SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Following up his big two feature win night at Bakersfield, Bobby Hogge IV paced just the final two laps to score a $1000 win in the finale of Santa Maria Speedway three race IMCA Modified season on Sunday night. Hogge was again in the Brian Pearce Pro Chassis, but he had to have grandfather Joe Bailey bring the team another claimer motor to run on Sunday after hurting the Saturday night winning engine. Hogge and Pearce hope to team up for the late season specials and the big Las Vegas race in November. Hogge’s win paid $1000. Friday night Watsonville winner Tim Balding had taken the lead from early pacesetter Jimmy Reeves on lap 22 and appeared headed to his 14th win of 2005, but his engine began to lay down before a lap 27 yellow flag. While pacing several laps under this caution, the Balding engine was kicking out water and it expired after he managed to lead one more lap. Reeves had led the first 21 rounds in the Harris Chassis driven earlier in 2005 here by Mike Brumit. Joe Antonetti wrapped up the track championship with a $500 second in his Harris and 2004 Bakersfield champion Larry Hood made a late drive to a $300 third in his Xtreme Chassis.

Nineteen cars appeared at Santa Maria as several potential entries were already making their tow to Boone Iowa for the IMCA Super Nationals. Point averages were used for the lineups, but the track gave the field a qualifying session. Balding was finally able to make his Santa Maria debut as the first two legs conflicted with his Chowchilla Speedway point fight and he turned quick time with his Harris at 16.824. Reeves ran a 17.186. Reeves move into the Bandit wingless sprint cars has given him a lot of lap time at Santa Maria. Hogge clicked off a 17.209. The first car to run, Andy Obertello had a 17.588. Mike Villaneueva had trailered home after hot laps. Antioch’s Ed Daviess won the opening heat race over Bakersfield’s Nick Sylvester and Watsonville’s Todd Hermosillo. Reeves captured heat 2, but finished just a half car in front of Balding with David Addamo in third. Obertello was headed to a win in heat 3 when his car broke on the final lap. Hogge gained that win over Antonetti and Hood. Keith Brown Sr missed the heat action changing engines after a severe oiling problem in practice and time trials.

The feature had 18 starters and Reeves raced into an early lead over Daviess and Addamo. Antonetti took over third on lap 2, but got shuffled back to sixth by Addamo, Balding and Hogge on lap 4. Locals Ryan Dale, Ian Hunter and Dan Lauer all fell out early and Balding raced into third on lap 5. Hogge was fourth a lap later. Obertello broke an engine to force a lap 7 yellow with Tom Topping and Jeremy Heroux getting collected. Hogge got underneath Daviess for second on lap 10 and Daviess made contact with the front fence. Brown crashed and Hood had to restart in the rear after pitting. On lap 12, Balding moved into third over Daviess as Antonetti climbed back to fifth. Balding was able to make a high line pass on Hogge for second on lap 15. The 1/3 mile clay oval was very tacky, but also very rough. They traded grading it during intermission, but the ruts quickly returned. Bakersfield racers Robert Sanders and Sylvester pitted before lap 20 and Reeves began throwing sparks as Balding reeled him in. Hermosillo broke and Balding was able to drive underneath Reeves in turn 2 on lap 22 to take the top spot. Hogge was second a lap later. The lap 27 yellow found sixth place Addamo in the front wall after some contact with Hood. Reeves elected to park his car from third and Balding’s mount showed definite overheating symptoms. Balding was able to stay ahead of Hogge and Antonetti on lap 28, but his engine blew in a big ball of smoke in turn 1. After giving the leaders the white flag, the flagman threw a caution with Balding sitting close to the racing surface. That set up the two lap shootout between Hogge, Antonetti and Hood. Hogge stayed in front for his third win of the holiday weekend ahead of Antonetti, Hood, Davies and Kings Speedway regular Lonnie Lacy Jr. Heroux and Topping rounded out the 7 cars racing at the checkered flag.

RESULTS

Fast Time-Tim Balding 16.824
Heat 1-Ed Daviess, Nick Sylvester, Todd Hermosillo, Ian Hunter, Dan Lauer.
Heat 2-Jimmy Reeves, Balding, David Addamo, Tom Topping, Robert Sanders.
Heat 3-Bobby Hogge IV, Joe Antonetti, Andy Obertello, Lonnie Lacy Jr, Jeremy Heroux.
Main-Hogge, Antonetti, Larry Hood, Daviess, Lacy, Heroux, Topping, Balding, Reeves, Addamo, Hermosillo, Sylvester, Sanders, Keith Brown Sr, Obertello, Hunter, Lauer, Ryan Dale.