Santa Maria Raceway
Champion Daly grabs victory at Santa Maria
By Stephanie Odom
californiaondirt.comSANTA MARIA, Calif. (Aug. 19) — Reigning track champion Clay Daly of Watsonville, Calif., captured Saturday’s Super Late Model feature at Santa Maria Speedway.
“We haven’t had a night like this since March,” Daly said in victory lane. Daly, who won on the West Coast Shootout at Kings Speedway on March 31, was running his team’s spare motor at Santa Maria after hurting the primary powerplant at Bakersfield a week earlier.
Qualifying fast time and winning his heat race, Daly started on the pole for the 30-lap feature with Bakersfield’s Chad Reichenbach alongside. Daly took the lead when the green flag dropped with Reichenbach fighting back on the bottom.
Coming out of turn two on lap two, Reichenbach took over the lead as a yellow came out for Jason Selvidge, who came to a stop along the backstretch wall. Daly was restored to the lead and quickly pulled away when racing resumed.
Nick Bartels and Steve Drake were on the move before a lap-nine caution appeared for Dino Napier’s spin.
The second-running Reichenbach chose the bottom line for the restart with Bartels on the top. Bartels got the jump taking over second while John Lowrey took a spot from Sanders.
Lowrey lost ground, however, as he pushed up the track, allowing Sanders and Tony Toste to get by. Coming from his 12th starting spot, Tommy Malcolm began his charge, diving under Lowrey for eighth exiting turn four.
Reichenbach regained second on lap thirteen before a second caution was brought out for Napier, ending his night. Reichenbach chose the top line for this restart and maintained the position on the restart.
Exiting turn four Bartels slid under Reichenbach. The two made contact causing Reichenbach to check up, and drivers further back were sent scrambling. Steve Drake spun and came to a stop on the turn one berm ending his night. Mike Johnson pulled into the pits with mechanical problems.
Fifteen laps remained when the green flag returned. Reichenbach and Bartels continued their battle for second while Daly pulled away from the field. Toste got into the mix and got under Reichenbach for third place. Reichenbach did a half-spin in turns one and two, dropping him to the tail end of the field.
Malcolm continued his forward progress, making a pass by Sanders for fifth. A caution was brought out for Jason Papich with eight laps to go after he hit the wall. Malcolm got a jump on the restart, passing Lowrey and gaining ground on Toste for third. Running the top line, Malcolm made the pass exiting turn two with five laps to go.
Daly maintained a comfortable lead as he took the checkers with Bartels, Malcolm, Toste and Sanders in pursuit.
Santa Maria Speedway: (1) Clay Daly, (2) Nick Bartels, (3) Tommy Malcolm, (4) Tony Toste, (5) Rob Sanders, (6) John Lowrey, (7) Bill Bartels, (8) Chad Reichenbach, (9) Jason Papich, (10) Steve Drake, (11) Mike Johnson, (12) Dino Napier, (13) Jason Selvidge, (14) Carla Laney. Heat race winners (among 14 cars): Daly, Reichenbach.
