By Kelly Hart
EPHRATA, Wash. -- May 29, 2010 -- The traditional Memorial Day Weekend races at Ephrata Raceway Park were run featuring five divisions of race cars. It was an all local division show with the Jerry’s Auto Supply BIG CARS, Schaeffer Oil Mini Stocks, Super Stocks, 7-UP 360 Sprint Cars and Pepsi Cola Street Stocks.
It was a flag to flag win for Joe Smith in the 7-UP 360 Sprints for his first ever Sprint Car win. Smith held off some serious charges from defending champion Mike Fought including one on lap 17 when fought had the inside line going into turn 3. Donnie Kudrna set fast time with a 13.104 second lap. Bob Witte won the Trophy Dash and Heat race.
Mitch Kleyn took to the high side in turn three to get around Jason Ray for the lead on lap 8 of the Pepsi Cola Street Stock Main Event and held the top spot for the win. Ray held on for second with Skyler Leseman finishing third. Kleyn set fast time at 15.840. Ray and Rick Bretches won the Trophy Dashes. Ray was the Heat Race winner.
Three Outlaw Compact Mini Stocks joined the regular contingent of ERP Schaeffer Oil Mini Stocks as their race was rained out in Post Fall, Idaho. Doug Brown took off from the pole and held the early lead, with the visiting OCAR cars starting a half lap back so as to not interfere with the local cars point racing. Bart Hector, Jr. drove the car hard into turn 3 to take away second on the 4th lap and try to reel in Brown. The two Volkswagen powered cars ran out front with Hector closing in the corners and Brown pulling away on the straights. At the stripe it was Brown, Hector and Sid White. Kim Lang led Scott Waulters and Rod Helmuth for the Outlaw Mini Stock win in the race within a race.
The BIG CAR Main Event featured Josh Hector leading most of the way before late in the race when Troy Lannoye made contact spinning the leader in turn 4. Fred Moore took advantage of the tussle to take over the lead and held on the final 3 laps for the win. Chris McCart set fast time at 16.811 and also won the Trophy Dash and Heat Race.
It was the debut week for the Super Stock division at ERP. Four cars started the night, but only two ran the final event the Main Event. Robert Kirk led all 8 laps for the win over David Macken. Richie Micus set fast time with a 16.192 lap which becomes the track record. Kirk won the trophy dash.
Next week at Ephrata Raceway Park, the track hosts the Kim Janke State Farm Agent Youth Hornets, Ephrata Pioneer Muffler 2 Pure Stocks, the Schaeffer Oil Mini Stocks and the Jerry’s Auto Supply BIG CARS. Also scheduled during the night is the Cops versus Cops Behind the Badge Race featuring local Law Enforcement Officers racing the BIG CARS. Keep up to date with everything going on at the track online at www.ephrataracewaypark.com .
SHAEFFER OIL MINI STOCKS
Fast time: 7x Scott Waulters 16.080
B Dash: 84 Doug Brown, 3 Rod Helmuth, 1 Sid White, 19 Eddie Razey
A Dash: 18 Jeremy Razey, 68 Bart Hector Jr., 7 Adam Smith, 44 Charlie Larr
B Heat: 84 Brown, 18 Jeremy Razey, 1 White, 19 Ed Razey, 50 Tim Clark
A Heat: 33 Kim Lang, 3 Helmuth, 7x Scott Waulters, 68 Hector Jr., 44 Larr
Main: 84 Doug Brown, 68 Hector Jr., 1 White, 18 Jeremy Razey, 19 Eddie Razey, 50 Clark, 7 Adam Smith, 44 Larr and 33 Kim Lang, 7 Waulters, 3 Helmuth
Lap Leaders: 84 Doug Brown 1-20
SUPER STOCKS
Fast time: 1 Richie Micus 16.192 (new track record)
Dash: 77 Robert Kirk, 1 Micus
Main: 77 Robert Kirk, 7 Dave Macken:
Lap Leaders: 77 Kirk 1-8
PEPSI COLA STREET STOCKS
Fast time: 1 Mitch Kleyn 15.840
B Dash: 12 Rick Bretches, 83 Patrick Lyons, 6 Marc Bush, 66 Kyle Childress
A Dash: 18x Jason Ray, 21 Skylar Leseman, 1 Mitch Kleyn, 46 Terry Osborn
Heat: 21 Leseman, 1 Kleyn, 12 Bretches, 18x Ray, 46 Osborn
Main: 1 Mitch Kleyn, 18x Ray, 21 Leseman, 46 Osborn, 83 Lyons, 66 Childress, 12 Bretches
Lap Leaders: 18x Ray 1-8, 1 Kleyn 9-20
7-Up 360 Sprint Cars
Fast time: 24 Donnie Kudrna 13.104
Dash: 86 Bob Witte, 78 Mike Fought, 24 Donnie Kudrna, 7 Joe Smith, 96 Jatender Veenstra
Heat: 86 Witte, 7 Joe Smith, 78 Fought, 24 Kudrna, 96 Veenstra
Main: 7 Joe Smith, 78 Fought, 86 Witte, 96 Veenstra, 24 Kudrna
Lap Leaders: 7 Smith 1-20
Jerry’s Auto Supply BIG CARS
Fast time: 95 Chris McCart 16.811
Dash: 95 McCart, 8 Fred Moore, 4 Troy Lannoye, 84 Josh Hector
Heat: 95 McCart, 4 Lannoye, 84 Josh Hector, 8 Fred Moore, 11 Ray Hahne, 111 Lee Love
Main: 8 Fred Moore, 111 Jay
Lap Leaders: 84 Josh Hector 1-12 Fred Moore 13-15
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Should racing be more like baseball?
By Scott Whitmore
What would Major League Baseball look like if it followed some of the financial principles as big-time auto racing?
From the AP newswire: In a development that is no surprise to anyone following the economic downturn, the Boston Red Sox today announced from the team’s spring training site in Florida that funding is only available to play the first half of the season.
This is a direct result, general manager Theo Epstein said, of the financial difficulties experienced by the team’s major sponsor, The Big Old Bank of the Northeast.
Although Epstein said the Red Sox are actively seeking additional sponsorship that would allow the team to continue play for the entire 162-game season, as it stands today the Red Sox will not compete past the All-Star Break in July.
Pretty crazy what my mind comes up with, huh? I was thinking about the fact that some of the best racers in the country don’t get to compete at the top levels because they don’t have the financial backing to do so. A lot of times the guy or gal who does get the seat isn’t the fastest or smartest driver, but they do happen to have a sponsor or family money.
That led me to wonder what would happen if the same rules applied to other big-time professional sports, like baseball or football.
— Say the Seattle Mariners started a left-fielder not because he (or she) was the best fielder or hitter, but instead because they had secured a sponsor?
— Or the Seahawks added an undersized left tackle whose family just happened to be Microsoft millionaires?
— Maybe the Seattle Storm put a sub-5 footer on the floor as a forward because her last name happens to be the same as a Forbes 100 company, which is also emblazoned on the team’s jerseys?
Of course none of that would happen. Yes, individual players can still use family influence and money to attend special training camps and hire trainers and tutors, but the bottom line is talent is what lifts that person to the highest level.
And that talent is discovered through an elaborate and structured series of scouting/evaluation and preparatory leagues. High school sports, select club teams, college football and basketball, and minor-league baseball offer many chances for a player to demonstrate their talent and potential for play “at the next level.”
On the surface of it, the same might be said about racing.
Although there are fewer local tracks now than 10 years ago — thanks to the once-overheated real estate market — there are still plenty of places in most parts of the country for wannabe drivers to learn how to race. And when local Saturday night racing has been mastered, there are regional and national traveling series that offer another, higher level of competition but are still short of “the big time.”
But even though players in other sports often struggle financially at the lower levels, there is very little comparison to Saturday night drivers, who must use their family, their savings and/or hopefully a couple small sponsors to finance their racing.
And unlike the racers who must buy everything — the car, engine, repair parts, tires, fuel, a way to get the car to the track and the way into the track for themselves and their crew — the minor-league ballplayer is issued the tools of his or her game: uniform, bats, gloves, and balls.
There are no signing bonuses or guaranteed money for the racer who wants to get into the big time. Instead, the racer is expected to bring the money — from their family or a sponsor — to the team.
That is, if they get the chance to meet with a team, because to rise to a level where a team notices takes a small fortune — or an inside contact. And while there will always be those who race just because they love the sport, there are many more who don’t follow up on their dream because they know it won’t go anywhere without a huge cost.
It shouldn’t be that hard.
No, it is not an apples-to-apples comparison, but it makes me wonder if big-time racing hasn’t somehow overlooked what the other professional sports leagues are doing. Especially when you consider the very real concerns big-time racing has about attracting and holding onto new fans.
Generally speaking, new fans need a reason to care, an “entry point” if you will, to the sport. This is often due to family traditions, but there is often a regional draw, too. I don’t watch a lot of hockey, but as a native of Illinois I’m thrilled that the Chicago Blackhawks are in the Stanley Cup Finals. If they win the Cup, who knows, maybe I (and those like me) will be more apt to follow the NHL and/or Blackhawks in the future.
Diehard fans may call me a “bandwagon” fan, and I can’t dispute it, but the NHL, Blackhawks and the TV network showing their games don’t care. They just want the chance to make and keep me as a fan.
Big-time racing would be happy to have that chance, too, but doesn’t seem to realize how to go about it.
How many Kasey Kahne or Greg Biffle wannabes were there in Western Washington once those two started moving up the ladder of NASCAR? What if instead of making it costly for those wannabes to follow that dream, it was instead made easier? Easier, that is, up to the point where a true evaluation of talent showed those that could and those that could not thrive at the top levels?
And although I greatly admire and respect Mark Martin, there are way too many drivers in the top ranks of NASCAR closer to his age than Joey Logano’s age. When the Cup rookie of the year competition is over before the weather turns hot (because there is only one driver in it), something needs to change.
There is a lot of money involved in big-time racing, from TV rights, sponsors and auto makers. Some of that money needs to be pushed down to the lowest possible level – the local short track or regional touring series – where the next generation of racers and fans are.
Scott Whitmore is a freelance writer who covered motorsports for The Herald in Everett, Wash. He can be contacted at scott@scottwhitmore.net
ASCS Northwest 2010 Season Opener!
Stacy Verrall, SEATTLE, Wash. (May 25, 2010) – After taking a year off, Jayme Barnes is back to reclaim his championship title from last year’s king, Roger Crockett. But don’t think for a second that this is going to be a two man battle for the throne this year. With a $34,000 Shark Racing Engine on the line for one lucky full time ASCS Northwest competitor, track and series champions from all over the northwest region are coming out of the woodwork and declaring they are in it to win it. The best in the northwest will be rolling into Elma this Memorial Day weekend, and you are definitely going to want to be there to see it.
