The “Jet” rockets to the front; Sierra Jackson makes history

Johnny "Jet" Geisler winner of the final race of the ASA/NSRA season, the Don Hein/Casey Diemert Memorial

Sierra Jackson. Sierra made history winning the 2011 ASA/NSRA Championship. She became the first ever woman to be crowned ASA/NSRA Champion, the youngest person to win the Championship, and driving the first Ford powered sprint car to win. This is her first touring series Championship adding another first to her extensive racing resume.

by Scott C » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:50 pm

A season long contest for the 2011 Championship came down to this race. Sierra Jackson, Matt Hein, and Andy Alberding had put themselves in position to claim the title of ASA/NSRA Champion. Jackson held the “high ground” with a thirty-seven point advantage, not enough to guarantee her the title but holding the advantage over Hein and Alberding. All three drivers did not have successful runs this night. Jackson brought out a caution on lap thirty-six nearly spinning on the front stretch restarting at the back of the field, her’s being the last car on the lead lap; tenth place. Alberding found himself collected in the first caution on lap fourteen, himself starting at the back of the field, only advancing to ninth place at the finish. Hein already had put in a full day having to attend class in Medford, OR for his electrical apprenticeship program he is currently enrolled in. He made it back to the track just before qualifying having no practice in the car during the day. Hein had the most success keeping out of the two cautions thrown. Moving steadily forward during the course of the A Main Hein made a last lap last turn pass on Wyatt King to take the checkered in third place. Despite Jackson’s dismal finish, she retained her points lead coming to Roseburg being declared the 2011 ASA/NSRA Champion, thereby making ASA/NSRA history becoming the first woman to win an ASA/NSRA Championship, the youngest person to win an ASA/NSRA Championship, and piloting the first Ford powered winged sprint car to win an ASA/NSRA Championship.

The A Main itself was all about two cars and drivers. Johnny “Jet” Geisler and Darren Spiers. Geisler took the checkered flag over four seconds ahead of second place Jeff Montgomery after a four lap shootout to the finish created by the second caution of the night. Geisler started the A Main in sixth, Spiers in second. Spiers jumped the start at the green bringing out a caution for a complete restart. Spiers would have to get the second start of the event right or be placed to the back of the field. Brian Smith was the pole sitter bringing the field down both times to a slower start. The second time Spiers payed attention to Smith on the start, again taking the lead through turns one and two. Spiers then set sail on the rest of the field leaving the rest of the competitors to jockey for their positions. Geisler took thirteen laps to get to second position. With clear track he did the same as Spiers. He simply left the rest of the field behind giving chase to Spiers. One lap later the first caution flew for Mitch Holte spinning in turns one and two. Andy Alberding had nowhere to go making contact with Holte ending up on the topside of the track in turn two. Todd Coleman and Matt Mansell took the pit road entrance to avoid Alberding. Coleman slowly drove through the pits coming back out on the track to rejoin the field in his then current position. Mansell stopped in his pit finding his left header glowing red, parking his car for the night. Holte retired his car for the night having a left front tire flat and choosing not to return due to an already very loose car. Alberding was pushed off to rejoin the field at the back.

The restart had Spiers leading Geisler down to the green and again the two left the rest of the field behind. The pair had up to a third of a lap distance on the rest of the field with Spiers having up to a ten car length lead on Geisler at times. These two were untouchable until lap twenty-eight when Geisler took over the lead from Spiers. Over the previous four laps Geisler had started to gain on Spiers, making the pass on the twenty-eighth lap. Spiers lamented after the event, “ My car just tightened up, I couldn’t get it to turn.” Geisler himself noted after the event, “I saw him having problems ahead of me. Our car is set up for long greens and I was sure I would be able to catch him before the end. He just came back to me instead of me having to catch up to him.” Taking the lead Geisler put distance on Spiers as well as the rest of the field for eight laps until the second caution of the night came out for Sierra Jackson. She had been attempting to pass Vern Scevers for many laps. Jackson made her last attempt to pass coming off turn four under Scevers. She made her move but the two touched just off four sending Jackson to the infield, nearly spinning the car. Jackson kept the nose pointed forward but lost fire in the engine requiring a push start and sending her to the back of the field.

Jeff "Hurricane" Montgomery 2nd place in the final race of the ASA/NSRA season, the Don Hein/Casey Diemert Memorial

The restart had Geisler up front with Spiers trailing. Wyatt King in third, Scevers fourth, Montgomery fifth, Matt Hein sixth. Geisler again left the field far back in his rear view while Spiers quickly succumbed to King, Scevers, Montgomery, and Hein. Montgomery used the outside to get around Spiers, King, and Scevers to place his hold on second. Hein cleared Spiers and Scevers to fit into the fourth slot and on the last lap, exiting the last turn he made his move to pass King to take third place ! King came home fourth, Scevers fifth, Spiers sliding back to sixth with a tight car, Ron Larson finishing seventh, a quiet Rick Brown in eighth, Andy Alberding very nearly going a lap down just before the second caution finishing ninth, Sierra Jackson the last car on the lead lap taking tenth. The remaining cars on the track at the checkered were both one lap down, eleventh place Greg Middendorf, and pole sitter twelfth place Brian Smith.

