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Bartlett and Abouzeid Back in Winners Circle

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Photo by Steven Cox [sprintcarphotos.com][/caption]CHICO, CA (7-22-11) - The last few times the famed #00 late model of Jerry Bartlett hit the quarter-mile clay oval speedway in Chico things didn't go as planned. Motor woes sidelined the "General" and unexpectedly ended his nights way too early. However, tonight, not only was the motor in top notch form but so was the driver. Bartlett mastered the tricky racing surface and went on to win the exciting 20-lap Dirt Solution Limited Late Model main event. "The track was fun tonight," said Bartlett. "It was hooked up in some spots, slick in other areas and you really had to be on top of your game here tonight." He later said, "I have to thank Guy Bean and all his help over the years." Bartlett was holding his grandson during the interview and also alluded to his daughter being in attendance. "Heather's here tonight and it's her motor under the hood. I think she might be finally retired from the sport with her upcoming wedding but maybe we can get her back in the car next year."

Matt Davis rocketed to the early lead of the 20-lap main event. Davis looked poised up front and extended his lead to almost a full straight away by lap seven. While he was cruising with no worries, the real battle was for second on back. At times these caged warriors called drivers were slicing and dicing for the second spot. George Magenheimer, Tom Arbogast and Bartlett all were trying to find the fastest line. Bartlett made the move of the night when he drove through the middle of the track to go three wide and passed Arbogast and Magenheimer to secure the second spot. On lap eight is when the race dramatically changed. Davis began to slow and coming out of turn four it was revealed that he had a right rear flat. Bartlett zoomed by and was the new leader. Davis stopped on the track and brought out the yellow. Arbogast lined up in the second spot followed by Magenheimer. Matt Micheli began to make his presence known. Micheli moved around Magenheimer on the restart and then for the next two laps zinged and jabbed with Arbogast. Micheli took over the second spot on lap 11. As laps winded down Micheli was able to slowly reel in the leader. With two to go, Micheli had closed the distance to about three car lengths. It was as close as he could get. Bartlett crossed the line and picked up his first main event win at the speedway since May 7h. Micheli was second and Arbogast third.

Mark Abouzeid showed once again why he is one of the top dirt modified drivers in Northern California. Abouzeid led all 15-laps to win his third main event of the year and keep pressure on his championship rival Richard Papenhausen. After the two had a spirited heat race, which Papenhausen won, they both lined up in the front of the main event. On the original start, Abouzeid slowed the pace from the pole position. Papenhausen was a little early on the loud pedal and was sent back a few rows for jumping the start. On the ensuing restart Abouzeid took the lead from new outside front row starter JD Thompson. On lap three Kevin Pendergrass moved into second but on the next lap drifted off the track and was done for the night. It looked as if he had some sort of mechanical issue.

During all of this racing, Papenhausen kept charging. He moved around Thompson on lap eight and began to catch Abouzeid for the lead. Yet, with the race just past the half way point it didn't give Papenhausen enough time to catch Abouzeid. The Rocket Man roared to the win. Papenhausen was second. Jeff Olschowka came up to finish third. The two entered the night four points apart and they will leave four points apart. Papenhausen is the point leader with four point races to go.

The hobby stocks made their second appearance of the year at Chico. Only five cars showed up but even with the low car count it still provided some good old fashion racing. Brian Compton proved to be the best driver on the night. Compton won the eight lap heat race and then went on to win the 12-lap main event. During both races, Gene Guinn Jr. finished second. There is hope for this upstart division at Chico. It's the most affordable way to get into a race car at the track. The division will get one final race on August 19th with hopes of securing a good car count and providing a good step toward having more races next year on the Friday night format.

All of the results from tonights races at located at http://www.mylaps.com/results/showevent.jsp?id=689741

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