Ariaz Tames All-American Speedway

Pat Ariaz being presented his trophy for the Trophy Dash Win by young quarter midget driver, Cameron Legue ( age 7).

Ariaz's crewman Joe Sousa shares the limelight as he puts many hours on this great looking NCMASprint car.

 NCMA Sprints, All American Speedway, Roseville, CA, May 31, 2008

Manteca’s racing teacher, Pat Ariaz took the bull by the horns and tamed All American Speedway this evening as he won the Trophy Dash and the Main Event.

NCMA’s Twentieth Anniversary Season brings the 360 wingless sprints to All American Speedway for the first time. No one had ever run the Roseville, CA track which was reconfigured last year. After a couple practice runs, everyone seemed to have a pretty good handle on it.

Jeff Burrows, also of Manteca set fast time for the evening. Napa’s David Goodwill in his Napa Auto Parts #3G was second coming in .018 seconds behind him. Ariaz‘s Alumline #XX was third and Rob Hammond of Morgan Hill finished fourth.  The Trophy Dash was set with a total inversion of the top four qualifiers.  Ariaz grabbed the lead from the get go and just went four quick laps making it history. Goodwill was second, Burrows’ #9 JB Racing Machine was third and Hammond finished fourth.

The entire field was inverted for the 25 lap Main Event, Concord’s Burt Siverling’s Oval Chassis Research sprint and Woodland’s Gary Koster, Ramos Oil #17k brought them to the green.  Koster took the lead and it looked like he would have this night to himself.  It was not to be.  Hammond stuck right on his back bumper, giving Koster a whole lot to think about.  Right behind them, Siverling, Ed Amador of Modesto, Ariaz, Goodwill and Burrows were heading to the front, battling for third.  They got kind of balled up, a few bumps and grinds and Ariaz ended up in third, Goodwill, Amador, Burrows right with him.  Hammond was still battling with Koster’s bumper down on the low side and with five laps to go; Ariaz went to the top, around Koster and Hammond to take the lead.  Goodwill had fourth all sewn up and Burrows rounded out the top five.  Not one caution on a track never run by NCMA Sprints made a great evening for all.  NCMA will return to Roseville on September 13^th for another Saturday night short track event.  

By Sharyn Bragg

Hot time for Ed Amador at Altamont

NCMA Sprints, Altamont Motorsports Park, Tracy, CA, May 19, 2008

Ed Amador claimed the number one spot in today’s Main Event at Altamont Motorsports Park. The triple digit weather didn’t slow this veteran Modesto racer down. He started beside the pole position to take the green and never had to look back.

The day began with qualifying, and after having a rough day in his first outing, April 19, Manteca’s Pat Ariaz set fast time today with David Goodwill of Napa coming in a close second. Goodwill had posted the quickest times in practice but Ariaz came in a .012 second faster in qualifying.   Morgan Hill’s Rob Hammond was third quick. Steve Amador in his first outing for the season, fourth and Jeff Burrows also of Manteca was fifth fastest.

The 20 Lap Main Event was started with a total inversion.  Burt Siverling coming from Concord held the pole, with Ed Amador on the outside.  Burrows and Patterson’s Steve Amador, taking third and fourth. At the completion of the first lap, Ed Amador had the lead; Burrows, Steve Amador, Ariaz and Goodwill were leading the pack.  By the halfway point, E. Amador was a quarter of the track ahead of the rest of the racers.  Burrows, Ariaz and Goodwill were jockeying around for the second spot to punt for the front position.  Just a few laps from the finish, S. Amador’s sprinter lost a belt and was out of commission, bringing out the first caution for the day.  On the restart, E. Amador still pulled away like he was sling shot from the pack.  Burrows was holding on to second, but Ariaz was bound and determined to make it to second and ended up loosing it on the outside and brought out the yellow on the final lap.  No harm done, but he was out of the top five for the checkered flag.  The hot track at Altamont made a hot time for Ed Amador as he won his first Main Event for 2008.  Burrows did finish second, with Goodwill in his sophomore year on pavement taking third.  Rob Hammond had a nice, smooth fourth place and Rookie, David Burchett of Tracy, finishing fifth in only his second race of the season.  Burchett is well known, as Altamont is his home track and he was the Super Mini Truck Champion on the quarter mile several times. 

NCMA Sprints are looking forward to rolling onto the dirt of Petaluma Speedway next Saturday night, May 24^th.  In the 20 Anniversary season of NMCA, the Select Series is greatly anticipating its return to Petaluma after many years’ absence.     

By Sharyn Bragg

First Win For TJ Smith

NCMA Sprints, Chowchilla Speedway, Chowchilla, CA. April 25, 2008

TJ Smith, the youngster from Fresno, took home his first sprint win in the NCMA Select Series this evening at Chowchilla Speedway.  Smith did a little running in the series in 2007 and all who watched this high school senior knew it was coming! NCMA Sprints took the dirt for the first time this evening, and drivers were ready to tackle the freshly turned track.  New Promoter, Chuck Griffin has been spending some time working the track, and drivers were ready to try it out.  Hot laps found Ed Amador, 2007 Overall Champion (Dirt & Pavement) was hooked up so good he looked like a real contender except his axel broke and it left him out for the night. “I was really having fun out there,” he stated after his sprint was hauled off the track. Heats began with David Goodwill’s Lito Auto Body rocket winning the first and Cameron Beard having no oil pressure opting to scratch for the evening. The second heat was taken by Dan Gonderman in the Sam Davies machine. The Trophy Dash went very quickly.  Dynamite Dave Press took the checkered flag, with Smith right there.  Gonderman was third and Goodwill fourth. Good tight racing and lots of fun to watch. The main event was run a little differently which made for an interesting race.  Of the 30 lap main, fifteen laps were run. Rob Hammond and Kris Koontz brought the pack around to the green.  Five laps in and Press was leading, Bill Hopper second and Goodwill third. Gonderman and Smith were lurking.   The Gotelli Sponsored sprint piloted by Press was unbeatable, but Gonderman and Hopper were holding in second and third.  Smith was still lurking! By the fifteenth lap Press had it, Gonderman kept second but Smith the whiz kid grabbed third from Hopper, leaving Hopper fourth. The second fifteen took an inverted field putting Goodwill and Koontz on the front row.  Goodwill led the first lap but Smith in his Styles Motorsports #14 had the lead by the second go round.  Gonderman who started close to the back was nipping at Smith by the one-third mark.  Goodwill and Press were making it interesting behind them as they fought for third.  Goodwill prevailed and Press kept fourth. Hopper rounded out the top five, but kudos to Koontz having a great sixth place finish.  

