Rahe Captures Sierra Gold in Placerville, Becomes First Repeat Winner

By Robert Haugh

Chris Rahe picked up his second straight BCRA Midget main event victory at Placerville Speedway

Piloting the Goodwin Farms #3c Stealth/Fontana, Placentia’s Chris Rahe hung on to win the incident marred, curfew-shortened DMS Race Products BCRA Midget feature, capturing gold at the speedy 1/4-mile Placerville Speedway on Saturday, August 11, marking his second-consecutive BCRA triumph in as many races and weeks.

Following Rahe to the checkers were two-time reigning BCRA champion John Sarale aboard his Sarale Farms #32 Stealth/Riolo-Chevy, Brian Gard manning the Mark Borghesani Spike/Mopar, Ryan Kaplan aboard the Ken Kaplan #21 Stealth/Mopar and 16-year-old BCRA points leader Justin Grant aboard the Thurston #17 Spike/Esslinger.

Rahe, who was pleased at his good fortune when curfew and a flip by Rick Haugh Jr., halted the race after Lap 12 was scored as the winner. Rahe acknowledged that Kaplan was going to overtake him for the win. “Sometimes it’s good to get lucky,” said Rahe following the race. “I knew they were coming on strong and I couldn’t have held them off much longer.” Prior to curfew and Haugh’s flip halting the feature, Rahe was caught and passed by Kaplan, with Sarale, Gard and Haugh clinging to Rahe’s rear bumper.

After a first lap spin involving Oregon’s Rich Gentes and BCRA rookie Kevin Morris, then a subsequent violent flip by Polesitter Jared Little in his #23 Stinger/Mopar on the opening lap, a single-file restart was due with Haugh leading Cortez, Lindsey, Prickett and Rahe to the green.

During the caution period, Kaplan pitted with a flat tire. His crew, including veteran open-wheeler Jimmy Sills, replaced the tire, however, Kaplan rescinded to the rear of the field, restarting 21st on the single-file restart.

Hugging the high groove, Haugh surged to a strong lead aboard father Rich’s #51 Maxim/Gaerte over Rahe, Cortez, Gard and Sarale on lap 3 when Streeter, Dave Stoltz, David Prickett and Steve Dickenson were involved in a tangle up after BCRA rookie Kevin Morris spun in father Del’s #17k Spike/Esslinger.

With “High-Groove” Haugh hugging the outer line, Rahe diligently looked low in overtaking Haugh, squeaking under Haugh going into Turn 3 on Lap 3. Rahe held onto the lead with Haugh rebounding, exchanging the lead several times up through Lap 5.

Battling back-and-forth through Lap 6 when Brian Gard and John Sarale began catching the lead duo, Rahe and Haugh battled side-by-side until Gard slipped by Haugh on Lap 7 while Rahe held onto the top spot. Sarale sprung to fourth and Kaplan had quietly and meticulously worked his way up through traffic to seventh spot.

After the Top five crossed the line on the eighth lap, Kody Swanson pulled to an abrupt stop in Turn Four aboard the Blackwell Motorsports #27a Stealth/Pontiac. Early reports indicate a possible broken valve.

Rahe led Gard, Haugh, Sarale, Cortez, Grant and Kaplan at the Lap 8 restart, with the track’s curfew rapidly approaching. Two more green flag laps saw yet another caution when 16-year-old All American Driving Challenge victor Tanner Swanson spun aboard the #27c Blackwell Motorsports Stealth/Gaerte.

Rahe continued leading over Gard, Sarale, Haugh, Cortez, Grant and Kaplan with literally minutes remaining before curfew.

Track officials decided to allow the race to continue to either the next caution period or the checkered flags, whichever came first.

The drop of the green saw Rahe holding off Gard, Sarale, Haugh, Cortez, Grant and Kaplan. Within two laps, Kaplan vaulted from seventh to fourth place, chasing down Rahe, Gard and Sarale. Going into Turn 3 on Lap 12, Gard made heavy contact with Sarale, allowing Kaplan and Haugh to momentarily get by into second and third, respectively. Coming to the start-finish line completing Lap 13, Kaplan led over Rahe, Sarale and Gard, however, Haugh flipped just before reaching the flagstand, ending a fantastic run by Haugh and the racing’s program.

Reverting back to the last completed lap, Rahe took the winner’s laurels followed by Sarale, Gard, Kaplan and Grant. In bringing out the final caution, Haugh’s Top five run relegated him to a 16th place finish.

