by Windy McDonald

 

The points leaders in both the sprint cars and the mini sprints added to their leads in Friday night’s races at Manzanita Speedway.

Jeremy Sherman was at his best as he powered away from the field and, despite numerous caution flags and a couple of racing stopping red flags, he pulled away from the field and was 4.42 seconds ahead of Charles Davis, Jr. at the checkered flag. It was Sherman’s fifth win in the Discount Tire American Sprint Car Series this year and it marked the seventh time that Sherman and Davis have finished one-two. Davis has been second to Sherman four times and Sherman has run second to Davis three times. Sherman gained four points on Davis and now holds a 48 point edge, his biggest lead of the year. Shon Deskins had his top finish of the year as he finished a close third. Bob Ream, Jr held off Mike Leslie for fourth. Rounding out the top ten were Nathan High, Justin Fisher, Josh Pelkey, Thomas Ogle and Andy Reinbold

Crashes took out many of the 24 cars that started the feature with only 14 cars running at the end of the 40 lap race.

The yellow flag problem started in the first heat race as several false starts cost time. Mike Martin started on the pole and he jumped the green several times and then was told to go to the rear of the field. When he failed to respond he was black flagged. The race finally got a start and R.J. Johnson beat Davis for his eighth heat race of the year. He had earlier won his first trophy dash of the year. He was involved in a lap 22 crash on a restart that also claimed Jody Wirth and Mike Colegrove. Many felt that the cone placed at the start finish line was basically to blame as the leader hit the gas well before the cone and that caused the cars further back to stack up.

The second heat had its share of problems as cars driven by Derek Sell, Seainn Hendricsen, Derek Williams and Mike Colegrove were involved in crashes. Hendricsen and Williams retired their cars for the night but the others were ready for the main event.

Sherman wasted little time in the final heat as he shot from third and passed Bob Ream, Jr. for the lead on the second lap. Ream finished second ahead of Andy Reinbold.

Kiley Fellers was on a roll as he scored a clean sweep by winning his fourth main event of the season in the mini sprint car 20 lap feature. He had earlier won the trophy dash and his heat race. Fellers won the first three races of the year but went through a six race winless streak. His win pushed him to a commanding lead as second ranked Dennis Carrier did not make the feature and Josh Castro, ranked third, finished seventh. Brandon George finished second behind Fellers who had a 1.97 second advantage at the checkered flag. Dennis Parks was third. Adam Millsap made his first start at Manzy and crossed the finish line in fourth ahead of Josh Shipley. Behind the top five were Dustin Cormany, Castro, Paul Martin, Tyler Keesler and Cliff Cormany.

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Josh Shipley beat Brandon George in the first heat while Fellers was a runaway winner in the second heat with former champion Dustin Cormany second. The final heat went to Parks who held off Millsap for the win.

SUMMARY

DISCOUNT TIRE AMERICAN SPRINT CAR SERIES

Main Event: (40 laps) 1. Jeremy Sherman 2. Charles Davis, Jr. 3. Shon Deskins 4. Bob Ream, Jr. 5. Mike Leslie 6. Nathan High 7. Justin Fisher 8. Josh Pelkey 9. Thomas Ogle 10. Andy Reinbold 11. Bobby Taylor 12. Ken Caskey 13. Mike Martin 14. Zack Sawyer 15. Adam Wirth 16. Carson Ditsth 17. Derek Sell 18. R.J. Johnson 19. Jay Ervine 20. Jody Wirth 21. Mike Colegrove 22. Bernie Smith 23. Leland Michael 24. Steve Tellis

Lap leaders: laps 1-4 Ream, last 5-40 Sherman

1st Heat: ( 8 laps) 1. R.J. Johnson 2. Charles Davis, Jr. 3. Shon Deskins 4. Josh Pelkey 5. Jay Ervine 6. Zack Sawyer 7. Thomas Ogle 8. Leland Michael 9. Mike Martin (time-2:03.72)

2nd Heat: (8 laps) 1. Nathan High 2. Mike Leslie 3. Bobby Taylor 4. Ken Caskey 5. Carson Ditsch 6. Derek Sell 7. Derek Williams 8. Seainn Hendricsen 9. Mike Colegrove (no time)

3rd Heat: (8 laps) 1. Jeremy Sherman 2. Bob Ream, Jr. 3. Andy Reinbold 4. Jody Wirth 5. Justin Fisher 6. Bernie Smith 7. Steve Tellis 8. Adam Wirth (no time)

Arizona Race Mart Trophy Dash: (4 laps) 1.R.J. Johnson 2. Mike Martin 3. Charles Davis, Jr. 4. Nathan High (time-1:01.43)

ARIZONA MINI SPRINT CARS

Main Event: (20 laps) 1. Kiley Fellers 2. Brandon George 3. Dennis Parks 4. Adam Millsap 5. Josh Shipley 6. Dustin Cormany 7. Josh Castro 8. Paul Martin 9. Jeff Greszler 10. Tyler Keesler 11. Cliff Cormany 12. Justin Quinn 13. Mike Visser 14. Pat Wing 15. Ashley Robella 16. Duane Adams 17. Dave Alexander 18. Katherine Aragon 19. Travis Keesler 20. Kyle Shipley

Lap leaders: laps 1-5 George, laps 6-20 Fellers

1st Heat: (8 laps) 1. Josh Shipley 2. Brandon George 3. Paul Martin 4. Kyle Shipley 5. Cliff Cormany 6. Dennis Carrier 7. Mike Visser 8. Pat Wing 9. Katherine Aragon (time-2:04.07)

2nd Heat: (8 laps) 1. Kiley Fellers 2. Dustin Cormany 3. Dave Alexander 4. Duane Adams 5. Tyler Keesler 6. Eric Welker 7. Billy Felker 8. Kurt Stults 9. Rick Shuman (no time)

3rd Heat: (8 laps) 1. Dennis Parks 2. Adam Millsap 3. Travis Keesler 4. Josh Castro 5. Ashley Robella 6. Justin Quinn 7. Ryan Walter 8. Jeff Greszler (time-2:03.43)

Semi Main: (10 laps) 1. Tyler Keesler 2. Cliff Cormany 3. Mike Visser 4. Pat Wing 5. Ashley Robella 6. Justin Quinn 7. Jeff Greszler 8. Katherine Aragon 9. Rick Shuman 10. Ryan Walter 11. Billy Felker 12. Eric Welker 13. Dennis Carrier 14. Kurt Stults (no time)

Trophy Dash: (4 laps) 1. Kiley Fellers 2. Brandon George 3. Josh Shipley 4. Dennis Carrier 5. Paul Martin 6. Kyle Shipley (time-1:00.23)