NCMA Sprints will return to pavement for their next race scheduled for Saturday May 17 at Altamont Motorsports Park.  An afternoon start is scheduled and makes for a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

By Sharyn Bragg

Koster Makes a Comeback

 NCMA Sprints, Altamont Motorsports Park Tracy, CA April 19, 2008

Gary Koster made a decision last year to end the 2007 season early to care for his wife Jeanette as she faced some tough medical problems.   Jeanette is much better and the time off didn’t seem to dull Koster’s driving ability as he won the first main event at Altamont Motorsports Park today. Altamont has switched to daytime racing this season, and if this is the format for 2008, it seems it will work well for racers. Home before dark and being able to see everything will make for much safer racing. This early in the year, some driver-owners don’t have everything ready to go, so turnout for the event was light.  Two NCMA Sprints were lost in the first practice session.  Pat Ariaz, three-time NCMA Pavement Champion fielded his brand new wide bodied car and lost a wheel which in turn caused other problems.  Rob Hammond 2007 Dirt Champion and runner up for the Overall Championship lost his engine. Qualifying was pretty exciting as a couple of “mature” pilots were one-two.  Ed Amador, 2007 Pavement and Overall NCMA Champion set fast time, with Mr. Smooth, Gary Koster qualifying second.  In his Sophomore year on asphalt, David Goodwill was third. Burt Siverling of Concord, and Manteca’s Jeff Burrows brought the pack to the green flag. Siverling took the first lap and then Burrows had a run at it but before he knew it, Koster took the lead and kept it for the next eighteen laps to take home the trophy. There was lots of movement behind Koster as Burrows, Amador and Goodwill were running hard to catch Koster.  Amador finally took and kept the second spot with Goodwill claiming third.  Speaking with Burrows after the race, he commented on the wind velocity,” The wind was blowing right down the front stretch and it was really scary, I don’t remember it ever being that bad.” Kudo’s to Rookie David Burchett.  First time run, did very well, kept it on the track, and loaded it on the trailer in one piece. Way to go David, and crew. NCMA Sprints will begin their 2008 Select Series Dirt Program next Friday, April 25^th at Chowchilla Speedway.  This will be an interesting race with new track promoter, Chuck Griffin.  Griffin is noted for his great track setups and the dirt bunch is ready to try it.  See you there!         

By Sharyn Bragg

Third annual NCMA Sprints-Frank's One Stop Car Show coming right up. The first outing of the last three racing seasons has begun with a racer-fan gathering at Frank's One Stop on the corner of Yosemite and Airport Way, Manteca, CA.

 This will be held on Saturday, March 29.  Hours will be 10 am until 2 pm. You can see from the photos, everyone had a great time and the weather should be fine. Join us for a great 2008 season kickoff!

2007 Race Season Archive:

A Look Back At 2007

May 19,2007 at Altamont

David Goodwill,#3 and Dusty Renteria, 18h.  This was Goodwills's first season on pavement and he ended up fourth in the overall points.

Black and Black! Burt Siverling,#77, and David Goodwill,#3 laying it down on the asphalt of Altamont.

Burt Siverling,#77 and Denny Burrell,#88, Siverling has been in NCMA Sprints for as many years as there has been an organization.  Burrell has begun his first full season with the group.

Dusty Renteria,#18, Pat Ariaz,#XX, Jimmy Lavell,#02, and Michael Zarevich,#42 bring a heat along the back straight at Altamont Motorsports Park.

Ed Amador, #76, Michael Zarevich, #42, Gary Koster, #17K, and Jimmy Lavell,#02 in formation to start the Trophy Dash of the day.  Koster took the win on this one.

At the end of the day Jimmy Lavell had the trophy to take home for the main event.

2007 Race Season Archive Continued:

NCMA is proud to present the 2007 Overall Champion - Ed Amador!

Photos of Ed Amador taken at Madera Speedway in the beginning of the season May 5, 2007.  His win went on to add to his overall points for the season.

Amador was also the Pavement Champion for the season.

2007 Select Series Champion - Kent Stephens!

The Select Series is composed of 360 two barrel carb engines from any organization running engines and rules like NCMA Sprints.

Close to 30 cars ran in the series this year. Kent Stephens from Modesto, Ca. won the Select Series title for 2007.

2007 Dirt Champion - Rob Hammond!

Hammond (17h) racing with Ed Amador (76). Hammond (17h) just ahead of Ed Amador (76), in fact that's how the points ended.

Hammond 3 POINTS ahead of Amador to win the championship!

September 2007 Archive:

Amador Takes Last Pavement Win for 2007

 NCMA Sprints | Altamont Motorsports Park | Tracy, CA | September 29, 2007

Modesto’s “Racing Farmer” Ed Amador tamed the “Fastest Half Mile in the West” this evening to win the race and the NCMA Sprints Pavement Championship for 2007.  Going into the evening Amador was only slightly ahead of Jimmy Lavell in the points chase, but managed to widen the gap by the end of the night.

David Goodwill was the fast qualifier for the evening; during one of his practice runs he averaged more than 100 miles an hour. He also posted over 100 mph during one of the laps in the heat.  He almost joined Lavell in the 100 mile an hour club 

and we’ll probably see that happen in the 2008 season.  Lavell was second quick with Jeff Burrows, Michael Zarevich, and Ed Amador running the top five fast times.

The heat race ended up in a pretty wild ride for Lavell.  He was running on the outside of E. Amador and rubbing is sometimes racing but in open wheel racing it gets pretty nasty sometimes as Lavell launched off of one of Amador’s wheels and ended up in the turn 3-4 wall with his tail crammed up to his back.  The 02 sprint was pretty well finished and Lavell was having some back pain.  When Lavell launched, Zarevich was trying to avoid another problem, also went over Amador’s wheel but landed on all four, managed to go in for repairs and came back out to finish the heat in fifth.  Rob Hammond won the heat and went on to win the Trophy Dash. The evening looked like Hot Rod Hammond had the night in his pocket, but he suffered engine problems and was not able to run the main. 

The 20 lap main had Ed Amador and Michael Zarevich trying for the win, E. Amador pulled it off with Zarevich second.  Jeff Burrows ran a close third with Goodwill fourth and Denny Burrell, in his first run on pavement since he lost his car at Madera Speedway, rounding out the top five.  The last main event for 2007 ran 20 clean, caution free laps in just over six minutes.

Championship results and points to be posted soon.  Also fans, friends and family stay tuned for information on the NCMA Sprints banquet to be held November 10.  

Summary:

Heat I-Hammond, Goodwill, E. Amador, Steve Amador, Zarevich, M. Amador, Burrell, Burrows, Lavell.

Dash-Hammond, Zarevich, Goodwill, E. Amador

Main-E. Amador, Zarevich, Burrows, Goodwill, Burrell, S. Amador, M. Amador

By Sharyn Bragg

Nick Green Wins NCMA Select Series Finale

 NCMA Sprints | Kings Speedway | Hanford CA | September 15, 2007

 In his first run with NCMA this season Nick Green made the season finale his first win.  Green is certainly an up and comer and should be seen around for many seasons to come. 

Ed Amador and Bill Hopper led the first heat to the start, with Kent Stephens and Wes Gutierrez behind them, Denny Burrell and Cameron Beard making up the final row.  Stephens, current Select Series points’ leader made short work of the eight lap dash.  Hopper held on to second.   Gutierrez and Amador finished third and fourth, respectively.  TJ Smith and Kris Koontz started first and second for heat #2, Rob Hammond and Nick Green filling the next row.  Brian Sperry and Jace VanderWeer headed up the third row and Doug Gandy, Jr. brought up the tail.  Smith, in only his fourth NCMA start, grabbed the win with Rob Hammond coming in second.  Green took third and Sperry, fourth.

Stephens took the checkered for the Trophy Dash, with Hopper second.  Hammond, third and Smith having received a bump on the rump giving him a DNF for the dash. 

The twenty lap Main Event was started with Sperry on the pole and Amador shotgun.  Green and Gutierrez (in only his second 360 start) started third and fourth.  Stephens took the green in fifth.  Sperry didn’t quite make it to the halfway mark and was out with mechanical issues.  Koontz was involved in a racing incident with Beard and launched into a triple summersault.  Green, Stephens, Smith and Gutierrez were gone like a freight train.  Looking like the brat pack at full throttle, they came in first, second, third, and fourth.  Hammond brought his red and white rocket into fifth and the 2007 NCMA Select Series is history.

