Flock Hauls in Placerville Gold Again

Robby Flock and the Mike Sala lead crew in victory lane after winning the Bay Cities Racing Association Midget Main event at Placerville Speedway in Placerville CA. Robby dedicated the win to his biggest fan and midget supporter Marty Boyer who is recovering from a stroke. (M&M Photo)

After setting a new track record in qualifying Robby Flock (19s) used this move on Travis Berryhill (11) to win the Bay Cities Racing Association Midget Main event at Placerville Speedway in Placerville CA. (M&M Photo)

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By Robert Haugh

Chauffeuring the always-potent Mike Sala #19s Spike/Bob Wirth Mopar, former Belleville Midget Nationals champion and USAC Western-States star Robby Flock utilized lapped traffic to his advantage, overtaking early race leader Travis Berryhill for the lead on Lap Ten and never looked back.

Distancing from the pack, fourth-starter and fast-timer Flock crossed the checkers first over 1999 BCRA champion Matt Streeter aboard his own #14jr Spike/Ed Pink Ford, Scott Pierovich aboard father Lance’s #35 Stealth/Bob Wirth Mopar, Berryhill aboard the Berryhill Racing “Spirit of American Canyon” #11 Stealth/L.J.’s Gaerte and El Dorado Hills’ Darrin Bolton rounding out the Top Five aboard the Bolton racing #XX Stewart/Stanton Mopar.

Following the lead five to the line was 16-year-old Cole Peard aboard his #58 Twister/Fontana, David Prickett aboard the #15 Neverlift Motorsports TCR/Van Dyne, 17-year-old reigning BCRA champion Justin Grant of nearby Ione aboard the #17 TNT RaceSports Dave & Wendy Thurston Spike/Esslinger, Auburn’s Dave Stoltz aboard his #77 Pacific Flyer/Range Rover V6 and seven-time BCRA champion Floyd Alvis, BCRA’s “Ageless Wonder” aboard the #18 Champion Automotive Stealth/Esslinger “Green Beret.”

After falling to the rear of the field after contact was made with another car and nearly tipping over, Grant powered the Thurston mount up to eighth, making several passes by rim-riding, despite having a flattening left front tire and front end damage.

Having cautiously worked his way into second position after falling as far back as sixth on the opening laps, Flock began hunting down Berryhill with Streeter clinging onto third with Pierovich and Bolton slightly behind.

Berryhill surged to the initial lead from the outside pole, stretching his lead to nearly a straightaway before a spin by Nick Foster, Jr. brought out the caution on Lap nine. Foster, the 2007 BCRA Mechanic-of-the-Year was making his inaugural start aboard Team Fowler’s #24 Beast/Esslinger.

Following the first of only two cautions of the 25-lap race, Flock rocketed away from the field, overtaking Berryhill and pulling away from the stellar 21-car field.

Using lapped traffic to his advantage, Flock took the lead, then meticulously worked his way through lapped traffic, further distancing himself by several car lengths over the field to claim the win.

“I love this track,” said Flock in victory circle referring to John Padjen’s red clay at Placerville Speedway. Flock dedicated the victory to longtime friend and Midget aficionado Marty Boyer --- who is recovering from a stroke.

As Flock took the checkers, Danny Parker spun Bob Roza’s #20 Beast/Esslinger concluding the 25-lap race, ending with simultaneous yellow-checkers.

Flock broke a nearly five-year-old track record held by Rob Russell in qualifying, blistering the ¼-mile red clay oval with a lap time of 11.619. Pierovich also topped the old record with a time of 11.834.

Auburn’s Dave Stoltz claimed Heat 1 aboard his #77 Pacific Flyer/Range Rover V6 over Scott Nail aboard Stu Donaldson’s #8x Stealth/Pontiac, Alvis, Parker and Brian Cass making his first Midget start aboard Pete Davis’ #00 Hothead Engine Heaters Stealth/Esslinger.

Jimmy Christian claimed Heat 2 aboard the Walker Racing-Bay Muffler #10 Stealth/Esslinger over 2007 BCRA Rookie-of-the-Year Kevin Morris aboard father Del’s #17k Spike/Esslinger, Pierovich, Bolton and Flock.

15-year-old BCRA rookie Britton Bock flipped aboard his #62 TCR/Pontiac during Heat 1, sustaining minor damage. He returned in the feature.

1997 Silver Dollar Speedway 410 Sprint Car track champion Rick Haugh, Jr., scratched early-on after suffering a broken push rod.

Foster suffered from rear-end problems early on, missing his Heat race, Hot laps and qualifying.

The BCRA Midgets now trek to King’s Speedway in Hanford on April 19 for the second dirt race of the 2008 season.

Summary:
Qualifying:
1. Robby Flock, 19s Sala, 11.619 New Track Record
2. Scott Pierovich, 35 Pierovich, 11.834
3. Travis Berryhill, 11 Berryhill, 12.054
4. Matt Streeter, 14jr Streeter, 12.173
5. David Prickett, 15, Neverlift Motorsports, 12.258
6. Darrin Bolton, XX Bolton, 12.292
7. Justin Grant, 17 Thurston, 12.316
8. Kevin Morris, 17k Morris, 12.330
9. Jimmy Christian, 10 Walker, 12.338
10. Todd Miller, 9 Mertyl, 12.338
11. Cole Peard, 58 Peard, 12.351
12. Glenn Carson, 26 Doug Bock, 12.508
13. Floyd Alvis, 18 Alvis, 12.552
14. Danny Parker, 20 Roza, 12.592
15. Steve Dickenson, 99s Dickenson, 12.935
16. Brian Cass, 00 Pete Davis, 12.953
17. Dave Stoltz, 77 Stoltz, 12.976
18. Scott Nail, 8x Donaldson, 12.983
19. Britton Bock, Bock, 14.385
20. Rick Haugh, Jr., 5h Haugh, NT
21. Nick Foster, Jr., 24 Fowler, NT

Heat 1: 1. Dave Stoltz (2), 2. Scott Nail (1), 3. Floyd Alvis (6), 4. Danny Parker (5), 5. Brian Cass (3), 6. Todd Miller (9), 7. Glenn Carson (7), 8. Steve Dickenson (4), 9. Britton Bock (10), 10. Cole Peard (8), 11. Nick Foster, Jr., DNS

Heat 2: 1. Jimmy Christian (1), 2. Kevin Morris (2), 3. Scott Pierovich (8), 4. Darrin Bolton (4), 5. Robby Flock (8), 6. Justin Grant (3), 7. Travis Berryhill (7), 8. David Prickett (5), 9. Matt Streeter (6), 10. Rick Haugh, Jr. (10)

Main Event 25 Laps (start position in parentheses)

1. Robby Flock (4)
2. Matt Streeter (1)
3. Scott Pierovich (3)
4. Travis Berryhill (2)
5. Darrin Bolton (6)
6. Cole Peard (11)
7. David Prickett (5)
8. Justin Grant (7)
9. Dave Stoltz (17)
10. Floyd Alvis (13)
11. Kevin Morris (8)
12. Todd Miller (10)
13. Glenn Carson (12)
14. Jimmy Christian (9)
15. Steve Dickenson (15)
16. Scott Nail (18)
17. Brian Cass (16)
18. Nick Foster, Jr. (20)
19. Danny Parker (14)
20. Britton Bock (21)
21. Rick Haugh, Jr. (20), DNS

Lap leaders: 1-10 Berryhill, 11-25 Flock