FALLON - It was a crazy night of racing at Rattlesnake Raceway on Saturday. While the moon might not have been completely full, its influence was felt in most of the races.

It was a night filled with hard racing, many cautions and wrecks.

The headline race was a 50-lap Hobby Stock Challenge race. This was made even wilder and more entertaining as there was a half-time break for a mandatory pit stop.

"I missed the set-up and got totally lucky as I found the top groove and it worked perfect for this car," Luis Miranda said after winning the race. "That was the only place there was a little bit of moisture and 50 laps is a long time in one of these things, especially for an old guy like me."

The field was the largest of the night and when the green waved to start the first half, Jeff Wilson jumped into the lead followed by Shane Ramthun and Miranda. After the first caution on lap 2, Nathan Branch took the lead only to surrender it after he spun.

Five more cautions would give the race a start-and-stop effect until the break.

The pit stop was an interesting affair, as the crews don't usually have to change one tire as well as put fuel into the car. Richard Italiano was first out of the pits followed by Ramthun and Miranda.

Seven laps later, there were two quick cautions and one of them the result of Ramthun spinning after contact with Miranda's car. Two more cautions would slow the race pace.

Up front the battle was joined as Miranda pressed Italiano for the lead. With six to go Miranda made the winning pass then held off a determined Mike White in the final laps.

"My tires were scorched as the restarts just did me in," Italiano, who ended up third, said.

After finishing second White said, "It would have been tough to catch him (Miranda) but with a few more laps I think I could have gotten him. The top was pretty much what was left as the bottom was just too slick to run on."

Attrition claimed several cars and at least one driver might have been suspended for the rest of the year for rough driving.

The GenX feature was the race of the night. IMCA regular Dustin Jenks was driving for Skeeter Donaldson, who was at a wedding.

When the race began, it seemed as though Chris Neal would win it. That is until Jenks caught him. For rest of the race, they were either side-by-side or nose-to-tail.

Lap after lap, Jenks would get the lead but Neal managed to lead when they sped past the flagman. Then Neal would pull ahead only to have Jenks reel him in.

Coming out of the final corner, Jenks managed to get just enough speed to beat Neal to the line by a fender length.

"It was a good race, exciting and fun," Jenks said. "At times I felt I could win it but at times I didn't as he'd pull away from me then I'd reel him in. He was excited too and congratulated me later."

Later Jenks went on to claim another IMCA Modified victory. His sweep of two divisions was one way this Chico, Calif. based driver celebrated his birthday.

The most comical event was the Bomber main, as the cars used the two pits areas carved inside of both straights. It took a long time to get the track, which was just watered, dry enough for the cars to run.

When the dust and mud settled Kelly Thompson managed to claim the victory. Later Bob Bender won the 318 Modified main after holding off Arnie Martin, who was driving a car that Glenn Lee usually pilots.

The Pro Stock race was won by Jesse Gonzalez, who once in the lead, just went into cruise control as his main rivals, Al Goss and Rob Grace had problems.

"The car wasn't as good as I like it to be, but I did when I had to do to get to the front and was fortunate enough that it worked, " Gonzalez said.

•On Sunday the Northern Nevada Kart Club hosted the sixth round of this year's points season. The best race of the day pitted a veteran against a young lion, who at 15 is already a three-time club champion.

When the Tag Senior main began David Brant took off with David Harwin and Mike Botelho Jr. giving chase. Soon Botelho took second and the battle was on.

Lap after lap the pair swapped places with Brant taking the lead back from Botelho. They spend much time side-by-side as well and a large blanket would have covered both karts.

In the end, Brant held on to take the narrow victory from Botelho.

"I was definitely faster than David, but he was fast enough in the right spots to where I just couldn't get around him," Botelho said. I tried pressuring him, was beating on his bumper and I threw it in a few time but never quite had enough."

After the post-race weigh-in, a tired but pleased Brant said, "My kart wasn't handling too good and Mike was trying everywhere. I just did what I cold to keep him behind me as I just drove it in deep, hit the brakes and tried to hold on. It was fun and I have to thank Mike for driving me clean."

Cody McKinney swept both F80 shifter races but it wasn't easy. Mark Nason, who usually is a contender, was hampered by a kart he described as too tight and just wouldn't go.

Taking the fight to McKinney was Gerry Williams, who tried his best but had to settle for the runner up spot. McKinney did have some luck after hitting the front straight wall during his second heat and breaking the steering on his kart that as repaired in time.