Join NCMA Sprints at Altamont Motorsports Park this Saturday, September 22 for their final Pavement Race of the season.  For further information please see AltamontMotorsports.com or NCMASprints.com.

Summary:

Heat I-Stephens, Hopper, Gutierrez, Amador, Beard, Burrell.

Heat II-Smith, Hammond, Green, Sperry, VanderWeer, Koontz

Dash-Stephens, Hopper, Hammond,

Main-Green, Stephens, Smith, Gutierrez, Hammond, Beard, Amador, Burrell, Gandy, Koontz, Sperry, VanderWeer, Hopper.   

By Sharyn Bragg

Stephens Takes the Lead in Select Series

 NCMA Sprints | Kings Speedway | Hanford, CA | September 8, 2007

Kent Stephens, the young sprint driver who has been showing his stuff at various dirt tracks, claimed the win tonight in the 25 lap main at Kings Speedway.  With one dirt race remaining and also the final Select Series run for 2007, Stephens looks to have it all pointing in his direction.

After starting in the back, Dan Gonderman running the 99 sprinter of Sam Davies, made it to the front of the first heat in five of eight laps and held on for the win.  Ed Amador was right with him to take second.  Cameron Beard was third and the newest Rookie in the group, Wes Gutierrez locked down fourth.  The second heat found Stephens race green to checkered in the number one position.  T.J. Smith started in the back and came through to second.  Rob Hammond was third, and Kris Koontz, long time racer first time NCMA Select Series run was fourth. 

The Trophy Dash had four furious laps, with the start being the finish.  Seventeen year old T.J. Smith raced all laps out in front, but the “Racing Farmer” from Modesto, Ed Amador finished in second. College Biology Major, Kent Stephens, was third, and Gonderman finished fourth.

The main event started with an eight car inversion putting the Koontz Construction #22 on the pole.  Gutierrez piloting the Styles Collision Center #7 sprinter was outside front row.  Hammond’s Hale Lumber red and white rocket was inside and the Power Up Concrete Pumping 19B had Beard start outside second row.  The starter threw the green and the race was on.  Gutierrez grabbed the lead and held on for several laps.  Smith and Stephens worked their way up and around Koontz and then Gutierrez, running one-two.  About the halfway point Stephens took the lead.  Gutierrez had problems and exited the track.  Not long after, Smith suffered a problem and left the track.  Koontz took over the second spot.  Hammond was coming in at third.  Fourth was taken by Amador and Bill Hopper rounded out the top five.  Doug Gandy Jr. who has been doing pretty well this season had a rough night.  Doug Sr. left Jr. to run on his own. Jr. said served him right with a rookie pit crew, they forgot to fuel up after the heat and he didn’t make it to far in the main!    This race was an outstanding Select Series race. No cautions, just good, hard, clean racing.  NCMA Sprints will do it again next Saturday night September 15 at Kings Speedway to finish their dirt series. See you there!

By Sharyn Bragg

August 2007 Archive:

Zarevich Breaks Through

Car owner David Burchett of Tracy and Driver, Michael Zarevich of Manteca posted their first win ever at Madera Speedway with NCMA Sprints.

Zarevich is a school district administrator for Manteca schools.

 NCMA Sprints | Madera Speedway | Madera, CA | August 18, 2007

After a tough season, Michael Zarevich, Co-Champion for the 2006 season, took home the Trophy for the last race at Madera Speedway for this year.  In fact, this is his first ever win in NCMA.  Zarevich has worked putting a ride together and part of the win goes to car owner David Burchett who will be running with NCMA Sprints next year.  Both men have worked hard to keep the car on the track and Zarevich drove it like he “owned” it for the win.  This evening’s race made all of this season’s effort worth it!  

Two Trophy Dashes were held with the top four qualifiers making the first dash and the rest running the second dash.

Ed Amador, who was fast time this evening, filled the last starting position with frequent top qualifier, Jimmy Lavell on the inside.  David Goodwill was on the pole with Jeff Burrows next to him.  In four quick laps, Lavell held the trophy and Goodwill came in second.  Burrows and E. Amador were third and fourth.

The second dash had Zarevich winning with Denny Burrell second and Rob Hammond third.  Mark Amador was having problems and did not compete, taking the time instead   to get the car ready for the thirty lap main event.

Mark Amador and Michael Zarevich brought the pack to the green to begin the main event.  Completing the first lap, several sprints got caught up in a “racing incident,” after the dust settled Lavell ended up the worst for wear.  He was able to get it drivable and back on the track.   Zarevich was holding the lead, but not with out contenders.  Rob Hammond was giving him a pretty good run.   Ed Amador finally got around Hammond and let Zarevich know he was right there.  Meanwhile, Lavell was making a charge for the front and got tangled up with Denny Burrell, putting them both out for the evening.  Shortly after that, E. Amador had to exit as his car was smoking, problems with an oil leak in the rear end.  Zarevich came in winner, with Hammond making a great second, and Burrows finishing third.  Fourth position was taken by David Goodwill, and Mark Amador’s choice to sit out the dash brought him a fifth place finish.

As erroneously stated, this is not the last pavement race for 2007.  The last pavement race is scheduled for Altamont Motorsports Park on Saturday, September 22, 2007.  There are two Select Series races scheduled for September 8th and September 15^th.  Both will be run at Kings Speedway, Hanford.  If you have or wish to run in these final two dirt races for 2007, please contact Vickie Lozano whose phone number and e-mail address are listed on the NCMASprints.com web site. 

 By Sharyn Bragg

Lavell Takes Pavement Points Lead

 NCMA Sprints | Altamont Motorsports Park | Tracy, CA | August 11, 2007

Jimmy Lavell won his fourth pavement race this evening at Altamont Motorsports Park to take the lead in the season pavement points.  With only one scheduled pavement race left, running at Madera Speedway next Saturday, and fifteen points separating Lavell and Ed Amador, the Pavement Points Championship is still up in the air.  It will be one to watch as it goes into the book.   

Lavell once again set fast time this evening, with Michael Zarevich coming right in behind him.  E. Amador was third, David Goodwill fourth and Jeff Burrows fifth.  In a rare occurrence, five cars were allowed to run the Trophy Dash.  Burrows and Goodwill were one-two.  Lavell and Amador were second row and Zarevich started last.  Goodwill took his classy Napa Auto Parts sprinter right to the lead.  By the second go-round, Lavell was trying to take it over, looked as if he got into the marbles on the outside and bobbled enough to have the field get past him.  Goodwill continued his quest, taking his first pavement Trophy Dash win.  Burrows came in second, E. Amador, third, Zarevich and Lavell finishing fourth and fifth.