But don’t just come to watch an amazing weekend of sprint car racing, absorb yourself in its trivia and passion too. On both Saturday and Sunday at 4:00pm, Fred Rannard will be hosting a 30 minute pre-race internet broadcast show called The Passing Point. Yes ladies and gentlemen, Fred is going international, and he’ll get you dialed in and ready for the evening’s battles. A link to this broadcast will be available on the homepage of the ASCS Northwest site located at www.ascsnorthwest.com. However, seeing this show live will surely be even more entertaining.
And if you’re still looking for something to satisfy the hunger of a long raceless offseason, how about heading over to the Borden-Seaburt Exhibition Hall on Sunday and sharing a hot plate of spaghetti with some of your favorite fans and race teams in a building surrounded with rich northwest racing history and memorabilia. From noon to 3:30pm, the Elma Auto Racing Hall of Fame will be hosting a spaghetti feed and auction. At 3:00pm, there’ll be an autograph session with some of the ASCS Northwest’s drivers, so make sure your kids bring their autograph books!
Heart pounding racing. World wide exposure. Two former ASCS Northwest champions looking to prove dominance. The first ever Travis Rutz Hard Charger Award up for grabs. Souvenirs. Food. Charity. Friends. Family. Fun. Really people? Is there really any other place a northwest sprint car fan would rather be this weekend?
ASCS Northwest Membership Desk opens at noon on Saturday and 1:30pm on Sunday.
Pit gate opens at 1:30pm.
Front gate opens at 4:30pm.
Pit meeting starts at 5pm.
Opening ceremonies sponsored by Shipwreck Beads begin at 6:30pm with racing immediately following.
For more information on Grays Harbor Raceway go to: www.graysharborraceway.net
For more information on the Elma Auto Racing Hall of Fame go to: www.elmaautoracinghalloffame.webs.com
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com and www.ascsnorthwest.com.
But don’t just come to watch an amazing weekend of sprint car racing, absorb yourself in its trivia and passion too. On both Saturday and Sunday at 4:00pm, Fred Rannard will be hosting a 30 minute pre-race internet broadcast show called The Passing Point. Yes ladies and gentlemen, Fred is going international, and he’ll get you dialed in and ready for the evening’s battles. A link to this broadcast will be available on the homepage of the ASCS Northwest site located at www.ascsnorthwest.com. However, seeing this show live will surely be even more entertaining.
And if you’re still looking for something to satisfy the hunger of a long raceless offseason, how about heading over to the Borden-Seaburt Exhibition Hall on Sunday and sharing a hot plate of spaghetti with some of your favorite fans and race teams in a building surrounded with rich northwest racing history and memorabilia. From noon to 3:30pm, the Elma Auto Racing Hall of Fame will be hosting a spaghetti feed and auction. At 3:00pm, there’ll be an autograph session with some of the ASCS Northwest’s drivers, so make sure your kids bring their autograph books!
Heart pounding racing. World wide exposure. Two former ASCS Northwest champions looking to prove dominance. The first ever Travis Rutz Hard Charger Award up for grabs. Souvenirs. Food. Charity. Friends. Family. Fun. Really people? Is there really any other place a northwest sprint car fan would rather be this weekend?
ASCS Northwest Membership Desk opens at noon on Saturday and 1:30pm on Sunday.
Pit gate opens at 1:30pm.
Front gate opens at 4:30pm.
Pit meeting starts at 5pm.
Opening ceremonies sponsored by Shipwreck Beads begin at 6:30pm with racing immediately following.
For more information on Grays Harbor Raceway go to: www.graysharborraceway.net
For more information on the Elma Auto Racing Hall of Fame go to: www.elmaautoracinghalloffame.webs.com
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com and www.ascsnorthwest.com.
Stroebel has Early Lead in Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track Championship
American Speed Association PR
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Thursday, May 27,2010) - Like the past two seasons, the challenge for the competitors in the Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track National Championship is they need to first secure their 2010 track championship. Once they do that, the next challenge is to compete with other ASA Member Track champions for the 2010 national title.
Who is on top of the leaderboard for the National Championship could change on a week to week basis as drivers who may have the point lead at their track one week may not have the lead next week.
Shelby Stroebel, who competes at Meridian Speedway's ASA Modified division currently holds the points lead at the ASA Member Track located in Meridian, ID. He also is the current point leader with the highest point average in the Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track National Championship with an average of 1.0630. He currently has an 11-point lead over Tom Hill in the track standings with two wins so far this season.
Logan Mainella currently has a six-point lead over Brian Malone and Ron Daniel at Orange Show Speedway, an ASA Member Track in San Bernardino, CA. With his slim point lead along with a consistent run at Orange Show, he currently sits in second place in the National Championship standings with an average of 1.0037.
Corey Jankowski leads the points at Dells Raceway Park, an ASA Member Track in Wisconsin Dells, WI holds a 12-point lead over Michael Ehde in the track standings. The Tomah, WI driver started out his 2010 season with a win and currently has an average of 0.9926 in the National Championship standings. He is third overall and leads the East Region.
Clint LaFont of Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, TX and who finished second in last year's National Championship, is fourth overall with an average of 0.9408. Nick Parker of Rocky Mountain Raceway in West Valley City, UT rounds out the top-five with an average of 0.9354.
One interesting note, as noted above, in order to be in the running for the National Championship, you must also be the track champion. This could mean that the driver with the highest average may not become the National Champion. For example, currently Roger Wilson of Rocky Mountain Raceways has the highest overall average of 1.1077 but he is 26 points behind Parker in the track standings. If Wilson can get the points lead at RMR, he could be right in the hunt for the National Championship.
"I have a feeling we are going an action packed chase to the 2010 Joe Gibbs ASA Member Track National Championship," Dennis Huth, ASA President said. "That action is going to be at each Member Track as many of the promoters have made changes to help their competitors achieve the goal of becoming a National Champion. Some have increased the invert of their feature field, with some going to a full invert. This will create some exciting racing for the fans. Why are they doing this? Because one of the factors in the National Championship is how many cars a driver passes in their feature events. Yes, a win is also important but passing the cars will show how competitive they are and it is something that Joe Gibbs Racing is looking for when the champion comes for their tryout later this year."
Drivers eligible for the National Championship must race weekly at an ASA Member Track along with being the 2010 track champion. The unique formula used to determine the champion not only includes where they finished but how many positions they moved up in each feature event. Which will provide the best weekly short track racing action this season. The 2010 National Championship season will end at midnight on Sunday, September 26, 2010.
You can review the standings at www.speednetdirect.com by clicking on the ASA Member Track logo at the top of the page.
Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, sponsor of the American Speed Association National Short Track National Championship, is the same oil developed and used by Joe Gibbs Racing. The team sells the oil so racers across the country can have access to the latest technology in racing lubricants.
Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR, currently fielding three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams and a driver development program. Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Joe Gibbs - a three-time Super Bowl winner as head coach of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame - JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, winning three Cup Series championships and more than 80 NASCAR races, including three Brickyard 400s and the 1993 Daytona 500.
The ASA Member Track program is comprised of dirt and asphalt short tracks along with road courses around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.
ASA™, ASA Racing™ and American Speed Association® are trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. Racing Speed Associates, LLC is not related to or affiliated with ASA Late Model Series, LLC.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Gomez Nets 8th Place Finish in NASCAR K&N Pro Series Event in Iowa
Jonathon Gomez 8th Overall and 2nd Among West Drivers
NEWTON, IOWA (May 23, 2010) Jonathon Gomez rallied Sunday afternoon at Iowa Speedway to post an eighth place effort in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series Goodyear Dealer's of Iowa "200". The fourth annual event brought the top talent together from across the country for an all-star race of sorts for competitors in NASCAR top developmental series.
The game plan was simple for the 27-year old competitor from Twin Falls, Idaho; save the tires, and avoid the big one. The big one never happened and fresh tires would be a premium as the event wore on. Gomez qualified 12th out of the 49 competitors on hand for the 200- lap race.
Gomez took the slow and steady approach most of the race and was running 14th at the lap 50 mark. By lap 75 he had moved up to the 11th position with his sights set on the top ten. A caution at lap 79 bunched up the field and many of the leaders opted to pit for tires. Gomez stayed out and restarted the race in the fourth position.
As Gomez crossed the start/finish line at the mid-way point of the race he was running fifth; still on his original set of tires. The Heritage Motor Sports team opted to pit during the caution on lap 127 giving him fresher rubber than the leaders. He restarted tenth setting up a 70-lap sprint to the finish.
Two more cautions bunched up the field but Gomez maintained his position in the top ten. He never fell lower than tenth and survived two late restarts and a green white checkered finish to score an 8th place finish overall and a second place performance among the drivers in the West.
"It was a really good run for us but the car just kept getting tighter the longer we ran," Gomez said. "I passed everyone in the West but Mayhew and everybody out there ran a clean race. It is the first time I finished the race without a scratch. Junior Joiner and everyone on the crew did a great job this weekend filling in for Craig (Raudman) so I could not be happier."
Gomez moved up to fourth in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series-West standings after three races just four points out of third place and 81 points out of first. " I know we are really close winning one of these race and finishes like this at Iowa give us a lot of confidence heading into the next race at Roseburg (OR)," Gomez offered. "This was a great points day for us and we are making back the points we lost at All American."
It was a great effort for Gomez and the team after receiving their new car for the race on Friday evening from KHI. "We had a lot of final prep to do on the car all day Saturday," Gomez said. "It didn't have any stickers or graphics on it but it was fast. Junior (Joiner) had a really good setup and I know the more we work with the car the better we can get it."
Jonathon Gomez is in his fourth year of competitive racing having won local track titles at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls and competed in various Late Model events the past couple of seasons. He has started eleven NASCAR K&N Pro Series races since 2008 scoring two top five and six top ten finishes and is in his first full-time season in the NKNPS. Gomez will contend for championships in both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour this season.
Jonathon Gomez is supported by Heritage Cattle Company, Century Boatland, J&C Custom Harvesting, United Oil, Modern Machinery, DJ Safety, and Gomez Farms. The next NASCAR K&N Pro Series event for Gomez will be at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, OR June 5. The next event on the SRL schedule is June 12 at Stockton (CA) Speedway. Gomez will also be in action Monday, May 31 in the annual Memorial Day CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series event at Rocky Mountain Raceways in SLC, Utah. For more information on Jonathon Gomez, please log onto his website at www.jonathongomez.com.
ASCS Northwest Wants to keep you in the know.....
By: Stacy Verrall - 5/21/2010
Stacy Verrall, SEATTLE, Wash. (May 21, 2010) - The ASCS Northwest would like to Twitter into your life and invite you to their Facebook. Now if you’re not too familiar with computers, No worries. It’s merely social media, another way the ASCS Northwest is reaching out to teams and fans in an attempt to make them feel more connected and an integral part of the Northwest’s premier racing series.
