DENNETT JOINS ROOKIE WINNER'S CLUB AT PLACERVILLE

By Floyd Busby

PLACERVILLE, CA., JULY 10: Greg Dennett hustled his was to the front to take the win in the Bay Cities Racing Association Midget feature at the Placerville Speedway to become the third rookie to enter the winner's circle this season.

Driving the family 3D Racing Wirth Chevy powered Beast, Dennett began the 30-lap feature in the eighth position and quickly established domination of the Sierra Nevada gold-country quarter-mile clay oval.

The visiting Mike Sala Riolo Chevy Stealths became the prime factor to outpace Dennett for the win. Four-time USAC Western States Midget champion Robbie Flock took the checkered flag in second after restarting in the rear of the 19-starters following a first lap tangle and spin. Flock maneuvered his Sala entry high and low to challenge the second Sala machine and driver Greg Taylor in the waning laps for a two-three Sala team effort.

The race was red-flagged before the conclusion of the first lap when the yellow lights were displayed because of a ragged starting effort. Visiting Australian owner/driver Barrie Valentino had started on the outside of the front row, but dropped to back to fourth approaching the line at the start. As the cars began to slow down the backstretch Valentino continued accelerating. He ran up and over the right rear of Pete Davis, sending him into a series of three flips high into the outer turn-three earthen hillside beyond the track's outer edge. His car hit and then made one roll down the angular hillside. The Aussie was uninjured, but out of commission for his only U.S. appearance.

Sprint Car ace Taylor, driving in only his second Midget event, took the initial lead after moving up to the outside front row for the restart. Pole-sitter Doug Lippincott dropped in to second behind Taylor with Pete Davis in third, but a spinning Flock brought out the caution and he restarted at the rear.

Dennett was already making himself noticed as he grabbed fourth, then took Davis' Esslinger/TCR one lap later as Rob Russell brought the Guerrini Gaerte Ford/Stealth into fourth.

A fourth-lap shunt in turn-four involving Thomas Meseraull, Floyd Alvis, Brian Gard and Scott Pierovich, brought out the caution flag. The melee began when Matt Streeter tagged the rear of Gard's car, forcing a spin that the others could not avoid in the tight pack. Meseraull, driving for the first time the new Bill Ferrari Esslinger/Stealth, as well as Gard and Pierovich were damaged and unable to restart.

At the green Taylor continued his lead with the high-flying Dennett now in second over Russell, Lippincott and Streeter. Flock, also charging through the higher groove was now up to seventh.

As the leaders exited turn-four, Dennett used the high groove to pass Taylor who was about to lap Lindsey, forcing Taylor to hold his inside line behind the slower car.

Dennett was not in command with Taylor, Russell following Lippincott. Flock displaced Davis and Streeter to hold fifth.
Ninth-running John Sarale pitted on the eighth lap.

Flock began working on Lippincott and charged into fourth on the eleventh circuit.

On the 12th lap Davis and Michael Hubert III made contact with Hubert bounding over Davis' right rear. The contact stripped his Chevy/Eagle of its muffler and Hubert was sidelined. Alvis and Rick Haugh were involved. Haugh did not restart. One lap later Alvis stalled exiting turn-two and was out.

As Dennett led, Flock was battling his teammate for second, making good his bid on the 15th circuit.

The cautions continued with Rick Faeth spinning on the 16th round. Fifth-running Streeter dropped out one lap later.

The final caution period came on the 18th lap when Faeth and Lindsey tangled and spun in turn-three with Faeth retiring.

At the final green with was Dennett in command. Flock, experiencing overheating brakes, was using the high berm for much of his braking, then sling-shotting off to challenge Dennett. Dennett's torrid pace held him in good stead with Flock unable to reel him in.

At the finish it was Dennett over Flock, Taylor, Russell, Lippincott, Davis and Johnny Key, the only cars finishing on the lead lap. Cliff Servetti and Lindsey followed one lap down with the bulk of the field sidelined during the tumultuous race. Flock's drive from the rear to second provided the fans with the best passing job of the evening.

Thomas Meseraull fielded the new Ferrari mount with the fastest qualifying lap at 12.204.

Rick Haugh won the first heat race over Sarale and Pierovich. Lippincott won the second eight-lapper over Taylor and Russell.

The racing program finalized a full day of activities that included the annual "Jack London Bash" barbecue picnic and Hall of Fame with eight new members being inducted at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds and race track facility.

The BCRA Midget return to the Stockton "99" Speedway on Saturday, July 17, then take a week off before their first start of the season at the Twin Cities Speedway in Marysville on July 31.

SUMMARY:
QUAL.: 1. Thomas Meseraull, #69 Ferrari 12.204; 2. Robbie Flock, #19S Sala 12.216; 3. Greg Dennett, #47 3D Racing 12.406; 4. Brian Gard, #57 Borghesani 12.465; 5. Rob Russell, #63 Guerrini 12.563; 6. Matt Streeter, #97 Streeter 12.625; 7. Greg Taylor, #19W Sala 12.724; 8. Pete Davis, #00 Davis 12.797; 9. Barrie Valentino, #23A Valentino 12.802; 10. Doug Lippincott, #4L Lippincott 12.724; 11. Michael Hubert III, #56 Hubert 12.865; 12. Johnny Key, #37 Key 12.976; 13. Scott Pierovich, #35 Pierovich 13.018; 14. Floyd Alvis, #18 Alvis 13.076; 15. John Sarale, #32 Sarale 13.247; 16. Rick Haugh, #51 Haugh 13.328; 17. Rick Faeth, #91 Faeth 13.431; 18.; Cliff Servetti, #83 Servetti 13.538; 19. Rob Lindsey, #23X Lindsey 14.379; 20. Tim Joyce, #99 Segur N/T.

HEAT-1: Haugh, Sarale, Pierovich, Faeth, Hubert, Alvis, Lindsey, Key, Servetti, Joyce.
HEAT-2: Lippincott, Taylor, Russell, Dennett, Gard, Meseraull, Flock, Davis, Streeter, Valentino.

MAIN: Greg Dennett, Robbie Flock, Greg Taylor, Rob Russell, Doug Lippincott, Pete Davis, Johnny Key, Cliff Servetti, Rob Lindsey, Rick Faeth, Matt Streeter, Rick Haugh, Floyd Alvis, Michael Hubert III, John Sarale, Brian Gard, Thomas Meseraull, Scott Pierovich, Barrie Valentino.

NOTES: Visiting Barrie Valentino's trip to the U.S. was a true bust for the likable Aussie. First he could not get his car out of Customs and was at the Watsonville race as a spectator. He was able to obtain his car on the Thursday before Placerville, then his unfortunate accident and badly damaged car. His temporary visa is up and he must return to Australia with damaged car in hand. It was learned after the race that in Australia he races to the line under a yellow flag,
thus he was unpleasantly surprised when the cars in front slowed as he was still accelerating.

Thomas Meseraull was very pleased with the newly acquired Bill Ferrari dirt car and he took top qualifying marks, only to receive severe damage in the main event.

Mike Sala was a surprise entry with two cars, forgoing a race the same day with his usual sanctioning organization. His identical #19's are a scorers nightmare as they are indistinguishable on the track!

The BCRA picnic and Hall of Fame was a great success earlier in the day with a higher turnout than in recent years. Everyone seemed to have a good time and many "old timers" were bench racing throughout the day.