JOE BARBOZA / SPECIAL TO THE PVT Dan Fitzgerald, 87, won the IMCA modified feature at Death Valley Raceway Saturday; it was his first victory of the season on the one-third mile dirt track. Ronnie Williams was second, with Cory Simoneau third. Advertisement

AMARGOSA VALLEY -- It took him a series of restarts and a new car to do it, but IMCA modified driver Dan Fitzgerald took home his first checkered flag of the season Saturday at Death Valley Raceway.

The victory followed Fitzgerald's strong second-place finish two weeks ago. The winner of that race, Ronnie Williams, came in second on Saturday.

"Our team worked real hard to get the car ready for this weekend," said Fitzgerald, who added that he was excited to get his first victory of the year out of the way. "It's a big relief with debuting a new car today."

Actually, the fourth race week at the new track marked a few other firsts, too. For one, the bomber division made its premiere, with Fred Hardy and his No. 4 car taking the lead after a restart early on in the race. He kept it throughout the main event. Hardy also took the checkered flag during the second of the bombers' two heat races earlier in the day.

Jon Mitchell, who also raced with the bombers, took home a win in the emerging factory stocks division.

Mini-stock driver Mike Lysinger pulled off his second victory in a row when he beat out teammates Michael Brown and Anthony Broadhead. Lysinger took the lead late in the race when he passed Jabez Broadhead, who fell out of contention shortly thereafter.

In the super stock class, Wyatt Ehrp took first place honors after leading much of the race. Ehrp, who won the inaugural super stock main event at DVR, took an early lead over Dale Daffern and finished ahead of contender Anthony Debiase. Ehrp pulled off the feat after failing earlier to finish the division's heat race.

Eddie Sharron won the micro sprints race by a large margin. Dwarf driver Mark Dillie earned his second win in a row.

After four events at the area's newest speedway, Fitzgerald and Williams, who battled it out during Saturday's IMCAmodified main event, sit atop their division's points standings, with Williams a mere six points ahead, according to DVR's official Web site. After winning two mains in a row, Mark Dillie leads the dwarf car pack.

Only one point separates leader Erin Sharron from Errol Sharron in the micro sprints division and Bobby Clark currently leads the 360 sprints. Mike Lysinger heads up the mini-stock class, followed by Chad Broadhead. Dan Snowden, despite not participating in this week's race, leads the super-stock class and Mark Nusted is ahead in the modified minis.

After winning the first events of the season in their divisions, Fred Hardy and Jon Mitchell lead the bomber class and factory stock division, respectively.

Action returns to the facility April 5 with competition scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Included on the program will be IMCA modifieds, super stocks, mini stocks, classic coupes, modified minis and Dwarf cars.

The Dwarf Car Nationals will headline the facility April 17-19.

Results

IMCA modifieds (20 laps) -- 1. Dan Fitzgerald; 2. Ronnie Williams; 3. Cory Simoneau; 4. Levi Kiefer; 5. Jim Bonetti; 6. Jason Pike; 7. Leland Hibdon; 8. Rick Durica; 9. Joe Kent; 10. Terri Little; 11. Bill Meyer; 12. Fred White; 13. Scott Bailey; 14. Ryan Cotrell; 15. Ronald Pelletier.

Dwarf cars: (20 laps) -- 1. Mark Dillie; 2. Rick Rochell; 3. Bobby Meek; 4. Shane Simper; 5. Troy Seymone; 6. Allen Hacking; 7. Cecilia Dillie.

Micro sprint (15 laps) -- 1. Eddie Sharron; 2. Erin Sharon; 3. Gene Sharron; 4. Robert Yates; 5. Dan Fitzgerald; 6. John Hawkins; 7. Errol Sharron. 8. Randy Knipschild.

Mini stock (15 laps) -- 1. Michael Lysinger; 2. Michael Brown; 3. Anthony Broadhead; 4. Chad Broadhead; 5. Robert Pearson; 6. Jabez Broadhead; 7. Steve Figgins.

Factory stocks (10 laps) -- 1. Jonathan Mitchell; 2. John Pietrorazio; 3. Steve Edwards; 4. Cory Little.

Bombers (20 laps) -- 1. Fred Hardy; 2. Billy Grasser; 3. Jonathan Mitchell; 4. Michael Takami; 5. Jim Sherard; 6. Dale Edwards; 7. Wade Pearson; 8. J.J. Nunn; 9. Scott Castle; 10. Harold Sherard; 11. Bryan Gerald; 12. Steven Creech.

Super stocks (10 laps) -- 1. Wyatt Ehrp; 2. Anthony Debiase; 3. Mike Miller; 4. Milo Petaros; 5. Dale Daffern.