Get instant updates and racing reports. Interact with fans. Share your photos. Win prizes exclusive to Facebook & Twitter participants. Keep yourself in the know. Get connected RIGHT NOW!
To find the ASCS Northwest’s Facebook and Twitter pages, go to http://www.ascsnorthwest.com/ and scroll to the bottom of the page. On the right hand side you’ll find the Facebook and Twitter links. Click on the links and become a part of the ASCS Northwest family.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com and www.ascsnorthwest.com.
Stacy Verrall, SEATTLE, Wash. (May 21, 2010) - The ASCS Northwest would like to Twitter into your life and invite you to their Facebook. Now if you’re not too familiar with computers, No worries. It’s merely social media, another way the ASCS Northwest is reaching out to teams and fans in an attempt to make them feel more connected and an integral part of the Northwest’s premier racing series.
Get instant updates and racing reports. Interact with fans. Share your photos. Win prizes exclusive to Facebook & Twitter participants. Keep yourself in the know. Get connected RIGHT NOW!
To find the ASCS Northwest’s Facebook and Twitter pages, go to http://www.ascsnorthwest.com/ and scroll to the bottom of the page. On the right hand side you’ll find the Facebook and Twitter links. Click on the links and become a part of the ASCS Northwest family.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at www.ascsracing.com and www.ascsnorthwest.com.
Engh Rolls Off First Top-10 For 2010
Tacoma, Washington –
5-24-2010 – Donny Engh and the #29 Pacific Northwest Motor Freight / Airflow Systems / Pacific Rubber / Western Trailer Repair / Brake & Clutch Supply Oldsmobile Cutlass rolled to the first top-10 finish of his career and the first for the HayWire Racing team in the 2010 season at Southsound Speedway in Tenino, Washington.
After leading his Heat Race for much of the race, driver Donny Engh proved that he can run well by backing it up with a solid run in the Main Event, starting near the back of the field and climbing all the way up to 8th place for the finish, a solid top-10 after a season that started with a plague of bad luck, mechanical problems and dnfs. With this finish Donny moves up yet another position in the championship standings to 11th, a steady climb over the last couple events that keeps moving the newest driver of the HayWire Racing team closer to the season goal of ‘Rookie-of-the-Year’.
Donny will return to Southsound Speedway with the #29 Pacific Northwest Motor Freight / Airflow Systems / Pacific Rubber / Western Trailer Repair / Brake & Clutch Supply Oldsmobile Cutlass on June 5th as he looks to improve on the latest finish and possibly a top-5 this time out. With both the driver and car improving each time out, the team is beginning to see the results they knew would come and the season continues to look better and better.
Be sure to catch the latest additions to the HayWire Racing team, Donny Engh, and the #29 Pacific Northwest Motor Freight / Airflow Systems / Pacific Rubber / Western Trailer Repair / Brake & Clutch Supply Oldsmobile Cutlass as they continue their assault on the Southsound Speedway Street Stock division during the 2010 racing season.
For up to date news, information and complete coverage contact:
HayWire Motorsports
14711 12th Ave E, Suite B
Tacoma, Wa. 98445
Or visit the HayWire Racing website at - http://www.haywire-racing.com.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
ICAR invades Ephrata Raceway Park
By Kelly Hart
EPHRATA, Wash. (May 22, 2010) For the first time a few years Late Model stock cars invaded Ephrata Raceway Park as the Appleway Parts Center ICAR Late Models held twin 50-lap main events at the quarter mile paved oval. Also represented were the Kim Janke State Farm Agent Youth Hornets, Ephrata Pioneer Muffler II Pure Stocks and Jerry’s Auto Supply BIG CARS on a race evening sponsored by Inland Oil.
The ICAR racers are mostly from the Spokane, WA area. Fifteen Late Models graced the pit area. Kicking things off with fast time and a track record for the ICAR group was veteran Dave Garber from Spokane with a 14.938 second lap. There were three Trophy Dashes which were won by Tim Eickstadt, Randy Lerch and Chris Kellogg all of Spokane.
The first of the two ICAR Main Events was filled with 10 yellow flags and some serious passing for position. With Dave Garber and Blake Williams seeming to be the most hooked up of the cars on the tricky slick high banked track. Six different drivers would lead the race before Garber took the checkered flag. Cars were frequently trying the high side and finding mixed results. Rogers made his pass for the lead on the outside and others were constantly taking the high side on the coned restarts to move up an extra spot on the grid with the 11 restarts. The rest of the story for the first main really was Garber doggedly pursuing Williams in heavy traffic. Finally overtaking the youngster for the lead on the 47th lap for the win.
The second ICAR Main Event saw fewer cautions but just as much excitement. Just three yellow flags were thrown and there were 6 lap leaders as in the first main. While Dave Garber led the final 18 laps, Darryl Carillio led the most laps at 20. Blake Williams contended and was moving forward towards the middle of the race, Garber and Corey Juhnke battled back and forth. There was great racing all over the track and the fans were treated to some of the best Late Model racing seen at Ephrata Raceway Park. Kudos to Andy Brown who worked his way to second, with Williams, Carillio and Juhnke rounding out the top 5.
In the local divisions, the Kim Janke State Farm agent Youth Hornet main event was won by Dylan Adamson who has a nice early race winning street put together. Adamson led the last twelve laps of the fifteen lap feature. Colton Fisher set fast time at 17.869. Kelly Olsick and Tyler Reddin won the Trophy Dashes. Tayler Blackburn was the Heat Race victor.
The big brother class to the Youth Hornets is the Ephrata Pioneer Muffler 2 Pure Stocks. A few cars run in both divisions with fathers and sons, or fathers and daughters teaming up to share a car. Joining the Pure Stocks for the weekend was Bart Hector, Jr. who had a week off from the Mini-Stock class and dusted off an old Hornet to run with the class. Hector set fast time at 17.661. Trophy Dash wins went to Brad Arneson and Dallas White. Mike Mulalley and Derrick Kapalo won the Heats. The Main event featured great racing up at the front of the pack as Hector, Kapalo, Dallas White and Jake McGraw went three wide into turn 3, and held a tight line of 4 cars for much of the race. In the end White held off Hector who was all over his rear bumper for the 15-lap feature win.
Once again the crowd stuck around for the end of the evening and the BIG CAR, BIG SHOW! Josh Hector led all but the first lap for the win. Ray Hahne took flight over the motocross jump after the checkered flag flew, and the guys in the class all put on an after the checkered flag smoke show that had the fans on their feet. Hector got a few challenges from Chris McCart and Troy Lannoye but really drove away for the victory as one of only two cars on the lead lap at the end. The track was wetted down in the corners, the cars started from a Gran Prix start and a ueke tire was placed in the middle of the back straight creating a chicane to add to the excitement of the Main Event. McCart set fast time at 17.461. Hector and McCart won the Trophy Dashes. The Heat Race win was captured by McCart.
Five cars competed in the King of the Hill one lap fan drag races. Ross Ogan set fast time with a 22.25 in his Corvette to take home the coveted Trophy.
Next week is Three Dog Night at Ephrata Raceway Park. The concession stands will sell hotdogs for 3 for $2.00 and there will be a hotdog eating contest for the fans. On the track the featured racing divisions will be the Schaeffer’s Oil Mini Stocks, Jerry’s Auto Supply BIG CARS, 7-Up 360 Sprint Cars and the debut of the Super Stock class. Gates open at 5pm with racing at 7pm. More details about the track are available online at www.ephrataracewaypark.com .
ICAR
Fast time: 95 Dan Garber 14.938
C dash: 71 Tim Eickstadt, 9 Dave Smick, 29 Jason O’Neill, 8 Stacey Rogers
B dash: 6 Randy Lerch, 5 Corey Juhnke, 59 Colton Garber, 76 Darryl Carillio
A dash: 15 Chris Kellogg, 41 Andy Brown, 95 D. Garber, 16 Blake Williams
Main 1: 95 Dave Garber, 16 Williams, 41 Brown, 76 Carillio, 59 C. Garber, 15 Kellogg, 5 Juhnke, 8 Rogers, 34 Terry Hoyt, 29 O’Neill, 99 Russ Osborne, 9 Smick, 6 Lerch, 71 Eickstadt, 75 Paul Heuvel
Lap leaders: 71 Eickstadt 1-4, 8 Rogers 5-9, 76 Carillio 10-14, 16 Williams 15-46, 95 D. Garber 47-50
Main 2: 95 Dave Garber, 41 Brown, 16 Williams, 76 Carillio, 5 Juhnke, 15 Kellogg, 59 C. Garber, 29 O’Neill, 71 Eickstadt, 99 Osborne, 34 Hoyt, 8 Rogers, 9 Smick, 6 Lerch
Lap leaders: 6 Lerch 1-2, 8 Rogers 3-8, 76 Carillio 9-23, 16 Williams 24, 76 Carillio 25-31, 95 D. Garber 32-50
KIM JANKE STATE FARM AGENT YOUTH HORNETS
Fast time: 44 Colton Fisher 17.869
B dash: 72 Kelly Olsick, 20 Mykkal Mulalley, 89 Patrick Hector, 32 Chase Kirk
A dash: 99 Tyler Reddin, 8 Tayler Blackburn, 00 Dylan Adamson, 44 Fisher
Heat: 8 Blackburn, 72 Olsick, 00 Adamson, 99 Reddin, 44 Fisher
Main: 00 Dylan Adamson, 44 Fisher, 99 Reddin, 72 Olsick, 89 P. Hector, 29x Shawn Mandeville, 32 Kirk, 4 Isaac Villareal, 8 Blackburn, 20 Mulalley
Lap leaders: 72 Olsick 1, 8 Blackburn 2, 00 Adamson 3-15
EPHRATA PIONEER MUFFLER 2 PURE STOCKS
Fast time: 68 Bart Hector, Jr 17.661
B dash: 8 Brad Arneson, 20 Mike Mulalley, 62 Jeremy Larsen, 63 Nathan Schell
A dash: 09 Dallas White, 37 Derrick Kapalo, 68 Bart Hector, Jr., 32 Terry McGraw
B heat: 20 Mullaley, 9 Michael White, 28 Jake McGraw, 63 Schell, 62 Larsen
A heat: 37 Kapalo, 68 B. Hector Jr., 8 Arneson, 09 D. White, 32 T. McGraw
Main: 09 Dallas White, 68 B. Hector Jr., 37 Kapalo, 28 J. McGraw, 8 Arneson, 32 T. McGraw, 62 Larsen, 20 Mulalley, 9 M. White, 63 Schell
Lap leaders: 28 J. Mc Graw 1-3, 37 Kapalo 4-8, 09 D. White 9-15
JERRY’S AUTO SUPPLY BIG CARS
Fast time: 95 Chris McCart 17.461
B dash: 84 Josh Hector, 11 Ray Hahne, 62 George Casey, 111 Lee Love
A dash: 95 Chris McCart, 4 Troy Lannoye, 8 Fred Moore, 5 David Ware
Heat: 95 McCart, 4 Lannoye, 84 Josh Hector, 62 Casey, 8 Moore
Main: 84 Josh Hector
Lap Leaders: 11 Hahne 1, 84 Josh Hector 2-20
KING OF THE HILL
Ross Ogan – Corvette – 22.25 best of 5 entrants.
