Tanner Thorson scored his second win of the season in the 58th annual Johnny Key Classic on Aug. 25 at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville.
The Taco Bravo and Civil War Sprint Car show produced a 37-car field. The 50-lap race was split into 25-lap segments with a 10-minute break.
There were 22 starters in the big money race, but two red flags flew before a lap could be completed.
Nick Ringo flipped on Turn 3, and Justin Sanders flipped in Turn 1 on the next attempt.
Cory Eliason charged into the lead on the next restart attempt ahead of Thorson, and the two cars ran that way to the break ahead of Kurt Nelson, Mitchell Faccinto and track-point leader Brad Furr.
Dustin Golobic spun early in the second segment, and Nelson’s Top 5 run ended in a bout with the back wall on lap 30.
Thorson nearly spun on Turn 2, but a few laps later Eliason got sideways, allowing to former to speed to the checkered flag.
Shane Golobic, Bud Kaeding, Faccinto, Eliason, Kyle Hirst, Ryan Bernal, Furr, Colby Copeland and Matthew Moles followed Thorson.
Thirty-seven drivers timed in, and Furr and Eliason each clocked in with a lap of 11.476.
Furr got the nod as the fast qualifier since he was the first driver to turn that lap.
Nelson, Thorson, Sanders and Faccinto won 10-lap heat races.
Thorson also won the six-lap Trophy Dash ahead of Eliason to put the two drivers on the front row for the big show.
There were two 12-lap B Mains. D.J. Netto won the first one ahead of Nick Ringo and Civil War point leader Cole Macedo. Scott Parker won the second ahead of Dustin Freitas and Cody Lamar.
IMCA SPORT MODIFIEDS
Anthony Giuliani collected his first 20-lap IMCA Sport Modified Main Event win of the season after a good race with Adriane Frost, who settled for second.
Austin Williams also ran close to the front in third, followed by past Street Stock champion Doug Hagio, Justin McPherson, point leader Jim DiGiovanni, Jarrod Mounce, Jason Womack, Alex Bieser and Travis Slayter.
Giuliani and Frost picked up wins in the eight-lap heat races.
AMERICAN STOCKS
Matt Kile continued his strong bid for the American Stock championship with his fifth 20-lap Main Event win of the season.
Rob Gallaher jumped into Joe Gallaher’s car after his faltered, and gave Kile a good battle before settling for second.
Previous feature winner J.C. Elrod was a close third with fourth-place Mike Calhoun just a straightaway behind. Jerry Skelton, George Fernandez, Wally Kennedy, Terry Traub and DJ Keldsen completed the finishing order.
Gallaher and Kile were the eight-lap heat race winners.
IMCA 305 RACESAVERS
The IMCA 305 RaceSaver Sprint Cars made their second appearance at the speedway, and point leader Grant Duinkerken won the 25-lap Main Event.
Duinkerken came from the third row to beat championship contender Albert Pombo by half a straightaway at the checkered flag.
Jacob Pacheco beat Grant Champlin in good battle for third.
Kyle Rasmussen, Ricky Seldate, Mauro Simone, Jared Faria, Michael Pombo and Brooklyn Holland completed the Top 10.
Duinkerken set the fast time of 12.505, beating the 12.591 of Holland.
Michael Pombo and Rasmussen won the eight-lap heats.
UP NEXT
Racing picks back up on Sept. 7.
The USAC/CRA Wingless Sprint Cars will be circling the track, along with American Stocks, Four Bangers and Police N Pursuit cars.
