Local Favorite Dallen McKenney Masters Vukovich Classic at Madera

By Robert Haugh

Thrilling the hometown crowd, Clovis’ Dallen McKenney masterfully piloted his #88 TCR/Goewens Mopar, avoiding mistakes en route to triumphing in the 30-lap Bay Cities Racing Association Midget feature event at the Vukovich Classic at the speedy 1/3-mile Madera Speedway on Saturday, May 10.

McKenney overtook early race leader Daniel Bedford coming out of Turn 3 on lap nine when Bedford spun the #03 Bedford Motorsports Beast/Mopar trying to keep pace with McKenney.

McKenney rocketed ahead of the field in a nearly incident-free race, claiming the win over fast-timer Michael Faccinto aboard the #41 Gary Scelzi Village Tire Beast/Mopar, youngster Kyle Dickerson aboard grandfather Harold’s #11k Beast/Esslinger, Alfred “Shark” Galeridge, Jr. aboard his #26 Beast/Mopar and Midget Lite grad “Nitro” Nick Chivello aboard father Daniel’s #27b Beast/Esslinger rounding out the Top Five.

After slipping in Turn 4 coming to the checkers on the last lap, Bedford fell to a sixth-place finish ahead of Scott Nail aboard points leader Scott Nail aboard Stu Donaldson’s #8x Stealth/Pontiac, Clovis’ Danny Parker in eighth aboard his #38 Beast/Esslinger and “Ageless Wonder” Floyd Alvis aboard his #18 Champion Automotive Stealth/Van Dyne.

With the exception of Faccinto taking fast time laurels with a 14.132 lap, McKenney swept the Midget portion of the prestigious Vukovich Classic, wining the feature, trophy dash and Heat 2.

Making his first BCRA start in quite some time, San Jose’s Dan Gundo hopped the wheel of Parker on lap 21 and exited to the infield having lost his brakes in his #6 Stealth/Gaerte.

Making his inaugural pavement Midget start aboard the Walker Racing Bay Muffler #10 Beast/Esslinger, multi-time BCRA feature winner Jimmy Christian felt the wrath of mechanical woes, with a stuck throttle ending his evening prematurely and destroying the Walker mount.

McKenney triumphed in the Dash over Bedford, Faccinto and BCRA rookie and most recent race winner at Ukiah, Marco deGeorge.

McKenney claimed Heat 2 over Bedford, DeGeorge, Faccinto and Dickerson.

Alfred “Shark” Galeridge, Jr. claimed Heat 1 over Gundo, Alvis, Parker and Nail.

The BCRA Midgets take a three-week hiatus before returning to action on May 31 at John Padjen’s ¼-mile Sierra clay oval at Placerville Speedway. Visit www.bcraracing.com for additional information on the BCRA Midgets.

Point Standings through 5/10/08: 1. Scott Nail 446, 2. Nick Foster Jr. 416, 3. Floyd Alvis 388, 4. Kyle Dickerson 349, 5. Kevin Morris 340, 6. Nick Chivello 334, 7. Dallen McKenney 295, 8. Mike Donaldson 266, 9. Ralph Cortez 253, 10. Shane Hmiel 231

Summary:
Main Event – 30 Laps
1. McKenney, 2. Faccinto, 3. Dickerson, 4. Galedrige Jr., 5. Chivello, 6. Bedford, 7. Nail, 8. Parker, 9. Alvis, 10. Gundo, 11.Foster (DNS) 12. DeGeorge - NT
Lap Leaders Bedford 1-9, McKenney 10- 30

Trophy Dash:
1. McKenney, 2. Bedford, 3. Faccinto, 4. DeGeorge 56.41

Heat 2:
1. McKenney, 2. Bedford, 3. DeGeorge, 4. Faccinto, 5. Dickerson, 6. Chivello – Time 1.54.28

Heat 1:
1. Galedrige, 2. Gundo, 3. Alvis, 4. Parker, 5. Nail, 6. Foster NT

Qualifying:
1. Michael Faccinto, 41, Scelzi – 14.132; 2. Dallen McKenney, 88, McKenney, 14.199; 3. Daniel Bedford, 03, Bedford Motorsports – 14.299; 4. Marco DeGeorge, 78, DeGeorge – 14.369 5. Kyle Dickerson, 11k, Dickerson – 14.501; 6. Alfred Galedrige Jr., 26, Galedrige – 14.618; 7. Nick Foster, 24, Fowler – 14.689; 8. Dan Gundo, 6, Gundo – 14.744; 9. Scott Nail, 8x, Donaldson – 14.955; 10. Floyd Alvis, 18, Alvis – 14984; 11. Dan Parker 38, Parker – 15.204; 12. Nick Chivello, 27b, Chivello - NT; 13. Jimmy Christian, 10, Walker – NT; 14. Mike Donaldson, 8, Donaldson - NT