Speedway opens season with big car count

The first day of the racing season started at the Pahrump Valley Speedway on Saturday with over 55 cars in 9 divisions racing.

The main event in the Mini Stock showcased four cars with Dusty Lane taking the lead on the first lap and never looking back. The battle for second, third and fourth was heated until Anthony Martin in the #17 car spun into the infield, losing second to Terry Watson in the #76 car.

The crowd was on its feet for the Dwarf main event, which featured 11 cars. It didn't take long for cars to be dropped from contention. In the first lap, turning into turn three, Brett Gamble in the #47 car slid up the track, making contact with Frankie Politelli in the #98v car, causing Gamble's car to roll and flip. Gamble walked away from the crash. Politelli was able to go to the pits to fix a flat from the crash and came in second. Veteran racer Cecilia Dillie came in first.

The Hobby Stock main event started with four out of the five cars within inches of each other through the first turns. Eric Hallet in car #54 took first place, holding off Jabez Broadhead in car #66.

The Coupe main event had Mark Daub in car #88 running away with the race. At the midpoint of the race, Scott Brady in the #55 car caught Daub and they were neck and neck until Daub finally pulled away for the win.

The Super Stock main event started with six cars. The race started off tight, but two cars had to pull off to the side with mechanical problems. Jason Pike in the #22 car pulled away from the field. Steve Nash in the #44 car tried to catch him but Pike held on for the win.

The Bomber class started with only two cars. Mike Layne in the #3 car beat out Ken Harrington in his #71 car.

In the Modified main event, which features the fastest cars at the track, seven out of eight entries started. Eric Shenberger's car had mechanical issues. There was exciting side-by-side action throughout the race. At no point in the race did the leader have more than a ½ second lead. The checkered flag was won by Rich Horibe in the #13 car over Dan Snowden in the #42 car.

For the Mini Dwarf junior division it was all Jace Jensen driving his #10 car and for the senior division it was last year's champion, Jake Pike in his #23 car taking the checkered flag.

Dale Giessler is the distribution manager for the Pahrump Valley Times and the flagman for the speedway