By Dick Jordan
Peter Murphy of Clovis, Calif. finally ran down Ryan Bernal on the final lap of Saturday night’s “Cotton Classic” and went on to win the 30-lap USAC West Coast 360 Sprint non-points special event at the Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway.
Murphy was trailed at the checkered flag by fast qualifier Bernal, Dennis Howell, T.J. Smith and Davey Pombo. Howell led the first 20 laps of the race before Bernal took over for laps 21-29.
The event concluded the 2011 activity for the West Coast 360 Sprint cars, which ended their points season October 8 at Tulare, Calif. Richard VanderWeerd of Visalia, Calif. who claimed the 2011 championship, did not compete Saturday.