Sullivan takes checkered flag at Stockton track
Kelseyville driver moves into lead on 21st lap during NSMS opener
STOCKTON >> Darrin Sullivan of Kelseyville assumed the lead on lap 21 when leader Keith Bloom of Anderson spun after a tap from Scott Winters of Tracy, and Sullivan drove away to win the North State Modified Series (NSMS) 2022 season opener Saturday night at Stockton 99 Speedway.
Sullivan crossed the checkered flag nearly half a lap ahead of second-place finisher Dustin DeRosier of Cloverdale.
Track conditions created a fast pace with three drivers clocking below Ian Elliott's NSMS track record of 14.319 seconds. The new record belongs to defending NSMS points champion Winters at 14.015. He was presented the O'Reilly Auto Parts Fast Qualifier Award plaque from series co-promoter Jeff Stephens.
Also breaking Elliott's old record were Sullivan (14.107) and Redding's Cody Braund (14.231.) Elliott lost an engine and hit the wall during Friday's practice round and was unable to make the needed repairs in time to return to Saturday's action.
Winters drew the No. 8 chip to set up the invert for the 60-lap feature, placing Calvin Hegje and Jordan Smith in the front row. Hegje led the first four laps until Foryst Sousa drove under him on turn
four. The two cars made hard contact, both spinning and retiring from the race. This left Bloom out in front ahead of Mike Sullivan, Braund, Smith, Darrin Sullivan and Winters. Both Darrin Sullivan and Winters snuck under Smith on lap eight, and the pack ran nose to tail the next 12 rounds. On lap 20, Braund and Mike Sullivan made contact, causing Sullivan to spin in turn two.
On the restart, Bloom and Winters had their own problem as they made contact, leaving Darrin Sullivan in the No. 1 spot. One more caution came when Sal Lopez spun and pulled
his car into the infield. The final 37 laps went without incident as Darrin Sullivan took home the $1,000 win. DeRosier finished second followed by Bloom, Braund, Winters, Smith, Rick Avila and John Baker. Mike Sullivan, Lopez, Hegje and Souza were all non-finishers.
Keith Bloom was the $100 winner in the Dash for Cash with Souza the $50 second-place finisher. DeRosier earned the O'Reilly Hard Charger Award for starting last and finishing second.
The Naake Suspension certificate went to Rick Avila. The Scribner jugs
went home with Bloom and Souza.
The next stop for the North State Modified Series the Shasta Speedway in Anderson on May 7. The event pays $1,000 to the winner and $200 to start.
The North State Modified Series would not be possible without the support of Anderson Logging, Hoosier Tire West, Sunoco Race Fuels, Mark & Sharon Baldwin, Ray Elliott, Doyce Eaton , Naake Suspension, Scribner Plastics, Mort Houston, McMurray & Sons Roofing, and Frank's Radios.