Sarale Soars To Ukiah Victory

By Robert Haugh

Chauffeuring the Sarale Farms #32 Beast/Riolo-Chevy, two-time reigning BCRA champion John Sarale of Stockton overtook 16-year-old BCRA points leader Justin Grant on Lap 6, never looking back en route to claiming the checkers first in the DMS Race Products BCRA Midget series feature at the ¼-mile Ukiah Speedway on September 8.

After getting by Grant’s #30 Beast/Esslinger on Lap 6, Sarale took control of the race, stretching his lead to a straightaway over Grant, Ralphie “The Racer” Cortez in the #31 Shores-Cortez Special Beast/Sesco-Mopar and Bill Lindsey aboard Stu Donaldson’s #87x Stealth/Pontiac, with while 15-year-old first-time pavement Midget racer Chad Boat of Arizona charging from the back in legendary father Billy Boat’s #30b Gerhardt/Esslinger.

After jumping to the lead in his #18 Champion Automotive Stealth/Van Dyne, 7-time BCRA champion “Ageless Wonder” Floyd Alvis was quickly contested by Sarale and Grant. Leaping forward from the get go, Grant and Sarale vaulted forward to second and third respectively from their fourth and sixth starting positions by the second lap.

With heavy pressure coming from Grant and Sarale, Alvis spun his “Green Beret” machine in Turn 3 while Boat spun in Turn 1 bringing out the race’s only caution on lap 5.

With Alvis and Boat dropping to the rear for their respective spins, Grant, Sarale and Cortez led the field to the green flag for the single-file Lap 5 restart.

Grant relinquished the lead to Sarale, holding the lead for just one lap before the veteran slid under Grant entering Turn 3 overtaking Grant.

Sarale quickly pulled away to a straightway lead, with Grant, Lindsey, Cortez, Rick Faeth aboard Jim Fowler’s newly acquired #61 Beast/Gaerte, Boat and Alvis following single-file.

Cortez squeaked by Lindsey on Lap 10, while Sarale’s dominating lead grew further, meanwhile, Boat was patiently making his way forward from the back, passing Faeth on the 15th circuit, and then passing Lindsey for fifth five laps later on Lap 20.

With Sarale cautiously and meticulously approaching and overtaking lapped traffic around Lap 26, Grant, Cortez and Boat began catching Sarale, looking for a chance to hunt down the two-time BCRA champion.

While Grant was closing within inches of leader Sarale, Boat was heavily pressuring third-running Cortez, making numerous pass attempts.

Coming to the checkers, Grant and Boat both made risky moves for the lead and third, respectively, with both passes failing. Grant’s bid of overtaking Sarale resulted in getting slightly airborne, spinning after climbing over Sarale’s left rear wheel, the checkers in second, slightly sideways. Boat’s attempt was not as fortunate as the rookie Midget chauffer slid into a spin trying to pass Cortez, ending his excellent run and settling for sixth place.

After an intense nearly non-stop 30-lap feature, Sarale claimed his first DMS Race Products BCRA feature of the year over Grant, Cortez, Lindsey, Alvis, Boat and Faeth, who finished seventh, one lap down from the leaders.

Sarale’s win comes after a plethora of great podium finishes in 2007. Prior to winning this race, Sarale scored four runner-up finishes and a third-place effort. Sarale becomes the twelfth different BCRA feature winner, in just 15 races.

Prior the Heat race, Sarale battled ignition issues throughout hot laps and qualifying, with his crew finally alleviating the ignition gremlins just in time for the Heat race, which he won from the pole.

Boat broke an oil pump early in the evening. However, his crew, including his father Billy, the former IRL driver and many-time Midget victor made repairs in time for the Heat race and Main event.

Rick Faeth took over driving duties in Jim Fowler's recently acquired Alan Norton WMRA Beast/Gaerte just before the Heat. Faeth's engine expired in his #3 Stealth/Chevy V4 in practice on Friday.

Mike Donaldson was forced to scratch after dropping out early the Heat race with an apparent broken fuel and power steering pump drive.

Sarale won the 8-lap Heat over a charging Cortez and Chad Boat, Floyd Alvis and Justin Grant. Boat started the Heat in eighth and worked his way up to third in the 15-year-olds first-ever pavement race. Boat will be competing at BCRA’s final two pavement races at Madera and Shasta, respectively on September 15 and 22.

2002 Car owner champion and third-place driver Bill Lindsey of San Carlos wheeled Stu Donaldson’s #87x Stealth/Pontiac to the Trophy Dash victory over Justin Grant, Floyd Alvis and Ralph Cortez.

Grant outpaced the field in qualifying, setting the mark to beat at 12.478, just three tenths off of the mark he posted in June while breaking the track record.

Prior to the beginning of the Trophy Dashes, Floyd Alvis and Pete Bray honored former BCRA car owner and Santa Rosa resident Bob Consani who recently passed away, by running a Memorial lap in Consani’s memory. In honor of the late Consani, the Midgets adorned special decals featuring Consani’s famous red and gold #4c.

The BCRA Midgets trek to the lightning-fast 1/3-mile Madera Speedway on September 15th, as part of the Harvest Classic. Visit www.bcraracing.com for more information on the BCRA Midgets.

Summary:
Feature (30 Laps) 8:53.46 (start position)
1. John Sarale (6)
2. Justin Grant (4)
3. Ralph Cortez (3)
4. Bill Lindsey (2)
5. Floyd Alvis (1)
6. Chad Boat (7)
7. Rick Faeth (5)
8. Mike Donaldson- DNS, Scratch, fuel/power steerimg pump drive
9. Rick Faeth, DNS, blew engine up in Friday practice

Lap leaders: 1-4: Floyd Alvis, 5 Justin Grant, 6-3- John Sarale.

Heat race (8 Laps):
1. John Sarale
2. Ralph Cortez
3. Chad Boat
4. Floyd Alvis
5. Justin Grant
6. Bill Lindsey
7. Rick Faeth
8. Mike Donaldson

Trophy Dash (4 Laps):
1. Bill Lindsey
2. Justin Grant
3. Floyd Alvis
4. Ralph Cortez

Qualifications:
1. Justin Grant, 12.478, 30, Grant Beast/Esslinger
2. Ralph Cortez, 12.799, 31, Shores-Cortez Special Beast/Sesco-Mopar
3. Bill Lindsey, 12.835, 87x, Stu Donaldson Stealth/Pontiac
4. Floyd Alvis, 12.888, 18, Champion Automotive-Alvis Stealth/Van Dyne
5. Mike Donaldson, 13.042, 87, Stu Donaldson Stealth/Gaerte
6. Jim Fowler, 13.166, 61, Fowler Beast/Gaerte
7. John Sarale, 16.961, 32, Sarale Farms Beast/Riolo Chevy
8. Chad Boat, NT, 30b, Billy Boat Gerhardt/Esslinger