Santa Maria Raceway
Kirby solidifies lead with victory at Santa Maria
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (Sept. 6) — Miniseries points leader Mike Kirby of Torrance, Calif., outran track points leader Steve Drake of San Luis Obispo, Calif., for a victory on the West Coast Shootout at Santa Maria Speedway. Kirby earned $2,000 in the 16th annual Danny Simkins Memorial, his second straight victory on the WCS, a two-track collaboration between Santa Maria and Bakersfield Speedway.
Drake was followed across the finish line by John Lowrey of Bakersfield, fast qualifier Nick Bartels of El Segundo, Calif., and Jeff Decker of Morgan Hill, Calif. Rob Sanders of Bakersfield, who is second to Kirby in WCS points, finished eighth.
The West Coast Shootout wraps up with a $2,000-to-win event on Sept. 19 at Bakersfield.
Danny Simkins Memorial: (1) Mike Kirby, (2) Steve Drake, (3) John Lowrey, (4) Nick Bartels, (5) Jeff Decker, (6) Jerry Stewart, (7) Bill Bartels, (8) Rob Sanders, (9) Ron Bartels, (10) A.J. Kirkpatrick, (11) Kyle Heckman, (12) Larry Childress, (13) Reldon Hatch, (14) Jason Selvidge, (15) Dino Napier, (16) Doug Thompson, (17) Dick Stevens, (18) Tommy Malcolm, (19) John Crow, (20) Kevin Nichols. Fast qualifier: N. Bartels, 14.725 seconds. Heat race winners: Kirby, Drake, N. Bartels. Consolation winner: Malcolm.