On a weekend where weather canceled races both here and in California, one track was able to get at least part of its show in.
FERNLEY (May 6) – 95A Speedway honored two drivers lost four years ago with the 3rd Annual Richardson-Kay Dwarf Classic this weekend. Not only does the event honor both David Richardson and Leroy Kay but the event is a Western States Dwarf Car Association Regional.
The race looked to be even bigger than last year. That is until Mother Nature threw a monkey wrench into the works with rain moving through the area.
Despite losing 20 cars due to their owners not wanting to chance the long tow, over 30 were on hand and Friday’s program ran smoothly.
“The race was pretty good, I thought me and Ryan (Winter) were going to have a battle there for a few laps. I just figured out the top before he did and my car was perfect so I just had to keep it straighter, get off the corner good and try to it my marks,” Shawn Jones from San Jose said after winning Friday’s pro A main. “Joe Frock, he’s a local here and wins all the time, feels pretty good to beat him, last year I got second to him so this year hopefully we’ll keep going.”
Then he thanked Dan Zuger for loaning him the car while his is getting fixed, Zanotti Racing, and his mom for putting up with him.
The Dwarf Car pros line up before their A main on Friday.
When the green waved to start the Pro A main Jones used his outside front row spot to get the lead from poll sitter Ryan Winter. After the first lap it was Jones and Winter on point.
Five laps into the 20-lap affair cars spun in Turn 4 and collected another, who was able to continue. However, while the car driven by Johnny Reeves was also able to continue Daniel Wagner’s ended its night being towed back to the pits.
And early tangle involved four of the Pro field. All but the yellow car were able to continue.
When racing resumed Joe Frock took second and the chase was on. However Jones was able to slowly increase the gap while Frock wasn’t able to close it.
Early in the Pro A main the battle was between Shawn Jones and Ryan Winter (4).
In the end Jones won the race followed by Frock, Ronnie Williams and Winter.
Shawn Jones celebrates after winning Friday’s Pro A Main.
On the final lap there was an incident as a car spun and Ryan O’Connor’s efforts to avoid it put him into the wall. The car of O’Connor, that also hit the wall during the heat races, wound up on its side.
The 95A Speedway track crew helps Ryan O’Connor out of his car. He hit the way headed toward the checkered flag.
Things were halted as the medics and track crew rushed to help the driver. Fortunately O’Connor was only shaken up in the incident although the same can’t be said for his car.
The other A main was for the Vets as well as the three Sportsman racers that made the tow to Fernley.
The Veteran’s and Sportsman classes line up prior to Friday’s A main.
When the green waved Kevin Bender took the point only to be passed on the outside by Mark Biscardi. Then Bender returned the favor, took the point back and for the next few laps both had a side-by-side duel.
Early on in the Vets A main, Kevin Bender (9n) and Mark Biscardi dueled for the lead.
In the end Biscardi was on point followed by Bender and a long train of the pack. Eight laps into the 20-lap race and the leaders were catching the slowest car.
Then Bender used the slower car as a pick and took back the lead. Things slowed when two cars spun in Turn 2 then another would spin in Turn 4.
Kevin Bender (9) used the slower car of Cameron Knight (24) as a pick and got passed Mark Biscardi for the lead.
With only about three to go it was a shoot out between the top three, Bender, Biscardi and Kevin Miraglio. And they finished in that order at the checkered flag.
Kevin Bender celebrates winning the Vet A Main on Friday night.
After the victory Bender, who comes from Rocklin, California, said, “It’s always a good time up here, it was fun and I always do well. The track was perfect, I love dry-slick, I race Marysville, Placerville and Chico where the mud is heavy and you go through a lot of tear offs. I didn’t go through any tear off tonight, that’s nice.”
Then he thanked Jams Specialties, Pursuit Dynamics, Edwards Collision Studios my wife and my pit crew, Hutley.
Back in the pack the three Sportsman drivers were having a race of their own. In the end Ken Radabaugh won by finishing 14th with Ken Jones and Cameron Knight taking up the next two places.
“It was fun and good running with the vets,” Radabaugh said. “We only had three cars in the Sportsman Class so it would have been a little bit boring with only three cars out there so it’s good they put us in with the rest of them. It was a blast, I had a good time, I was happy, the car stayed in one piece and I didn’t wreck it.”
Then he thanked sponsors Wagner Racing, A&J Hauling, Invision Home Theaters, Kinders, and his Dad, Geno Radabaugh.
On a normal weekend the top nine in each of Friday’s A mains would have automatically transferred into Saturday’s A mains while the rest would be placed after a B main.