After a six car inversion, Steve Amador and Rob Hammond brought the pack to the green.  Hammond went right to the lead, looking very strong.  Lavell who started in sixth position worked his way to the front by lap four.  Hammond was holding onto second and doing a good job until he got squirrelly, then bobbled again and exited the track.  Lavell was still in the lead, with the real race going on behind him as Burrows, E. Amador and Zarevich looked like a freight train hooked up.  Hammond was able to reenter the track and continue the race, but Goodwill was up close to the back stretch wall and off on the hook.  At the end of the race, Goodwill offered “We’ve had some problems (today) and no sense wadding it up in the wall.”  Two-thirds of the race E. Amador nearly lost it and Zarevich knew exactly what to do as he took over third.  Burrows was still holding second.  S. Amador got squirrelly going into turn one turned his 360 sprint around and came down nose first, leaving Denny Burrell with no place to go but up and over Amador.  Fortunately they were both able to continue.  Several laps later the thirty lap main event was complete, and Lavell has his fourth main event win of 2007.  Burrows, Zarevich, and E. Amador, were second, third, fourth and S. Amador rounded out the top five including the spinout! Of note: Gary Koster who has been the pavement points leader, has opted out to care for wife Jeanette as she continues with health issues.  The NCMA family offers them both prayers and good wishes

NCMA Sprints will be competing at Madera Speedway in the last 2007 scheduled pavement race next Saturday night. For further information check it out on RaceMadera.com.  See you there!

By Sharyn Bragg

July 2007 Archive:

Tom Sagmiller,(purple shirt) Promoter for Chowchilla Speedway pictured with NCMA Race Promoter Ed Amador

 Sagmiller announced that Chowchilla will not run the rest of the 2007 season due to unforseen circumstances.

 NCMA wishes to thank Tom and Cindy Sagmiller for the hospitality and caring they have given the racing community through the years.  We wish them well in all future endevors.

Two out of Four for Stephens

 NCMA Sprints | Chowchilla Speedway | Chowchilla, CA | July 21, 2007

Young Kent Stephens of Modesto was the best of the best this evening as he won his second race in the NCMA Select Series at Chowchilla Speedway.  The fourth race in the Select Series is giving Stephens the chance to show what he knows.  He tamed the wild track at Rattlesnake Raceway, Fallon, Nevada and came back to grab the win at Chowchilla to show he’s got the stuff! 

Two heats were run with NCMA’s Rob Hammond finishing first, Dave Press, second, David Goodwill, third and T. J. Smith finishing fourth.  The second heat had Stephens taking the win, Dan Gonderman, current points’ leader in the Select Series, second, Bill Macedo, third, and Denny Burrell, fourth.

Rob Hammond, who has been posting his best season to date with NCMA, pulled a straight up start which put him on the pole.  Stephens sat the shotgun.  Press, who has had more than one win on the Chowchilla dirt, started the inside second row, Gonderman outside and Goodwill was number five to go.  The first lap brought out the first caution flag.   Cameron Beard started a spinout, Ed Amador spun out to avoid hitting Beard and Keith Shipherd jumped a wheel and broke his power steering to put him on the hook too early in the race.  About the halfway mark, Jimmy Lavell after sitting out the heats because of a leaky power steering pump had to give up his run, as fluid was coming out and not doing what it was supposed to be doing.  Doug Gandy, Jr. pulled off several laps later with problems after posting his best finish at Kings Speedway, Hanford several weeks ago.  Hammond made a real run for the money and it took Stephens awhile to gain the lead.  Hammond was still second for the evening. Press finished third.  Goodwill who is finally beginning to look like he’s got a handle on it, took fourth and Gonderman rounded out the top five.

NCMA has cancelled it Select Series race Saturday, August 4^th at Hanford.  This Select Series race is rescheduled for Chowchilla on August 25^th.  Pavement will rule the next running for NCMA as they return to the “Fastest Half Mile in the West” Altamont Motorsports Park, Tracy, and CA. on Saturday, August 11^th.

Summary:

Heat I-Hammond, Press, Goodwill, TJ Smith, Beard, Amador, Bill Hopper.

Heat II-Stephens, Gonderman, Macedo, Burrell, Gandy,Jr., Shipherd.

Main-Stephens, Hammond, Press, Goodwill, Gonderman, Beard, Hopper, Burrell, Smith, Amador.     Macedo, Gandy,Jr., Lavell, Shipherd.

Select Series Standings:

Gonderman, Stephens, Hammond, Amador, Goodwill, Beard, Lavell, Hopper, Shipherd, Caraway, Richards, Ellis, Burrell, Siverling, Butterfield, Gandy,Jr., Hanested, Renteria, Pemberton, Press, Macedo, Ariaz, Humphries. 

By Sharyn Bragg

7/07/07 Lucky For Lavell

 NCMA Sprints | Madera Speedway | Madera, CA | July 7, 2007

Jimmy Lavell had the luck of the 777’s with him this evening as he almost made it a clean sweep at Madera Speedway. 

NCMA Sprints were returning to the one-third mile pavement track for a make-up rain date. On this very hot July day, Lavell’s Randy Jones Const.#02 was pretty hot as he set fast time.  Ed Amador  was second quick, and Gary Koster was third.  The evening was already interesting as these are the top points guys to date. 

Denny Burrell, who was fourth quick, started the Trophy Dash on the pole, with current pavement points leader, Koster beside him, Amador and Lavell behind them.  Burrell held his own the first round,  Lavell made it up close, but Burrell was met from behind by Amador and Koster made it around for the win. Amador was second, Lavell , third and Burrell fourth.

Heats were run. Jeff Burrows won the first heat.  Bill Zarevich came in second. Rob Hammond was third, and a much under weather Michael Zarevich was fourth. The second heat had Lavell starting in the back and finishing in the front. Burrell was next, Koster third and Amador was fourth.

The thirty lap Santos Ford-Toscano RV-Westside Ford sponsored Main Event began with Michael Zarevich on the pole and Burrows holding the shotgun position.  Hammond inside second row and Burrell on the outside.  As Zarevich and Burrows brought them to the green, Lavell who was several rows back started working to the front.  He made it in short order and half a lap ahead of the rest of the pack.  M. Zarevich was holding onto second with Koster breathing down his neck.  A third of the way in, Koster had gotten around M. Zarevich and was trying to chase down Lavell.  Hammond was doing a great job and achieved third behind Koster.  M. Zarevich was starting to fade but finished fourth by the skin of his teeth.  Amador rounded out the top  five for this close to Fourth of July  spectacular green to checkered race.

NCMA Sprints will be spending the next week getting ready for a return race on Saturday, July 21 at Chowchilla Speedway.  This will be the next in the Select Series which invites like 2 barrel carb 360 sprints to compete on the dirt. For further information please check our website at NCMASprints.com or ChowchillaSpeedway.com.

By Sharyn Bragg

June 2007 Archive:

Amador Adds Dirt Win to Championship Quest

 NCMA Sprints | Kings Speedway | Hanford, CA | June  23, 2007

Ed Amador, Modesto’s Racing Farmer, made the dirt track at Hanford look as smooth as  pavement  as he held the lead for the entire Main Event this evening.  Rob Hammond gave him a run for it several times but just couldn’t quite hold the position.  This was a repeat from the heat race as Hammond even had a spin out  in his quest for the lead.  By the time they made it to the main, Hammond wasn’t having any spin out problems and just egged Amador into the lead further.  New comer, TJ Smith in his very first sprint car race, did a great job for a Rookie.  Smith is coming out of Sprint 100’s where he has made quite a name in his young career.  This 16 year old handled himself like he knew exactly what he was doing and he obviously did as he got up beside Hammond and challenged him for second more than once.  He got  up on the rim and lost it in the heat, but he’s a quick learner because he didn’t make the same mistake in the main. He seemed to be able to run it high or run it low didn’t matter he held on for a great third place finish.  Doug Gandy Jr. in his second full season, had a personal best race as he finish the main in fourth.

