Battle Mountain Raceway News
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YOUNG AYERS WINS FLAG TO FLAG; AMBERSON SHINES
By Bruce Crowley

Battle Mountain, NV August 23…Third generation driver Trenton Ayers, in only his third start ever, turned in a great performance Saturday night as he won the mighty Mini Mod feature race at Battle Mountain Raceway. The diminutive Battle Mountain pilot led all twenty circuits and was never in trouble from the start although if he had bobbled at all ‘The Queen of Speed’ Marnie Thorp was poised right behind the lad’s bumper to snatch the victory.
During the preliminaries, the fourteen year old rookie finished second behind Winnemucca’s Tim Garner in his heat race, but a stubborn battery denied the young man to start the dash, which was also won by Garner. Garner, the point leader at the Winnemucca Regional Raceway, started on the outside of Ayers on the front row but was not a factor in tonight’s race as he spun out on the tenth lap. Local veteran Heinz Woelki suffered engine woes and was unable to put any fight for the youngster. After several laps, Thorp raced into second place in her Gen-X car. Since no other cars in her class were there, race officials allowed her to compete in the Mini Mods despite protests from some of the participants. Surprisingly, the Spring Creek lass was more than competitive, even though her front wheel drive machine is not allowed in this class. Thorp is one of the best drivers in Northwestern Nevada and can count seven feature wins so far in 2003, primarily at the Elko track. Trenton: “There was a girl in the race? I didn’t see her. Was she pretty? I was happy to win but I need a lot to learn.”
His dad, Nick Ayers has taught him well as did his grandfather Lloyd Ayers. Nick is currently second in Nevada I.M.C.A. points and Lloyd has won two features at the raceway this year after a long retirement from racing. Nick stated, “Trenton has his jobs to do before leaning for the track. Things like checking tire pressure, top off fluids, etc. If he doesn’t do it, he stays home like he did two weeks ago.” Look out, Nick. Especially when he asks you if he can borrow your car.
Another Thorp was in action tonight. Brian races in the Pro Stocks and is the point leader at Winnemucca, Summit (Elko), and here. Going into tonight, the automotive technician won sixteen features but suffered a blown engine during last night’s race in Winnemucca and spent the day switching engines. Nine cars started the feature and some of the region’s best were on hand. Defending champ Frank Iturriaga was here. So was Dave Wearin---the man who swept the card one night previous at Winnemucca. Terry Lister was here. And “The Boogerman” was back!! Yes, Stacey Beeler was back on the track after being gone after suffering a non racing wrist injury just after the start of the 2003 season. Fireman Frank led the first five laps of racing but Thorp was on the move and took over first and in control. On the seventh go-around, Sue Eckert lost her rear left axel and the following spin sent the car into a back straight wall. Somehow the fill-in flagman had brain-fade and didn’t put out the yellow until Thorp hit the binders after leaving turn two. Maybe the fill-in won a ‘flagman for a night’ contest. Yes, Virginia, it was that bad. Eckert was unhurt. After the green Thorp went back to leading as Wearin was second and Iturriaga third with Boogerman fourth. Iturriaga spun on the fourteenth lap as Boogerman took third. At the checkered it was Thorp with a full straight over second place finisher Wearin, Beeler, Bernie Sethaler, and Iturriaga.
It was a lackluster I.M.C.A. Modified feature after a rag tag start. Nine-time track, and defending, champion Ward Amberson led wire-to-wire over Nick Ayers, Randy Ayers, and Joe Rigsby. It was Amberson’s second win here and he second successive win on the circuit. Amberson also won his heat while Artz took the dash. Artz, the current point leader, looks as if he will be the heir apparent to Amberson’s crown as the two-day Silver Cup will close the 2003 season at the quarter-mile clay track.
Battle Mountain rider Mike Cates won the first ATV feature over Chancy Campbell and Kim Mize and C. J. Lincoln from Winnemucca roared to victory in the second ATV feature. Justin Greenhalgh was second and Doug Hunziker settled for third.
The next scheduled race for September 6 has been cancelled due to I.M.C.A. Super Nationals in Iowa. The season ending Silver Cup will be held on Saturday night September 20 and Sunday afternoon September 21.

BATTLE MOUNTAIN RACEWAY RESULTS AUGUST 23, 2003

I.M.C.A. MODIFIEDS
Heat: Ward Amberson, Joe Rigsby, Randy Artz, Nick Ayers
Dash: Randy Artz, Ward Amberson, Joe Rigsby, Nick Ayers DNS
Feature: Ward Amberson, Nick Ayers, Randy Artz, Joe Rigsby

MINI MODS
Heat: Tim Garner, Trenton Ayers, Marnie Thorp, Heinz Woelki, Brian Jonas
Dash: Tim Garner, Marnie Thorp, Brian Jonas, Trenton Ayers DNS
Feature: Trenton Ayers, Marnie Thorp, Brian Jonas, Heinz Woelki, Tim Garner

PRO STOCKS
Heat: Frank Iturriaga, Brian Thorp, Dave Wearin, Stacey Beeler, Terry Lister
Dash: Brian Thorp, Stacey Beeler, Frank Iturriaga, Dave Wearin
Feature: Brian Thorp, Dave Wearin, Stacey Beeler, Bernie Sethaler, Frank Iturriaga
Denis Van Dorn, Cody Unger, Sue Eckert, Terry Lister

ATV
Heat one: Chancy Campbell, Mike Cates, Dale Updike, Kim Mize
Heat two: Doug Hunziker, C. J. Lincoln, Justin Greenhaugh
Dash: Doug Hunziker, Kim Mize, Mike Cates, Chancy Campbell
Feature 1: Mike Cates, Chancy Campbell, Kim Mize, Dale Updike
Feature 2: C. J. Lincoln, Justin Greenhaugh, Doug Hunziker