Posted by Russ on November 9, 2009, 7:32 pm
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IRVING TAKES WRECK MARRED 150 LAP LATE MODEL FEATURE AT LAS VEGAS
BY DAVE GRAYSON
Corona-California's Travis Irving was the big winner in a 150 lap late model race at the Las Vegas Bullring. The November 7th event was part of the speedway's annual Open Comp Weekend. But the race win was trying on the driver's patience. This race was extremely wreck marred and the yellow caution flag flew a whopping 19 times. The race was divided into two 75 lap segments with a pit break between them. 11 of those yellow flags flew within the first 75 lap segment.
After a full Friday evening of heat races to determine the 26 car line up, Brandon Loverock and Glenn Burke led the starters under the initial green flag. Loverock set the pace for the first four laps before popular Las Vegas driver Scott Gafforini passed him to take the point.
At this point of the race it appeared to many that Gafforini may have pulled off the winning move of the race. His car was formidable and the only time the competition got near him was due to the frequent appearances of the aforementioned caution flags. At the 75 lap pit break Gafforini, Irving and Loverock were the major players in the race as the field headed towards the pit area for fuel, tires and adjustments.
Despite the yellow flag carnage from the first segment of this race, 21 cars were present to start the second leg of the event. At first it appeared that Gafforini was going to pick up where he left off and once again started running away from the field. However, a lap 64 caution flag again bunched up the field. On the restart Travis Irving decided that he had seen enough of the race leader's rear bumper. Following the restart Irving dived low in turn four and slid in front of Gafforini as the field made its way onto the front stretch. That would turn out to be the race winning move.
From that point the race was all Travis Irving despite the exasperation that came with all of the remaining yellow flags throughout the remainder of the race. Meanwhile Gafforini began sliding backwards and, with six laps left in the race, pulled the car behind the wall with a smoking engine ruining what had been a very good night for the Las Vegas driver.
Irving's was required to remain patient one more time when the final yellow flag of the night came out due to a spin out and a two car collision that occurred on virtually the same lap. There were four laps remaining in the race at the restart and Irving made quick work of running them out to claim the winner's check worth $2,500. Brandon Giannini, Grant Hebner, Travis Motley and Jacob Bishop completed the top five.
After parking his California Highway Patrol late model in victory lane, the very happy race winner said "this car was great. Two years ago we couldn't even get close to making the starting field at this event. Last year we came back, qualified first and then had an unfortunate incident around lap 23. Then tonight we came here and put a whooping on the field. That just shows you what hard work and determination can lead to not only by me but the crew and the people who support us. It's not often that you get people who support you with that much work and effort for just one race."
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