By Troy Hennig
SACRAMENTO, CA- (5-04-13) – There is something magic about Petaluma Speedway and round #2 of the Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprint Shootout Series for Sebastopol driver Geoff Ensign. For the second year in a row, Ensign captured the win at Petaluma during the second round of the Hunt Series racing. Last year, Ensign led all 25-laps to get the win on June 9th. This year, he patiently chose his spots to capitalize on other peoples mistakes. The driver known as “the human highlight reel” was all smiles in victory lane as he picked up the $1,000 winner’s check. A total of 22 non wing spec sprint cars lined up for the main event. Tonight’s race coincided with the Pit Stop USA wingless sprint series at Petaluma Speedway.
Defending series champion Terry Schank Jr. had the Joe Hunt Magneto’s #1 on the pole and ready to win the main event. He and Austin Liggett started on the front row of the feature event by virtue of finishing first and second in the dash. While they battled for the lead during the first lap it was fifth place starting Ensign making the most progress. Ensign drove under Joe Stornetta for the third spot just before a yellow came out on lap four.
The race completely changed on the restart when Liggett preformed a slide job underneath Schank for the lead. In return, Schank then diamonded the track back underneath Liggett for the lead. Both drivers then raced for the same piece of real estate on the track. This doomed each driver as both of them banged wheels that resulted in each other flipping upside down. Drivers were uninjured but done for the night.
Ensign was the new leader. He was being seriously challenged by Joe Stornetta. Unfortunately for Stornetta, something broke in the right front area that almost sent him into the wall. The mechanical problem ended his night. Santa Rosa’s Jason McIntosh assumed the second position. The race was marred by a few more caution flags. Ensign was able pull away from McIntosh time after time. Disaster struck McIntosh on lap 17 when it was reported his car popped out of gear.
Ensign continued to cruise and led the final few laps to pick up the win at his home track. Ensign piloted the Johnson Custom Machine #32. The hard charger of the night was Santa Rosa’s Sparky Howard. Howard had to start the main event in the 20th spot because his car did not self-start. Even though it was bad luck at the time, Howard thrilled the crowd as he charged from 20th to a well-deserved second place finish. Howard drove the wheels off the Collision Center #5d. Petaluma’s Jason Toft drove the Barsotti’s Body and Fender #56j to a third place finish. Rio Linda’s Scott Hall in the HBR / Konnected Clothing / JKB Financial #56 was fourth after starting in the ninth spot. Scotty Dupont drove his heart out to finish fifth. The Santa Rosa driver also failed to start the main event without an assist from a push vehicle so he had to start 19th. Great run by him in the American Auctioneering / ALC Machine Shop #3x.
Schank turned the fastest lap in qualifying. Nick Larsen, Joe Stornetta and Jason Toft were all heat race winners.
The third round for the Joe Hunt Magnetos Wingless Sprint Shootout Series takes place back at Petaluma Speedway on June 1st.
Results – Petaluma – Round #2
Fast Time – Terry Schank Jr. : 14.714
Heat 1: Nick Larsen, Schank, Scott Hall, Bradley Clark, Rowdy McClenon
Heat 2: Joe Stornetta, Geoff Ensign, Zack Lynskey, Bret Barney, Nic McMichael
Heat 3: Jason Toft, Sparky Howard, Austin Liggett, Jerry Cisco, Bob Newberry
Dash: Schank, Liggett, Stornetta, Larsen, Ensign, Toft
A Main: Ensign, Howard, Toft, Hall, Scotty Dupont, Barney, Clark, McClenon, Shawn Jones, Lynskey, Raymond Benkowski, Angelique Bell, Newberry, McIntosh, Stornetta