EPHRATA, Wash. (May 22, 2010) For the first time a few years Late Model stock cars invaded Ephrata Raceway Park as the Appleway Parts Center ICAR Late Models held twin 50-lap main events at the quarter mile paved oval. Also represented were the Kim Janke State Farm Agent Youth Hornets, Ephrata Pioneer Muffler II Pure Stocks and Jerry’s Auto Supply BIG CARS on a race evening sponsored by Inland Oil.
The ICAR racers are mostly from the Spokane, WA area. Fifteen Late Models graced the pit area. Kicking things off with fast time and a track record for the ICAR group was veteran Dave Garber from Spokane with a 14.938 second lap. There were three Trophy Dashes which were won by Tim Eickstadt, Randy Lerch and Chris Kellogg all of Spokane.
The first of the two ICAR Main Events was filled with 10 yellow flags and some serious passing for position. With Dave Garber and Blake Williams seeming to be the most hooked up of the cars on the tricky slick high banked track. Six different drivers would lead the race before Garber took the checkered flag. Cars were frequently trying the high side and finding mixed results. Rogers made his pass for the lead on the outside and others were constantly taking the high side on the coned restarts to move up an extra spot on the grid with the 11 restarts. The rest of the story for the first main really was Garber doggedly pursuing Williams in heavy traffic. Finally overtaking the youngster for the lead on the 47th lap for the win.
The second ICAR Main Event saw fewer cautions but just as much excitement. Just three yellow flags were thrown and there were 6 lap leaders as in the first main. While Dave Garber led the final 18 laps, Darryl Carillio led the most laps at 20. Blake Williams contended and was moving forward towards the middle of the race, Garber and Corey Juhnke battled back and forth. There was great racing all over the track and the fans were treated to some of the best Late Model racing seen at Ephrata Raceway Park. Kudos to Andy Brown who worked his way to second, with Williams, Carillio and Juhnke rounding out the top 5.
In the local divisions, the Kim Janke State Farm agent Youth Hornet main event was won by Dylan Adamson who has a nice early race winning street put together. Adamson led the last twelve laps of the fifteen lap feature. Colton Fisher set fast time at 17.869. Kelly Olsick and Tyler Reddin won the Trophy Dashes. Tayler Blackburn was the Heat Race victor.
The big brother class to the Youth Hornets is the Ephrata Pioneer Muffler 2 Pure Stocks. A few cars run in both divisions with fathers and sons, or fathers and daughters teaming up to share a car. Joining the Pure Stocks for the weekend was Bart Hector, Jr. who had a week off from the Mini-Stock class and dusted off an old Hornet to run with the class. Hector set fast time at 17.661. Trophy Dash wins went to Brad Arneson and Dallas White. Mike Mulalley and Derrick Kapalo won the Heats. The Main event featured great racing up at the front of the pack as Hector, Kapalo, Dallas White and Jake McGraw went three wide into turn 3, and held a tight line of 4 cars for much of the race. In the end White held off Hector who was all over his rear bumper for the 15-lap feature win.
Once again the crowd stuck around for the end of the evening and the BIG CAR, BIG SHOW! Josh Hector led all but the first lap for the win. Ray Hahne took flight over the motocross jump after the checkered flag flew, and the guys in the class all put on an after the checkered flag smoke show that had the fans on their feet. Hector got a few challenges from Chris McCart and Troy Lannoye but really drove away for the victory as one of only two cars on the lead lap at the end. The track was wetted down in the corners, the cars started from a Gran Prix start and a ueke tire was placed in the middle of the back straight creating a chicane to add to the excitement of the Main Event. McCart set fast time at 17.461. Hector and McCart won the Trophy Dashes. The Heat Race win was captured by McCart.
Five cars competed in the King of the Hill one lap fan drag races. Ross Ogan set fast time with a 22.25 in his Corvette to take home the coveted Trophy.
Next week is Three Dog Night at Ephrata Raceway Park. The concession stands will sell hotdogs for 3 for $2.00 and there will be a hotdog eating contest for the fans. On the track the featured racing divisions will be the Schaeffer’s Oil Mini Stocks, Jerry’s Auto Supply BIG CARS, 7-Up 360 Sprint Cars and the debut of the Super Stock class. Gates open at 5pm with racing at 7pm. More details about the track are available online at www.ephrataracewaypark.com .
ICAR
Fast time: 95 Dan Garber 14.938
C dash: 71 Tim Eickstadt, 9 Dave Smick, 29 Jason O’Neill, 8 Stacey Rogers
B dash: 6 Randy Lerch, 5 Corey Juhnke, 59 Colton Garber, 76 Darryl Carillio
A dash: 15 Chris Kellogg, 41 Andy Brown, 95 D. Garber, 16 Blake Williams
Main 1: 95 Dave Garber, 16 Williams, 41 Brown, 76 Carillio, 59 C. Garber, 15 Kellogg, 5 Juhnke, 8 Rogers, 34 Terry Hoyt, 29 O’Neill, 99 Russ Osborne, 9 Smick, 6 Lerch, 71 Eickstadt, 75 Paul Heuvel
Lap leaders: 71 Eickstadt 1-4, 8 Rogers 5-9, 76 Carillio 10-14, 16 Williams 15-46, 95 D. Garber 47-50
Main 2: 95 Dave Garber, 41 Brown, 16 Williams, 76 Carillio, 5 Juhnke, 15 Kellogg, 59 C. Garber, 29 O’Neill, 71 Eickstadt, 99 Osborne, 34 Hoyt, 8 Rogers, 9 Smick, 6 Lerch
Lap leaders: 6 Lerch 1-2, 8 Rogers 3-8, 76 Carillio 9-23, 16 Williams 24, 76 Carillio 25-31, 95 D. Garber 32-50
KIM JANKE STATE FARM AGENT YOUTH HORNETS
Fast time: 44 Colton Fisher 17.869
B dash: 72 Kelly Olsick, 20 Mykkal Mulalley, 89 Patrick Hector, 32 Chase Kirk
A dash: 99 Tyler Reddin, 8 Tayler Blackburn, 00 Dylan Adamson, 44 Fisher
Heat: 8 Blackburn, 72 Olsick, 00 Adamson, 99 Reddin, 44 Fisher
Main: 00 Dylan Adamson, 44 Fisher, 99 Reddin, 72 Olsick, 89 P. Hector, 29x Shawn Mandeville, 32 Kirk, 4 Isaac Villareal, 8 Blackburn, 20 Mulalley
Lap leaders: 72 Olsick 1, 8 Blackburn 2, 00 Adamson 3-15
EPHRATA PIONEER MUFFLER 2 PURE STOCKS
Fast time: 68 Bart Hector, Jr 17.661
B dash: 8 Brad Arneson, 20 Mike Mulalley, 62 Jeremy Larsen, 63 Nathan Schell
A dash: 09 Dallas White, 37 Derrick Kapalo, 68 Bart Hector, Jr., 32 Terry McGraw
B heat: 20 Mullaley, 9 Michael White, 28 Jake McGraw, 63 Schell, 62 Larsen
A heat: 37 Kapalo, 68 B. Hector Jr., 8 Arneson, 09 D. White, 32 T. McGraw
Main: 09 Dallas White, 68 B. Hector Jr., 37 Kapalo, 28 J. McGraw, 8 Arneson, 32 T. McGraw, 62 Larsen, 20 Mulalley, 9 M. White, 63 Schell
Lap leaders: 28 J. Mc Graw 1-3, 37 Kapalo 4-8, 09 D. White 9-15
JERRY’S AUTO SUPPLY BIG CARS
Fast time: 95 Chris McCart 17.461
B dash: 84 Josh Hector, 11 Ray Hahne, 62 George Casey, 111 Lee Love
A dash: 95 Chris McCart, 4 Troy Lannoye, 8 Fred Moore, 5 David Ware
Heat: 95 McCart, 4 Lannoye, 84 Josh Hector, 62 Casey, 8 Moore
Main: 84 Josh Hector
Lap Leaders: 11 Hahne 1, 84 Josh Hector 2-20
KING OF THE HILL
Ross Ogan – Corvette – 22.25 best of 5 entrants.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Time for 60 Minutes of FEAR
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.— Albert Einstein, (attributed)
US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)
US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)
By Scott Whitmore
It’s time for a big, big event at Evergreen Speedway — the 60 Minutes of FEAR on Saturday. Here’s a little something I wrote about this top-tier figure-eight event last year (when I was still welcome at the Monroe track) … and which surprisingly still makes some sense this year:
Figure-eight racing is equal parts art and science, with some luck and a healthy dash of pure adrenaline thrown in for good measure.
This Saturday Evergreen Speedway’s Super Figure Eight division takes center stage for the first of its three marquee events this season: the 60 Minutes of FEAR.
This marks the 16th straight year for the 60 Minutes of FEAR, in which drivers compete against the clock and each other to complete the most laps around Evergreen’s figure-eight track in one hour.
“I think it’s just the fact of being able to run for that one hour, seeing how many laps you can get in,” said John “Cowboy” Carlson, who won the race last year and in 2006, when asked what made it special. “Most of our races are short; they’re over in 15-20 minutes. It makes it fun to try to run these longer races.”
... Formed in 1966, the year after figure-eight racing was introduced at Evergreen Speedway, the racer-run Figure Eight Auto Racing (FEAR) club managed figure-eight racing until (2008), when the drivers were required to join NASCAR. As a member of the NASCAR Home Track program, all drivers at Evergreen are required to be members, and FEAR was transformed into a social organization.
Fans of figure-eight racing know there is much more going on than just driving fast and not getting hit. Drivers have to turn both right and left, continuously, on a relatively confined course and usually while surrounded by other cars. Add in the danger of the intersection — called the “X” — and the need to avoid hitting or being hit by other cars.
On Saturday, the racers will do that — turn left, shoot through the intersection into the right-hander, come out and race back to through the X into the left-hander, avoiding other cars all the while — for an hour.
“Shooting that intersection, seeing if you can do it, it’s like getting a thread through the eye of a needle,” Carlson said. “Anybody can shoot the intersection and wreck … It takes a perfectionist to shoot that intersection with other cars and get to the other side without (ital)getting wrecked.”
