Morgan Hill's Hitman Jeff Decker made it 6 for 7 at Petaluma Speedway in Main Events this year as he led from gate to wire in the 25 lap main event, which saw a couple unfamiliar names on the Petaluma entry list and dotted the field with stars.

Non-Petaluma regulars Jason Papich in the Papich Construction 91p of Santa Maria and Hollister's Andy Obertello in the Stahl Racing, Jennstar Motorsports 29 made their first appearances at Petaluma Speedway.  Clay Daly, in the Van Iderstine 32b made his second race of the year, making this a hard hitting yet small 11 car field this night.

In main event action:

Decker, from his pole spot earned with his heat race victory and an unlucky draw by visiting heat race 1 winner Andy Obertello of Hollister, blasted away from heat race 3 winner Paul Guglielmoni of Vacaville at the green flag and ran away and hid from the field, looking in cruise control the entire way.  Decker was never headed in leading all 25 laps in what amounted to a drive in the country for the Morgan Hill ace, who boosted his point lead to 40 over second place Guglielmoni in All-Pro points at the end of the night.  

Another driver brought the house down however with a patient, yet spectacular charge through the field this night.  Watsonville's Clay Daly, in the Pete Van Iderstine 32b charged quickly from 6th to 4th at the start, then worked on the 29 of 3rd place Andy Obertello before making the pass on the high side of turns 1 and 2 for third on lap 6.  Daly then set his sights on 3rd place John Silva of Fremont, and Daly stalked the Wheelman for 13 consecutive laps, trying to find a way by the 2009 Petaluma Speedway Late Model Champion.  Decker was gone by this time, but Daly and Silva hooked up in an epic duel for 2nd and 3rd as a yellow for Obertello, who looked to lose a motor, only slowed it temporarily.  Daly finally pulled what amounted to a slide job on Silva in turns 1 and 2 on lap 19, somehow blasting under the 59 of Silva in a move rarely seen on a hooked up track like the Petaluma 3/8ths to a roar from the Petaluma crowd.  Daly then set his sights on the front running Decker, who was checked out.  Within the next 6 laps, Daly closed the gap on Decker, the fans leaning further forward in their seats to see how much Daly had for the front running Decker.  Daly pulled up to the leader's back bumper at the white flag.  Decker, unaware of the charging Daly, kept his car flawless on the point through 1 and 2 but Daly flew into turns 3 and 4 in "win it or wear it" mode.  Daly nearly looped the 32b in a last ditch attempt to grab the lead in a move that turned out to be fruitless as Decker stayed strong through 3 and 4 and grabbed the checkers.  In the end, Decker never knew Daly was there, but the Petaluma Speedway crowd sure did, and it was electric.

Decker's fastest lap in the main event was 14.545 and Daly's was 14.324, both faster than the existing Late Model all time qualifying track record of 14.646, set in 2005 by Larry Damitz.

Heat races were won by Obertello, Decker and Guglielmoni.

Congrats to the Hitman with what turned out to be a dominating performance, and an awesome display of wheelwork from both Daly and Silva.

The next Late Model race here at Petaluma Speedway is July 24th, two weeks away.

On a side note:  Decker also has new t-shirts available.  www.jeffdeckerracing.com for details (that's not my bare butt in the picture).