No catching Pombo in sprint car feature
| Saturday, Apr 25 2009 11:13 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Apr 25 2009 11:13 PM
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SPECIAL TO THE CALIFORNIAN
Davey Pombo of Kerman took full advantage of his front row starting position to grab an early lead in the Sprint Car Grand Slam feature Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.
And once Pombo got out front there was no catching him.
Running the preferred racing line Pombo was able to hold off hard-charging Wes Gutierrez to win the 30-lap race.
"It's always a big advantage to start up front because you don't have to pass anybody," Pongo said. "It's also a disadvantage because if you're in the lead you're blowing and you don't change lines. The guys behind have to change lines and make moves and they find faster lines."
Pombo, the outside pole sitter jumped out to a comfortable early lead. But Delano's Terry Nichols spun out in turn two on lap 10 to bring out the yellow flag, saving several cars from being lapped. Three laps after the race resumed Gutierrez did a slide job on Greg Alexander coming out of turn four to take over the second position. Two laps Richard McCormick hit the wall to bring out another caution setting up a fierce battle between Pombo and Gutierrez for the lead until Tyler Edwards lost control and brought out another yellow flags with five laps to go.
"The track was really a one groove track," Gutierrez said. "The groove was so low and it was in the middle of the track. It was hard to really get by someone. You had to really have your whole car in there."
Kevin Kierce finished third followed by Johnathon Henry. Troy Rutherford rallied from the 20th starting position to take fifth.
Bobby Bender of San Diego dominated the 25-lap California Lightning Sprint main event.
Bender worked the high side in turn two to pass early leader Wink Schweitzer of Bakersfield on lap 11. After a restart on lap 13 Bender stretched his lead to 15-car lengths and cruised to an easy victory.
Schweitzer held off Jarrett Kramer, and points-leader Stuart Hielscher Jr. for second place.
Mike Pilatti made a late-race charge to win an exciting 20-lap Mini Stock feature race.
Charles Morrison started on the outside of the front row and led until Garret Mouser went low in turn two to take over on lap six. Mouser remained up front, deftly picking his way through lap traffic, before a caution fell with 15 laps complete. That allowed Pilatti, who started sixth, to get to Mouser's back bumper and eventually edge slightly ahead coming to the white flag before completing the pass for the lead in turn one of the final lap.
"I would like to thank my wife and grandpa," Pilatti said. "Without them this couldn't happen."
Jordan Hagar, fourth in points at the start of the night, finished third followed by Miranda Dotson and Johnny Winchester.
