Stockton’s Alex Panella and Watsonville’s Rickey Sanders put on a thrilling show over the closing laps to help finish off the season at Delta Speedway on Saturday. In the end it was Panella prevailing at the checkered flag to scoop up the $2,000 grand prize with the Super 600s at Turkey Bowl XX.
Raisin City, California’s Mitchell Moles performed a dominating drive to win the $2,000 feature for the Non-Wing division, while Hanford’s Dalton Parreira and Rancho Murieta’s Lucas Mauldin brought home $1,000 apiece by winning the Restricted and Junior Sprint main events respectively.
The box score will show Panella captured the Super 600 A-main from the pole however, it was anything but easy for the driver of the Panella Trucking No. 12 machine. “It was a great race at the end with Rickey Sanders and I’m pumped to be standing up here right now,” he commented in victory lane. “I really don’t know what to say. I just can’t believe we pulled it off. It’s awesome to win the Turkey Bowl and I want to thank all of our sponsors and everyone that helps us out.”
Panella had his way with things out front early in the 40-lapper but soon felt pressure in the form of Fresno’s Caden Steele, who ran the bottom side of the speedway to perfection. At one point Steele made a beautiful move to snag the lead in traffic, but a caution at that same time negated the pass. A well-prepared surface lent itself to some fantastic racing throughout the field with numerous sliders and bold moves taking place.
As the laps wound down Sanders picked off cars and moved in on Panella in heavy duty lapped traffic. The duo proceeded to trade the lead numerous times with close slide jobs in every corner. At the checkered it was Panella narrowly beating out Sanders for the breathtaking victory. Nikko Panella came home in third with B-main winner and 17th starter Jake Hagopian in fourth. Steele rounded out the top-five.
Opening night heat race wins for the Super 600s on Friday were claimed by Caeden Steele, Alex Panella and John Bordenave. Qualifying race wins went to Alex Panella, Nate Matherly and Caeden Steele. The Pole Shuffle went to Alex Panella.
The Non-Wing feature was all about Mitchell Moles who checked out from the field and worked lapped traffic like a magician. The Micro stud captured the 40-lap finale by over 6 seconds to win the Turkey Bowl for the second consecutive season. Behind him though, the action was hot and heavy with Fresno’s Tyler Smith coming out on top of an excellent battle with Madero Ranchos driver Dalton Hill to earn a runner up finish.
Hill crossed the stripe in third with Robbie Lewis and Brandon Carey completing the top-five. B-main wins during the night went to Katey Syra and Brody Petrie.
Non-Wing heat races on Friday were picked off by Robbie Lewis, Austin Stone, Joe Silva, Kyle Mentch and Tyler Smith. Qualifying races were claimed by Austin Stone, Mitchel Moles, Tyler Smith, Nikko Panella and Kyle Mentch. The Pole Shuffle was captured by Mitchel Moles. A total of 46 Non-Wing 600s competed at the Turkey Bowl.
The 30-lap Restricted main event was a back and forth duel that ended with Dalton Parreira bringing home the big triumph. Tracy’s Brandon Riveira had battled his way to the lead at the halfway point but encountered issues that left him parked in the infield towards the waning circuits. After that Parreira ran smooth and consistent laps to cross the Tyler Carey checkered for the win. Colin Kirby came home in second, followed by Arizona racer Corbin Rueschenberg in third, 16th starter Austin Wood in fourth and Broedy Graham in fifth.
Claiming Restricted heat races on opening night Friday were Dominic Carter, Destry Miller and Corbin Rueschenberg. Qualifying race victories were garnered by Teagan Moles, Colin Kirby and Dominic Carters. The Knock Out Race went to Reilee Phillips.
Delta Speedway track champion Lucas Mauldin picked up a closely contested Junior Sprint victory on Saturday night. Mauldin felt heat from Manteca’s Brody Rubio over the duration of the 25 lapper, in what was an entertaining feature. At the line the official margin of victory for Mauldin over Rubio read as 0.185 seconds. Tracy’s Kyle Fernandez earned the final spot on the podium with Pleasanton’s Kellan Harper and Bakersfield’s Blayden Graham completing the top-five.
Junior heat races on opening night Friday went to Kyle Fernandez, Brody Rubio, Lucas Mauldin and Jonathan Andrichuk.
Delta Speedway presented by Financial Center Credit Union thanks Interstate Truck Center, Lovotti Air, Van De Pol Petroleum, Kludt Oil, Hoosier Racing Tire, Starr Property Management, Performance Electronics, Genova Bakery, Bruno’s Peppers, Motion Media, and Panella Trucking for their support.
Delta Speedway PR
