“Lakeport Lightning” Eric Mostin Marvels Hometown Crowd

By Robert Haugh

Thrilling his hometown crowd, “Lakeport Lightning” Eric Mostin chauffeured the #12 Mike Mostin Beast/Mopar to victory circle, earning a Lakeport Speedway hat trick capturing the DMS Race Products BCRA Midget main event on Saturday, June 2 at the ¼-mile Lakeport Speedway. Mostin’s other BCRA Midget feature victories occurred at Lakeport in 2004.

Pressuring Mostin intensely at the lightning fast ¼-mile paved oval was American Canyon’s Travis Berryhill, piloting BCRA Hall of Famer Bob Rosen’s famous #4 Mr. Espresso Beast/Fontana, Bakersfield’s Shannon McQueen driving her own #7 TCR/Esslinger and reigning two-time BCRA champion John Sarale of Stockton wheeling the Sarale Farms #32 Beast/Riolo Chevy.

Culminating an exciting 30 lap main even, Mostin held off his challengers, winning by a wheel length over Berryhill, with McQueen and Sarale within three car lengths at the checkers, one of the closest BCRA feature finishes in recent history.

Outpacing the field by hugging the bottom groove, Mostin vaulted into the lead position on the opening lap from his outside pole starting position, quickly displacing pole sitter David Prickett from the top spot.

Riding the rim trying to overtake Mostin, Berryhill valiantly tried passing Mostin to no avail for much of the 30-lap DMS Race Products BCRA Midget feature race. Challengers quickly discovered that Mostin’s torrid pace couldn’t be surpassed, with Mostin holding tight to the inside groove, hitting his marks while driving a safe, veteran-like fast and patient race.

Moving into second from his third starting spot on Lap Four, Berryhill maintained heavy pressure on Mostin for the duration of the race, however was unable surpass Mostin, who completed a patient, mistake-free race.

Slowed only for a brief yellow when BCRA rookie Kevin Morris spun between Turns 1 and 2 on Lap 6, the blistering 30-lap main event feature was next-to-non-stop riveting racing with no incidents and tight racing. The entire field maintained tight racing on the bullring ¼-mile paved oval, averting any on-track incidents.

Rounding out the Top five was first-time BCRA Trophy Dash winner Gary Dickenson of Santa Rosa in his #8 Stealth/Pontiac.

Concluding the Top Ten was 16-year-old BCRA points leader Justin Grant behind-the-wheel of the #30 Tim Grant Beast/Esslinger, BCRA rookie Shane Golobic piloting the Walker Motorsports #10 Bay Muffler Beast/Esslinger, fellow rookie Kevin Morris in father Del’s #17k Beast/Esslinger, polesitter David Prickett in the Neverlift Motorsports Hawk/Van Dyne and Sacramento’s Ralphie “The Racer” Cortez manning the #31 Shores-Cortez Beast/Sesco-Mopar.

Rounding out the finishing order was 7-time BCRA champion “Ageless Wonder” Floyd Alvis in his #18 Champion Automotive Stealth/Van Dyne and 2002 third-place driver and car owner champion, Bill Lindsey of San Carlos chauffeuring the #61 Jim Fowler Beast/Esslinger.

Mike Donaldson was sidelined in the #87 Stu Donaldson Stealth/Gaerte after developing engine problems during hot laps while Colorado’s Levi Roberts dropped out in the #2c Terry Caves Lightning/Mopar after breaking the steering during the 1st heat race.

The 2007 DMS Race Products BCRA Midget series resumes action next week at the paved ¼-mile Ukiah Speedway on June 9, followed by a return to dirt action on June 23 at John Padjen’s ¼-mile Placerville Speedway at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds.

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

Summary:

Main Event (30 laps, starting position in parentheses)
1. Mostin (2)
2. Berryhill (3)
3. McQueen (7)
4. Sarale (6)
5. Dickenson (5)
6. Grant (9)
7. Golobic (8)
8. Morris (4)
9. Prickett (1)
10. Cortez (11)
11. Alvis (10)
12. Lindsey (12)

Heat 2
1. Mostin
2. Dickenson
3. Berryhill
4. Morris
5. Sarale
6. McQueen
7. Golobic

Heat 1
1 Lindsey
2.Alvis
3. Cortez
4. Prickett
5. Grant
6. Roberts

Trophy Dash
1. Dickenson
2. Sarale
3. McQueen
4. Golobic

Gary Dickerson wins the Trophy Dash at Lakeport. (Floyd Busby Photo)

Qualifications
1. Shane Golobic, 10, 12.202
2. Shannon McQueen, 7, 12.277
3. John Sarale, 32, 12.299
4. Gary Dickenson, 8, 12.386
5. Kevin Morris, 17k, 12.415
6. Travis Berryhill, 4, 12.417
7. Eric Mostin, 12, 12.450
8. David Prickett, 15, 12.513
9. Justin Grant, 30, 12.527
10. Floyd Alvis, 18, 12.585
11. Ralph Cortez, 31, 12.678
12. Bill Lindsey, 61, 12.829
13. Levi Roberts, 2c, 12.898
14. Mike Donaldson, 87, Scratch