Matt Hein (far right) 3rd place in the final race of the ASA/NSRA season, the Don Hein/Casey Diemert Memorial

Five cars did not finish. Todd Coleman returned to the track after the first caution but left soon after the green flag was thrown. He felt the car reacting the same as it had at Meridian two weeks previous. This time Coleman chose to pull off the track rather than risk causing a caution. He found his bleeder valves malfunctioning slowly deflating his tires. Matt Mansell’s crew parked the car at the first caution due to the left side header glowing red. The team was not willing to risk the engine. Holte had caused the first caution he making the decision to park the car as it had a very loose condition. Chris Schmelzle left the track on lap seven for unknown reasons. Don Williams made one lap under green then pulled off the track. Williams has just returned to sprint car racing after many years of being out of the cars. For this last event he wanted to get out on the track in competition to start getting the feel of the car again and being around other cars. Williams had take off tires from the #25z team owned by Monty Zema. After his heat race the right rear had very little lateral grip left. Williams chose to start the A Main at the back of the field and leave the track after a lap.

Heat One had two of the Championship contenders Alberding and Hein starting seventh and eighth. Holte was on the pole. With one lap complete Holte spun in turn three coming to rest at the bottom of the turn bringing out the caution. Holte was re-fired joining the field at the back. Ron Larson had the lead on the restart followed by Spiers. Geisler started a steady move towards the front from his sixth starting position. Hein and Alberding moved forward as well from their seventh and eighth start. Geisler managed to pick off Middendorf, King, and Spiers but could not mount a serious charge on Larson, settling for second place. Spiers held on to third. Hein and Alberding dispensed with all but Spiers, Hein getting around Alberding, they finishing fourth and fifth. King settled for sixth, Middendorf seventh, Holte eighth.

Heat Two had the Championship points leader Sierra Jackson starting in sixth in the nine car field. Todd Coleman had the pole leading convincingly from wire to wire with nearly a three second lead at the finish. Brian Smith started second finishing in the same position. Jackson and quick qualifier Jeff “Hurricane” Montgomery starting sixth and eighth both carved their way towards the front. Jackson nestled into the third position at the checkers, Montgomery behind her in fourth. Over the course of eight laps Jackson and Montgomery dispensed with Vern Scevers, he finishing fifth, Chris Schmelzle to sixth, Rick Brown seventh, Matt Mansell to eighth. Don Williams started ninth and finished ninth.

Due to weather concerns, rain being reported in the Myrtle Creek area at 6 PM eighteen miles south of Roseburg both Trophy Dashes were cancelled.

The top five positions that earn Championship points saw the top three in points claim three of the top five qualifying slots. Jeff “Hurricane” Montgomery took the quick qualifier with a 12.582 second lap followed very closely by Matt Hein with a 12.592 lap. Matt Mansell timed in third quick at 12.691 followed by Andy Alberding with a 12.697 lap. Sierra Jackson took fifth quick at 12.717, the last position that earns championship points. A Main winner Johnny “Jet” Geisler timed in sixth quick at 12.751.

RACE RESULTS

17 cars

A-Main 10 car invert (40 laps): 1. #12 Johnny Giesler, 2. #33j Jeff Montgomery, 3. #98h Matt Hein, 4. #88 Wyatt King, 5. #15r Vern Scevers, 6. #V23 Darren Spiers, 7. #2 Ron Larson, 8. #98 Rick Brown, 9. #76 Andy Alberding, 10. #25j Sierra Jackson 11. #4 Greg Middendorf, 12. #97s Brian Smith, 13. #44 Todd Coleman, 14. #14 Matt Mansell, 15. #33 Mitch Holte, 16. #25z Chris Schmelzle, 17. #84 Don Williams.

Heat 1 (8 laps): 1. #2 Ron Larson, 2. #12 Johnny Giesler , 3. #V23 Darren Spiers, 4.#98h Matt Hein, 5. #76 Andy Alberding, 6.#88 Wyatt King, 7. #4 Greg Middendorf, 8. #33 Mitch Holte.

Heat 2 (8 laps): 1.#44 Todd Coleman, 2. #97s Brian Smith, 3. #25j Sierra Jackson, 4. #33j Jeff Montgomery, 5. #15r Vern Scevers, 6.#25z Chris Schmelzle, 7. #98 Rick Brown, 8. #14 Matt Mansell, 9. #84 Don Williams.

B-Dash - Due to weather concerns both Dashes were canceled.

A-Dash - Due to weather concerns both Dashes were canceled.

Qualifying: Quick time #33j Jeff "Hurricane" Montgomery 12.582, #98H Matt Hein 12.592, #14 Matt Mansell 12.691, #76 Andy Alberding 12.697, #25j Sierra Jackson 12.717, #12 Johnny "Jet" Geisler 12.751, #98 Rick Brown 12.922, #4 Greg Middendorf 13.018, #15r Vern Scevers 13.031, #88 Wyatt King 13.046, #25z Chris Schmelzle 13.058, #V23 Darren Spiers 13.096, #97s Brian Smith 13.120, #2 Ron Larson 13.197, #44 Todd Coleman 13.210, #33 Mitch Holte 14.078, #84 Don Williams 14.379.