Santa Maria Raceway
Hogge outduels Shannon for Santa Maria victory
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (July 18) — Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas, Calif., outdueled polesitter Chris Shannon of Merced, Calif., to win his second straight Santa Maria Speedway feature on the Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series. Hogge, who started ninth, earned $2,000 for following up his May 9 victory at the same track.
Shannon, who had a see-saw battle with Hogge, finished second with Dino Napier of Corona, Calif., in third. Bakersfield, Calif., drivers Robert Sanders and John Lowrey rounded out the top five at the third-mile oval. Fast qualifier Mike Johnson of Lompoc, Calif., going for his third straight series victory, was eliminated in an accident and finished 18th in the 21-car field.
Billy Griffin of Buena Park, Calif., flipped his Rick Fringer-owned car when he hit a tractor tire inside turn three on the seventh lap, but he wasn't injured.
Notes: Hogge's Victory Circle Chassis is sponsored by Mid State Fleet Repair and Joe Bob Racing. ... Mike Johnson had a rough night in the Late Models, dropping to third from second in the points chase, but he won the 25-lap IMCA modified feature. ... Next up for the Western Allstars is a July 25 event at Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif.
Western Allstars @ Santa Maria: (1) Bobby Hogge IV, (2) Chris Shannon, (3) Dino Napier, (4) Robert Sanders, (5) John Lowrey, (6) Andy Obertello, (7) Kyle Heckman, (8) Nick Bartels, (10) Jerry Stewart, (11) Tom Malcolm, (12) Brad Pounds, (13) Matt Michelli, (14) Logan Drake, (15) Bill Bartels, (16) Ron Bartels, (17) Devin Crockett, (18) Mike Johnson, (19) Ken Michelli, (20) Billy Griffin, (21) Clay Daly. Fast qualifier: Johnson, 14.192 seconds. Dash winner: Shannon. Heat race winners: Napier, Johnson, Sanders.