NCMA Sprints will have a week free to spend with family and friends before they return to Madera Speedway to make up a spring rain date.  Gary Koster, who is concentrating on pavement only this season, while wife Jeanette recovers from recent surgery, is in the number one seat.  Ed Amador is only six points behind him. Last year’s co-champion, Jimmy Lavell is in third with only six points between him and Amador.  Fourth place is currently being held by Jeff Burrows, and Rob Hammond is only five points behind Burrows to round out the top five.  Join NCMA Sprints Saturday, July 7^th to see who comes out on top of the heap!  For further information, check out RaceMadera.com or NCMASprints.com.

By Sharyn Bragg

Thank You From Jeanette Koster:

Gary and I want to thank you "NCMA" for all the thoughtful gestures, the get well card signed by the membership, and all the prayers and concern you have given me during my surgery and recovery.
Just knowing Gary has a second family with NCMA is a comfort to us both. He enjoys the races so much but also all his friends. This has helped him thru out my ordeal.
I am getting better each day although I am pretty tired of being laid up! Gary is a wonderful caregiver however, and I couldn't have made it through without him.
We just celebrated our 51st anniversary (the day after Gary's win at Altamont!) What a great present.

Thanks again you guys and all of NCMA.

Jeanette

Koster is #1 Dad of the Race

 NCMA Sprints | Altamont Motorsports Park | Tracy, CA  | June 16, 2007

Woodland’s Racing Granddad was top Dad for this Father’s Day Weekend race at Altamont Motorsports Park.  In fact he almost made the evening a clean sweep!

Brentwood’s Jimmy Lavell had high hopes to make it a “three peat” this evening as he nailed down fast time.  Two heats were held with pavement rookie David Goodwill from Napa taking first and Morgan Hill’s racing rocket, Rob Hammond taking second.  Koster, in his Ramos Oil #17k was number one with Lavell’s Harvest Park Bowl #02 coming in second in the second heat.

The Dash, which is always made up of the four fastest sprints of the evening, had Koster take the win. Lavell made if from the last spot to the second spot.  Ed Amador gave son Steve Amador no gifts this evening as he came in third and left the younger Amador in fourth.

The Main Event started off with Goodwill holding the pole and Hammond starting beside him.  Don Hicks gave himself an early Father’s Day gift and brought out a borrowed race car for his first run in two seasons to fill the third starting spot.  Denny Burrell, in his first race since a nasty flip at Rattlesnake Raceway in Fallon, Nevada started fourth and S. Amador started the top five. Hammond jumped out to take the lead and held on for twenty six laps of the thirty lap event.  Just a few laps in Lavell had traveled from the last row to third behind Goodwill, Koster made it from sixth to fourth, and E. Amador was holding fifth.  A red flag was thrown as Siverling had a leaking valve cover gasket which created a fire.  He got stopped safely and racing resumed.  Hammond maintained the lead but Lavell had gotten past Goodwill for second, Koster made it to third in another round with E. Amador in fourth.  Goodwill held down fifth.  A couple more rounds and Koster zipped past Lavell.  Koster watched Hammond like a dog on a fox hunt and jumped past him to take the lead with three remaining laps, winning the Mauri Financial Services Race.  Hammond had his best pavement finish since running with the NCMA Sprints coming home in second.  Lavell finished a hard fought third.  E. Amador took fourth and Goodwill had a great fifth place finish rounding out the top five.  Coming through the pits at the end of the race, Koster gave Hammond a big thumbs up and Hammond gave him a playful response,” Next time, Old Man, next time.”

The NCMA Pavement points lead changed from E. Amador to Koster this evening. E. Amador is still holding a close second, Lavell, Burrows, Hammond, S. Amador, Zarevich, Goodwill, P. Ariaz, Burrell, Siverling, Rentoria, Hicks complete the rest of the field.

Summary:

Heat I: Goodwill, Hammond, Hicks, Siverling, Burrows.

Heat II: Koster, Lavell, Burrell, E. Amador, S. Amador.

Dash: Koster, Lavell, E. Amador, S. Amador.

Main: Koster, Hammond, Lavell, E. Amador, Goodwill, Burrell, S. Amador, Hicks, Siverling.

By Sharyn Bragg

“Gentleman Jim” Does It Again!

Jimmy Lavell, Trophy Girls, Randy Jones on far left and Robby Ingersol far right, the 02 crew.

 NCMA Sprints | Madera Speedway | Madera, CA | June 9, 2007

Jimmy Lavell enjoys the pavement and apparently knows how to make it work for him.  He had a great evening and now has a win at both pavement tracks that NCMA Sprints race on.

After several weeks of “playing in the dirt”, the sprints returned to the asphalt of Madera Speedway to have one of the highlight runs of the 2007 season to date.   

Qualifying gave Lavell of Brentwood a feather in his cap as he broke his own fast time record.  The Trophy Dash was set up with the four fastest times in tonight’s field.  Justin Funkhouser, rookie pavement driver, traveled from Paradise to participate this evening and went home the winner in tonight’s dash.  Gary Koster, gave him a go but just could not get around him.  Lavell came in third and Rob Hammond finished it up in fourth.  Quick, smooth and exciting!

Two heats were held, with Napa’s “Driving Dentist” David Goodwill coming out on top.  Goodwill driving his Napa Auto Parts 3G, is getting the grip on pavement after very few starts! This is the dirt driver’s initial year at trying it on the asphalt.   On the other hand, Ed Amador, a master of the pavement, blew by son Steve on the very last lap, coming out of turn four to win the second heat.  Fans yelled their approval at the surprise outcome. The younger Amador was doing a great job up until then holding off all comers.

The thirty lap Main Event was set with a complete invert of the field.  Michael Zarevich and Mike Funkhouser (traveling from Magalia) made up the starting row.  Jeff Burrows and Lavell made up row two and the two #17’s made up the third row, #17K-Koster and 17H-Hammond.  Funkhouser made that big tow only to have something go wrong and put him out before the first lap was completed.” I didn’t want to put anyone else or myself out.” When asked what went on at the completion of the race. This moved Lavell into the outside front; he got a better start than Zarevich and went right to the front spending the entire race about a half track lead on the rest of the pack.  This was a great evening of racing as not one yellow flew.  Ed Amador had an issue about two-thirds of the way in and pulled to the infield to keep the yellow from coming out, until that he was totally competitive.  Little fireworks were going on all over the track as Burrows and Koster were duking it out with Koster finally ending the evening in second.  Burrows was still third.  Even though Zarevich was having some set up problems in his Kaos Motorsports sprinter he still came in fourth, and Rob Hammond did a nice job of rounding out the top five.

Asphalt racing at its best as NCMA Sprints return to the “Fastest Half Mile in the West” Altamont Motorsports Park next Saturday night, June 16. For further information check out websites at AltamontMotorsportspark.com and NCMAsprints.com.

Summary:

HeatI-Goodwill, Funkhouser, Koster, Burrows, Zarevich

Heat II-E. Amador, S. Amador, Hammond, Lavell, M. Funkhouser

Dash-J. Funkhouser, Koster, Lavell, Hammond

Main-Lavell, Koster, Burrows, Zarevich,m Hammond, J. Funkhouser, Goodwill, S. Amador, E. Amador, M. Funkhouser.

By Sharyn Bragg

Steve Pemberton Scores first NCMA Win

NCMA Sprints | Chowchilla Speedway | June 2, 2007

Steve Pemberton came to run with NCMA this evening because it’s the “closest track to home.” and took home the win!  Pemberton comes by this somewhat naturally. His grandpa is one of the racing Hogge’s (The II) and dad, Walter Pemberton is wrenching on the car too.  Good racer + Good Crew = win.