Carlson added that three-time division champion Vern Deitz told him the reason the series is popular with the fans is the entertainment value of watching cars run through the intersection.
“It’s an art,” Carlson said. “That’s why a lot of people don’t do it.”
The very first 60 Minutes of FEAR in 1994 was won by Ricky “The Kid” Deitz, the son of the Vern Deitz.
…
You guessed it: I’m a big fan of figure-8 racing — actually from the first time I saw a heat race at Evergreen Speedway. I grew up in a small town in the Midwest that also happened to be the site of the Tri-County Fairgrounds. There was a small dirt track at the fairgrounds that was used for harness racing, except for once a year when it was used for a demolition derby.
Here’s another little something I wrote last year:
Figure-eight races are not demo derbies, but to be truthful these days I’d much rather watch a full field of drivers racing through the intersection ¬while barely avoiding contact than a demo derby. A good figure-eight race, with plenty of close calls in the X and tough passes around the left- and right-handers, is a real crowd-pleaser …
OK, OK, so I’ve done my part to make it a greener planet by recycling some of my own writing (Ed: Yeah, that’s one way to look at it … another would be to say you’re getting really lazy). So what’s up with the above Einstein quote about being crazy?
Because I also wrote a piece last year taking to task the promoters at Evergreen Speedway for not appreciating Figure 8 racing and racers enough. That came after the Figure 8 Nationals, which I didn’t attend — my working relationship with the promoters had deteriorated to be unworkable by then — but heard a lot about it after the fact from drivers and fans. I made my views know in print: Figure 8 racing is a large and very important part of the history and traditions of Evergreen Speedway and deserved to be treated as such.
Time has passed. This tough economy we’re in has put a dent into local racing and racers. Car counts in some divisions at some venues are down, others seem to be doing the same-or-better. Entry level divisions, no surprise, seem to be doing best of all.
Through it all, I’m wondering how the 60 Minutes of FEAR will go. Will there be a good turnout? Will the racing be good? Will the promoters learn from their mistakes of last year, and put on a show that celebrates and honors the tradition of figure-8 racing? Or will it be more of the same, but with the expectation that somehow it will be …. different?
I hope not.
Scott Whitmore is a freelance writer who spent three years covering motorsports inthe Pacific Northwest for The Herald in Everett, Wash. He can be contacted at scott@scottwhitmore.net
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
MALSAM LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT NASCAR TRUCK RACE IN CHARLOTTE
CONCORD, N.C. (May 19, 2010) — Although he didn’t get the finish he wanted, Pacific Northwest native Tayler Malsam confirmed his own expectations after leading some laps in his latest NASCAR Camping World Truck Series outing at Dover International Speedway.
“I look at who finished in the top 10 and I know we could run with them,” said Malsam, who wound up laps down in 20th place after brushing the wall late in last weekend’s Dover 200 at the Monster Mile. “We’ll take that into the next race and we’ll be fine. Charlotte will be a good race for us.”
Malsam and the NASCAR truck series return to action in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 this Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The seventh of the 2010 season will be broadcast on SPEED beginning with the NCWTS Set-Up Show at 4:30 p.m. (PT). SPEED will also have coverage of both practice sessions, at 6 and 7:30 a.m., and qualifying at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
The 21-year-old Sammamish, Wash., native dropped one spot to No. 13 in the series standings after the race in Dover, but he is looking to bounce back on the fast 24-degree banked tri-oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he will again be behind the wheel of the No. 56 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
“Any mile-and-half track where we can keep the truck wound up all the way around is my preferred place to race,” Malsam said. “We should be good at Charlotte, we’re really looking forward to it.”
There have been seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which has produced both first-time and repeat winners. Malsam’s team owner, defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Kyle Busch (2005, 2006) and defending series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. (2007, 2009) have visited Victory Lane more than once, and last year’s series runner-up Matt Crafton recorded his first career win there in 2008.
A win by Busch in Charlotte would be his 70th career victory in NASCAR’s three national series after the 25-year-old Las Vegas native swept the Cup and Nationwide series races in Dover last weekend. Seventeen of those wins have come in the Camping World Truck Series, including the Nashville 200 on April 2, 2010 — KBM’s first victory.
On the Web
www.taylermalsam.com
www.oneeightyracing.com
www.kylebuschmotorsports.com
“I look at who finished in the top 10 and I know we could run with them,” said Malsam, who wound up laps down in 20th place after brushing the wall late in last weekend’s Dover 200 at the Monster Mile. “We’ll take that into the next race and we’ll be fine. Charlotte will be a good race for us.”
Malsam and the NASCAR truck series return to action in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 this Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The seventh of the 2010 season will be broadcast on SPEED beginning with the NCWTS Set-Up Show at 4:30 p.m. (PT). SPEED will also have coverage of both practice sessions, at 6 and 7:30 a.m., and qualifying at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
The 21-year-old Sammamish, Wash., native dropped one spot to No. 13 in the series standings after the race in Dover, but he is looking to bounce back on the fast 24-degree banked tri-oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he will again be behind the wheel of the No. 56 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
“Any mile-and-half track where we can keep the truck wound up all the way around is my preferred place to race,” Malsam said. “We should be good at Charlotte, we’re really looking forward to it.”
There have been seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which has produced both first-time and repeat winners. Malsam’s team owner, defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Kyle Busch (2005, 2006) and defending series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. (2007, 2009) have visited Victory Lane more than once, and last year’s series runner-up Matt Crafton recorded his first career win there in 2008.
A win by Busch in Charlotte would be his 70th career victory in NASCAR’s three national series after the 25-year-old Las Vegas native swept the Cup and Nationwide series races in Dover last weekend. Seventeen of those wins have come in the Camping World Truck Series, including the Nashville 200 on April 2, 2010 — KBM’s first victory.
On the Web
www.taylermalsam.com
www.oneeightyracing.com
www.kylebuschmotorsports.com
Gene Price Motorsports and Driver Greg Pursley Looking to Shine at Marquee Iowa Event
Pursley Leading Point Standings, Focused on Winning Pole and Race at Iowa
PARKER, AZ (May 18, 2010) When Gene Price moved from California to Arizona he had a plan. He planned to retire and enjoy life on the river. Well, he certainly enjoys life on the river but as far as retirement goes, he has yet to slow down. Over the past year he has built a complete racing operation including a parts and chassis business, a championship caliber NASCAR K&N Pro Series team, and a first class racecar rental program.
For Greg Pursley, the opportunity to partner with and drive for Gene Price was the opportunity of a life time and this weekend the team travels to Iowa Speedway for the fourth annual Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 200 East/West Challenge for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.
Last time Pursley and the GPM crew were in Iowa, they sat on the pole and finished seventh. This time out the team seeks a sweep in what is perhaps the biggest race of the season. "Iowa is a great track but you cannot have any mistakes or issues especially in this event," Pursley said. "Flat tires last year hurt both runs even though we were fast. This is a big race and one that we really want to win."
The team is coming off an impressive third place performance at Phoenix last month where they took over the point lead and look to keep the momentum rolling in Iowa. "Phoenix kept us in the points and we look to establish ourselves as the front runners this weekend," Pursley offered. "The team has been working non-stop and we have a really car for the race. Jerry Pitts (crew chief) and the rest of the guys are excited for the event."
In two races last season at Iowa, Pursley completed 320 of 325 laps contested finishing 25 (in this event) and 7th at the fall race. He earned his second career series Coors Light Pole Award at Iowa last September. Pursley will also participate in a special fan/media event this Friday night at the Bass Pro Shops in Altoona, Iowa where he will be teamed up with a driver from the East series, a fan, and a member of the media and compete in a special bowling tournament. The event is open to the public and starts at 6:30 pm CT.
Greg Pursley is in his third full season of competition in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and is coming off a third place performance at Phoenix International Raceway last month. Pursley has 31 career starts, one win (Thunder Hill 2009), with ten top five and 17 top ten performances along with two Coors Light Pole Awards. Pursley is the 2004 NASCAR Whelen All American Series National Champion where he competed at Toyota Speedway and was a multi-time winner on the now defunct NASCAR Southwest Tour where he competed for many years.
Greg Pursley is sponsored by GPM Performance Parts, Star Nursery, Ron’s Rear Ends, and Finish Line Signs & Designs. The GPM team operates out of a state-of-the-art facility in Parker, AZ. The race from Iowa Speedway will be broadcast on SPEED Channel on Thursday, May 27 at 3PM PT. For all the latest news and information on about Greg Pursley and Gene Price Motorsports, log onto www.genepricemotorsports.com. Gene Price Motorsports operates a full-service race shop and performance parts store. Log onto their website or email Greg at greg@genepricemotorsports.com for details and for sponsorship opportunities. To keep tabs on racing throughout the west, log onto www.racingwest.com and to follow the NASCAR K&N Pro Series log onto www.nascarhometracks.com.
GPM offers a first-class race rental program for all upcoming NASCAR K&N Pro Series events this season. This arrive and drive program offers a complete fully-operational team for a one-race or multi-race deal including a Featherlite transporter, all race equipment, experienced crew, and race preparation and set-up. The GPM team will also provide marketing and PR support as well create media opportunities. Contact GPM for complete details.
Jonathon Gomez Poised for Iowa Success in Special NASCAR K&N Pro Series Event
Gomez to Attend Fan/Media Event at Bass Pro Shops This Friday Night in Altoona, Iowa
TWIN FALLS, IDAHO (May 18, 2010) In the world of racing you put a lot of miles in just to earn your stripes. For Jonathon Gomez those miles are often doubled as he not only wields his 3,400 stock car around the track, he often drives the team transporter to and from the events. The 26-year farmer and successful entrepreneur from Twin Falls, Idaho is only in his fourth year of racing and is steadily making a name for himself in NASCAR both on and off the track.
This weekend, Gomez will travel to Newton, Iowa for the third race of the season for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and compete in the wildly popular Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 200 East/West Challenge at Iowa Speedway which brings together the top racing talent from across the country who compete in NASCAR's top developmental series.
"Racing is such a thrill and competing at facilities like Iowa Speedway is real special," stated Gomez. "Racing on the short tracks is fun but coming to a place like Iowa Speedway where we can race three-wide at high speeds if pretty cool. My finishes at Iowa have not reflected how good we have been there past. We have a new car and we think we will be one of the cars to beat."
Gomez will debut a brand new KHI built car this weekend and also have in reserve the car that he finished fourth in at Phoenix last month. "We have really good equipment and the guys at the shop have been working countless hours in order to ensure we can compete for the win."
Junior Joiner will act as the interim crew chief for Gomez this weekend while regular crew chief Craig Raudman is out. Raudman, Joiner, and car chief Lane Bergmen have been working overtime preparing for this event. Through two races this season, Gomez had had on-track finishes of second and fourth and he feels a win is right around the corner.
