Santa Maria Raceway
Hogge leads 40 laps for eighth WCS victory
Bobby Hogge IV heads for victory at Santa Maria. (photofinishphotos.com)
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (May 26) — Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas, Calif., captured the fianle of the Nationals presented by Coors Light, earning $3,000 for his series-leading eighth career victory on the West Coast Late Model Shootout. | Slideshow
Hogge, who finished fifth in Saturday’s opening feature won by Brad Pounds of Bakersfield, Calif., led all 40 laps Sunday in the wrapup of the Memorial Day weekend special.
Rob Sanders of Bakersfield, Calif., finished second Sunday with fast qualifier Tony Toste of Pismo Beach, Calif., in third. Mike Kirby of Torrance, Calif., and Steve Drake of San Luis Obispo, Calif., rounded out the top five finishers. Polesitter Mike Johnson of Lompoc, Calif., pitted after hitting the backstretch wall in the early laps, then retired on lap 26 after working his way back to fourth.
Two-time and reigning series champion Clay Daly of Watsonville, Calif., was seventh and Pounds was 18th after retiring with steering problems on lap 14. The feature was slowed by seven cautions, none for serious incidents.
Notes: Hogge’s Victory Circle Chassis is sponsored by Midstate Fleet Repair. ... His previous series victory ame Aug. 4, 2012, at Calistoga (Calif.) Speedway. ... Tony Toste was the only driver to crack the 16-second barrier in time trials. ... Arizona’s R.C. Whitwell, who finished sixth in the feature, was the weekend's only non-California entrant. ... The event was co-sanctioned by Championship Dirt Motorsports. ... West Coast Shootout competitors take a long break before returning to action Aug. 10 at Bakersfield Speedway.
The Nationals presented by Coors Light: (1) Bobby Hogge IV, (2) Rob Sanders, (3) Tony Toste, (4) Mike Kirby, (5) Steve Drake, (6) R.C. Whitwell, (7) Clay Daly, (8) Tommy Malcolm, (9) Larry Childress, (10) Chris Barnett, (11) Cody Barnett, (12) Dino Napier, (13) Devin Crockett, (14) Carla Laney, (15) Jason Papich, (16) Mike Johnson, (17) Richard Papenhausen, (18) Brad Pounds, (19) Nick Bartels, (20) Jerry Stewart. Scratched: Bill Bartels, Randy Brown, Dennis Souza. Fast qualifier (among 23 cars): Toste, 15.936 seconds. Heat race winners: Hogge, Toste, Johnson. Dash winner: Johnson. Consolation winner: Daly.
