Spears SRL NTS Inc 125
(Irwindale, Ca) – An estimated 3,200 fans were treated to three more track championships and the crowning of a veteran who finally broke through for his first ever championship.
Legends driver Ryan Reed, Langers Juice S2 series regular Randel King and Bandalero driver Ryan Cansdale were awarded track championships.
The Spears SRL series saw veteran driver from Frazier Park M.K. Kanke win his first tour championship when he finished first in the NTS Inc 125.
SRL CHAMPIONS TROPHY DASH – 12 Laps
Jim Petit took the lead on the eighth lap and pulled away to get bragging rights against five other “past” champions.
Rip Michels was able to lead for two laps until he was passed by Craig Raudman on the the third lap.
Raudman was running a low line that allowed Petit to pass on the high side in turn two.
With Petit pulling clear, Raudman held off Eddie McKean for second.
JAN’S TOWING BANDALEROS – 20 LAPS
Ricky Schlick lead from start to finish to win his second straight Jan’s Towing Bandaleros race. Schlick closed the out the season on a high note by winning last night, as well as tonight.
Even though Schlick won the final two races, Ryan Cansdale clinched the Jan’s Towing Bandaleros track championship when he finished sixth.
Schlick was very fast the entire night as he was able to get the early jump on Blake Dunkleberger at the green flag.
Dunkleberger was passed by Christian McGhee on the second lap and chased Schlick and battled Aaron Anderson for the second spot.
Cansdale finished the season with 10 victories on the season.
LANGERS JUICE S2 – 25 LAPS
Randel King took the Langers S2 Championship in style as he won his fourth straight race in the series.
King took the lead after a half a lap and never looked back by winning by 2.815 seconds. He won six races of the seven that ran in the series.
Randel King (77) was virtually unbeatable this race season. Photo by Anne Cypress
The race was actually farther pack in the back as Ryan Reed and Kyle Longmore battled for the second for about 15 laps as they both were side by side for much of the race. Reed was able to finally get by on the 22nd lap to get second.
Longmore had to hold off Andrew Anderson for the third spot.
CLASSIC STOCKS – 30 LAPS
Ken Michaelian wrapped up the Classic Stock championship by winning his ninth race in eleven starts.
With one race to go, Michaelian leads the points chase by 54 points with a possible 50 points available.
Michaelian was able to take advantage of being on the outside of row one and was able to bide his time for three-quarters of a lap to pass his Justin Good on the first lap.
Tommy Agosta finished second, while Mike Colato Jr came from the back of the pack to finish third.
LEGENDS – 35 LAPS
Ryan Reed took the lead on 26th lap and held of Mark Borchetta to put the icing on the cake on his Legends title.
Reed inherited the lead after Brent Scheidemantle and Darren Amidon were involved in a 17th lap tangle out of turn four that took both of the drivers out.
It appeared that Reed might have knocked Amidon out of shape and while trying to avoid both drivers, Scheidemantle found himself in “no-mans land” and hit Amidon.
Reed who clinched his title last week, took the lead on the 18th lap and gave it up on the 25th lap to Borchetta before retaking the lead on lap 26.
Amidon was the other leader as he led 16 of the 17 laps at the beginning of the race.
Brandon Toy quietly finished third to complete the podium.
NTS, INC 125 – SPEARS SRL SOUTHWEST TOUR SERIES – 125 LAPS
MK Kanke checked out on a 93rd lap re-start and won the NTS, INC 125 to extend his lead in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series.
It was Kanke’s fourth victory in the Tour.
The last 32 laps was a exhibition in how fast Kanke has been all season as he has been incredibly good all season.
“These longer races are suited for my driving,” said Kanke. “I think that Rip and I can save our tires and we were there at the finish.”
Kanke had to battle Brennan Newberry from the 50th lap to when he took the lead on lap 78.
The race was caution free for 79 laps until Kyle Gottula spun out to bring the yellow flag out. After the first caution, the next three came within 16 laps. The next one was brought out when race-favorite Jim Petit hit the turn two wall. The final caution was a red flag that was thrown when Keith Spangler and Troy Ermish wrecked each other getting into turn three.
M.K. Kanke (33) was dominant the second half of the race. Photo by Anne Cypress.
Second place finisher Rip Michels was able to salvage a second place finish after falling back to 12th early on in the race. Michels was able to find a racing groove on the high side of the track.
Mike Mendenhall made a incredible late run to get third as he passed Newberry, Craig Raudman, Josh Combs and Greg Voigt in the final six laps.
With the victory, Kanke all but assured himself his first Spears SRL Southwest Tour of his career. The final race will take place on October 31, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nv. Kanke just needs to start to win the Spears SRL Title.
SRL CHAMPIONS TROPHY DASH – 12 LAPS
1. Jim Petit
2. Craig Raudman
3. Eddie McKean
JAN’S TOWING BANDALEROS – 20 LAPS
1. Ricky Schlick
2. Christian McGhee
3. Aaron Anderson
LANGERS JUICE S2
1. Randel King
2. Ryan Reed
3. Kyle Longmore
CLASSIC STOCKS
1. Ken Michaelian
2. Tommy Agosta
3. Mike Colato Jr
LEGENDS
1. Ryan Reed
2. Mark Borchetta
3. Brandon Toy
NTS INC 125 – SPEARS SRL SOUTHWEST TOUR
1. M K Kanke
2. Rip Michels
3. Mike Mendenhall
4. Greg Voigt
5. Josh Combs
6. Craig Raudman
7. Brennan Newberry
8. Jamie Dick
9. Jason Gilbert
10. Kevin Callahan – R
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