Willow Springs - April 26, 2009 Amature racing Page Pro Page Extra Photos Rod Lake Racing Dash-4-Cash Rod Lake Racing Dash-4-Cash 1.43 Sam Halbert 2.37 Jimmy wood 3. 3 Joe Kopp 4.21 Jared Mees Digger Open Pro      Digger Open Pro 1. 43 Sammy Halbert 2. 3 Joe Kopp 3. 37 Jimmy Wood 4. 54z Mikey Rush 5. 26 Brandan Bergen 6. 21 Jared Mees 7. 69 Jethro Halbert 8. 51 Steve Murray 9. 42e Kayl Kolkman 10. 28 Shaun Russell 11. 9 Tyler O’Hara 12. 1 Kenny Malaguranero 13. 65y Kris Bunch 14. 15 Nicole Cheza 15. 49 Chad Cose 16. 10 Briar Bauman 17. 34 David Brown (dnf) 18. 54 Michael Kirkness (dnf) 4-26-2009 Eddie Mulder's W.C.V.D.T. Round #1 Willow Springs, Rosmond, Calif. Article by Jamey Blunt The Rod Lake "Dash for Cash" jump started the final portion of the day's program with $2,200 up for the taking from the four fastest pro heat race winners. Sammy Halbert earned pole with the fastest heat race time by a little over three seconds. Off the line Halbert led into turn one followed by Jared Mees, Joe Kopp and Jimmy Wood. On the exit from turn two Wood put his Suzuki 450 underneath the two Harley's of Mees and Kopp to take away second position. Mees showed Wood a wheel for two laps until Kopp made a move between turns one and two to drop Mees to fourth. At the front Halbert was steadily inching away from Wood as time wound down. The fifth and final lap saw the order set in stone as Halbert started his perfect day over Wood, Kopp, and Mees. Only the eighteen fastest riders made it through to the twenty lap Digger Helm Open Pro main event. Sammy Halbert led Jared Mees, Jimmy Wood, and Joe Kopp from the pole position through turns one and two, but Kopp got a sling shot drive out of turn two and shot past everyone to lead going into turn three, stunned Halbert had to regroup and dropped in behind Kopp in second with Wood third, Mees fourth and Brandan Bergen in fifth. Kopp at the front was trying to get away as he turned his fastest lap of 21.00 seconds on lap three while Mikey Rush sailed past Bergen to take the fifth position away. On lap five Kopp bobbled in turn four allowing Halbert to close the gap and on the next trip through turn three Halbert pounced and took the lead away. Also by now Rush had found a way past Mees for fourth spot as Mees appeared to miss his bike set up. A lap later Bergen dropped Mees to sixth as he regained fifth. Back at the front Halbert was getting away and turned his fastest lap of the race at 21.00 seconds. At the crossed flags (half way) the finishing order was pretty much set, at Halbert, Kopp, Wood, Rush, Bergen, Mees, Jethro Halbert, Steve Murray, and Kayl Kolkman. However one impressive ride was turned in by Wood, as in the last five laps he too matched Halbert's and Kopp's fastest lap time of 21.00 seconds while he began closing the gap to Kopp. But when the checkered flag flew the race ended with Halbert, Kopp, Wood, a rejuvenated Rush, Bergen, Mees, Jethro Halbert, Steve Murray, and Kayl Kolkman the top nine.  Halbert had this to say "It was a fun race it was good Joe was in front for a while and made me work for it. When I was behind Joe I thought he had the speed to run with me so I just kept my head down and wrestled this Harley around this track. I'm glad I'm in shape and ready to go." Denny Lopp/Latus Harley Davidson's Joe Kopp stated "I got out pretty good and knew Sammy was back there and this Rotax works pretty good, it was a toss up between this and the Harley I don't know if I made the right decision but I'll take a second. Sammy rode the wheels off his bike so hats off to him, he had a great race." Wood had the most excited comment of the top three as he stated "I ate a lot of dirt and want to thank Steve Hill for this ride, I was first mini bike!" Amature racing Page Pro Page Extra Photos