Page 7 - 2022CalSpeedMagazineApril

After backing up a P2 in qualy with his first career heat race win, Emerson Thieman lined up in the pole spot for the start of the A-Main with veteran James Lieser along side, followed by fellow heat winner Vince Azua and overall pole sitter in qual Frank Chen on row two. From the drop of the green it was Thieman out to the lead, and benefiting from a little sorting out behind him on the opening lap, would enjoy an .8 second lead heading into lap 2. To his benefit, the negotiations for position behind him would not stop for the next couple of laps, allowing him to lengthen his advantage at the front. Part of the reason for the constant shuffling was the driver on the move and current point leader, Ivan Martinez. Already a double podium finisher and winner this season, Martinez was looking to bounce back from a mistake in round #3, and he did exactly that. Cutting his way up from 7th and into 2nd by lap 4, he set his sights on the stealing away the win from Emmo, clocking fast lap after fast lap, eventually going purple on the penultimate circuit. The gap would be cut by more than half by the time they rounded the Kimbrell corner for the final time, but it would be Emerson Thieman with career win #1, Martinez with podium #3 on the year, and for another first – Vince Azua claiming the final podium spot.