Sunday, September 30, 2018

Price Continues His North State Modified Series Domination

Kris Price leads the way followed by Cameron Austin and Jason Philpot in the Lloyd Burton Against the Win Modified Challenge at Shasta Speedway (Photo Courtesy Chris Anderson)

Via Nadine Strauss/NSMS Media

September 29, 2018, Anderson, CA.... Kris Price of Sacramento continued his domination in the North State Modified Series, presented by Protect the Harvest, by setting a fast time of 16.365 over the 23 car field, and bagging his fourth season NSMS victory at Shasta Speedway Saturday night. Price took home the 4 foot tall hand-carved eagle trophy in the 3rd annual “Lloyd Burton Against the Wind Modified Challenge,” and collected the $1,500 first place prize money.

Cameron Austin of Santa Rosa ran all but 5 laps in Price's shadow to finish second. Jason Philpot of Sacramento finished third with Rio Linda's Eric Price II fourth and Lucas Oil Dash for Cash winner Keith Bloom of Redding fifth.

The line-up for the 60 lap feature saw Terry Deal and Eric Price in the front row, Philpot and Kris Price in row two, Darrin Sullivan and Austin in row three, and Darrin Knight next to Guy Young in the fourth row.

Eric Price forged ahead at the start with Kris Price darting around Deal for second. Kris Price stole the lead from brother Eric on lap five, and Austin took over second the following round. Philpot swapped places with Eric Price on lap seven. Deal lost power and faded in the high groove, retiring to the pits on lap 10

The first yellow flag flew on lap 11 when Darrin Knight and Darrin Sullivan were battling for fifth. The cars touched resulting in Knight spinning into the infield. This moved local favorites Guy Young and Randy Houston into sixth and seventh. That battle ended with Houston driving under Young on 17 to assume the sixth slot.

The race was stopped a second time at the half-way marker when Ian Elliott and Sullivan made contact with Sullivan spinning in turn four. The double-file restart saw Houston slip by Eric Price for fourth. The next 15 circuits went smoothly until Houston lost control and spun on lap 46. Seven rounds later a confrontation between Adrianna Strugnell and Washington visitor Daniel Jobe brought out the final yellow flag.

Kris Price stayed out in front and led the field across the Sunoco checkered flag to take the win. Austin finished second followed by, Philpot, Eric Price and Keith Bloom. Rounding out the top 10 were PJ Pedroncelli, Dustin DeRosier, Young, Elliott and Eric Johnson. Twenty of the 23 starters finished the race.

Bloom was the $100 winner in the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash with PJ Pedroncelli collecting $50 for second. Both Bloom and Pedroncelli also received the Scribner Plastics jugs. The Naake shocks certificate went to Jason Philpot. The Frank's Radio gifts were given to Mike Neilson, Rich Cobb and Stuart Campbell. Bloom earned the $100 Burton Family Hard Charger Award for passing the most cars.

The Shasta race was the richest event in the 5-year history of the North State Modified Series. Lloyd Burton's brother-in-law Mort Houston donated $2500 to the purse which North State Modified Series promoter's matched. Add that to the $2500 Lucas Oil Towing bonus, the Mary Burton $100 Hard Charger Award, the Ward Land Management and Development $500 bonus, the Lucas Oil Dash for Cash money, and a donation from the Northern California Auto Racing Alumni, and over $13,000 was paid out to 23 North State Modified drivers.

The final race in the North State Modified Series “Driving Out Cancer Tour” will be at the All American Speedway in Roseville, California on October 12-13. This event will be a part of the October Classic which also features the NASCAR K & N Series and the Pacific Challenge Series Late Models.

The North State Modified Series is presented by: Protect the Harvest, Lucas Oil, Ward Land Management & Development, Hoosier Tire West, Sunoco Race Fuels, Naake Suspension, Five Star Bodies, Racer Bling, Scribner Plastics and Frank's Radios. #####

WLM&D TIME TRIALS: Kris Price (16.365); Jason Philpot (16.398); Eric Price II (16.462); Terry Deal (16.477); Darrin Sullivan (16.483); Cameron Austin (16.490); Darrin Knight (16.525); Guy Young (16.535); Eric Johnson (16.557); Randy Houston (16.618); Dustin DeRosier (16.651); P.J. Pendroncelli (16.661); Ian Elliott (16.721); Rich Cobb (16.734); Keith Bloom (16.826); Daniel Jobe (16.894); Mike Neilson (16.909); Stuart Campbell (16.965); Adrianna Strugnell (17.042); Paul Pedroncelli (17.302); Don Shalla (17.436); Rick Avila (17.592); John Baker (17.620)

LUCAS OIL DASH FOR CASH: Keith Bloom, PJ Pendroncelli, Rich Cobb, Ian Elliott, Guy Young, Eric Johnson

SUNOCO / WLM&D FEATURE EVENT: Kris Price, Cameron Austin, Jason Philpot, Eric Price II, Keith Bloom, PJ Pedroncelli, Dustin DeRosier, Guy Young, Ian Elliott, Eric Johnson, Mike Neilson, Randy Houston, Darrin Sullivan, Rich Cobb, Stuart Campbell, Daniel Jobe, Adrianna Strugnell, John Baker, Don Shalla, Rick Avila, Darrin Knight, Terry Deal, Paul Pedroncelli