"We have been fast at each race so far this season," Gomez said. "Our focus is to qualify up front, race up front, and make no mistakes. The laps click off pretty fast at Iowa and typically there have not been that many cautions so if you are the least bit off it can make for a long day. I am feeling really confident about our chances and I can't wait to get on-track this weekend."
Gomez will also participate in a Fan/Media event this Friday night starting at 6:30pm CT at the Bass Pro Shops in Altoona, Iowa. Gomez will be teamed with a driver from the East Series, a lucky fan, and a member of the local media in a bowling tournament competing against other teams. The event is open to the public.
Gomez currently sits tenth in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series-West standings after two races and is in search of his first career win. Each driver competing in this event will earn championship points in his/her respective series.
Jonathon Gomez is in his fourth year of competitive racing having won local track titles at Magic Valley Speedway in Twin Falls and competed in various Late Model events the past couple of seasons. He has started ten NASCAR K&N Pro Series races since 2008 scoring five top ten finishes and is in his first full-time season in the NKNPS. Gomez will contend for championships in both the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour this season.
Jonathon Gomez is supported by Heritage Cattle Company, Century Boatland, J&C Custom Harvesting, United Oil, Modern Machinery, DJ Safety, and Gomez Farms. The next NASCAR K&N Pro Series event for Gomez will be at Douglas County Speedway in Roseburg, OR June 5. The next event on the SRL schedule is June 12 at Stockton (CA) Speedway. Gomez will also be in action Monday, May 31 in the annual Memorial Day CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series event at Rocky Mountain Raceways in SLC, Utah. For more information on Jonathon Gomez, please log onto his website at www.jonathongomez.com. You can also follow all of the best in West coast racing action by visiting www.racingwest.com.
Thompson Set to Rebound at Iowa
Brett Thompson Excited to Return To Iowa Speedway With Eye on Victory Lane
JEROME, IDAHO (May 18, 2010) Brett Thompson and his Thompson Motorsports team are one of only four NASCAR K&N Pro Series West teams that have competed in the previous three Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 200 East/West Challenge events at Iowa Speedway. This time out Thompson is solely focused on winning as he will only compete in a handful of NKNPS events this season.
Thompson had a difficult event at Phoenix where the team lost four racecars over the event weekend. His two primary cars and his second team with driver Taylor Barton lost two cars. Since Phoenix, the team has been working non-stop and has just completed work and final chassis set up on both team's cars before they left the shop on their way to Iowa today. "It has been a tough month but the team and all the guys at the shop have done an incredible job," Thompson said.
Even though work at the shop has kept the entire operation working at an incredible pace, Thompson and the team have taken time to race within the region where he has two consecutive third place finishes in the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series. "I love the West series but I needed to focus on the building the team for the long term so I cut back my schedule," Thompson said. "But I still love racing for points and the RMCS fit perfectly into our schedule this year."
"It didn't look like we were going to be able to make Iowa after Phoenix but the team has worked hard and got us prepared for this weekend," Thompson offered. "I really like Iowa. It is a fantastic facility and one of the most fun tracks to drive. I know we have a really good car for the race but I also know that there are going to be a lot of really good cars there."
In two races last season at Iowa, Thompson finished 7th in this event and 9th in the September race. "When we planned our schedule for this season we picked tracks we really liked and felt that we could win at," Thompson said. "Iowa is a great place to race at and a win would make our year."
Thompson Motorsports is a premier motorsports organization based in Jerome, Idaho providing complete race car preparation and fabrication supporting the local grassroots racer and experienced professional driver. TMS fields cars in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series, Intermountain Pro Truck Series, and entries at local area short tracks. TMS has corporate partnerships with Rich Thompson Trucking Inc. (RTTI), United Oil, VaCom Technologies, Windmill Inn and Suites, and Speedbear. For all the latest news and information about Brett Thompson and Thompson Motorsports, log onto www.brettthompsonracing.com. For all the latest west coast racing action, log onto www.racingwest.com.
FAST FACTS
The Race: Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 200
The Place: Iowa Speedway
The Date: Sunday, May 23
The Time: 3 p.m. CT
TV Schedule: SPEED, May 27, 6 p.m. ET
Track Layout: .875-mile paved oval
Race Purse: $183,706
2009 Winner: Kyle Busch (Overall/East); David Mayhew (West)
2009 Polesitter: Kyle Busch (Overall/East); David Mayhew (West)
Event Schedule: Saturday: Practice 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday:, 8:45– 9:15 a.m., Qualifying noon
Race Notes
The race … The Goodyear Dealers of Iowa 200 is the annual NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination race. It is the only race in which the East and West compete for championship points in the same event. It is the third race on the 2010 for both the East and West.
The procedure … The starting field is 44 cars, including provisionals. The first 38 cars will qualify through time trials. The remaining six spots will be awarded through the provisional process. The race will be 200 laps (175 miles).
The track … Iowa Speedway is a .875-mile speedway with the turns banked 12-14 degrees, four degrees banking in the Backstretch and 10 degrees banking in the Frontstretch.
The records … Qualifying: Kyle Busch, May 17, 2009, 135.484 mph, 23.250 sec.; Race: Kyle Busch, May 17, 2009, 100.800 mph, 1 hour 44 minutes 10 seconds.
No repeats … Three East-West combination races at Iowa have resulted in three different race winners and three different pole winners.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
MALSAM LEADS LAPS, FINISHES 20th AT THE MONSTER MILE
DOVER, Del. (May 14, 2010) — After bouncing back from another early-race problem, Pacific Northwest native Tayler Malsam had a strong run in the middle of Friday’s Dover 200 before a late brush with the wall resulted in a 20th-place finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event.
Aric Almirola came from two laps down and survived a wild green-white-checkered finish to become the 11th different winner in the series at the Monster Mile and the fifth to earn his first career NASCAR truck win there. James Buescher in second, Justin Lofton in third and Ricky Carmichael in fourth all recorded career-best finishes, with Todd Bodine rounding out the top five.
For the third time this season, Malsam was moving forward in the early going before an incident put his day in jeopardy. After starting 20th the Sammamish, Wash., native had moved into the top 15 and was battling Buescher for position in slower traffic when the two tangled on lap 20, bringing out the second of 10 cautions.
“I was passing Buescher and there was a slower truck on the inside,” Malsam said. “(Buescher) tried to pinch me down and we got together. It was a racing deal, but the damage affected the aero on my truck, put a hole in the right front.”
Malsam, who was also collected in early accidents in in Kansas and Dayonta, was able to stay on the lead lap thanks to the quick work of his pit crew. When the fourth caution flew just short of the halfway point, Malsam used pit strategy — taking just two tires and fuel — to take the lead before the restart. After leading 11 laps Malsam relinquished the front spot to his team owner, defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Kyle Busch. Malsam dropped back several positions but held steady just outside the top 10 until brushing the wall with less than 20 laps to go.
“That was my fault, I was just trying too hard,” said Malsam. “We had one less set of tires than everyone else at that point because of the early-race spin and my tires were gone.”
Busch started on pole and dominated most of the race, leading more than 75 percent of the 204 laps run at the high-banked one-mile concrete oval. Busch lost fuel pressure and pitted from the second row as the field was coming to the green flag for overtime, winding up 16th, two laps down.
Two quick cautions in the final laps set the scene for Almirola’s dash to the win. Johnny Sauter hit the wall on lap 192, setting up a restart with three laps left to the scheduled 200. Starting outside of Busch on the front row, Johnny Benson had fuel-pressure problems that bunched the field and creating a wreck that collected Austin Dillon and brought out the final caution. Running on old tires, Busch also had trouble getting started and he fell behind Almirola and Bodine.
Several drivers joined Busch in having fuel problems during the final restart on the high banking of the Monster Mile, including Bodine, Lofton and defending series champion Ron Hornaday.
On the Web
www.taylermalsam.com
www.oneeightyracing.com
www.kylebuschmotorsports.com
Aric Almirola came from two laps down and survived a wild green-white-checkered finish to become the 11th different winner in the series at the Monster Mile and the fifth to earn his first career NASCAR truck win there. James Buescher in second, Justin Lofton in third and Ricky Carmichael in fourth all recorded career-best finishes, with Todd Bodine rounding out the top five.
For the third time this season, Malsam was moving forward in the early going before an incident put his day in jeopardy. After starting 20th the Sammamish, Wash., native had moved into the top 15 and was battling Buescher for position in slower traffic when the two tangled on lap 20, bringing out the second of 10 cautions.
“I was passing Buescher and there was a slower truck on the inside,” Malsam said. “(Buescher) tried to pinch me down and we got together. It was a racing deal, but the damage affected the aero on my truck, put a hole in the right front.”
Malsam, who was also collected in early accidents in in Kansas and Dayonta, was able to stay on the lead lap thanks to the quick work of his pit crew. When the fourth caution flew just short of the halfway point, Malsam used pit strategy — taking just two tires and fuel — to take the lead before the restart. After leading 11 laps Malsam relinquished the front spot to his team owner, defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Kyle Busch. Malsam dropped back several positions but held steady just outside the top 10 until brushing the wall with less than 20 laps to go.
“That was my fault, I was just trying too hard,” said Malsam. “We had one less set of tires than everyone else at that point because of the early-race spin and my tires were gone.”
Busch started on pole and dominated most of the race, leading more than 75 percent of the 204 laps run at the high-banked one-mile concrete oval. Busch lost fuel pressure and pitted from the second row as the field was coming to the green flag for overtime, winding up 16th, two laps down.
Two quick cautions in the final laps set the scene for Almirola’s dash to the win. Johnny Sauter hit the wall on lap 192, setting up a restart with three laps left to the scheduled 200. Starting outside of Busch on the front row, Johnny Benson had fuel-pressure problems that bunched the field and creating a wreck that collected Austin Dillon and brought out the final caution. Running on old tires, Busch also had trouble getting started and he fell behind Almirola and Bodine.
Several drivers joined Busch in having fuel problems during the final restart on the high banking of the Monster Mile, including Bodine, Lofton and defending series champion Ron Hornaday.
On the Web
www.taylermalsam.com
www.oneeightyracing.com
www.kylebuschmotorsports.com
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
ASA MEMBER TRACKS & SERIES DEPEND ON MOTHER NATURE'S HELP
American Speed Association PR
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Wednesday, May 12, 2010) - For the ASA Member Tracks and Sanctioned Series a successful night depends on many factors. One of the important factors is weather, and so far Mother Nature hasn't been helping some of the tracks and series. But promoters are staying positive in the early part.
Weather is one thing that promoters have no control over and sometimes are faced with making tough decisions as to whether or not to go forward with their race event. But, when they have the green light to go, they hope that the weather is suitable and comfortable for the fans to come out and enjoy a great racing program.
In the Midwest this past weekend, with low temps and the threat of rain, many tracks made the tough decision to cancel their shows rather than attempt to get it in. Some could have gotten the show in, but would they have had the crowds? For some, not having it may be more cost effective than attempting it.
