Page 5 - 2021CalSpeedMagazineJan

WRound 1 - Jan 9
elcome to the 2021 Sprint Series Season! Spicing things up a little for the intro, drivers hit the track on Nuotivo this time rather than what
would traditionally be Classico CCW during the opener. While wind conditions were a little bit dicey here and there, the on track action was sure to set the stage for what looks to be a very exciting year to come...
Qualifying
We went over quite a few names in the Event Preview and one of those names in particular would certainly make a showing. That driver would be Tommy Haake. Finishing top 5 in last year’s season, he made sure to bring his A-game for the intro and stormed through the field for a 1:02.102 qualifying time. It’ll be great to see what he’s got in store for this year!
Green flag had Haake on pole for heat 1A with a multitude of drivers crowding the front pack. As the race wore on, Chris Fox in P2 allowed no breathing room for Haake, and the two would stay within a tenth of one another throughout the race. By the end of the heat, Haake would keep Fox at bay to cross the checkered first while the battle for 3rd would be won out by Vince Azua.
It was all forward momentum for drivers in heat 1C with both Evan Lawrence and Vladimir Orlov making quick domination over the field. Ronnie Swaim Jr meanwhile hooked onto the top 2 but would be met with a charge from the likes of Devins Baker lap after lap. Lawrence kept pace ahead of Orlov while Baker eventually moved to 3rd. Baker continued to duel with Swaim and ultimately finished P3 behind Lawrence 1st and Orlov 2nd.
The first C-Main of the 2021 Sprint Series saw Albert Yeh and Miles Silva leading the pack from the get-go. Each would go their own way, leaving the rest of the field behind to battle for 3rd position. Several drivers looked like they’d be the one to take it, but by the checkered flag, rounding out the top 3 for C-Main behind Yeh and Silva would be Ernesto Sanchez.
The drivers to watch in the B-Main would be Jeremy Aldridge and Frank Hsu– neither of them started close to the top. Although Randy Mermell would maintain the lead for several laps, the aforementioned pair cut through driver after driver. By the checkered, Aldridge would have the win followed by Hsu over Mermell.
The A-Main would prove to be an exciting show as the top 10 are currently all very eager contenders for the 2021
A Main Podium
B-Main Winner Jeremy Aldridge
C-Main Albert Yeh