The evening didn't go quite as well as Steve Shaw and Tom Silsby would have liked it to, but the Carson City-based Supermodified Racing League team of S&S Motorsports still walked away with a second-place finish at Douglas County Raceway in Roseburg, Ore., on Saturday night.
From Dinuba, Calif., driver Troy Regier posted fast time of all the supermodified racecars for the field, which included four sprint cars from the Northwest Sprintcar Racing Association.
"There was some debate about the tires the sprint cars run," Shaw said. "They run a softer rubber tire which gives them faster speeds."
Racecars in the SRL are required to run Hoosier tires. Regier was one of four cars in a trophy dash, in which he took second. The other three fast-qualifiers were sprint cars. Regier finished third in his heat race.
In the main event, a No. 10-invert was drawn. Due to a technicality and a requested position change by one of the sprint car drivers, Regier started in the eighth position.
Regier had his work cut out for him in the main event. Sprint cars, by nature, drive hard along the lower drive line into a turn, then let the car drift up coming out of the turn. Some drivers stay on the gas and brakes simultaneously and take the car sideways through the turn, making it hard to pass with either driving style.
"Troy was trying to get around one of the cars, it slipped high and he hit the wall in the turn," Shaw said. "He kept the car on the track to feel it out to see if he had a tire going down."
With the car handling OK, Regier stayed out to do his business. The 40-lap main was slowed by two cautions, which worked in Regier's favor.
"We were pleased the car worked as surprisingly well as it did," Shaw said. "The hit knocked the pannard bar over two inches into to the chassis, which caused it and other parts to bind up."
By lap 38 Regier made his way to race leader Mike Baisch, who drives for Courtney Davis of Reno. Baisch is currently third in the drivers point standings.
"Troy was all over him, but he just didn't have the laps to pull out the win," Shaw said. "Mike had the pole position on the start of the race and pretty much led it from start to finish."
It was Baisch's first win of the season, and Davis' as car owner.
"The addition of the sprinters made a for a good field of cars, and it was a good show for the fans," Regier said.
Shaw offered a word of thanks to the supporters of S&S Motorsports - and to Regier.
"I've got to thank Mr. Gasket, Ron Burdg of Sierra Racing Products, Valley Chevrolet and Capital City Auto Parts (NAPA), for sponsoring us. They've all been really good to us," he said.
"And Troy always does a fantastic job," Shaw added. "He had to make up nearly two-thirds of a lap to catch Mike, and he did it. The car was bent up pretty good but it will be ready for the next race.?
The SRL next races at Shasta Speedway in Anderson, Calif., at the fairgrounds on Aug. 6. For information, visit www.supermodifiedracing.com.
n Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-
