ALBRIGHT WINS DRAMATIC BCRA LITE MAIN at Petaluma Speedway

ALBRIGHT WINS DRAMATIC BCRA LITE MAIN 
by, Mark Sublett
Petaluma, CA…….Dakota Albright won an exciting Bay Cities Racing Association 20 lap Midget Lite main event Saturday night at Petaluma Speedway. Albright raced to the win after heartbreak happened for 2018 Champion Hunter Kinney who had mechanical problems while leading coming off the final corner of the race dropping him to third at the finish. The race was only the second this season for the Midget Lites due to the covid pandemic and was run without fans in the grandstands.
Aiden Lange took the lead at the start of the main event but Tyler Gerdes spun in turn one requiring a restart. On the second try Lange once again took the lead followed by Brandon Leedy in second. Season opening winner Dakota Albright was on the move early from his fourth starting spot passing cars on the outside to move to second. Former Champion Jeff Griffin had mechanical problems bringing out he caution on lap 5. Lange held his lead on the restart with Albright second. Scott and Hunter Kinney were on the move with Hunter putting the moves on his Dad for third using the outside groove but another caution for a spinning Gerdes negated the brave pass. On the restart S. Kinney drug his inside left tire on the berm causing him to jump the berm and spin dropping him to the back of the field running third. On the next restart leader Lange’s car stumbled at the green flag allowing Albright to take the lead but that was shortlived when H. Kinney passed Albright to take the top spot. Eric Greco and Lange had a good battle for the third position going midway through the twenty lapper. After a brilliant battle for position that saw several lead changes between Albright on the outside and Kinney running the inside and Greco and Lange having a similar battle going close behind for the third spot provided some great racing action on the 3/8ths mile clay oval. H. Kinney looked to have things won in the closing laps but coming off turn four on the final lap he lost power allowing Albright to race by to take the win by little over two tenths of a second. Lange raced an even closer second with H. Kinney limping home third and Greco crossing the finish line fourth .625 seconds behind the leader. Terry Bergstrom moved up to fifth from eighth starting and S. Kinney rebounded from his early spin to race sixth followed by Dan Foster, Dominic Del Monte and Harlee Aguilera on track at the Scott Erwin checkered flag.
Heat race action saw Hunter Kinney take the lead in heat race one from his outside front row starting spot. He stretched his lead throughout the eight lap distance. Scott Kinney held off the outside challenges from third place finisher Greco to finish second. Lange raced fourth followed by Del Monte and Aguilera. Heat two saw veteran Berstrom take the lead from the pole and win it well. Griffin raced second after holding off early challenges from Leedy who finished fourth. Albright moved up to third late. Foster raced fifth. Gaal and Gerdes had mechanical problems dropping them to the final finishing positions.
The next race for the BCRA Lites is scheduled for August 29th at Placerville Speedway. Due to the ongoing pandemic things change quickly so for current information on the BCRA Midgets, Midget Lites and Vintage check out www.BCRAracing.com.
SUMMARY
08-08-2020 – BCRA Midget Lite – Petaluma Speedway
A-Main (20 laps): 1. Dakota Albright 2. Aiden Lange 3. Hunter Kinney 4. Eric Greco 5. Terry Berstrom 6. Scott Kinney 7. Dan Foster 8. Dominic Del Monte 9. Harlee Aguilera 10. Brandon Leedy 11. Jeff Griffin 12. Tyler Gerdes
HEAT 1 (8 laps): 1. Hunter Kinney 2. Scott Kinney 3. Eric Greco 4. Aiden Lange 5. Dominic Del Monte 6. Harlee Aguilera
HEAT 2 (8 laps): 1. Terry Bergstrom 2. Jeff Griffin 3. Dakota Albright 4. Brandon Leedy 5. Dan Foster 6. Chase Gaal 7. Tyler Gerdes