By Bob Burbach
Marysville, CA – Marysville Raceway Park raced through a 5-division show at a break-neck pace on a beautifully prepared, rocket-fast surface Saturday night. MRP point leader Rowdy McClenon from Biggs won the MRP Wingless Sprint Car feature after a stirring battle with early race leader Jeremy Hawes of Marysville. Marysville’s Howard Law won the MRP Mini Stock closer as Marysville driver Eddie Hammett dominated the MRP Hobby Stock feature. Galt’s Ryan Winter won a close Nor Cal Dwarf Car main event and Misty Castleberry easily ran the table in the Pro 4 Sprint Car program.
The MRP Wingless feature provided fans with a great look at bad-fast wingless racing on a hooked up clay surface. Front row starter Jeremy Hawes bolted to an early lead as he out-dragged fellow front row starter Cameron Bartlett, of Yuba City to turn one. Second row starter, McClenon got Bartlett up the back chute and it was on from there.
The lead duo was scary fast as Hawes leaned on the cushion right away. McClenon was quick on the bottom, but quicker when he went up high. But, even on top, McClenon could only get within a few car lengths of the high flying Hawes.
A spectacular flip marred lap 2 as Tony Godwin and Tim Sherman Jr. made contact in turn 3. Godwin flipped high in the air and tumbled to a stop. Godwin shook off the blow and popped out of his battered racer unhurt.
The new green renewed the battle up front as Bartlett stayed secure in 3rd. With only a handful of laps remaining, Hawes and McClenon were the show. McClenon simply could not get past Hawes no matter how hard he tried. Then the pair got into heavy lapped traffic with 3 to go. Hawes flew into turn 3 to get by a lapped car and his yellow #7 pushed hard in the middle of the turn. That was the moment that McClenon needed to flash by and pick up his 1st victory of the season after a pair of 2nd place finishes. Hawes stayed 2nd and rookie Bartlett picked up another 3rd place finish to lead the rookie of the year points by a wide margin.
In victory lane McClenon praised the surface that was offered by promoter Paul Hawes and his staff saying, “It’s so much fun to race here on a track like this.” McClenon also had high praise all of those who support his racing efforts, “…especially my dad.”
The MRP Mini Stock feature saw Howard Law take the measure of the rest of the field in their 20 lap finale. The race was punctuated by the early retirement of point leader Shaun Merritt of Marysville who was a factor prior to his mechanical issues. A 3 lap dash to the end proved that no one was better than Law on this night. Yuba City’s Kyle Davey was a close 2nd as he made good a late race charge. James Foster, of Marysville rolled across the line in 3rd.
Misty Castleberry was unstoppable in the Pro 4 Sprint Car program. Castleberry simply flew to the checkers in the non-stop feature ahead of Matt Beardsley and Tim Maclaughlin.
In the MRP Hobby Stock finale, Eddie Hammett led wire to wire in a non-stop 20 lapper. He rolled into victory lane ahead of Olivehurst’s Garrett Agnew who pressed Hammett all the way.
Ryan Winter just edged local star Jeremy Blackshere of Marysville in a side by side dice that was undoubtedly one of the most competitive Nor Cal Dwarf Car races ever staged at MRP. Winter crossed the line ahead by half a car length. Both drivers stopped in victory lane for congratulations.
Next Saturday, the mighty MRP Winged Sprint Cars return and will headline the program. The MRP Super Stocks and Mini Stocks will bring their fender bending style of racing back to MRP’s spectacular clay surface. The BCRA Midget Lites will make their 2013 debut as well.
Pit Gates open at 3. Grandstands open at 5. Qualifying is at 6 PM with races starting at 6:30.