Bentson wins vintage C-Gas Class at Famosa Raceway
BAKERSFIELD – Captain Clay Bentson, of the Gilroy Fire Department, was burning up the track March 12-14 at the Goodguys March Meet vintage drag races held at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield.
Riding his red ’48 Thames “Bentson Fire Dept” race car, Bentson won the 2004 March Meet C-Gas Class category, taking home a $500 top prize, a “Hemi” trophy and his car & pit crew’s picture will appear in the next Goodguys Gazzette, along with the other winners.
The victory boosted Bentson into the points lead for the 2004 C-GAs Championship. His winning ET was 9.66 seconds, and the car ran over 129 miles-per-hour in the quarter mile with a high on one race of 142 MPH.
The March Meet is the largest race of the year in California for vintage drag racing. Hundreds of racers were at Famoso, and there were thousands of spectators in the stands for all three days.
On Friday, there were 51 cars entered in C-Gas with the top 32 finishers moving on. Bentson, who won the points championship in 2002, qualified in 18th position with an ET of 9.67 seconds. He won five more rounds.