Austin DeMent won another Jr. 1-2 race followed by Nicky Prichard and Travis Barr, who dueled for second. Tag Novice saw William Sewell score the win followed by rookie Amy Lin, a TMCC student, earning her first ever podium finish after starting in the back.

Even though there were only two karts in the Tag Cadet race, both winner Justin Hoekman and Trever Listman gave a good account of them selves. Unfortunately Listman's kart had some kind of problem late in the race or it would have been an even closer contest.

•This weekend Lovelock Speedway hosts its first night races, starting around 6 p.m. It's a two-day affair with Friday's show featuring Pro Stocks and IMCA Modifieds while all the classes are part of Saturday's racing card.

On Sunday, beginning around 10 a.m. the Silver Peak MX series winds up its summer motocross series at the Mustang Motor Plex.

OTHER RACING NEWS

•Local oval track racers are mourning the loss of Bill Ramthun. He was the father of veteran racer Matt and grandfather of Shane, the 2007 Reno-Fernley Street Stock champion.

The elder Ramthun passed away suddenly on July 7 and Rattlesnake is planning a tribute to him at a later date.

•Mike Monahan raced his sprint car twice at Chico this weekend where he finished ninth in Friday's A main and second in Saturday's feature.

•On July 13, at the Canadian Motocross Nationals, Gardnerville native Aron Harvey won both MX1 motos as he scored his first victory in the series.

•Three of Nevada's NASCAR Quartet were in action this weekend at Kentucky Speedway where they competed in the Craftsman Truck Race staged Saturday. Kyle Busch finished sixth, T.J. Bell wound up 25th and Brendan Gaughan was 30th.

RESULTS

•Rattlesnake Raceway - July 19

Bombers:

Heat Winners - #1 Clint Baglin, #2 Brandon Thunder

Main (20-Laps) - 1. Kelly Thompson, 2. Clint Baglin, 3. Christ Christiano

318 Modified:

Heat Winners - #1 Bob Bender, #2 Arnie Martin

Main (15-Laps) - 1. Bob Bender, 2. Arnie Martin, 3. Sean Renfro, 4. Jim Turner

GenX:

Heat Winners - #1 Paul Yamanaka, #2 Tim Cremeans

Main (25-Laps) - 1. Dustin Jenks, 2. Chris Neal, 3. Jana Neal, 4. Tim Cremeans, 5. John Schilling

Pro Stock:

Heat Winners: #1 Al Goss, #2 Rob Grace

Main (25-Laps) - 1. Jesse Gonzalez, 2. Joe Specchio Jr., 3. Gary Nevers, 4. Ed Goss, 5. Todd Foreman

IMCA Modifieds:

Heat Winners: #1 Dustin Jenks, #2 Tommy Teters

Main (25-Laps) - 1. Dustin Jenks, 2. Jake Holland, 3. Dave Ellsworth, 4. Malen Gonzalez, 5. Randy Reid

Hobby Stocks:

Heat Winners - #1 Luis Miranda, #2 Mike White, Wes Washburn

Challenge (50-Laps) -

•Desert Park Raceway - July 20

Northern Nevada Kart Club - Round 6

Jr. 1-2 - 1. Austin DeMent, 2. Nicky Prichard, 3. Travis Barr, 4. Logan Wyman, 5. Trever Listman

TAG Cadet - 1. Justin Hoekman, 2. Trever Listman

TAG Novice - 1. William Sewell, 2. Amy Lim, 3. Bob Hoekman, 4. Kelly Morley, 5. Rick AdamsTAG Masters - 1. Kevin Listman, 2. Troy Berry, 3. Barry Wellard, 4. Brian Rivera

TAG Senior - 1. David Brant, 2. Mike Botelho Jr., 3. Curt Baker, 4. David Harwin, 5. Brian Rivera

TAG Masters - 1. Kevin Listman, 2. Troy Berry, 3, Barry Wellard, 4. Brian Rivera

Rotax - 1. Eric Dean, 2. Pete Morley, 3. Lance Bruntz, 4. Dan Harris, 5. Chris McCabe

F80 Masters - 1. Cody McKinney, 2. Gerry Williams, 3. Mark Nason, 4. Jay Neely, 5. Ben Fisher

80 Senior - 1. Cody McKinney, 2. Gerry Williams, 3. Jay Neely, 4. Mark Nason, 5. Ben Fisher