The evening started with heats being run.  Dan Gonderman of Antioch, leader in both Select Series points and NCMA Dirt points, took the lead from the get go.  Pemberton was not far behind to claim second and a spot in the Trophy Dash.  Heat II had Keith Shipherd from Pleasant Hill get around Atwater’s Cameron Beard but both claimed  Trophy Dash spots. 

The Dash was set, Beard drew the pole, Pemberton on the outside, Shipherd behind Beard, and Gonderman, last man in.  Beard made a good go of it, as he kept the lead.  Pemberton  stuck right with him to end in second.  Shipherd made a slip to the high side and Gonderman took third.

The Main Event started with Jimmy Lavell’s Mauri Financial Services Sprinter on the pole, “Dinamite” Dave Press in the shot gun.  Concord’s Burt Siverling and David Goodwill from Napa made up the second row.  The Power Up Concrete Pumping sprint piloted by Beard held the five spot to start.   Pemberton was supposed to start next to Beard, but his car wouldn’t start and he had to go to the very last position.  Press grabbed the lead and was holding on well.  Lavell was sticking up there pretty good and holding second.  Goodwill  had Gonderman right on his tail trying to root him out of third.  This was making some pretty exciting racing.  By this time, Pemberton was working his Midstate Fleet Repair #43 around everyone, by lap eight he was in second and challenging Press for the lead.  Run up on Press, backing off, running up and backing off.  With about five laps to go Press made that one bobble, and Pemberton knew what to do about it. Pemberton took the win, and Press was right behind him.  Lavell had his best ever finish on dirt with third.  Goodwill’s Lito Auto Body racer finished fourth and Gonderman rounded out the top five for owner Sam Davies. Beard had a tough finish to the evening as he ran over another racer’s tire and busted his rear end.  “I’ve got another one” he stated after the race and he will be there again.

NCMA Sprints return to the Pavement of Madera Speedway this Saturday night, June 9^th.

For more details check out RaceMadera.com.

Summary:

Heat I- Gonderman, Pemberton, Goodwill, Press, Rob Hammond.

Heat II- Shipherd, Beard, Siverling, Lavell, Ed Amador.

Dash- Beard, Pemberton, Gonderman, Shipherd.

NCMA Sprints | Chowchilla Speedway | June 2, 2007

 By Sharyn Bragg

May 2007 Archive:

DOUBLE HEADER FOR MEMORIAL WEEKEND

NCMA Sprints | May 26 &27, 2007 | Reno-Fernley, NV

Tony Richards takes Reno-Fernley Raceway for his first NCMA Select Series win. Kent Stephens was close Saturday, had some bad luck, but proved he can race just about any track he runs on as he made the win at Rattlesnake Raceway to complete the double header for Memorial Weekend.

NCMA Sprints Select Series traveled to Nevada for a racing weekend in the desert.  Two totally different tracks and 360’s from several different clubs to bring together a great weekend of racing. 

Heats were held at Reno-Fernley Raceway.  In Heat I a little pushing and shoving went on and several sprints ended off with fix-it problems.  Tony Richards of Orland and Ed Amador of Modesto took the two top spots to transfer to the Dash.  In heat II- Antioch’s Dan Gonderman beat Keith Shipherd for the front position but Shipherd from Pleasant Hill, held his own and finished right behind him.  The Trophy Dash line up was now complete with Shipherd on the pole and Amador on the outside.  Gonderman second row inside and Richards in the fourth position.  However, Shipherd was late to come out and started at the back.  Four furious laps and Gonderman came from the back to the front to win. 

After the inversion, Kent Stephens of Modesto and Brentwood’s Jimmy Lavell brought the land bound rockets to the green to begin the main event.  Shipherd,  Amador, Gonderman and Richards were running pretty close.   Amador had a spin out and brought out the yellow.  Several laps around and another yellow as a sprinter went over the top of turn one.  Stephens was still in the lead, but Richards had taken the second spot.  Lavell, Gonderman and Shipherd were running the top five.  By the halfway point, Shipherd had a spinout, but Rob Hammond had come up five places to be running fifth.  With only a few laps to go, Stephens had a heart breaker as he totally wore out a tire and lost the lead to Richards.  Gonderman was giving Richards a run for it but everyone had laid the rubber down on this tough track and was hanging on.  At the checkered flag, Richards did take the win.  Gonderman finished second; Hammond from Morgan Hill was third.  Atwater’s Cameron Beard was fourth. and Lavell rounded out the top five.  After winning Richards stated,” I was just trying to run easy” (on the tires).

Summary:

Heat I:Richards, Amador, Lavell, Burt Siverling, Beard, Bill Hopper, David Goodwill,           

           Dusty Renteria, Denny Burrell.

Heat II: Gonderman, Shipherd, Stephens,  Doug Butterfield, Hammond, Dave Ellis, Troy

              Troy Caraway, Pat Ariaz.

Dash: Gonderman, Amador, Richards, Shipherd 

Main: Richards, Gonderman, Hammond, Beard, Lavell, Butterfield, Amador, Burrell, Goodwill, Caraway, Stephens, Ellis, Siverling, Shipherd, Renteria, Ariaz, Hopper,

NCMA Sprints | Rattlesnake Raceway | Sunday, May 27^th

 Refreshed and ready to race the NCMA Sprints Select Series made their first ever race at Rattlesnake Raceway, Fallon, NV.  As flat as Fernley is, the track at Fallon is like a bowl with fifteen degrees up the sides and as much as twenty one at the top.    

 Racers were eager to try the new venue. 

Heats were held with Tony Richards and Kent Stephens in the one- two spots for the first one and Dan Gonderman and Troy Caraway taking the respective positions for the second heat.  The Trophy Dash was run with Stephens taking the win, Richards right behind him, Gonderman finishing third and Caraway, fourth.

Kudos to the staff of Rattlesnake Raceway who took a break before the thirty lap main event and literally fixed a couple of big ruts for the safety of the sprints.  They held for the total race.

After the inversion, Ed Amador and Keith Shipherd made up the front row.  Caraway and Stephens, row two and Gonderman and Richards were third row.  Amador held the lead for several rounds, but young pup Stevens got by the venerable Amador and the race was on!  After Stephens took the lead he never relinquished it, but Amador did not quit trying and definitely gave him something to worry about.  Shipherd stuck to this track and finished in third.  About halfway through the race a big brou haha took place in turn three-four as a chain reaction happened with Dusty Renteria taking a flip and landing on Richards’ tires, Burrell did a double barrel roll and landed on his head.  Sprint cars were done, but all drivers were ok.  The remainder of the race was quick and fast.  Nineteen year old Kent Stephens took the win and Amador was a close second.  Shipherd was third.  Gonderman, fourth and Hammond again worked from mid pack to finish fifth.

On this great holiday weekend, NCMA Sprints wish to dedicate these races to last year’s Select Series Champion, Gary Koster and his wife Jeanette.  Jeanette has been going through a medical challenge and Gary stayed by her side as she got through a difficult surgery and is entering the recovery period.  Thoughts and best wishes go out to them.

NCMA Sprints will be racing a little closer to home as they return to Chowchilla Speedway this Saturday, June 2.  For more information, please check the web site at NCMASprints.com.

Summary:

Heat I: Richards, Stephens, Shipherd, Butterfield, Lavell, Burrell, Renteria.