Out west, George Wade at Grays Harbor Raceway, an ASA Member Track in Elma, WA is excited that he got the last two weeks in after his first two events have been rained out. Steve Beitler at Skagit Speedway, an ASA Member Track in Burlington, WA saw the rain as a positive as he learned that his new clay surface wasn't working as he hoped but was able to make some changes to what he thinks will be a great racing surface as the cars will get their grip yet not have a huge cloud of dust over his track. And Southern Oregon Speedway, an ASA Member Track in Medford, OR, finally got their first event in for the season after their first two were rained out.
Over on the east coast, Brad Allen at Ace Speedway, an ASA Member Track in Elon, NC, once again had a great crowd on hand even though it was a cool night of racing. He is optimistic that when it warms up that his crowd will grow and have a prosperous summer. Harold Crook at Lonesome Pine Raceway, an ASA Member Track in Coeburn, VA, said that some gusty winds didn't keep many fans away and his support divisions had some high car counts.
"I recall when I was a track promoter, one of the more stressful things was competing with Mother Nature," Dennis Huth, ASA President said. "The weather is always in play with how successful a race event will be. Fans not only want to be entertained but they want to be comfortable as well. But there are many diehard fans who are like our U.S. Postal Carriers, they will come to the track no matter what the weather conditions are and are optimistic that they will see some racing. And the promoters have to make that decision to go or not to go for that event."
While weather is a big determining factor, promoters also have to look at the cost of going and not going, which is something many also have to remember when they question a track's decision. It can be a tough choice at times. Fans and competitors are encouraged to contact the track for the latest update if the weather is questionable on race day. They will be glad to give you an update along with answering your questions about the schedule of events planned for that night. You can visit www.asa-racing.com for list of tracks and contact information.
The ASA Member Track program is comprised of dirt and asphalt short tracks along with road courses around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.
ASA®, ASA Racing®, American Speed Association® are registered trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. ASA International, LLC or Racing Speed Associates, LLC are not related to or affiliated with ASA Late Model Series.
Gene Price Motorsports Rental Program Can Put You in Victory Lane
Opportunities Still Available for 2010 & 2011 NASCAR K&N Pro Series Season's
PARKER, AZ (May 12, 2010) Let Gene Price Motorsports put you in the winner's circle! Gene Price Motorsports offers an exclusive NASCAR rental program for driver's wishing to compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series for the remainder of the 2010 season and the full 2011 campaign.
Gene Price Motorsports is owned by Gene Price, a successful entrepreneur who has built a first-class state-of-the-art race facility in Parker, Arizona. The team is headed by NASCAR champion driver Greg Pursley and Jerry Pitts providing technical and mechanical expertise. GPM has ten full-time employees in the shop and an experienced race-day crew.
Opportunities still exist to rent a first-class ride for all upcoming NASCAR K&N Pro Series events this season. This arrive and drive program offers a complete fully-operational team for a one-race or multi-race deal including a Featherlite transporter, all race equipment, experienced crew, and race preparation and set-up. The GPM team will also provide marketing and PR support as well create media opportunities.
If you are interested in road-racing in 2010, then GPM can put you in a new Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) specifically built 105" complete car with only three races on the chassis. The chassis has all the latest components specifically designed for road racing giving you a competitive edge on track. The NKNPS events are scheduled for June 19 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA; July 18 at Portland (OR) International Raceway; and September 12 at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, UT.
For complete details and information on this exclusive rental program or for more information about Gene Price Motorsports, call Gene or Greg at 928/667-2626 or email Greg. You can also log onto the company website at www.genepricemotorsports.com.
Gene Price Motorsports currently competes in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series-West with NASCAR Weekly Racing Series National Champion Greg Pursley behind the wheel where they are leading the point standings. The team also competes in select NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events as well Late Model events around the region.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
MALSAM LOOKING TO REBOUND AS NASCAR TRUCKS VISIT MONSTER MILE
DOVER, Del. (May 11, 2010) Every speedway the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series visits presents a different set of challenges for drivers like Tayler Malsam, but some are more challenging than others.
A case in point would be Dover International Speedway, the next stop on the 2010 schedule. One of just three one-mile tracks on the series schedule, Dover is a high-banked concrete oval with a very appropriate nickname: The Monster Mile.
“It’s a tough track, a hard place but a lot of fun,” Malsam said of Dover. “The truck feels different (on concrete) — looser. It feels fast, but the speeds aren’t fast-fast. There are a lot of elevation changes coming out of and going into the turns. It’s just a hard place to run well.”
The sixth of 25 series races this season, the Dover 200 is this Friday. The race is slated to begin at 1:45 p.m. (PT), with SPEED’s broadcast tape-delayed at 5 p.m. (PT).
Malsam will once again be driving the No. 56 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Joining the Pacific Northwest native at Dover will be team owner Kyle Busch, who will once again be in the No. 18 for KBM after giving Brian Ickler the chance to drive in the series’ last race, at Kansas.
This will be the 11th NASCAR truck race at Dover, a venue where no series driver has visited Victory Lane more than once and only Mike Skinner has won multiple poles, in 2007 and 2008. Malsam finished 12th at the Monster Mile last season in a race that featured a record number of leaders (nine) and lead changes (12), and was the first series victory for Brian Scott.
Although earning his first win and becoming the 11th different driver to finish first at Dover are tempting prospects to think about, Malsam and Busch are more focused on getting the sophomore driver a result that matches the effort he’s putting in.
“We need to get consistent, so top fives, top 10s, we need to be right there,” Busch said of his expectations for Malsam over the next few races. “Tayler is running for the championship this year, so we’ve got to get him consistent enough.”
Malsam looked strong early in Kansas but finished 22nd after being wrecked by another driver. The Sammamish, Wash., native started 20th and had just moved into fourth place on lap 34 when Rick Crawford got loose under eventual winner Johnny Sauter and spun out, putting Malsam into the wall. He lost several laps while in the pits for repairs and came back out in 26th, but was able to log enough laps to make up a few spots.
The Kansas result knocked him out of the top 10 in series points for the first time since the season opener at Dayonta — a race where he started sixth but was also collected in an early accident caused by another driver. Earlier in the season Malsam lost a possible top-five finish in Martinsville when a tire blew out with just two laps to go. But just days after the Kansas race Malsam was more encouraged than frustrated.
“We got the bad end of the deal (in Kansas) but I couldn’t do much about it,” Malsam said. “I was happy because I knew we had a chance to run fast and finish high up — I think we maybe even had something for Sauter. So that made it a little better.”
After Dover the series visits a pair of fast mile-and-a-half intermediate tracks — Malsam’s favorite type of venue — as the schedule begins to pick up after an on-again/off-again start to the 2010 season. With Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. a week after Dover and Texas Motor Speedway on June 4, Malsam and his KBM team are hoping a string of solid finishes puts them back in championship contention.
On the Web
www.taylermalsam.com
www.oneeightyracing.com
A case in point would be Dover International Speedway, the next stop on the 2010 schedule. One of just three one-mile tracks on the series schedule, Dover is a high-banked concrete oval with a very appropriate nickname: The Monster Mile.
“It’s a tough track, a hard place but a lot of fun,” Malsam said of Dover. “The truck feels different (on concrete) — looser. It feels fast, but the speeds aren’t fast-fast. There are a lot of elevation changes coming out of and going into the turns. It’s just a hard place to run well.”
The sixth of 25 series races this season, the Dover 200 is this Friday. The race is slated to begin at 1:45 p.m. (PT), with SPEED’s broadcast tape-delayed at 5 p.m. (PT).
Malsam will once again be driving the No. 56 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Joining the Pacific Northwest native at Dover will be team owner Kyle Busch, who will once again be in the No. 18 for KBM after giving Brian Ickler the chance to drive in the series’ last race, at Kansas.
This will be the 11th NASCAR truck race at Dover, a venue where no series driver has visited Victory Lane more than once and only Mike Skinner has won multiple poles, in 2007 and 2008. Malsam finished 12th at the Monster Mile last season in a race that featured a record number of leaders (nine) and lead changes (12), and was the first series victory for Brian Scott.
Although earning his first win and becoming the 11th different driver to finish first at Dover are tempting prospects to think about, Malsam and Busch are more focused on getting the sophomore driver a result that matches the effort he’s putting in.
“We need to get consistent, so top fives, top 10s, we need to be right there,” Busch said of his expectations for Malsam over the next few races. “Tayler is running for the championship this year, so we’ve got to get him consistent enough.”
Malsam looked strong early in Kansas but finished 22nd after being wrecked by another driver. The Sammamish, Wash., native started 20th and had just moved into fourth place on lap 34 when Rick Crawford got loose under eventual winner Johnny Sauter and spun out, putting Malsam into the wall. He lost several laps while in the pits for repairs and came back out in 26th, but was able to log enough laps to make up a few spots.
The Kansas result knocked him out of the top 10 in series points for the first time since the season opener at Dayonta — a race where he started sixth but was also collected in an early accident caused by another driver. Earlier in the season Malsam lost a possible top-five finish in Martinsville when a tire blew out with just two laps to go. But just days after the Kansas race Malsam was more encouraged than frustrated.
“We got the bad end of the deal (in Kansas) but I couldn’t do much about it,” Malsam said. “I was happy because I knew we had a chance to run fast and finish high up — I think we maybe even had something for Sauter. So that made it a little better.”
After Dover the series visits a pair of fast mile-and-a-half intermediate tracks — Malsam’s favorite type of venue — as the schedule begins to pick up after an on-again/off-again start to the 2010 season. With Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. a week after Dover and Texas Motor Speedway on June 4, Malsam and his KBM team are hoping a string of solid finishes puts them back in championship contention.
On the Web
www.taylermalsam.com
www.oneeightyracing.com
Monday, May 10, 2010
Jones Scores First Career RMCS Triumph
Steve Jones Tops Field Coming From the Tail to Claim First Career Series Victory
WEST VALLEY, UTAH (May 9, 2010) Steve Jones of Boise, Idaho had a career night by winning his first CarbonX Rocky Mountain Series race Saturday night in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Jones bested local hotshoe and two-time series champion Zan Sharp in a 75-lap dual. Brett Thompson finished third followed by Lynn Hardy and Thane Alderman rounding out the top five finishers in the second race of the 10-race 2010 campaign.
Jones started off his winning night by earning his first career Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Award with a quick lap of 15.004 second around the 3/8-mile ultra-fast paved oval. Brett Thompson qualified second in his Dodge followed by Lynn Hardy, John Newhouse, and Zan Sharp rounding out the top five qualifiers. Dave Minegar and Lynn Hardy collected heat race wins.
