Natenstedt Tops IMCA Modifieds, Belli Rebounds
In Mini Stocks At Diamond Mountain Speedway
Susanville, CA...Despite threatening skies, the show went on at Diamond Mountain Speedway in Susanville. There were two new winners and a repeat winner in the three division program. Shawn Natenstedt won the IMCA Modified Main Event in his season debut, while Kyle Belli won the Mini Stock feature. Victor Richey won the Strictly Stock feature. The switch to a rare Friday night program likely worked to the track's advantage as they were able to avoid a rainout.
Another good turnout of 14 IMCA Modifieds competed in the Friday night show. Shawn Nantenstedt made a successful season debut with a Main Event victory. Chris Nieman improved on a fourth place finish in the season opener with his second place finish as Galen Hainline brought it home in third. It was 2015 point runner up Matt Murphy finishing fourth ahead of 2012 Quincy champion, Erica Buhr. Past Susanville champion Jeff Chew was sixth as Nevin Kennemore, Dave Sciarroni, Wade DeBerg and Larry McCracken rounded out the Top 10.
Defending Strictly Stock champion Richard Longacre kicked off the night with a victory in the heat race ahead of Nathan Howard. However, it was season opening winner Victor Richey again preventing Longacre from getting into the Main Event winner's circle. Longacre settled for another second place finish ahead of Howard, Steve Goss, Ian Upton, James Erie, Shayna Robertson and Jason Emmot.
Kyle Belli had a season debut he'd rather forget. Defending Mini Stock champion Belli started the evening off with a heat race win and followed that up with a Main Event victory. Billy Gibson improved on his fifth place finish at the season opener with a second place finish ahead of the season debut of Wyatt Spaulding. Robert Feller and Larry Foster rounded out the Top 5. Past champion Larry Whitebird won his heat race, but he settled sixth in the feature ahead of Rick Higby, Megan Wilson and Joe Marlow.
The track runs the NAPA Gold Series with neighboring American Valley Speedway in Quincy, and that next race is June 4th in Quincy. Quincy is two races into their season. The IMCA Modified opener on April 30th was won by Chris Nieman ahead or Erica Buhr, Riley Simmons, Eli Zucker and Late Model veteran Bill Pearson. Perennial front runner Jeff Olschowka won the most recent race on May 14th ahead of Chase Nieman, Matt Murphy, Larry McCracken and Chris Olexiewicz.
Racing resumes at Diamond Mountain Speedway on June 11th. The second round of the NAPA Gold Series will feature IMCA Modifieds, Strictly Stocks and Mini Stocks. For further information, go to the track website at https://lassencountyfair.org/interim-events/diamond-mountain-speedway/