Unfortunately the rains returned and by Saturday afternoon the track was too wet to get it back into racing condition. So owner Dan Simpson had to call the event.
The Dwarf drivers then had their awards ceremony where plaques were awarded and a new name put on the large event trophy.
Afterwards Joe Frock, who helps promote the event said, “Unfortunately Mother Nature wanted to get Mother’s Day started a little early so she rained on our parade so everyone could get home in time. So all the wives and mothers will be real happy out there. But unfortunately there’s a lot of disappointed racers however the guys were understanding and not a lot of complaints.
“Friday night was great, everyone was really fast, the track was fast and everyone was really happy with it, how smooth it was and there was some really good racing. Unfortunately we were looking for some really good racing tonight, especially for people like me that got second place and wanted another shot at first place. We’ll be back next year so that’s the good thing.”
Next week Fernley 95A Speedway has scheduled Chain Races, Mud Bogs and, if enough cars can found, a Demolition Derby with a 6 p.m. start time to the event.
With the grand opening of the Hawthorne Speedway the track had canceled it May 21st event. So the next time cars take to the oval will be on Saturday, June 4th.
THERE IS A PHOTO GALLERY OF THE AWARDS CEREMONY AFTER THE RESULTS.
OTHER RACING NEWS
• Only two Nevada drivers competed at NASCAR’s latest stop in Kansas. At the end of the Sprint Cup race Saturday evening, Kyle Busch was the winner while older brother Kurt ended up third.
If you enjoyed this article please “like,” it and share as widely as possible. Comment are welcome.
Subscribers have articles posted to their inbox as soon as they are on the site.
We now have two sponsors for this site. If you’re into the riding or motorcycle racing lifestyle then Reno Motorsports is the place for you. Their website is, www.rms-renomotorsports.com.
If karting is more your style then Nevada Kart Sport is a great shop that offers many services in this area, as well as a place to buy a kart. Their website is, www.nevadakartsports.com.
•Fernley 95A Speedway – May 6
3rd Annual Richardson- Kay Dwarf Classic
WSDCA Regional
Pros:
+ Heat 1: 1. Ryan Winter, 2. Joe Frock, 3. Michael “Spanky” Grenert, 4. Gene Pires Jr., 5. Josh Miller, 6. Gene Winter.
+ Heat 2: 1. Shawn Jones, 2. Ronnie Williams, 3. Daniel Wagner, 4. Josh King, 5. Jessica Clark, 6. Calvin Ryle.
+ Heat 3: 1. Johnny Reeves, 2. Darren Brent, 3. Matt Sargent, 4. Bobby Brown Jr., 5. Ryan O’Connor.
DNS – Justin Ynez.
+ Main (20-Laps): 1. Shawn Jones, 2. Joe Frock, 3. Ronnie Williams, 4. Ryan Winter, 5. Darren Brent, 6. Josh King, 7. Michael “Spanky,” Grenert, 8. Bobby Brown Jr., 9. Matt Sargent, 10. Gene Pires Jr., 11. Jessica Clark, 12. Johnny Reeves, 13. Calvin Ryle, 14. Josh Miller, 15. Gene Winter, 16. Ryan O’Connor.
Vets:
+ Heat 1: 1. Kevin Bender, 2. Glen Sciarani, 3. Buddy Olschowka, 4. Eric Weisler, 5. Chip Slagh, 6. Kenny Martin, 7. Charlie Correia, 8. Mike Corsaru, 9. Cameron Knight.
+ Heat 2: 1. Mark Biscardi, 2. Kevin Miraglio, 3. Timothy Fitzpatrick, 4. Dan Geil, 5. Scott Dahlgren, 6. Roy Peterson, 7. Jimmy Hogue, 8. Dan Zuger, 9. Ken Radabaugh, 10. Kyle Jones.
+ Main (20-Laps): 1. Kevin Bender, 2. Mark Biscardi, 3. Kevin Miraglio, 4. Dan Geil, 5. Eric Weisler, 6. Buddy Olschowka, 7.Scott Dahlgren, 8. Timothy Fitzpatrick, 9. Mike Corsaru, 10. Dan Zuger, 11. Roy Peterson, 12. Glen Sciarani, 13. Charlie Correia, 14. Ken Radabaugh*, 15. Kyle Jones*, 16. Cameron Knight,* 17. Jimmy Hogue, 18. Chip Slagh.
DNS – Kenny Martin.
* – Sportsman Class.
AWARDS CEREMONY PHOTO GALLERY.
