JAY SEARS WINS TILFORD TRIBUTE FOR PRO STOCKS AT PLACERVILLE
In the 25-lap Tri-State Pro Stock main event it was Chris Smith who charged into the lead from the outside of row two. Despite several caution periods early on Smith hung tough until Reno, Nevada driver Jay Sears was able to take command on lap 12, just prior to a yellow waving one circuit later. Sears hung tough and withstood a late challenge from Walter Ball to pick up the $1,000 victory in the series debut at the speedway.
Ball came home second followed by Richard Brace Jr., Smith and Matt Kile. Rounding out the top-10 were Matt Michelli, Antonio Aragon, John Evans, Jesse Gonzalez and John Garretson Jr. Heat race wins went to Gonzalez, Michelli and Brace.
The Ltd. Late Model feature saw a dramatic 20-lap contest. Garden Valley’s Jay Norton led at the waving of the green flag, before Dan Jinkerson took over the top spot on lap two. Norton stayed close to Jinkerson as the pair put on an entertaining show for the crowd on hand. The biggest moment of the race came on lap 12 when Norton got into the back of Jinkerson and sent him for a spin to bring out a yellow. Officials proceeded to make a rough driving call on Norton, putting an end to his night.
Auburn’s Ray Trimble inherited the lead and never looked back en route to taking the Ron Stahl checkered flag. Jinkerson rebounded nicely and won out in an exciting battle with Tyler Lightfoot over the closing laps to finish second. Lightfoot, Dan Brown Jr. and Kiely Ricardo completed the top-five. Jinkerson and Matt Davis captured the two heat races held. Jinkerson began the evening by setting a brand-new Ltd. Late Model track record by clocking an 11.142.
The 25-lap Pure Stock finale was a rough and tumble affair with excellent racing but also featured an excessive amount of caution periods. Dan Jinkerson and Nick Baldwin shared the front row and fought tooth and nail during the opening lap. Jinkerson scooted ahead but felt heavy pressure from Baldwin every step of the way. Following a lap 10 restart Baldwin battled his way to the lead and hung tough during a number of slow downs to pick up the big victory on Tilford Tribute night.
Zach Lindgren crossed the stripe in second with Kevin Jinkerson, Jason Palmer and Keith Ross rounding out the top-five. Completing the top-10 were Stephanie Hanson, Jonathan Walsh, Chris D’Angelo, Shannon Collins and Matt Tilford. Heat race wins went to Baldwin, Dan Jinkerson and Tilford. Baldwin executed a clean sweep for the night by also setting fast time by touring the bullring in 15.175 seconds.
Veteran Joel Hannagan dominated the Vintage Hard Top finale winning with ease over the rest of the field.
