Placerville, CA (4-2-16) 2016 at the Placerville Speedway has brought a lot of new faces, seeing a new promoter, new officials, and even a new track announcer. Despite these changes, some very familiar faces ended up in victory lane on the opening night of the Red Hawk Casino Championship season.
Twenty-One Thompson’s Auto Group 360 Sprint Cars signed in to the pits for the kick-off of the 51st racing season at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. Veteran Greg DeCaires from Elk Grove showed the young kids how to get around the tight 1/4 mile red bull ring. Michael “Buddy” Kofoid set the early pace in the 25-lap feature after getting the jump over Justyn Cox to lead the first handful of laps. Kofoid defended a two lap challenge by DeCaires, but the veteran pulled a masterful slide job in turn three to conquer the lead on lap 9.
After a handful of restarts, DeCaires set the pace as Watsonville’s Justin Sanders and pole sitter Justyn Cox battled with Kofoid for second. The trio traded slide jobs for much of the rest of the race until Kofoid misjudged the tricky first turn and spun to a stop while running second on lap 22.
DeCaires held on for the last three circuits to take the season opening win over Sanders and third place finisher Cox. In victory lane, DeCaires recognized his hard working team and dedicated the win to long-time crew member Paul Countryman.
“It is awesome to win on opening night”, explained DeCaires. “I was worried that it would take a few races to get back to where we were last year after switching chassis manufactures from A.R.T. to Eagle Performance.” Earlier in the night DeCaires explained that he struggled in qualifying, but was fortunate to get to start on the pole and win his heat race to make the top 8 redraw.
DeCaires also talked about how he was excited to see “new life” that promoters Scott Russell and Kami Arnold, along with their new staff have brought to the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.
Andy Gregg was the only driver to break the ten second bracket, setting quick time in time trials. Gregg earned the Fast Time Award courtesy of Adco Driveline & Custom Exhaust. Heat races went to Koen Shaw, Kofoid, and DeCaires.
Fourteen Domco Plumbing Limited Late Models were on hand for the night and provided action packed racing during the 20 lap main event. On the opening lap, pole sitter Jay Norton spun collecting Tyler Lightfoot and Terry Kuntz in turn one.
The ensuing complete restart saw Mike Lightfoot and Eddie Gardner on the front row. A drag race into turn 1 saw Gardner slide over the bank and fall deep in the field while Norton at the same time got crossed up in the middle of the track to allow the number 37 of Ray Trimble and the 32 of Ryan McDaniel to drive by. Both drivers would come from the third row to gain first and second on the start.
As the race went on, Trimble and McDaniel raced fiercely nose to tail as the duo weaved through traffic. Trimble stayed committed to the bottom for all 20 laps as McDaniel tried to run the top shelf of the race track attempting to pass Trimble. McDaniel’s pursuit of Trimble in the late stages was unsuccessful as the multi-time champion of the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico would jump the cushion on two separate occasions in turns three and four.
Ray Trimble went on to pick up his first win of the year and left the speedway with the points lead over Ryan McDaniel and third place runner Wayne Trimble. Ray Trimble and Ryan McDaniel were the heat races victors.
Nineteen Jay’s Mobile Welding Pure Stocks were also on hand, with intense racing action from front to back during the 20 lap extravaganza.
On the initial start, pole sitter Travis Emery, aboard the “General Lee” number 01 in homage to the hit television show “The Dukes of Hazzard”, spun going into turn one after attempting to slide outside pole sitter (and two-time track champion) Scott Grunert.
The restart had the number 17 of Nick Baldwin as the new pole sitter alongside Grunert. The two raced hard over the first few opening laps until Russ Murphy took command from the front row.
On lap 11, number 29 of Dan Jinkerson took the lead on a restart after Baldwin and Grunert made contact. The incident ended Grunert’s night and saw Baldwin penalized for rough driving. Jinkerson led the rest of the way to win the season opener over Murphy and Baldwin. Greg Rayl won the opening heat race with Jinkerson winning the second.
Round 2 of the Red Hawk Championship Point series on April 9 will also feature the opening round of the 4-race Placerville Posse Challenge. The regular slate of 360 Sprint Cars, Limited Late Models, and Pure Stocks will be joined by the BCRA Midget Lite traveling series. Pit gates will open at 2:00PM with the front gates opening at 3:00PM. Racing begins at 7:00PM.
For complete details of the 2016 Red Hawk Casino Championship Racing Season, visit Placerville Speedway’s official website at www.placervillespeedway.com.
Track Sponsors: Red Hawk Casino, The Paint Spot, Les Schwab Tires, Riebes Auto Parts, Fords Only, Capitol Ace, Arnolds for Awards, Thompsons Auto Group, Cal.Net, Jay’s Mobile Welding, Adco Driveline, Coors Lights, Domco Plumbing, Mountain Democrat.