 to the checkered. Maier followed diligently, but spun with one to go, giving Tanner Roche a second place early Christmas present. After Bullock, it was Roche, Neil Wadford and Shalynn Guthrie. Maier was fifth. Defending champion Teri Kellum was replaced by her 14-year old son Ben Kellum. Teri, in all probability, will miss the rest of the season due to major ankle and lower leg problems in a non-racing accident. Ben looked confident in his first time behind the wheel; on the streets of Elko, he used a bicycle, not an automobile. If he is anything like his mom, Ben will have some wins ahead of him.

Two weeks ago, Dustin Greenwood passed Pure Stock leader James Lister on the final lap for his first ever feature win. Greenwood must have liked it, as the young man did it again, but he didn’t wait so long to lead this time. Lister led the first two in this one, as Greenwood was on the prowl early, taking the lead on the third lap and was never headed. Point leader Bernie Sethaler used a DH Saturday, but Jay McLeod was up to third at the end, preserving the point lead for Sethaler. Lister wasn’t all disappointed as he won the heat race over Greenwood.

PIT NOTES: The final two joint point races are coming up after the Friday night races at Winnemucca. Saturday night July 14 at Battle Mountain Raceway will be the next to last of the series for this season, with the finale will be at the same place two weeks later, July 28. On the previous night, Winnemucca will have their regular show.

SUMMIT RACEWAY results July 7, 2007

IMCA MODIFIEDS

Heat one: Joe Hood, Bobby Steensen, Dan Basanez, Chad Farstveet, Denny Robblee

Heat two: Corey Steensen, Steve Pruitt, Randy Hadlock, Joe Rigsby, Chris Steensen

Heat three: Cory Sample, Tracy Greenwood, Tim Mazour, Cliff Hagan, Wade Taylor

Feature: Joe Hood, Cory Sample, Corey Steensen, Tracy Greenwood, Tim Mazour

Dan Basanez, Steve Pruitt, Joe Rigsby, Ray Thompson, Jimmy Lester

Cliff Hagan, Chris Steensen, Wade Taylor, Bobby Steensen,

Chad Farstveet, Randy Hadlock

ECAR PRO STOCKS

Heat: George Quintana, Terry Lister, John Levie, Brian Thorp, Jay McLeod

Feature: George Quintana, John Levie, Terry Lister, Marnie Thorp, Brian Thorp,

Jay McLeod

ECAR MINI MODS