(Irwindale) – A lively crowd of 1,100 fans watched another exciting night of short track racing at Toyota Speedway. Fans were treated to Amanda Poertner’s called shot, Justin Johnson’s duel wins and Neil Conrad’s second straight victory.
PEPSI SUPER LATE MODELS – 40 LAPS
Justin Johnson started from third row to win the opening night race at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.
Johnson had some good luck on his side as race leader Travis Thirkettle was called into the pits during a yellow flag due to an oil leak on the 16th lap.
During the re-start on the 17th lap, Randel King pinched Ryan Partridge into the middle of back straightaway wall and brought out the third caution of the evening.
With Partridge out of the race, Johnson was able to get clear of Vision Air teammate Dusty Davis and King.
Johnson’s win was the third of the year and second straight for the Las Vegas, Nevada resident.
JUSTICE BROTHERS MINI-STOCKS – 35 LAPS
Continuing his recent success in the division, Darryl Scoggins drove away from the field to easily defeat seven other drivers by 3.791 seconds.
The defending champion in the class began in the last row and drove his way around traffic to get past Jacob Rogers.
Scoggins was able to maneuver his car on the low side of turn four to take the lead cleanly at the beginning of the sixth lap.
For Scoggins, it was his fourth straight victory on the speedway’s 1/3 mile track.
Richie Altman was able to finish second and Rod Schmitt rounded out the podium with a solid third place finish.
The points lead in the division isn’t as close as last season with Scoggins leading Rogers, 294-266.
ECHO EQUIPMENT LEGEND CARS – 35 LAPS
Darren Amidon led all the way to take the Echo Equipment Legend Cars event in the 1/3 mile track. It was Amidon’s second straight victory.
After a horrific accident in their last event, Brent Scheidemantle was able to weave his way around cars to get through into second.
Scheidemantle was on the lead in his previous race only to be upended when he clipped Blake Dunkleberger and slid on his hood all the way into the ½ mile turn one wall.
Carl Kanke finished in third to round out the podium.
JAN’S TOWING BANDOLEROS – 20 LAPS
Calling a shot in racing is the equivalent of guaranteeing back to back no-hitters by the same pitcher. So when Amanda Poertner told fans at the King Taco Autograph session that if they signed her hood she would win, it was a bold statement from the young 13-year old.
After Ryan Cansdale’s evening was prematurely stopped when something broke in his engine while leading, Poertner was able to inherit the lead on the fourth lap.
Poertner would not disappoint or fold under the pressure of veteran Ricky Schlick or BJ Stearns who were on her bumper for the final 16 laps of the race.
She had to survive five cautions during the last eight laps to win her first ever Jan’s Towing Bandolero event.
LANGERS JUICE S2 – 25 LAPS
When the initial green flag dropped, David Busby spun Nick Johnston in turn three on the first green flag lap. The yellow was dropped and they re-set the field and restarted the race. It was all Johnston needed as he grabbed the lead from the beginning and pulled away.
It was Johnston’s first career victory on the ½ speedway in the King Taco racecar.
Johnston did have some competition early as Roman Lagudi was looming dangerously for 20 laps and made a valiant attempt to pass only to spin on the 21st lap.
After the restart, Johnston was able to pull clear and hold off David Busby and Andrew Porter for the win.
Dylan Lupton extended his point lead by two points as he finished a place ahead of Kendall Lopez who is now alone in second place.
PEPSI SUPER LATE MODELS – 40 LAPS
Justin Johnson won his third race in a row in the Pepsi Super Late Models. Johnson extended his points lead with the victory by six points to Vision Air teammate Dusty Davis.
Johnson led all 40 laps enroute to his fourth victory of the season.
Travis Thirkettle was able to finish second the five race-old tires and Davis was third.
The race went the entire race without incident.
Coming into the evening Ryan Partridge was second in points, but had a horrible points night as he finished 11th in the first race and was lapped in the second race finishing ninth.
SOUTHWEST TOUR TRUCKS – 35 LAPS
Neil Conrad took the lead on the ninth lap and was able to get the jump on a late race re-start to win his second straight race of the series.
With the victory, Conrad was able to get within four points of Jeff Williams who finished second.
Conrad definitely had the best truck of the evening as he was able to keep Williams and Michael Zimmerman at bay. Zimmerman was attempting a high pass out of turn two on the 25th lap on Conrad only to spin himself out and bring out the caution.
The restart saw Conrad get the jump on Williams for the lead and he was able to hold on for the win.
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