From PetIn racing nothing pays off like experience, but when we’re talking about Geoff Ensign we should also include descriptive terms like talented and fearless. With six seasons of competition behind him, and two sensational early-season starts including his first victory Saturday night, the 21-year-old driver from Sebastopol figures to be a competitive force at Petaluma Speedway all season long. Just one week after a stellar performance in the winged sprint car Civil War series the versatile Ensign climbed aboard car owner Jim Finkenbinder’s wingless sprint car and dazzled onlookers with a razor thin victory over former division champion David Press.
Ensign’s fourth career triumph followed an ominous start to the 25-lap event in which Stockton driver Trevor Schmid took a wild and frightening air-born ride along the catch fence on the opening lap. Schmid emerged unscathed but his car was battered, which moved Press to the pole slot where he led for one lap before giving way to Arvo Backholm, who led for two tours before Ensign took charge on a restart and never looked back. Press grabbed second place on Lap 13, and despite a valiant run at the leader finished in that spot ahead of Backholm and Bob Newberry, who had his hands full holding off Zack Lynskey in a battle for fourth place. “Without a great car this wouldn’t have happened, teamwork put us in victory lane tonight,” said Ensign.