SPECIAL TO THE PVT IMCA modifieds driven by Leland Hibdon and Jim Wulfenstein speed past the flag stand at the new Death Valley Raceway in Amargosa Valley. Advertisement

AMARGOSA VALLEY -- Wyatt Ehrp took home the first place trophy Saturday in the inaugural super stocks main event on the one-third mile dirt Death Valley Raceway.

Other winners included Ronnie Williams in the IMCA modified division, mini-stocks Mike Lysinger and Dwarf cars Jay Ewing.

But the biggest winners of the event were the Pike family, who accomplished the daunting task of opening a brand new race track a mere two months after the Pahrump Valley Speedway closed its doors.

Promoter Rick Van Buytene was successful in his freshman attempt, which included running eight divisions of cars in 4 1/2 hours at a track which eventually will have lights, but has to conduct its business in the daylight.

"I'm thrilled to death beyond expectations," Van Buytene said after the final race was over. "I had to do a lot of classes in just four hours and we weren't even sure if we could do it ... we were fighting against the daylight."

The promoter said the atmosphere was what made the Death Valley Raceway's grand opening such a success. There was great amount of mutual respect and cooperation between the drivers and track officials, which helped to move things along, he said.

Enthusiasm for the track's opening wasn't limited to VanBuytene or the Pikes, though. Track volunteer Bill Delahunte, who usually races but decided to lend his support as a tow truck driver for the inaugural event, said he was impressed with both the crowd and the car turnout.

"I think (track organizers) are doing pretty good," Delahunte said. "I mean, every track has a few teething things, but it's looking good."

Mini-stock driver Michael Brown, who got third in his division's main event, said he enjoyed the track and looked forward to racing there again in his No. 31 Geo Storm.

"I think the track has great potential," he said. "This will be a fun, fun track."

Brown also lauded the track's laid-back environment.

"I could tell that the atmosphere was so much looser," Brown added. "The stress level was almost non-existent, when compared to the Pahrump Valley Speedway. And that comes from the ownership."

In addition to Ehrp, Williams, Lysinger and Ewing, other winners included classic coupe driver Justin Berger; Errol Sharron, of the micro sprints division, 360 sprint driver Bob Clark and Mark Nunsted, a mini mod driver

PAST THE PITS -- Michael Brown said he is planning a few charity events at the Death Valley Raceway ... Although the races are still in the planning stages, Brown says all proceeds for the events will go to the Melanoma Education Foundation of Nevada, which the driver established in memory of his wife, Amanda. ... Rising modified star Bryan Wulfenstein didn'trace last weekend, but said he's driven the track and was impressed with it ... Wulfenstein currently is looking for local businesses who would like to sponsor his No. 12 IMCA modified car, not so much because he needs money, but because he wants to promote community involvement at the track ... "I just want the community to be involved in the racing," Wulfenstein said. "Like how it used to be out here." ... Track officials hope to have the facility equipped with lights by May, when points races will have later start times ... The next race at the raceway will be Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. Classes scheduled to compete include IMCA modifieds, super stocks, mini stocks, classic coupes, 360 sprints, micro sprints and modified minis ... Check the track's Web site at www.deathvalleyraceway.homestead.com for more details.

The results

Classic Coupe (10 laps) -- 1. Donny Berger; 2. Justin Berger; 3. Randall Boren; 4. Keith Gott; 5. Jim Castanenda; 6. Gary Wyatt.

Super Stock (10 laps) -- 1. Wyatt Ehrp; 2. Beau Gott; 3. Daniel Katzer; 4. Dale Daffern; 5. Dan Snowden; 6. Milo Petaros.

Mod Mini (10 laps) -- 1. Mark Nusted; 2. Eric Slusher; 3. Jeff Mitchell.

Microsprint (10 laps) -- 1. Erroll Sharron; 2. Jaime Hall; 3. Randy Knipschild.

360 Sprints (10 laps) -- 1. Joey Franklin; 2. Bobby Clark; 3. Bill Hall.

IMCA Modifieds (10 laps) -- 1. Ronnie Williams; 2. Ryan Cotrell; 3. Todd Nunnally; 4. Dan Fitzgerald; 5. Leland Hibdon; 6. Chad Dolan; 7. Mike Nichols; 8. Randy Thornell; 9. Eric Scheuberger; 10. Rick Durica.

Mini Stock (20 laps) -- 1. Michael Lysinger; 2. Michael Brown; 3. Brandon Madan; 4. Steven Figgins.

Dwarf Cars (15 laps) -- 1. Mark Dillie; 2. Everett Jordan; 3. Bobby Meek; 4. Jim Lyon; 5. Rick Lapka; 6. Rick Rochelle; 7. David Quigley; 8. Troy Seymore; 9. Gary Nelson; 10. Leroy Kay.