STREETER STREAKS TO WATSONVILLE MIDGET WIN

By Floyd Busby

WATSONVILLE, CA., JUNE 25: Matt Streeter pulled away and never looked back, taking the win in the chaotic Bay Cities Racing Association Midget feature at the Watsonville Speedway aboard his Ed Pink/Stealth.

The lineup pill draw of eight put the 1999 BCRA champion on the pole of the 20-car field. That, plus having one of the best setups to conquer the highly rutted quarter-mile clay oval, gave Streeter the advantage and he jumped into the lead at the start over rookie Michael Hubert III.

As the leaders were engaging the first turn, at the back of the pack the cars of rookie Bobby Dalton and Nick Foster Jr. made contact with Dalton hitting the wall and flipping his Brayton Chevy/Beast down the front chute, coming to rest just past the starting line. Dalton was uninjured and Foster's car was unable to restart.

Rookie Scott Pierovich held third over Reno-Fernley winner Rob Russell and Santa Maria winner Jimmy Christian through the first lap with Pierovich besting Hubert for second one lap later as Christian moved into fourth.

On the third round Russell spun the Guerrini Gaerte Ford/Stealth in turn-four during a close tussle for position with
Greg Dennett. Rick Faeth and Victory Mencarini were among the cars spinning and stopping to avoid the melee. At this point BCRA point leader Thomas Meseraull pitted with engine problems. Russell and Dennett were able to restart.

At the drop of the green Streeter projected his message loud-and-clear - "I have the superior setup", and he immediately
opened his lead over Hubert, who repassed Pierovich for second.

Christian and rookie Brian Gard topped Pierovich for third and fourth on the fourth lap as veteran Floyd Alvis moved into sixth, then fifth one lap later. On the sixth lap Russell retired to the pits.

On the eighth circuit Gard battled Christian and took over third. Gard began challenging Hubert for second as Streeter continued to stretch his lead. After five laps of attempts, Gard made good his bid and took over the runnerup slot. At this point Dennett's 3D Racing Wirth Chevy/Beast was regaining momentum from his restart in the rear and was now up to sixth.

The leaders remained the same until the 16th lap when brakeless Pierovich shot to the inside of Alvis in turn-one while
battling for fifth. The cars made contact and the Alvis Interstate Batteries VanDyne/Stealth shot to the outer rim of the track, then drove to the infield with a sputtering powerplant.

The leading group remained the same until the 21st round when Christian suddenly slowed on the front stretch and came to a stop with a flat tire. Pierovich was now fourth and Dennett up to fifth.

At the green Streeter again charged clear of his pursuers as Dennett passed Pierovich for fourth. On the 24th lap Chase Barber spun his Beast/Ford Focus in the fourth turn for the final caution flag.

Streeter again propelled himself into an impressive lead, opening his advantage over the next six laps to the checkered flag, but not before Dennett battled Hubert to take over third on the 27th round.

At the final flag Streeter took his first BCRA victory since 1999 over Gard, Dennett, Hubert, Pierovich, Johnny Key, Tim Joyce, Rob Lindsey and Barber with the lapped cars of Pete Davis and Sparky Howard the only cars running at the checkered.

The evening began on a down note when first-time rookie driver Robert Haugh lost control and flipped during a practice
session. Haugh was airlifted to a trauma medical facility in San Jose with a double compound fracture to his left arm between the elbow and wrist.

Dennett outqualified the 26-car field.

Thomas Meseraull won the first heat race over Tim Joyce and Rick Faeth.

During the second heat, won by Chase Barber over Streeter and Rob Lindsey, Billy Foland was momentarily knocked unconscious after his wild flip down the front chute, receiving no major injuries.

Jimmy Christian came on to win the third eight-lapper over Rob Russell and Dennett.

The BCRA Midgets return to the Lakeport Speedway on July 3 for the annual Independence Day racing celebration, then to the Placerville Speedway the following Saturday, July 10, proceeded by the annual picnic and Hall of Fame during the late morning and early afternoon. For info call the BCRA office evenings at (209) 830-9928 or visit the website at BCRAracing.com. The public is invited.

SUMMARY:
QUAL: 1. Greg Dennett, #47 3D Racing 15.240; 2. Brian Gard, #57 Borghesani 15.245; 3. Lee Yetter, #22 Yetter 15.286; 4. Rob Russell, #63 Guerrini 15.350; 5. Scott Pierovich, #35 Pierovich 15.425; 6. Jimmy Christian, #16 Christian 15.439; 7. Michael Hubert III, #56 Hubert 15.469; 8. Matt Streeter, #97 Streeter 15.564; 9. Floyd Alvis, #18 Alvis 15.777; 10. Johnny Key, #37 Key 15.810; 11. Billy Foland, #0 O'Keefe 15.890; 12. Rob Lindsey, #23X Lindsey 15.919; 13. Sparky Howard, #27 Blackwell 16.046; 14. Chase Barber, #91X Barber 16.186; 15. Garratt Boyden, #42 Boyden 16.210; 16. Victor Mencarini, #85 Mosekian 16.264; 17. Rick Faeth, #91 Faeth 16.455; 18. Tim Joyce, #99 Segur 16.760; 19. Nick Foster Jr., #51 R. Haugh 17.162; 20. Pete Davis, #00 Davis 25.158; 21. Thomas Meseraull, #9 Mertl N/T; 22. Bobby Dalton, #36 Dalton N/T; 23. Robert Haugh, #08 Haugh N/T; 24. John Haugh, #21 Haugh N/T; 25. Ralph Cortez, #54 Haugh N/T; 26. Cameron Beard, #1 Beard N/T.

HEAT-1: Meseraull, Joyce, Faeth, Davis, Foster, Dalton, Mencarini, Boyden.
HEAT-2: Barber, Streeter, Lindsey, Key, Alvis, Howard, Foland.
HEAT-3: Christian, Russell, Dennett, Gard, Hubert, Yetter, Pierovich

MAIN: Matt Streeter, Brian Gard, Greg Dennett, Michael Hubert III, Scott Pierovich, Johnny Key, Tim Joyce, Rob Lindsey, Chase Barber, Pete Davis, Sparky Howard, Jimmy Christian, Floyd Alvis, Victor Mencarini, Rob Russell, Lee Yetter, Rick Faeth, Thomas Meseraull, Bobby Dalton, Nick Foster Jr.