Heat II: Gonderman, Caraway, Amador, Hammond, Goodwill, Ellis, Siverling,

              Humphries.

Dash: Stephens, Richards, Gonderman, Caraway.

Main: Stephens, Amador, Shipherd, Gonderman, Hammond, Ellis, Richards, Goodwill,

           Lavell, Caraway, Siverling, Beard, Renteria, Burrell, Hopper, Humphries.

By Sharyn Bragg

Gentleman Jim Has First Win of 2007

Jimmy Lavell accepting his trophy for the main event from Ms. Lisa at Altamont Motorsports Park, Saturday, May 19th

NCMA Sprints | Altamont Motorsports Park | Tracy, CA | May 19, 2007

Additional Race Photos

Brentwood’s Jimmy Lavell had his first win of the 2007 season in an action packed 30 lap main event on the “fastest half mile in the west” this evening.

NCMA Sprints returned for the second time this season to the asphalt of Altamont.  Lavell’s Maurie Financial Services Sprinter was fast time to start the evening.

Two heats were held. Burt Siverling from Concord and Patterson’s Steve Amador brought the first heat to the green flag. Siverling lead the pack for several laps.  Rob Hammond from Morgan Hill got to the front and won the eight lap event.  The second heat had Pat Ariaz start mid pack and take the win.

The Trophy Dash found Ed Amador, current pavement point’s leader, and Michael Zarevich on the front row, with Gary Koster and Lavell behind them.  It took Koster around or two and he had the lead.  Amador was doing fine in second until Lavell snuck past him on the last lap on the last turn to come in second. Amador was third and Zarevich finished fourth.

The Main Event started with an inversion that put Lavell on the pole and Siverling shotgun.  Jeff Burrows, E. Amador and Zarevich made up the five front starters.  Lavell headed for the front and left the rest of the pack behind.  But behind him is where the race was as Burrows, Koster, E. Amador and Zarevich were trading places.  Ariaz was cruising around close to the main pack but ahead of the next group.  Hammond and Steve Amador were doing their race within a race, and David Goodwill, Denny Burrell, and Dusty Renteria were slicing and dicing with each other.  In other words, you could look anywhere on the track and see something going on.  About a third of the way in, Hammond slipped in something, thought he had broken a hose and got off to the in field.  Goodwill was starting to have a problem, and headed for the top of the track.  He was headed for the infield to keep the race green and unfortunately Ariaz was coming off turn four somewhat faster than anyone thought.  A horrendous meeting of sprint cars happened as the XX and 3G met at the bottom of the track.  Ariaz did the big flip and landed on the side of Goodwill’s ride.  Ariaz got his bell rung and Goodwill was also shaken up.   This brought out the red flag.  On the restart, Lavell resumed the lead and won the Randy Jones-Santos Ford, Toscano RV, Westside Ford main event.  Koster had gotten around Burrows for second; he gave Lavell a run for first before the red flag and again after the restart.  He was definitely giving Lavell something to worry about.  E. Amador was running fourth and Zarevich was fifth.  With very few laps to go, E. Amador made it around Burrows for third.  Burrows finished fourth and Zarevich rounded out the top five.

 Altamont seems to have their show on a great schedule for the second season.  The national anthem starts at five and racing was complete before nine.  Fans have time to meet the racers and get home before the sun comes up!  NCMA Sprints will return to the pavement of Altamont on Saturday, June 16^th.  Great way to spend an excitement filled evening.  And speaking of excitement with a capital E, the dirt division of NCMA Sprints will be heading to Reno-Fernley Raceway, Fernley, NV and Rattlesnake Raceway, Fallon, NV for a holiday weekend double header.  Come join us for a totally different way to spend Memorial Day weekend.  For more details, check out the web site at NCMASprints.com. 

Summary:

Main: Lavell, Koster, E. Amador, Burrows, Zarevich, S. Amador, Burrell, Siverling, Renteria, Ariaz, Goodwill, Hammond.

Dash: Koster, Lavell, E. Amador, Zarevich.

Heat I: Hammond, Koster, E. Amador, Siverling, Burrell.

By Sharyn Bragg

Hanestad Takes the First 2007 Win for Select Series

Winner, First Select Series Race at Kings Speedway, Darrel Hanestad, and the ladies!

 NCMA Sprints | Kings Speedway | Hanford, CA | May 12, 2007

Darrell Hanestad had a winner’s streak going for the weekend as he had a win at Silver Dollar Speedway last night and claimed the checkered tonight at Kings Speedway.

NCMA Sprints haven’t run the Hanford three-eight mile in many years.  In fact it was the first time many drivers had even seen the banked dirt oval. 

In the first heat, Burt Siverling and Dave Ellis tried to bring the pack around to the green, but Ellis was having a hard time and finally started in the rear.  Dan Gonderman, starting behind Ellis was hanging back just enough to get a run for the lead and managed it by the end of the second lap. Rob Hammond finished second, and Siverling ended up third in the eight lap event.  Jimmy Lavell and Cameron Beard brought the second heat to the start.  Fast and hard with lots of action all over the track as Hanestad came in first, Steve Pemberton, second, and Beard was third.

The number ten pill was pulled and gave the start a ten car inversion.  Troy Caraway and David Goodwill filled the front row, Kent Stevens and Siverling respectively behind them and Beard made the five front starters.   Starting was hard, on the third go round

the caution was thrown as Bill Hopper had problems.  Trying to get with it, Hopper was given the boot by Ellis who had no where to go. They were both out for the night.  Several more rounds and Hanestad had the lead.  He managed to find his way around this dirt track that one racer described as “having furrows in it big enough to plant asparagus in.”  Fast and furious racing was happening all around the track, and Hanestad had it figured out as he started lapping cars before it was over with.  Steve Pemberton finished in second in his first ever run with the NCMA Sprints.  Stevens managed to hold on for third.  Gonderman driving for Sam Davies was fourth and Goodwill rounded out the top five.

NCMA Sprints will make several more trips to Kings Speedway this season, please check our schedule for 2007 at NCMAsprints.com.

Altamont Raceway will been the venue for this Saturday, May 19^th as the Pavement Series resumes after a week off.  Join us for some of the best open wheel racing on the “Fastest Half Mile in the West.”

Summary:

Heat I-Gonderman, Hammond, Siverling, Goodwill, Hopper.

Heat II-Hanestad, Pemberton, Beard, Stevens, Caraway, Ed Amador, Lavell, Doug Gandy, Jr.

Main-Hanestad, Pemberton, Stevens, Gonderman, Goodwill, Caraway, Beard, Amador, Hammond, Lavell, Siverling, Hopper, Ellis.

By Sharyn Bragg

Ed Amador had another great evening as he won his second pavement race of 2007.  After a rainout of the first scheduled race for NCMA Sprints at Madera Speedway, racing was the order of this day. 

Harvest Park Bowl’s Jimmy Lavell had fast time this evening and will be the one to top in the coming weeks at Madera.  Gary Koster, in the Ramos Oil 17K was second quick and unfortunately lost the rest of the night as his rear motor plate broke and he was done. 

The Trophy Dash found E. Amador on the pole after Koster couldn’t make the run. Jeff Burrows on the outside, Pat Ariaz inside, second row and Quick guy Lavell on the outside. Burrows knew how to get the job done and in four furious laps took the win.  The rest of the pack jockeyed around with E. Amador coming in second, Lavell, third and Ariaz fourth.

