LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE FOR RUSSELL AT RENO-FERNLEY MIDGETS

By Floyd Busby

FERNLEY, NV., AUG. 21: Rob Russell outpaced the elements and his challengers to score his second Bay Cities Racing Association Midget feature win at the Reno-Fernley Raceway as lightning danced in the mountains to the East and West of the 3/8-mile dirt oval.

Driving the Guerrini Gaerte Ford Stealth, Russell grabbed the lead on the second round to hold the field at bay during the hectic 30-lap feature that saw an unusual number of caution periods and a red flag for refueling.

Moving from the outside second row to the front row prior to the green when Ryan Kaplan was unable to start, Russell trailed pole-sitter John Sarale's Ford Stealth through the first lap, then dropped low to pass for the lead on the second round. Shane Matthews and visiting Alex Harris, both aboard Walker Esslinger Stealths, held third and fourth as rookie standout Scott Pierovich challenged, dropping both for third on the fourth lap. One lap later Harris retook Pierovich, then Sarale, to hold second.

The first caution period came on the seventh round when Mike Donaldson spun his Chevy II Kain in turn-four. At this point Sarale continued his luckless season, retiring with mechanical problems, moving Pierovich back up to third behind Russell and Harris with Matthews in fourth and Thomas Meseraull in fifth.

At the green Russell continued his lightning pace until the ninth round when Donaldson again spun in turn-four for a yellow flag and a DNF.

Following the restart Harris then spun in the same turn-four spot, collecting several close-running cars with point leader
Meseraull's Ferrari Esslinger/Stealth receiving heavy damage. Both Harris and Meseraull were hauled out on tow rigs.

This put Pierovich directly behind Russell with Matthews following in third and quickly moving fast qualifier Shannon McQueen now into the fray in fourth over charging rookie Brian Gard and Travis Berryhill.

Following two laps of green, Floyd Alvis was shunted from behind exiting turn-4 and spun down the front straight and into the infield.

The pack got in one more lap before rookie Michael Hubert III, Greg Dennett, Pete Davis and Cliff Servetti tangled to a stop in turn-two. Davis was unable to restart and the Hubert Chevy Eagle received extensive tail and bumper damage, but was able to restart.

Again, it was the green, and this time McQueen, now in third, drove under Pierovich to take command of second. On the 14th lap Gard displaced Pierovich for third.

At the halfway point Matthews' Walker machine coasted to a stop on the front straightaway, out of fuel.
Because of the number of caution periods and many laps run under the yellow, BCRA referee Tom Manning made the decision to red-flag the race, allowing all cars to refuel. Seventh and eighth-running Doug Lippincott and Tim Joyce were relegated to restart in the rear because of work performed on their cars in violation of the "fuel only" stoppage.

At the restart Russell again throttled away from McQueen, Gard, Pierovich, and Berryhill.

On the 16th round Gard battled McQueen, taking over second with an inside pass exiting turn-two. Two laps later Servetti spun his Pontiac/Ellis in the second turn and was relegated to the pits.

Following the final yellow flag period, Russell continued his domination as racing returned to green, easily stretching his command over the pack. McQueen gave back to Gard his own strategy, passing low in turn-two to regain second. One lap later Pierovich came back to nab third from Gard, who then was challenged by Berryhill. Berryhill powered his Fontana/Stealth past Gard for fourth on the 21st round.

With two laps remaining Gard's battle to retake Berryhill paid off, with his Borghasani Gaerte Chevy/Beast regaining the fourth position with an outside pass in turn-three.

Russell coasted to his second win on the high desert oval over McQueen, Pierovich, Gard, Berryhill, Matthews, Hubert, Davis, Joyce, Dennett, Lippincott and Alvis.

McQueen outpaced the 20-car field in qualifying under threatening skies that included a number of rain bursts. Many of the drivers were wiping rain water from their shields as the qualified, but all completed their task unscathed in the unusual session.

Berryhill won the first heat over Lippincott and Hubert. Russell took the second eight-lapper over Kaplan and Pierovich.
The racing card offered one of the race opportunities for all three BCRA divisions to compete in the same venue; Midget, Midget Lite and Vintage.

SUMMARY:
QUAL.: 1. Shannon McQueen, #7 McQueen 17:00; 2. Brian Gard, #57 Borghesani 17.36; 3. Greg Dennett, #47 3D racing 17.46; 4. Thomas Meseraull, #69 Ferrari 17.60; 5. Alex Harris, #10X Walker 17.69; 6. Scott Pierovich, #35 Pierovich 17.73; 7. Rob Russell, #63 Guerrini 17.76; 8. Shain Matthews, #10 Walker 17.79; 9. Ryan Kaplan, #27K Kaplan 17.88; 10. John Sarale, #32 Sarale 17.89; 11. Michael Hubert III, #57 Hubert 17.91; 12. Pete Davis, #00 Davis 18.00; 13. Tim Joyce, #99 Segur 18.22; 14. Floyd Alvis, #18 Alvis 18.30; 15. Travis Berryhill, #11Z Berryhill 18.31; 16. Doug Lippincott, #4L 18.34; 17. Joe Lindsey, #23X Lindsey 18.35; 18. Victor Mencarini, #86 Mosekian 18.45; 19. Mike Donaldson, #87 Donaldson 19.51; 20. Cliff Servetti, #83 Servetti N/T.

HEAT-1: Berryhill, Lippincott, Hubert, Alvis, Davis, Joyce, Servetti, Lindsey, Donaldson, Mencarini.
HEAT-2: russell, Kaplan, Pierovich, Harris, Sarale, Meseraull, Dennett, McQueen, Matthews, Gard.

MAIN: Rob Russell, Shannon McQueen, Scott Pierovich, Brian Gard, Travis Berryhill, Shain Matthews, Michael Hubert III, Tim Joyce, Greg Dennett, Doug Lippincott, Floyd Alvis, Pete Davis, Cliff Servetti, Victor Mencarini, Alex Harris, Thomas Meseraull, Mike Donaldson, John Sarale, Joe Lindsey, Ryan Kaplan N/S.