Zampa continues undefeated season with fifth Late Model win in Roseville

The sizzling-hot start to the NASCAR Late Model season for Napa's Dylan Zampa continued Saturday night during All American Speedway's Armed Forces Night, with Zampa sweeping the twin 35-lap features to extend his record to 5-0. North Highlands' Rick Andersen and Roseville's Josh Whitfield also continued perfect starts. Zampa started eighth for the nightcap after winning the opener. He marched through the field, passing Loomis' Michael Mitchell for third on lap 12 and working past 2021 Modified champion Eric Price Jr. for second on lap 15. Passing 2021 Late Model champion John Moore of Granite Bay for the lead was a larger challenge. Zampa tried several crossover attempts on both ends of the one-third-mile speedway and finally cleared Moore with a crossover on lap 25. The race was not over yet as 2021 Jr. Late Model champion Kenna Mitchell of Loomis tangled with Price for third in turn 1, requiring a caution on lap 27. Aidan Daniels of Fort Bragg, the 2020 Jr. Late Model champion, spun on the frontstretch to set up an additional caution and a four-lap shootout. Zampa was undeterred, charging ahead to top Moore, Auburn's Thomas Martin, Michael Mitchell and Price. "It's a stout field and everyone, to me, felt close in that race," Zampa said. "Just glad that Eric (Price) and John (Moore) ran me clean, and I hope we can do it next time we come here." In the first 35-lap feature, Martin got sideways in turn 1 on lap 22, setting up a three-wide duel that allowed Daniels to clear for the lead on lap 23 and brought Zampa with him. Zampa seized the lead around the outside of Aidan Daniels on the restart and didn't relinquish it. Kenna Mitchell worked her way past Daniels for second with Michael Mitchell and Martin rounding out the top five. Rick Andersen of North Highlands won his second consecutive Modified feature. Colfax's Cody Bailey led the first two laps of the 30-lap affair before Rocklin's Tyler Wentworth took over on lap 3. Wentworth, Andersen and Josh Blackwood lined up in a close battle for the lead. Tyler Mullican spun in turn 4 to bring out the race's first caution on lap 23. Eureka's Brandon White charged from eighth on the grid to go outside Blackwood for third. White spun in turn 3 as he dived inside Andersen to bring out a caution on lap 27. Like Zampa's win, Andersen took advantage of the opportunity to start outside Wentworth and grabbed the lead. Wentworth settled for second over Windsor's Sammy Nuno, Bailey and Roseville's Cody Rickard. Roseville's Josh Whitfield is still undefeated as he defends his 2021 Super Stock championship. Whitfield took the lead from Dixon's Tim Walters on lap 5. Roseville's Phil Wilkins ran second over Walters. Terry Thomas Jr. of Antelope finish fourth, followed by Galt's Larry Thornhill. Roseville drivers had success in the F4 division as well with 2020 champion Ray Molina driving back to victory lane over a 16-car field. A frantic race saw numerous lead changes. Nevada's Rich Innis led the opening laps with challenges from Roseville's Nathan Cleaver on the inside. Cleaver took the lead on lap 5, and Innis used the high side to lead lap 12 before Cleaver battled back to lead lap 13. The lead pack went four abreast through lapped traffic, allowing Innis to drive into the lead on lap 14. Molina went outside Innis to take the lead on lap 17 before Mario Novelli went up in smoke to require a red flag that ended the event prematurely on lap 17. Molina topped Innis, Cleaver, Rocklin's John Sproule and Woodland's Timm Williams. Chase Hand, son of former 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner Joey Hand, won his first career stock car oval start by taking the 20-lap Jr. Late Model feature. The race had a rough start when 2020 Mini Cup/Bando champion Bella Thomsen of El Dorado Hills slowed at the start and collected several cars behind her. The second lap featured a multi-car skirmish on the frontstretch when 10-year-old Vito Cancilla of Martinez, Trey Daniels of Fort Bragg and Colton Nelson of Auburn went three-wide and tangled. The incident ended the event for Nelson, the 2021 Mini Cup champion. Hand drove around the outside of Thomsen to take the lead on the restart and led Daniels, Cancilla, Roseville's Connor West and Thomsen across the finish line. Roseville's Dayton Broyles had an electrifying win in the 15-lap Mini Cup/Bandolero feature. Broyles raced hard with Stockton's Lucas Burton on April 9, and that battle continued May 14. Broyles tracked down Burton over the final five laps and passed him on the final circuit for the win. Leilani Sprenkel and Cash Page of Meadow Vista rounded out the field. Quinter Pittillo of North Highlands topped a field of 10 drivers for the $1,000 Trailer Bash triumph. Alan Bridgman of Lincoln was voted the $250 Master of Disaster in the Shark Car while Eric Bocksberger won the $250 Best Looking Trailer with his Batman-themed machine.