IMCA Modified class racing getting crowded

The IMCA Modified class is getting to be quite popular at Pahrump Valley Speedway.

Two weeks ago, there were 15 cars in the field. Last Friday, there were 16. In a shootout in the main event, Las Vegas driver Dan Fitzgerald held off a spirited effort by Jason Pike and won the race.

Dave Boardman was the early leader. Pike and Fitzgerald worked both sides of the leader before getting past Boardman. Fitzgerald took the checkered flag with Pike, a winner in 15 of 25 starts this year and third overall in Western Region points, a close second. Boardman was third. Jon Jensen, the rookie of the year leader among IMCA drivers, finished fifth behind Donny Berger.

Not only was a large contingent of IMCA racers on hand on a pleasant breezy evening, the Western Region Director of the IMCA, Paul Vetter, was in the crowd.

For the second straight week, Rick Van Buytene, Sean Crotty and Craig Dykstra battled it out in the Mini Stock division. But there were two differences. First, Crotty took the checkered flag in front of points leader Van Buytene. Second, Ron Reynolds got past Dykstra to finish third.

The Street Stock division was wide open with almost every car having some sort of problem at one time or another. Arizona driver Bryan Turner, whose car was hit in his heat race, recovered to win the main event. Ron Arey was second with Adam Fuson third.

The Pro 4 main event was won by Kenny Koch with Daniel Alaniz second and Scotty Koch third.

Wyatt Ehrp was back at his familiar spot on top of the Pro Stock main event. Ehrp, who had a flat one week earlier and finished third, turned the tables on previous winner Alan Levinson, who was second. Keith Gott was third.

Van Buytene made his Pro Stock debut, finishing fifth behind Levi Keifer.

Racing resumes 7:30 p.m. tomorrow for the third straight week, but this card includes all of the above classes and the popular Demolition Derby and the Dwarf cars.