Rahe becomes the first two-time winner of 2007 through 11 races.

Rounding out the Top Ten were Ralph Cortez aboard the Cortez/Walker #31 Stealth/Esslinger, Pete Davis aboard his #00 Beast/Esslinger, 7-time BCRA champion Floyd Alvis aboard the #18 Champion Automotive “Green Beret” Stealth/Esslinger, Bill Lindsey aboard Stu Donaldson’s newly-acquired #8 Stealth/Pontiac and Steve Roza aboard Bob Roza’s #20 Beast/Esslinger.

Rounding out the finishing order of the curfew-shortened race were rookie Cole Peard aboard the #18x Stealth/Fontana, Auburn’s Dave Stoltz aboard his #77 Pacific Flyer/Buick V6, Matt Streeter aboard his #14JR Spike/Pink Ford, Oregon’s Steve Dickenson in his #99s Edmunds/Pontiac and Tanner Swanson aboard the #27c Blackwell Motorsports Stealth/Gaerte. Haugh was scored 16th after bringing a halt to the race after flipping near the start finish line.

Grant’s Top five run stretches his points lead over Alvis, Prickett, Cortez and Morris.

Ralphie “The Racer” Cortez snapped a string of hard luck, coming home sixth aboard the #31 Cortez/Walker Motorsports Stealth/Esslinger, capturing his first dirt finish of the year and scoring big points in hopes of catapulting himself in hopes of championship honors.

Sarale’s second-place run marks his third runner-up spot of the season.

Sarale claimed Heat 1 over Gard, Cortez, Haugh and Kody Swanson.

Grant captured Heat 2 over David Prickett, Bill Lindsey, Faeth and Peard.

Kevin Morris claimed Heat 3 over Rahe, Kaplan, Little and Streeter.

Prior to the evening’s racing program, BCRA’s Annual Jack London Bash Hall of Fame & Picnic will took place at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds picnic area, adjacent to the track’s pit area. The 2007 BCRA Hall of Fame inductees were Midget owner John Pestana, Midget Driver Wheeler Gresham, Midget Driver Bob Cortner, Hardtop Driver Steve Mentch, Hardtop Owner Nelson Snow and Car Builders Art Boune and George Benson.

The 2007 DMS Race Products BCRA Midget series continues its season Saturday at the 3/8-mile Petaluma Speedway.

Visit www.bcraracing.com for additional information on the BCRA Midgets.

Summary:
Feature, 12 Laps
1. Chris Rahe, 3c, Stealth/Fontana
2. John Sarale, 32, Stealth/Riolo-Chevy
3. Brian Gard, 57, Spike/Mopar
4. Ryan Kaplan, 21, Stealth/Mopar
5. Justin Grant, 17, Spike/Esslinger
6. Ralph Cortez, 31, Stealth/Esslinger
7. Pete Davis, 00, Beast/Esslinger
8. Floyd Alvis, 18, Stealth/Esslinger
9. Bill Lindsey, 8, Stealth/Pontiac
10. Steve Roza, 20, Beast/Esslinger
11. Cole Peard, 18x, Stealth/Fontana
12. Dave Stoltz, 77, Pacific Flyer/Buick V6
13. Matt Streeter, 14JR, Spike/Pink Ford
14. Steve Dickenson, 99s, Edmunds/Pontiac
15. Tanner Swanson, 27c, Stealth/Gaerte
16. Rick Haugh Jr., 51, Maxim/Gaerte
17. Rich Gentes, 12, Predator/Pontiac
18. Rick Faeth, 3, Stealth/Chevy V4
19. Kody Swanson, 27a, Stealth/Pontiac
20. Kevin Morris, 17k, Spike/Esslinger
21. David Prickett, 15, Stealth/Van Dyne
22. Jarde Little, 23, Stinger/Mopar

Heat 1:
1. John Sarale
2. Brian Gard
3. Ralph Cortez
4. Rick Haugh Jr.
5. Tanner Swanson
6. Pete Davis
7. Floyd Alvis
8. Steve Dickenson

Heat 2:
1. Justin Grant
2. David Prickett
3. Bill Lindsey
4. Rick Faeth
5. Cole Peard
6. Dave Stoltz
7. Steve Roza

Heat 3:
1. Kevin Morris
2. Chris Rahe
3. Ryan Kaplan
4. Jared Little
5. Matt Streeter
6. Kody Swanson
7. Rich Gentes