Two Heats were run and the A’s had them!  Heat #1 found Steve Amador’s Home Owners Electric sprinter start in the last position and take the win in eight laps.  It was a tough start for Dusty Renteria and Burt Siverling as they took a spin together. Siverling took the worse of it and made an exit via the hook. Renteria finished the heat.  Heat#2 had Ed Amador finishing first.  Pat Ariaz came in second after starting in the last row.

The Santos Ford-Toscano RV-Westside Ford sponsored 35 Lap Main Event got under way with Denny Burrell and Lavell bringing the NCMA Sprints to the green flag.  Lavell looked like the rocket man as he grabbed the first spot and after several laps was half a track ahead of the pack.  Zarevich was around Burrell to take second.  E. Amador also got around for third.  S. Amador was following dad, Ed for fourth and Burrows was running fifth.  E. Amador worked some laps trying to take second from Zarevich and finally got by him. Lavell was still a rocket ship until his ride took dive and just petered out.  E. Amador took the lead and Zarevich was making runs to rout him out.  Amador was just cool and collected as he very carefully made the turns and used the hot foot on the straights.  Zarevich was happy to claim second after some early day mechanical problems.  Burrows had a great third place finish.  Steve Amador had an excellent run as he finished fourth.  The Hale Lumber #17 piloted by Rob Hammond rounded out the top five.

The Dirt Division of NCMA Sprints will be racing at Kings Speedway, Hanford, CA next Saturday, May 12^th.  For further information you can contact KingsSpeedway.com and also NCMAsprints.

Summary:

Dash: Burrows, E. Amador, Lavell, Ariaz.

Heat I: S. Amador, Zarevich, Burrell, Renteria, Siverling

HeatII: E. Amador, Ariaz, Lavell, Burrows, Hammond

By Sharyn Bragg

April 2007 Archive:

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY

NCMA Sprints | April 14, 2007 | Madera | Madera, CA

For the second week in a row, NCMA Sprints have been rained out, right at the track entrance last Saturday night.  April 21 at Chowchilla Speedway Promoter Tom Sagmiller did his best to keep the show on the road as he put the “rain schedule” into effect as the evening began.  Hot laps were made and went right into the Main Events.  The biggest down pour began right at the point when NCMA Sprints were to  take to the dirt to begin their twenty lap main.  Safety was the issue and NCMA will return to Chowdchilla on Saturday, June 3^rd.   

April 14 the trek was made to Madera Speedway.  The NCMA Sprints had not run at this one-third mile paved oval in several years, and many drivers were looking forward to the new venue.  The pleasant thing about it is the track personel including the CEO-Promoter were familiar.  Kenny Sheppard and staff are very easy to work with and helped make everyone at home.  Unfortunately, no CEO can control the weather, but I have never seen staff try so hard to keep a track ready to run on.  Madera is a track that is also controlled by a fair board and time just plain ran out.  The sprints who did make the trip managed to get a little seat time in and see first hand that this will be a great track to race on.  NCMA Sprints will return to Madera Speedway Saturday May 5^th .  The April showers should turn into Dry May races!!

By Sharyn Bragg

Amador Wins Season Opener

NCMA Sprints | April 7, 2007 | Altamont Motorsports Park. | Tracy, CA

Ed Amador, the “Racing Farmer” from Modesto, CA came back from the winter hiatus refreshed and ready to race.  He made this first outing of the season all his as he won the Trophy Dash and the Main Event sponsored by Randy Jones Construction.

Format for this first race of 2007 was qualifying, trophy dash and a main event.  Michael Zarevich one of last years co-champions set fast time. Amador’s 7-A Bar Ranch sprint was second quick time.  Gary Koster, the racing wizard of Woodland was third, and Jimmy Lavell driving his DIRT car qualified fourth.

The Trophy Dash had Jeff Burrows and Lavell running the front row, with Koster and Amador behind them.  Burrows took the lead, lookin’ good, but here came Amador and in four very short laps he took the checkered flag.  Burrows was no further back than second.  Koster came right up in third, and unfortunately Lavell had a fuel line come loose and gave everyone a start as he pulled right up to the safety crew hopping out quick. “I was looking for the closest fire extinguisher, just in case.”  Luckily he didn’t need it; he still got out of his rig soaked down with fuel.

Morgan Hill’s Rob Hammond started on the pole and Manteca’s Pat Ariaz held the outside pole for the twenty lap Main Event. Burrows from Manteca, and Brentwood’s Lavell made up row two. The green flag was thrown and Hammond held the lead for several laps. Ariaz finally got around him and looked like he was going to take the win.  Lavell was right there with him, but second quick guy of the night, Ed Amador who started in the rear of the field just worked.  He must have gotten a little patience over the winter because he just kept moving forward not challenging anyone but not giving an inch either.  He got to the point of trying Ariaz on the inside and trying on the outside. Finally the outside opened up and he just went. His long dry spell on pavement was over. No surprise to anyone Koster (2006 Combined Champion) filled the spot for second place.  Hammond didn’t get left behind and finished third.  The Isham Const. #9 piloted by Burrows came in fourth and Pat Ariaz rounded out the top five.  Ariaz had a miserable night as he lost his brakes and still managed a top five finish. Patterson’s Steve Amador finished sixth, but Lavell was not quite as lucky with only two laps remaining he cut down a rear tire and was out of it.  A couple of notes: Zarevich was having engines problems after qualifying, and chose not to make it any worse.  He’ll be ready for next week.  Also, David Goodwill has put a beautiful new pavement car together.  After some hot laps, he had power steering pump issues and was not able to run.  Goodwill and crew will have the new car bugs worked out and ready to give the asphalt bunch a run for their money next week at Madera.

 NCMA Sprints will travel to Madera Speedway for the first of several races this season. Several members have run “playdays” there and are looking forward to racing on the paved one-third mile.  For directions and times go to RaceMadera.com.

By Sharyn Bragg

March 2007 Archive:

Welcome 2007 Racers, Crews, and Fans

Let’s start 2007 by giving kudos to the Champions of 2006.  Gary Koster just about made a clean sweep of the season.  He nailed down the dirt championship, the Select Series, and came in third in the Pavement Series to achieve the Combined Championship.

The Pavement series ended in the first ever Co-Championship for the asphalt.  Michael Zarevich and Jimmy Lavell are sharing the spotlight for 2006!

NCMA Sprint Cars are being put together for the 2007 race season as you read this.  Several business meetings have been held and the next one is scheduled for March 14, at the Great Plate in Tracy, 6:30 P.M.  Some rules have been changed and will be posted as soon as possible.  The next meeting may be the best place for getting updated information at this time.  The changes will affect you, and you’ll want to be ready for season openers! 

Speaking of season openers, they are just around the corner.  Pavement will begin April 14 at Madera.  NCMA Sprints are excited to get back to the pavement of that great track.  There will be some practice dates, March 10, 17, and 24 for more on that, contact Madera at RaceMadera.com. The first dirt race will be at Chowchilla on April 24.  This has always been an exciting track and hope you are ready to hit the dirt.  They have several play days scheduled and you can got to their link to find the schedule. Before you go to race, you may want to bring you car to Frank’s One Stop, Manteca, and show off your ride with other racers from our club and the area. The rain put a damper on this annual event last year, but the food was still great and people enjoyed the outing.  This will be March 3.  Pat Ariaz will have more information as it presents itself.  Let’s go racing!

By Sharyn Bragg

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