Mike
Zamora of Kennewick, WA is all smiles after winning the Labour Day Can-Am '150'
event at Western Speedway in Victoria, BC. This was his second Late Model win
this season in the LMCS, and he is the series current points leader.
Zamora Wins in Victoria, BC
RACE RECAP
FROM WESTERN SPEEDWAY MEDIA:
It was an
action packed night of racing Saturday Night at Western Speedway as just over
2000 race fans flocked to the Speedway for the incredible Glen Lake Inn Stock
Car Series and the LMCS USA Super Stocks. Nineteen Super Stocks, from BC, and
Washington were lined up on the front stretch all receiving great ovations from
the enthusiastic crowd as they were introduced. After several warm up laps, the
Dave Wheaton Pontiac Pace Car picked up the field and a paraded the drivers for
two more laps until the one to go signal was given. With an eight car invert
from qualifying, point leader Mike Zamora of Kennewick Washington would start on
the pole and bring the field to the green flag unleashing over 10,500
horsepower. The first lap would not be completed before the first yellow flag of
the 150 lap race would wave. As Zamora was leading the pack out of turn four to
complete the first lap, several cars including Jimmie Johnson, Ron wolf, Bart
Smith and Jack Chisholm would find themselves in a melee with all four cars
suffering damage. Bart Smith was the only driver who was not forced to pi but
Johnson, Wolf and Chisholm were all forced to pit, all three with heavy body
damage. Johnson Chisholm and Wolf would make it out of the pits for the restart
but would start the race from the back of the pack. Zamora would once again lead
with Trophy Dash winner Steve Thompson in second, Seattle’s Mark Sundberg third
and Victoria ‘s Darrel Midgley fourth. On lap twenty one, Robbie Haslam would be
forced to pit with throttle linkage problems and one lap later the fans would
see Trophy Dash winner Brent Morris pit with a broken rocker stud. The yellow
flag would wave on lap twenty seven when Troy Eaton from Lakewood Washington
would find himself facing the wrong way in turn four. On the restart it was all
Zamora with Thompson, Sundberg, James Spiering and Track Record holder now in
the top five but two laps later the yellow flag would wave again, this time for
a spin in turn two involving Keith Armstrong, Darrel Midgley and Jimmie Johnson.
All three cars were able to continue but with minor body damage. After the green
flag waved again, and ten laps later o lap thirty seven, Darrel Midgley would
have his hopes of a hometown win vanish as his car developed mechanical problems
forcing him to the pits for the remainder of the race. With Zamora still
leading, Jay Sauls was following close in second waiting for his chance to
overtake the leader. Sauls began to challenge Zamora for the lead and n lap
sixty two looked poised to take it as the two raced side by side down the front
shoot. As the two entered turn one, Saul’s’ car would slightly break loose and
make contact with the leader. Both cars would slide with Zamora being able to
continue as he drifted through the turns as Sauls would spin completely around
coming to rest facing traffic. As the pack entered the turn with Sauls facing
the wrong way, cars scrambled every which way to avoid colliding with the
stalled Sauls. After the track was cleared, Zamora would continue to lead with
the pack close on his rear bumper. On lap seventy one the yellow flag would wave
and then the red when Victoria’s Wade Bland and Seattle’s Mark Sundberg would
make contact and crash at the entrance to turn one which also involved Keith
Armstrong who was able to continue, Troy Eaton an Jay Sauls who were also able
to continue. After the Richlock Rentals Safety Team cleared the track it was
back to racing with Zamora again showing the way. James Spiering, Bat Smith and
Ron Wolf were all in a three way battle for the second spot, only three car
lengths behind the leader. On lap 108, Jimmie Johnson would have some help
spinning off of turn four in front of the battle for second with Bart Smith
making heavy contact with Johnson as he swooped down to the inside to avoid
contact with Johnson sliding into Smith’s way. Both drivers, who incidentally
are the two sponsoring Drywall companies of the race, were able to continue,
Smith with extensive body damage to the front of his 2005 Pontiac . As the laps
wound down it was all Zamora who would sometimes slide out a bit in turn one
allowing for second place driver Ron Wolf to make a move on the inside but to no
avail. With six laps to go, the yellow flag would wave again this time for
Jimmie Johnson who spun in turn three ending up on the infield grass. On the
restart, and now with only four laps to go, it was Zamora hanging on to the lead
with Ron Wolf, Troy Eaton and James Spiering all bumper to bumper but the yellow
flag would wave again as Loran Payne of Renton Washington spun in turn four. The
race would now be decided with a Green “ White and Chequered Flag finish. The
green flag would wave and one lap later the white flag with Ron wolf all over
Mike Zamora. On the final turn, Wolf would get underneath the leader making hi
bid for the lead and win as the two drag raced down the front stretch to the
chequered flag with Zamora taking the win by less than half a car length. In
JACK fm Victory Square Zamora was a happy man as he extended his point lead over
Jay Sauls with the win but had sincere disappointment for Sauls who was involved
in an earlier crash saying he (Zamora) didn’t want to win the LMCS Championship
or race this way with Sauls in the pits, he wants to beat Sauls and win on the
track. It was Mike Zamora’s first ever visit to Western Speedway, a track he
quickly fell in love with as he did with Victoria and the people. Ron Wolf who
finished second congratulated the winner before telling the fans how much he
enjoyed coming to Western Speedway, this being only his second race this year.
Wolf said he hadn’t raced much this year but when he saw Victoria on the
schedule, this is one race I am going to and to defend his title as Wolf won
here in 2003, the last time the LMCS visited Canada . Troy Eaton of Lakewood
Washington placed third with James Spiering fourth. Dr. Jerry Losch and the LMCS
tour now head to the big .646 mile Evergreen Speedway in Monroe Washington for
the 2005 championship race being held on September 17th.
Many of the U.S. teams were new to the flat 4/10
mile oval at Western Speedway and found the track very challenging. Zamora #57
got it figured out, leading the feature race from green flag to the checkers.
Full Results
2005 TOURING SCHEDULE
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