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Smith, Slaney, Newberry, Catucci, Rasmussen, Gentry Are Larry Damitz Memorial Winners

Antioch, CA...May 31...Ryan Smith of Coalinga won the 30 lap Tri State Pro Stock Challenge Series Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. This was the Ninth Annual Larry Damitz Memorial, and he became the seventh different winner of this race. Smith had earlier won the Trophy Dash.

Smith set the early pace ahead of Bakersfield's Jerry Stewart and Peter Coberley of Atwater. The battle between Stewart and Smith was intense at the start, and Petaluma's Mike Learn made a backstretch pass on Coberley for third on Lap 4. The leaders caught slower traffic, only for a yellow flag to wave on Lap 5 for Justin Zwicker of Petaluma. Smith continued to lead Stewart and Learn on the restart with Brentwood's Fred Ryland settling into fourth.

Ryland slipped past Learn for third on the 10th lap, and a yellow flag waved on Lap 11 for Coberley. Smith led Stewart and Ryland when the green flag waved. The two were still battling fiercely, and Stewart beat Smith back to the line as they were working Lap 16, only to see a yellow flag wave for Cody Smith of Coalinga in Turn 2. This meant Smith was still the leader, and he led Stewart and Ryland on the restart.

Ryland made a low pass in Turn 4 of the 20th lap to take second from Stewart, and debris forced a Lap 22 yellow flag. Smith had a scary moment at that point when he made contact with a slower car exiting Turn 2. Smith continued to lead Ryland and Stewart on the restart, and Ryland beat Smith back to the line to lead the 24th lap. However, Smith regained the lead with a Turn 2 pass a lap later as Ryland slowed and headed for the pits. At that point, Smith led Stewart and Phil Marino of Chico, and they finished in that order. Learn and Randy Miramontez of Santa Rosa rounded out the Top 5.

Anthony Slaney of Martinez won the 20 lap Late Model Main Event. This was both his second-straight win at Antioch and second-straight victory in the Larry Damitz Memorial race.

Slaney led Shawn DeForest of Livermore and point leader Ray Trimble of Auburn at the start. Slaney quickly built a straightaway advantage, only to have a yellow flag on Lap 5 for Baille Rae of Sacramento bunch the field. Slaney continued to set the pace on the restart with Trimble moving past DeForest for second. Tim Yeager of Belmont briefly gained third before DeForest regained the position on Lap 7.

DeForest made a high pass in Turn 2 on Lap 10 to regain second from Trimble, but Trimble went low in Turn 4 two laps later to move back ahead of him. DeForest spun in Turn 4 for the final yellow flag on Lap 17. At that point, Slaney was struggling noticeably with suspension damage, but he continued to lead Trimble and Rod Oliver of Yuba City on the restart. DeForest raced past Oliver on the backstretch on Lap 19 for third, and Trimble tried to make a late move on Slaney for the lead. However, Slaney prevailed ahead of Trimble, DeForest, Oliver and Yaeger.

Bob Newberry of Brentwood won the 20 lap Wingless Spec Sprint Main Event. This was Newberry's second win in the Larry Damitz Memorial race and his first win of the season. The win was put in doubt when Newberry was involved in an early incident that saw him pitting during the yellow flag.

Eathon Lanfri of Milpitas was also in the hunt for his second Larry Damitz Memorial win and set the early pace ahead of Nick Larson of Vallejo. A yellow flag waved on the third lap when Mackenzie Newton of Elk Grove stalled in Turn 2 and was hit by both Daniel DeKeyser of Kelseyville and Newberry. Newberry had to make a pit stop, and Lanfri continued to lead Larson and Anthony Bruno of San Jose on the restart.

Newberry was on a furious charge to the front and made a low pass in Turn 4 of the fifth lap to take third from Bruno. Newberry Reeled in second place Larson and made a low pass in Turn 4 of the 11th lap to gain second. Two laps later, Newberry made a low pass in Turn 4 to take the lead from Lanfri. Newberry led the rest of the way for the impressive win, followed by Lanfri. Josh Gillis of Sacramento made a pair of outside passes during the final few circuits to claim third, followed by Bruno and Larson.

Kyle Rasmussen of Clovis won the 25 lap California RaceSaver Main Event. The two-time State champion turned in a rather dominant performance in collecting his third win of the season.

