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Last Updated July 17, 2008

Elko, Nevada…The opening night of a two day weekend of auto racing at Summit Raceway saw Spring Creek veteran driver Terry Lister snap a three-year Pro Stock win drought, as he took advantage of point leader Brian Thorp’s misfortune while leading the feature race. Lister took an early lead, enjoying first place for the first four laps until Thorp roared past the leader following a restart. Although Thorp had gained the lead, Lister was right behind his rear bumper. Thorp led laps 5-10 and Lister was unable to gain ground on the flying Brian. On the 11^th circuit, Thorp exited the track, giving Lister an early Christmas present in the form of first place. Thorp did not return to the track as the car developed clutch or transmission problems; whether Thorp would have been able to hold off Lister for the remaining nine laps would be pure speculation. After that, Lister was in control as Marnie Thorp and Winnemucca’s Dave Jenkins chased him to the checkered. Lister won his heat race as did George Quintana, who finished third in the feature. Although Lister won several Pure Stock events this season, it was the first time he took the checkered for the win in the Pro Stocks since he did it in 2003 at Winnemucca.

Winnemucca’s Shawn LaRocque turned in his best performance Friday night since he won the Modified Mini feature last season during the Silver Cup at Battle Mountain. LaRocque was driving the Lee Bosch entry, as he does quite regularly at Elko, and was at the top of his game. The eight-car field was trying to play ‘catch-up’, as LaRocque started sixth on the starting grid. It took him one lap before he disposed the then leader Jay McLeod, the 2005 Gen-X champion. Point leader Mike Fietzek tried his best to catch up with the well handling machine, but LaRocque had too much to offer this night. LaRocque has too much talent to waste; some car owner should put him into a regular ride for next season. Fietzek and McLeod finished second and third. Fietzek and Jack Hammond split the two heat race wins.

Elko’s Cody Maier won his second Gen-X feature here in three outings, outdistancing vastly improved Geoffrey Bullock. Maier led the initial go around and stepped aside for Bullock. Bullock was running a new car, the car that Brad Green won in two weeks ago. Bullock led the next seven laps until Maier took over the position and proceeded to pull away for the victory. Bullock finished second over a fast closing Teri Kellum, who won the heat race earlier.

IMCA Modified national point leader Dan Fitzgerald towed from Las Vegas to try to add one point to his point lead, but 22 cars, nearly a track record for the division, were there to try to stop him. Since so many cars were in attendance, Summit Raceway officials ran a ‘B’ main, only the second time in the history of the 20-year old facility. The first and second place finishers in the four heat races went directly to the ‘A’ feature race. Those drivers were: Ward Amberson, Randy Artz, heat one; Kasey Baisch, Don Baisch, heat two; Dan Fitzgerald, Wade Taylor, heat three; Cory Steensen, Chad Farstveet, heat four. The remainder of 16 drivers was filled from the ‘B’. Winnemucca ace Jimmy Delaney took off from the pole position in the ‘B’ and led the first nine laps, as first Steve Pruitt, and then Billy Smith III pushing him to the limit. On the eighth go around, 2005 Modified Mini champion Bobby Steensen and rookie Scott Moorehead collided in turn four, with Steensen hitting hard into the wall; both drivers were unhurt. Smith took over the lead on the 10^th lap and never looked back on his way to the checkered. Delaney was second, Joe Hood finished third with Keith Greenwood in fourth.

In the feature, Winnemucca’s Chad Farstveet took no prisoners, as he led lap one from his second row starting. Taylor and Fitzgerald were in the runner up positions, but Fitzgerald took second during lap three. Farstveet was seeking his first feature win since late last season, and had his game face on. By lap 11 the duo raced alone until former two-time track champ Amberson and Artz put some pressure on them. Fitzgerald raced around Farstveet on lap 13 as Chad went too high on the back chute, and allowed the Las Vegas teacher to take the lead. Smith took out Farstveet in turn four, leading to another yellow. Farstveet was allowed to restart in second as Smith was black flagged for rough driving. The rest of the 30-lap race saw Fitzgerald and Farstveet in the same positions to the checkered. Artz, Amberson, and Corey Steensen raced for third throughout the event with Amberson prevailed over Artz; Delaney squeezed by Steensen for the fifth spot.

By winning, Fitzgerald added one point for the national standing, with only five events left for the season.

SUMMIT RACEWAY September 1, 2006 results race 12 of 15

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