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Marysville Raceway Park
Press Release 3.22.10
For immediate release
By Bob Burbach
Arbogast, the “O-man” and Castleberry win at Taxi Cab Open.
Marysville- Paul and Kathy Hawes’ 2010 Taxi Cab Open was offered at Marysville
Raceway Park Saturday. Tom Arbogast of Auburn won the featured Pro-Stock feature
and the $1000 first prize paycheck. Jeff Olschowka of Yuba City took the honors
in the companion Pure Stock main event and 2009 Mini Stock champion Misty
Castleberry got the laurels in that class.
Arbogast started the trend toward sprint car wings on stock cars with an
appearance at MRP 2 years ago. He was monster fast and only a mechanical ailment
on that occasion prohibited him from winning on that occasion. Since then wings
and panels have grown on nearly every stock car competing at MRP. Saturday night
was the first time this innovator was able to bring his potent #88 to victory
lane here. It was sweet success too. Arbogast took the lead at the green flag
and never looked back. Only a lap 14 yellow flag kept this one from being a
complete runaway.
Multi-time feature event winner in 2009, Ray Trimble had forged his way into 2nd
by lap 14 but was nearly a ˝ lap in arrears and needed some yellow flag help.
That’s when the yellow banner waved. But, at the new green Arbogast simply drew
away from Trimble and the pack at will. However, as the white flag flew on
Arbogast it was apparent something was awry. His car was shaking furiously. His
right rear tire was down and Trimble was closing fast. The fans got to their
feet as one when Arbogast tip-toed through 3 and 4 for the final time. Trimble
ran out of time and Arbogast dodged a big bullet and got to the checkers 1st.
Trimble finished 2nd ahead of Craig Neimans and a fast closing Ryan McDaniel was
4th. Olschowka finished in 5th.
Arbogast said, “They didn’t have anything for us tonight.” He was right.
The Pure Stock 20 lapper was anything but a runaway. The perfectly prepped track
allowed this field to slug it out all race long. Again, few yellow flags were
created allowing for tight clean racing. 6th starting Olschowka (doing triple
duty) was on the move at the drop of starter Robin Davies green. Early race
leader Phil Marino showed why he in one of the best at wheeling a stock car.
Marino looked untouchable as he sliced and diced through traffic.
With cars all around the MRP ribbon of clay, Olschowka started to get through
traffic a little better than Marino. Olschowka closed ever so slightly at first
and then Marino got held up big time coming out of 4. Olschowka made up 20 yards
in one big scoop and pressed Marino relentlessly. Marino and Olschowka have had
some pretty rugged duels here in the past and this one was no different. As this
event pressed to it’s conclusion Olschowka got a great run off of turn 2 and
pulled even with Marino. At the same time Marino got to a lapped car and headed
toward the bottom. But, Olschowka’s great run off 2 got him there first. It was
three wide for an instant and it all looked like it all would come unglued as
Olschowka, Marino and the lapped car of Mike Gomez all arrived at the same place
at the same time. When everyone took a breath, Olschowka was by and in the lead
with Marino in close pursuit with Gomez spun and parked in 3. The race to the
yellow was won by Olschowka.
The rest of the race was Olschowka’s with Marino leaning on and threatening the
“O-man” all the way to the checkers. Ryan McDaniel was 3rd.
In the Mini stock feature it was a Misty Castleberry benefit. The champion in
this division simply showed, once again, that the championship was no fluke. She
pulled for the pole, but it probably really didn’t make a difference as she
trounced the entire field. Well, almost. There was a quick #53 wheeled by the
very busy Jeff Olschowka that, at least, kept her honest.
Olschowka, in a brand new car of his own making, got to 2nd place after a fierce
battle with Jimmy Ford (also in a new ride), a “topless” Howard Law and 2-time
champ Joel Giusti. This battle kept Olschowka’s attention while Castleberry
piled up a sizable lead. Once Olschowka got to 2nd he was running out of laps
and Castleberry was on cruise control. Castleberry swept under the checkers
ahead of a closing Olschowka, Law, Ford and Giusti.
Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved. Dirt Solution
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