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Tristao Goes Back to Back at Santa Maria

Twelve California 305 Regional Sprints checked into Santa Maria Speedway on August 23 for their 5th race on the newly renovated track. The 305s were the only open wheel class for the race on the 23rd which provided fans a little bit of everything to watch.

George Tristao Jr. in the 23T set the quick time of the night at 12.326, in the MyRacePass qualifying session, which is about a full second off track record for the 305’s set by Kyle Rasmussen on March 29th of the 2025 season of 11.484. Second quick would the Phil Heynen at a 12.380 in the famous bright orange 31H, third would be the young gun number 22 Mavrick Myrick at a 12.426. Qualifying results:

1.23T-George Tristao Jr, 00:12.326[9]; 2. 31H-Phil Heynen, 00:12.380[4]; 3. 22-Maverick Myrick, 00:12.426[3]; 4. 36B-Kevin Barnes Sr, 00:12.432[1]; 5. 2-Davey Pombo, 00:12.522[12]; 6. 18-Lance Jackson, 00:12.550[7]; 7. 11T-Tylor Henson, 00:12.551[6]; 8. 15-Rino Felicioni, 00:12.706[10]; 9. 86-Eric Greco Jr, 00:12.785[5]; 10. 88J-Joe Delisle, 00:12.828[8]; 11. 81A-Jeremy Alves, 00:12.911[2]; 12. 3-Anthony Pombo, 00:13.547[11]

As always qualifying sets the heat races with a standard of a 4 invert. Which would mix the field up just enough to make for some good racing. American Tire Heat Race winner would be the 2025 Champion Davey Pombo leading Tylor Henson in the 11T and the quick time of the night George Tristao Jr. The 81A of Jermey Alves was experiencing some mechanical gremlins which resulted in a DNF for his heat race. Heat race results:

1.2-Davey Pombo[2]; 2. 11T-Tylor Henson[1]; 3. 23T-George Tristao Jr[4]; 4. 86-Eric Greco Jr[5]; 5. 22-Maverick Myrick[3]; 6. (DNF) 81A-Jeremy Alves[6]
BR Motorsports Heat Race number 2 started off with some gremlins of its own. With a spin out drawing a caution on lap number 1 then communication issues on the restart, which resulted in the 36B of Kevin Barnes Sr. having what looked like a small tommy tip over, but once on the hook, showed it could be the end of his night. Winning the second heat was veteran driver Phil Heynen. The number 15 Rino Felicioni spun out and ended with a DQ for the heat race. Heat race two results:

1.31H-Phil Heynen[4]; 2. 18-Lance Jackson[2]; 3. 3-Anthony Pombo[6]; 4. 88J-Joe Delisle[5]; 5. (DNF) 36B-Kevin Barnes Sr[3]; 6. (DQ) 15-Rino Felicioni[1]
The night was full of unexpected surprises with the one and only Randy Wright of Quick Change Liquid Energy, the series sponsor, jumping into assist Kevin Barnes to get his car back on the track for the feature. Without hesitation Randy saw what needed to be done, and knowing Kevin was limited on help, he started grabbing wrenches, taking the front axle out, replacing the front axle, and getting down and dirty. Guess what? They made it to the feature. Now, that is the true meaning of racers helping racers.

The other headline was the new to the series driver Eric Greco in the Ennis Racing 86. Eric comes from the California Lightening Sprints and wanted to try his hand at the bigger cars. Eric, never having been behind the wheel of a sprint car, jumped in and was natural. He qualified 9th, started 5th in heat one and finished in 4th which placed him starting 7th in the main with a 4 invert that was pulled by heat race two winner Phil Heynen. Eric was not scared to run the track and every line it had to offer. Many were asking who this new guy was. Eric finished in 5th place for the night. For his first sprint car race, first time being pushed off and running a full sprint car, he had everyone on the edge of their seats.

The Quick Change Liquid Energy Feature brought great racing all over the track. Tylor Henson in the 11T looked like someone shot him out of a sling shot and quickly placed several car lengths between himself and the rest of the field. But the 11T pulled into the hot pit, come to find out a dirt clod hit his visor and broke it. This gave the lead to the Champ of Davey Pombo who eventually caught up lap traffic about lap 10 passing the Lance Jackson in the number 18. Lance who was driving by “shadows” as his glasses fogged up on him and ran the full race that way from about lap 5 on. The 23T was gaining positions as lap traffic came into play, around lap 14, George Tristao made the pass on the Champ and remained in the lead and taking the checkered with the Champ behind him followed by the 88J of Joe Delsie, who ran the top side all feature long where many did not dare to go. Main results:

1.23T-George Tristao Jr[5]; 2. 2-Davey Pombo[4]; 3. 88J-Joe Delisle[8]; 4. 22-Maverick Myrick[9]; 5. 86-Eric Greco Jr[7]; 6. 31H-Phil Heynen[3]; 7. 3-Anthony Pombo[6]; 8. 15-Rino Felicioni[11]; 9. 81A-Jeremy Alves[10]; 10. 36B-Kevin Barnes Sr[12]; 11. 18-Lance Jackson[1]; 12. 11T-Tylor Henson[2]

The night was one for the books in more ways than one. Several stories, great racing, everyone rolling into the trailers, even the 36B Kevin Barnes Sr., in one piece and ready for the next race on September 13 at Santa Maria Speedway!

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