Olexewicz Two For Two In July At Diamond Mountain Speedway

Susanville, CA...July 4 & 23...The month of July meant special 4th Of July and Lassen County Fair races at Diamond Mountain Speedway in Susanville, and both events were crowd pleasers. Past IMCA Modified champion Chris Olexiewicz won both of his division's events and was the only double winner in the three classes. The Fair Race on July 23rd saw Dan Dias win the Strictly Stock feature and Orland visitor Tom Davis come out ahead in the Mini Stock race. The July 4th race saw reigning champion Richard Longacre win the Strictly Stock Main Event while past champion Larry Whitebird was the Mini Stock winner.


Susanville's IMCA Modified division is quietly having a solid year so far after six races. There were 15 cars for the July 4th event and the July 23rd Fair Race offered up 13 competitors. In the Fair Race, it was a pair of past champions battling at the head of the pack as Chris Olexiewicz scored the win ahead of reigning champion Wade Kennemore. Larry McCracken held on for a season best third place finish ahead of Late Model veteran Bill Pearson and Chris Nieman. Quincy star Jeff Olschowka was sixth ahead of point leader Matt Murphy, Quincy point leader Chase Nieman past champion Jeff Chew and Mitch Murphy. The July 4th race was another win for Olexiesicz, and this time he was pursued closely by Pearson in what was his best finish at the track this year. Mitch Murphy out ran Chris Nieman for fourth as Neven Kennemore rounded out the Top 5. Past Quincy champion Erica Buhr finished sixth in front of Matt Murphy, Galen Hainline, Chase Nieman and Steve Bejeck. Olexiewicz is the only repeat winner in this division so far after six races.


The July 23 podium for the Strictly Stock division was also a season best effort for all three drivers. Dan Dias won his first Main Event of the season ahead of Chris Annas and James Huffman. Jason Emmott was fourth in the 11 car field ahead of Shayna Robertson, reigning champion Richard Longacre, Ian Upton, Fred Kresge, Nathan Howard and Larry Foster. July 4th turned out to be a big night for Longacre as he won his heat race and scored his second feature win of the season. After three third place finishes this season, Nathan Howard improved on that with a season best second in front of the season best third for Skeeter Bethel. Jim Erie was fourth in front of Mike Nichols, Emmot, Chico visitor Earl Adams, heat winner Annas and Kresge.


Orland Raceway competitor Tom Davis had a couple of nice visits to Susanville in July Mini Stock action. The Fair Race was the highlight for Davis as he battled local star Larry Whitebird for the victory. Wyatt Spaulding matched his best finish of the season in third as Joe Marlow and Billy Gibson completed the Top 5. Megan Wilson was sixth in front of reigning champion Kyle Belli, Trenton Longacre and Bob Feller. The July 4th race featured a solid 13 car count with Whitebird and division rival Belli winning heat races. Whitebird won for the second time this season with Davis in close pursuit. Feller held off Belli for the third place finish, and Marlow began a good month with his fifth place finish. Larry Foster, Gibson, Raymond Talavera, Gabrielle Lewis and Tyler Eckles made up the rest of the Top 10.


For more information on when these three divisions race again, go to the official website at lassencountyfair.org/interim-events/diamond-mountain-speedway/