April 18th, 2009 Race Results - Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway

GERHARDT GETS WIN #1 & POINT LEAD AT BLYTHE

Blythe, CA…….Cody Gerhardt of Fresno, Calif. led the final nine laps to win Saturday night’s 30-lap USAC California Pavement/Auto Trader Utah Ford Focus feature at Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway. He was trailed at the checkered flag by Zach Stout, Jake Swanson, Jeff Oleen and Connor Kassik. Nick Romano led the first 21 laps before Gerhardt moved to the front. Michael J. Lewis was the night’s fastest qualifier.

Only 4 Utah participants were in attendance, Kipp Posey, Austin Luttmer, J.R. Williams and Bob Brewer. The Utah cars arrived on Saturday and by not participating in the costly private testing sessions that the California owners insist upon, were relegated to starting at the rear of the field. Posey and Luttmer were able to overcome with Posey winning Heat #2 with Luttmer finishing 3rd. Brewer was running behind Posey and Luttmer in the Main Event before suffering a flat right front tire on Lap 6.

The race had one red flag for a crash involving Romano. Lewis was relegated to the rear when he spun to avoid the stalled car of Romano. Gunderson was sent to the rear for stopping on the track to debate his re-start position with officials.

QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Michael Lewis, 60, Western Speed-13.853; 2. Jake Swanson, 88, Swanson-13.868; 3. Eric Gunderson, 98, Gunderson-13.896; 4. Cody Gerhardt, 40, Western Speed-13.896; 5. Nick Romano, 42, Sutton-14.027; 6. Zach Stout, 95, Stout-14.040; 7. Luis Ramos III, 00, Christie-14.145; 8. Connor Kassik, 26, Kassik-14.190; 9. Jeff Oleen, 8, Sutton-14.272; 10. Kipp Posey, 37, Posey-14.334; 11. Bob Brewer, 5, Brewer-14.505; 12. Austin Luttmer, 49, James-14.528; 13. J.R. Williams, 74, Williams-14.928.  

DASH: (4 laps) 1. Gerhardt, 2. Gunderson, 3. Swanson, 4. Lewis. NT  

FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Oleen, 2. Romano, 3. Gunderson, 4. Lewis, 5. Ramos, 6. Brewer. NT 

SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Posey, 2. Gerhardt, 3. Luttmer, 4. Stout, 5. Swanson, 6. Kassik. NT 

FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Cody Gerhardt, 2. Zach Stout, 3. Jake Swanson, 4. Jeff Oleen, 5. Connor Kassik, 6. Michael Lewis, 7. Kipp Posey, 8. Austin Luttmer, 9. Eric Gunderson, 10. J.R. Williams, 11. Luis Ramos III, 12. Nick Romano, 13. Bob Brewer. NT 

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-21 Romano, Laps 22-30 Gerhardt.