Loomis' Mitchell adds Pro Late Model championship in 70th NASCAR season finale in Roseville

Loomis' Kenna Mitchell became the first female NASCAR Pro Late Model champion in the 70th season finale Saturday night at Roseville's All American Speedway. Mitchell won the nightcap of the twin 30-lap features on the one-third mile as part of a busy night where six NASCAR weekly series champions were decided along with a demolition derby and fireworks. Mitchell previously claimed the Wild West Super Series championship in October. "It means so much for us to come out and win the championship this season. Crazy night of racing, too!" the 2024 Del Oro High School graduate said."It means so much to me and my team, they worked so hard to get us here." The opening 30-lap Pro Late Model feature was wild with several caution flags within the first 10 laps. Idaho visitor Ryan Phipps rocketed into the lead at the start ahead of Lincoln's Adam Kern. A furious two-by-two battle for third developed behind him. Auburn's Colton Nelson held the position over Lincoln's Kylie Glick. Kern used a lap six restart to swoop around the outside of Phipps for the lead. Battling between Phipps and Fort Bragg's Trey Daniels bottled up Glick into Mitchell, sending Glick for a spin on lap seven. Phipps reclaimed the top spot on the restart. Mitchell challenged Kern for second but the duo collided exiting turn four, giving Mitchell a flat left front tire and drawing a caution on lap 10. Daniels seized the lead from Phipps on the ensuing restart and led the final 20 circuits for victory with a resurgent Mitchell coming home second ahead of Glick, Phipps and Nelson. The finale was a straight-up start with Daniels leading Mitchell and Glick in a close battle. Mitchell crossed over Daniels in turn four and they collided, with Daniels going airborne but continuing. Mitchell took the lead and never relinquished it for her third Pro win of the year and the championship, followed by Daniels, Glick, Phipps and Kern. Fourth-generation driver Kylie Glick of Lincoln, 14, completed her mission to win the Jr. Late Model championship while Colton Nelson of Auburn claimed the victory in the 25-lap feature. Bella Thomsen of El Dorado Hills finished third. The Modified division came into the finale with at least four teams within striking distance of the championship. Two were eliminated from contention before the feature went green when Richard Poppert crashed in his heat race and Cody Rickard suffered a stuck throttle in warm-ups for the main event. 2023 champion Tyler Wentworth dominated the 30-lap feature after taking the lead on lap five. Two-time 2024 winner Sammy Nuno finished second with Lincoln's Luke Kaper third and Auburn's Brad Cobabe fourth. A razor-thin championship fight saw an unofficial tally of Cobabe preserving the championship. Phil Wilkins of Roseville made quick work of the Super Stock championship with four victories, followed by a thrilling runner-up finish in the 30-lap season finale. Wayne Hickok returned to Roseville to lead the first four laps before Roy Smith went around the outside to lead lap five. Wilkins reeled in Smith before the duo tangled for the lead in turn three on lap 15. Smith then spun after contact from Galt's Larry Thornhill. When the dust settled, a two-car duel ensued between Richard Lavallee and Wilkins. Lavallee, making his first start in three years, won an exciting side-by-side race for victory. Wilkins finished second to clinch the championship. Hickok and Gary Eisenhour rounded out the top five. The F4 championship race saw Rocklin's John Sproule overcome a full invert of the 15-car field to win the feature. Sproule topped 2024 champion Matthew Fuhs of Roseville, Vic Theberge of Citrus Heights, Barret Sugden of Stockton and Rookie of the Year Jayden Williams of Woodland. Williams led the first five circuits. Fuhs took over on lap six. Sproule advanced through the pack then ran down Fuhs for the lead on lap 18. Former champion Ray Molina and Roseville's Nathan Cleaver crashed hard into the inside wall on the front stretch on lap 23, bringing the feature to a premature ending. Jeremy Doss of Upper Lake won a narrow duel with teammates Cody Winchel of Sebastopol and Brandon White of Eureka in the Legends 30-lap championship race. Doss took over the lead for good on a restart on lap 22. Winchel settled for second while White's third-place finish was enough to clinch his second championship of the year along with winning the touring NorCal Legends Series crown. Cameron Wilson of Pine Grove won the Demolition Derby.