Blodgett Sr. Takes First Pro Gas Title at Bakersfield—Newman Holds on to Point’s Lead

By Bob Johnson
Famoso Raceway Bakersfield, CA May 16, 2004

Mike Blodgett Sr. won his first SoCal Pro Gas Association event when he defeated Val Torres Jr. in the final round at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield.  Point’s leader Chris Newman held on to the series points lead, as he drove the Wayne & Dave’s Automotive Nova to the fourth round where he lost to Randy Marcum, driving Joe Ghyselinck’s black ’27 Ford roadster.

The third event of the SoCal Pro Gas season was sponsored by Chuck’s Automotive (Bakersfield) and H & H Parts Warehouse (Bakersfield & Taft) and drew seventy-two race cars.  Andy MacDougal earned the number one qualifying spot with his Chevy S-10 truck.

In the fourth round, Torres Jr. and Jim Sowards both logged .026 lights, but Val was good by .024 while the LACR race runner-up was too quick with a 9.895 in his Corvette.  Dave Coapstick was benefited from Mike Bolden’s shut-off run, after cutting a .001 light, Bolden’s ’33 Ford shut-off, and Coapstick took the win with a 10.50 (.013 r.t.).  Chris Newman cut a perfect light against Randy Marcum (.016 r.t.), but the win light went to Marcum as both cars broke-out—Marcum good with a 9.879, Newman losing with a 9.863.  Blodgett Sr. then stopped the Lumina of Wayne Newman—9.923 to a 9.891—and Steve Parsons got a bye into the next round.

Quarterfinal round racing began with Parsons defeating Marcum; Blodgett Sr. ran a 9.901 to beat Coapstick, and Torres Jr. got a bye.  In the semi, Torres Jr. ran a 9.895, 153.21 (.021 r.t.) to stop Parsons, as his Camaro was .001 too quick off the line and red-lighted with a 9.918.  Blodgett got a bye into the final.

In the final round, Blodgett cut a .006 reaction time and recorded a winning 9.903, 146.67 for his first Pro Gas victory.  Val Torres Jr., driving the Perma-Coil Pontiac of Bob Duncan, finished runner-up with a 9.910, 153.00 (.035 reaction).  Blodgett thanked Hot Rod Performance, Hughes Transmissions, Carroll Shelby Goodyear, Isky Cams, and sons Matt and Mike for their support with the race car.  RVPO Parts Outlet sponsored the event trophy.

Chris Newman contiues to lead the point’s series with 2010 points, followed by Jim Sowards (1807), Dave Coapstick (1804); Greg Ventura (1614), and Wayne Newman (1502).  Rounding off the top ten is Woody Tryon (1417); Paul Wiechmann (1409); Mike Blodgett Sr. (1321); Charlie Allen (1320); and Andy MacDougal (1316).

The fourth race of the 2004 season will be held at California Dragway in Fontana on June 5^th , and will be sponsored by Harris Family Racing.

Ray's Notes