7/20/2021
Redwood Acres Raceway
As Season Begins Second Half Some Drivers Still Looking For Their First Win
The 2021 season at Redwood Acres Raceway is quickly coming to a close. Five races have been completed thus far and while five weekends of racing action remain, including the two-day O’Reilly Auto Parts Fall Spectacular on the final weekend of September. It’s been a memorable year at the Acres and with time running out for drivers to enter victory lane, there should be more memorable moments as the season reaches a conclusion.
Jeremiah Martin leads the victory tally in the roadrunners with two main event wins this season. Other winners this year include JR Brandt, Steve Kimberling and Bob Ratzlaff who won the most recent event on July 10. Nick Ford and Dylan Ford are among those who have yet to take victory this season but could very likely do so soon. Tanisha Ratzlaff is a rookie and has displayed tremendous speed so far and has the potential to take a victory before the year ends.
With many division veterans moving to other classes or not running a full-time schedule, the mini stock division has seen new faces in victory lane this year. Eric O’Ferrall showed plenty of speed in 2020 and has backed that up in 2021 with two main event victories. Colton Kinsey is a fresh-faced teenager who has moved from racing on the dirt with the Humboldt Outlaw Karts to racing on the pavement in the mini stocks. Kinsey has been competitive from the start of the season and has already scored his first feature win. Jordon Paiment has also won this year while Gannon Cyphers scored his first mini stock main as well. Sam Brown has been a constant front-runner but has yet to find the winner’s circle while Cole Peterson has returned after several years away from RAR and has the speed and potential to win.
There have been plenty of surprised in the bomber division this season. Raquel Krupa started off the year winning back-to-back features in May. Ukiah racer Loren Powers, Jr. scored a win while Ed Rasmussen also took a thrilling main event victory. Trystan Mucci won the most recent race which featured the local bomber racers contending in the Upstate Bomber Series. Tyler Krupa has been in the running all year long but has yet to find victory lane. The same can be said for Jordan Krupa who could easily find victory lane soon.
The Legends division has been dominated by two drivers, Brandon White and Chris Lawrence. White has notched three wins in 2021 while Chris Lawrence swept the double main events on May 15 for his wins. Cody Winchel is one of the top Legends drivers in Northern California and he is the only other driver who’s has a main event win which came on June 19. Tyler Krupa and Brett Murrell have been contenders throughout the season and are potential victors this season. Andy Thornton has found some good fortune over recent events and could score and upset win as well.
It’s no surprise that late model veteran David Miller has the most wins so far in the division with two. It’s also no surprise that the always fast Luke Hall has won this season as well. What is surprising is that David Henderson has yet to win in 2021. The Acres ace just has not had the luck he’s needed to win so far. Dustin Walters has also had race-winning speed but hasn’t won yet while brother Ryan Walters could likely steal a race win or two before the end of September.
The next race at Redwood Acres Raceway is Fan Appreciation Night on Saturday July 31. Roadrunners, mini stocks, bombers and Legends will highlight the local action while the new General Tire Super Late Model Series presented by Hoosier Tire West will make its debut at the Acres. For more information, visit www.RacinTheAcres.com or follow RAR on Facebook and Twitter @RacinTheAcres.
Submitted By: Matthew Sullivan