Santa Maria Raceway
Drake leads all the way at Santa Maria
From series and correspondent reports
Steve Drake earned $3,000. (K.C. Rooney)
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 17) — Three-time track champion and current points leader Steve Drake of San Luis Obispo, Calif., led every lap at Santa Maria Speedway for his first Western Allstars Super Late Model Series victory of the season. Drake won his heat, the dash and the feature event to earn $3,000 and his sixth career series victory, tying him atop the all-time list with Mike Johnson and Bobby Hogge IV. | Slideshow
Several cautions gave Johnson, of Lompoc, Calif., and Hogge, of Salinas, Calif., a chance to deny Drake the lead on a restart, but neither could make their way past. A.J. Kirkpatrick of Castroville, Calif., winner of the previous two Western Allstars events, got up to second at the finish ahead of Johnson and Hogge. Consolation winner Chris Shannon of Merced, Calif., rallied from his 17th starting spot to finish fifth. Fast qualifier Andy Obertello of Hollister, Calif., was 14th.
Notes: Drake is sponsored by San Luis Truck, Heavy Equipment Repair and J&J Motorsports. ... Drake's previous series victory came Sept. 1, 2007, in Bakersfield, Calif. ... Jeff Decker was scheduled to start third in the feature, but mechanical problems discovered just before the race forced him to tag the tail. ... Jeffrey Priddy and Donnie Hampl were among drivers making their first series appearances of 2008. ... Jerry Stewart, who hadn't raced since August, drove a Doug Thompson-owned Victory Circle Chassis. ... Drivers climbed the grandstands helmets in hand to collect more than $1,500 for cancer awareness. ... The next series event is May 24 at Bakersfield Speedway.
Western Allstars @ Santa Maria: (1) Steve Drake, (2) A.J. Kirkpatrick, (3) Mike Johnson, (4) Bobby Hogge IV, (5) Chris Shannon, (6) Billy Griffin, (7) Phil Barrow, (8) Jeffrey Priddy, (9) Robert Sanders, (10) Devin Crockett, (11) Jason Selvidge, (12) Ron Bartels, (13) David Childress, (14) Andy Obertello, (15) Zack Forster, (16) Nick Bartels, (17) John Piker, (18) Jerry Stewart, (19) Chet Buckley, (20) Donnie Hampl, (21) Dino Napier, (22) Jeff Decker. Fast qualifier (among 30 cars): Obertello, 14.168 seconds. Heat race winners: Johnson, Kirkpatrick, Bartels, Drake. Dash winner: Drake. Consolation winner: Shannon.