Rasmussen led from the outset ahead of reigning State champion Phil Heynen of Visalia and current point leader Davey Pombo Jr of Kerman. Following a Lap 5 yellow flag for Rino Feliciano of Visalia, Rasmussen resumed command. Pombo slipped past Heynen for second at that point, but Rasmussen started pulling away again. The race had one more slowdown, but that and a scary moment with two slower cars three laps from the finish did not deter Rasmussen as he scored an impressive victory ahead of Davey Pombo Jr, Heynen, George Tristao Jr of Tulare and Anthony Pombo of Kerman.

Sean Catucci of Brentwood won the 15 lap Dwarf Car Main Event. This was the second win of the season for the current point leader.

Catucci bolted ahead of Brentwood's David Hays at the start, while Concord's Travis Day, David Michael Rosa and David Rosa, both of Antioch, had a little bit of close contact in the second turn. Catucci began stretching his advantage over Hays, while David Rosa was an early third. However, the elder Rosa slowed on the front straightaway on the fourth lap with Day gaining the position. The big Catucci lead was erased when David Rosa stalled in Turn 4 for the only yellow on Lap 7. However, Catucci resumed command on the restart and won by half a straightaway ahead of Hays, Day, David Michael Rosa and David Rosa.

Payton Gentry of Santa Rosa won the 12 lap 600 Micro Sprint Main Event. This was his second-straight win, and he used it to gain the point lead.

Gentry led from the outset ahead of Buddy Chappell of San Jose. Though he didn't pull too far ahead, Gentry kept enough distance between he and Chappell to never really be threatened. Ryan Dotson of Fremont finished third ahead of Oakley's Devon Zuffa.

Racing resumes next Saturday night with the return of the Pacific Coast Hobby Stocks. Also competing will be the Wingless Spec Sprints, Dwarf Cars, Hardtops and Super Stocks. For further information, go to www.raceantiochspeedway.com.

Race Results
Late Models
Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Rod Oliver, Shawn DeForest. Main Event (20 Laps)-Anthony Slaney, Ray Trimble, Shawn DeForest, Rod Oliver, Tim Yaeger, Thomas Reynolds, Joey Ridgway, Baille Rae, Randy Miramontez.

Tri State Pro Stocks
Trophy Dash (6 Laps)-Ryan Smith. Heat Winners (8 Laps)--Fred Ryland, Jerry Stewart. Main Event (30 Laps)-Ryan Smith, Jerry Stewart, Phil Marino, Mike Learn, Randy Miramontez, Peter Coberley, Fred Ryland, Paul Hanley, Cody Smith, Rob Gilbertson.

Wingless Spec Sprints
Fast Time-Eathon Lanfri 14.364. Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Nick Larson, Anthony Bruno. Main Event (20 Laps)-Bob Newberry, Eathon Lanfri, Josh Gillis, Anthony Bruno, Nick Larson, Steve Maionchi, Jeff Scotto, Daniel Dekeyser, MacKenzie Newton, Shannon Newton DNS.

California RaceSaver Sprints
Fast Time-George Tristao Jr 12.912. Heat Winners (8 Laps)-Kyle Rasmussen, Phil Heynen. Main Event (25 Laps)-Kyle Rasmussen, Davey Pombo, Phil Heynen, George Tristao Jr, Anthony Pombo, Lance Jackson, Kevin Barnes Sr, Andy Smith, Rino Felicioni, Tylor Henson DNS.

Dwarf Cars
Heat Winner (8 Laps)-Sean Catucci. Main Event (20 Laps)-Sean Catucci, David Hays, David Michael Rosa, Travis Day, David Rosa.

600 Micro Sprints
Heat Winner (8 Laps)-Payton Gentry. Main Event (15 Laps)-Payton Gentry, Buddy Chappell, Ryan Dotson, Devon Zuffa, Charlie Kight DNS.

Picture info:

Anthony Slaney #4x won his second-straight Late Model Main Event.

Ryan Smith #3d held off all challenges for the Larry Damitz Memorial win.

Kyle Rasmussen #38 won the first ever California RaceSaver Sprint Car visit to Antioch Speedway.

Bob Newberry #36 completed an impressive charge to the front with a Wingless Spec Sprint win.

Point leader Sean Catucci #43 won his second Dwarf Car Main Event of the season.

Payton Gentry #31 gained the Micro Sprint point lead with his second win of the season.

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