The popular RMCS full field invert put quick qualifier Jones at the rear with Eric Rhead inheriting the the the pole position. Rhead would lead the first 50 laps as he set a blistering pace that would see the first 59 laps run under green. Brett Thompson then assumed the point on lap 51 and led for 14 circuits.
Thompson and Jones waged a spirited battle from lap 51 to lap 65 when Jones finally took control of the race and led the final ten laps. The victory capped a career night for the veteran racer who eyes his first RMCS series crown.
"It was an awesome night for our team," Jones said. "Brett (Thompson) had a great car and he was a lot better off the corner than we were but we were good in the center, so we really had the momentum through the corner."
When asked what it was like starting at the back and moving through the field to the front, Jones showed his excitement. "It is something that I have always wanted to do in this series," Jones stated. "When you start at the back you are fast and we've never done it. I just latched onto Lynn Hardy and followed him trying to save my tires and once I got to the front three it got really fun."
Finish second in his first run of the season was two-time series Zan Sharp. "I am really happy considering that we just finished the car Saturday morning," Sharp said. "I have been so busy with work and other projects the time just got away from me. I will make most of the races this season but it always feels good to knock the rust off with a great run. I thank the whole team and especially Brandon Rhiel who came over from Oregon and got the car together."
Finishing third for the second consecutive event was Brett Thompson who started his second career series race Saturday night. "We were really close and I hated for that one to get away," Thompson said. "Steve was really good through the corner and that made the difference. I am thrilled for our performance so far this year and we are going to win one of these sooner than later."
The top ten finishers in the event were Jones, Sharp, Thompson, Lynn Hardy, and Thane Alderman followed by Russell Butler, Bruce Quale, Eric Rhead, John Newhouse, and Kenny Vandeham.
Jones scored 212 points for the event extended his point lead to 29-points over Thompson. Thane Alderman sits third followed Bruce Quale, and John Newhouse rounding out the top five. The next race for the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series is Memorial Day May 31st back at Rocky Mountain Raceways.
The RMCS utilizes a racing format not found in ANY other regional touring series around the country. The top 20 qualifiers are inverted for every race putting fast time in the 20th starting position. This format ensures race fans see what they paid for and that is passing. Each driver is awarded three points per position gained in the event. Points are also awarded for qualifying and heat race finishes. Through the history of the series, the winning driver has averaged a 15th place starting position. To ensure competition, the RMCS pays it purse based on total point accumulation for the event and provides several special performance awards for each event.
The CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series is a regional touring series that allows all competitors to race and gain experience on different types of racetracks. It is a high-quality professional racing series that offers maximum opportunity at an affordable price serving the intermountain West. The motto of the series is to “Race Hard and Have Fun!” For all the latest news and information regarding the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series log onto www.rmcsracing.com. Follow all the racing action from throughout the West by logging onto www.racingwest.com.
Photo credit: DJS Sports Marketing.
RACE ‘N FOR A CURE AT EPHRATA RACEWAY PARK
(Ephrata, WA) 5/8/10 by Kelly Hart
The 2010 Spud Cup race featuring the Lone Pine Trucking Northwest Outlaw Street Stocks was the feature event Saturday night at Ephrata Raceway Park. Forty cars were signed in at the back gate with 12 Outlaw Street Stocks, 8 Jerry’s Auto Supply BIG CARS, 9 Pioneer Muffler II Pure Stocks and 11 Schaeffer’s Oil Mini Stocks graced the pit area at Ephrata Raceway Park. May 8th was also the Race ‘N For a Cure night fundraiser for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation.
Quincy driver Mitch Kleyn set the pace for Outlaw Street Stocks on the night with a very fast 15.254 lap in qualifying. The three trophy dashes were won by Karen Beller, Josh Ingram and Ron Stewart. The heat race victories went to Josh and Stewart . Twelve cars took the green flag for the 50 lap Spud Cup Main event. On the initial green Ingram took off and set sail on the field. The first yellow flag came out on lap 11 when Bart Hector and Curtis Adams swapped paint in turn two with Adams spinning to the infield. The restart saw Ingram maintain his lead. Four laps later Steve Sawyer spun in turn 2 bringing out the second yellow. At the halfway mark, Ingram was getting pressure from the trio of Ron Stewart, Brad Morrison and Mitch Kleyn. Stewart used lapped traffic and took the lead on lap 26. Hector to the pit area after lapped traffic caused a bunch-up in turn 3 on lap 28. The final yellow flag was on the 44th lap bunching the field for one last 6 lap dash. With Kleyn pulling up to the outside of Stewart at the commitment cone on the restart and Ingram and Morrison right behind. Kleyn gave it a shot on the outside but couldn’t run down Stewart settling for second. Ingram held on for third. The 2010 Spud Cup champion is Ron Stewart.
The pacesetter for the Jerry’s Auto Supply BIG CAR division was Chris McCart in a car that is supposed to be doing double duty this season also racing in the Hobby Stock class. McCart set fast time with a 17.000 lap. Winning trophy dashes were David Ware and Josh Hector. The heat race was won by McCart. For the BIG CAR main event, all 4 corners were wet down by the fire trucks and madness set in from the drop of the green flag. Josh Hector cleared the front row and led the first 12 laps before a yellow came out to bunch the field. Chris McCart had been pressuring Hector and battling with Troy Lannoye when his right rear wheel took leave of the rest of the race car. The lap 13 restart saw Lannoye spin Hector but not slow him enough to lose a lap. Hector went off the track in turn two on the 17th lap handing the lead to Fred Moore who had been dumped early in the race and had to dig to get back on the lead lap. Hector stuck on the Euke tires in turn two as the white flag came out for Moore who held the lead long enough to take the win. As the race came to and end Ray Hahne took the tabletop jump on the motocross course and flew his BIG CAR for BIG AIR bringing the crowd to its feet!
The class that used to be called Hornets is now called the Pioneer Muffler II Pure Stocks. First fast time of the season was set by Derrick Kapalo at 17.833. In the trophy dashes Mike Mullale and Derrick Kapalo took home hardware. Winning the heat race was Kapalo aiming for a clean sweep. Dallas White led the first lap as they came four wide into turn one. Kapalo and Jake McGraw gave early chase. Kapalo used an outside pass in turn three and took over the lead on the sixth lap for the lead. Kapalo completed the clean sweep by leading the final 9 laps to win.
In the Schaeffers Oil Mini Stocks fast time was set by David Macken of Moses Lake at 16.753. Winning the trophy dashes was Tim Clark and Doug Brown. The heat races went to JR Miner and Sid White. The cars went three wide all the way down the back stretch and into turn three and four. Samantha Todd and Adam Smith made contact and that brought out the first yellow flag. Charles Larr led the first two laps before giving way to JR Miner. Miner held the top spot with Razey, Adam Smith and Doug Brown breathing down his neck. Smith took over the top spot at the ten lap mark with Brown following shuffling Miner back to 4th, Razey working over Brown for second on the high side of the racetrack. Miner wound up going to the pit area with a sickly race car just before the white flag. Smith held on for the win.
RESULTS
BIG CARS
Fast time: 95 Chris McCart 17.00
B dash: 5 David Ware, 111 Lee Love, 11 Ray Hahne
A dash: 84 Josh Hector, 8 Fred Moore, 4 Troy Lannoye, 95 Chris McCart
Heat: 95 McCart, 84 Josh Hector, 8 Moore, 4 Lannoye, 11 Hahne
Main: 8 Fred Moore, 4 Lannoye, 11 Hahne, 111 Love, 84 Josh Hector, 5 David Ware, 95 McCart
Lap leaders: 84 Josh Hector 1-14, 8 Moore 15-20
PURE STOCKS
Fast time: 37 Derrick Kapalo 17.833
B dash: 20 Mike Mullale, 9 Michael White, 62 Jeremy Larsen, 63 Nathan Schell
A dash: 37 Derrick Kapalo, 32 Terry McGraw, 09 Dallas White
Heat: 37 Kapalo, 32 Terry McGraw, 9 Michael White, 8 Brad Arneson, 62 Larsen
Main: 37 Derrick Kapalo, 09 Dallas White, 32 Terry McGraw, 9 Michael White, 62 Larsen, 28 Jake McGraw, 63 Schell, 20 Mullale
Lap leaders: 09 Dallas White 1-5, 37 Kapalo 6-15
MINI STOCKS
Fast time: 52 David Macken 16.753
B dash: 50 Tim Clark, 44 Charles Larr, 19 Eddie Razey, 13 Samantha Todd
A dash: 84 Doug Brown, 18 Jeremy Razey, 52 Macken, 68 Bart Hector, Jr.
B heat: 07 JR Miner, 7 Adam Smith, 50 Clark, 13 Todd
A heat: 1 Sid White, 84 Brown, 52 Macken, 18 Jeremy Razey
Main: 7 Adam Smith, 18 J, Razey, 84 Brown, 68 Bart Hector Jr., 50 Tim Clark, 1 Sid White, 52 David Macken, 13 Todd, 07 Miner, 44 Larr
Lap Leaders: 44 Larr 1-2, 07 Miner 3-9, 7 Smith 10-30
NWOSS
Fast time: 1 Mitch Kleyn 15.254
C dash: 16 Karen Beller, 25 Bob Greiner, 83 Patrick Lyons
B dash: 97 Josh Ingram, 64 Bill Rutherford,11 Steve Sawyer, 77 Curtis Adams
A dash: 20 Ron Stewart, 4 Brad Morrison, 68 Bart Hector, 1 Mitch Kleyn
B heat: 97 Ingram, 11 Sawyer, 16 Beller, 25 Greiner, 83 Lyons
A heat: 20 Stewart, 4 Morrison, 1 Kleyn, 64 Rutherford, 68 Hector
Main: 20 Ron Stewart, 1 Kleyn, 97 Ingram, 4 Morrison, 16 Beller, 64 Rutherford, 77 Adams, 25 Greiner, 11 Sawyer, 68 Bart Hector, 83 Lyons, 71 Dunagan
Lap leaders: 97 Ingram 1-25, 20 Stewart 26-50
The 2010 Spud Cup race featuring the Lone Pine Trucking Northwest Outlaw Street Stocks was the feature event Saturday night at Ephrata Raceway Park. Forty cars were signed in at the back gate with 12 Outlaw Street Stocks, 8 Jerry’s Auto Supply BIG CARS, 9 Pioneer Muffler II Pure Stocks and 11 Schaeffer’s Oil Mini Stocks graced the pit area at Ephrata Raceway Park. May 8th was also the Race ‘N For a Cure night fundraiser for the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation.
Quincy driver Mitch Kleyn set the pace for Outlaw Street Stocks on the night with a very fast 15.254 lap in qualifying. The three trophy dashes were won by Karen Beller, Josh Ingram and Ron Stewart. The heat race victories went to Josh and Stewart . Twelve cars took the green flag for the 50 lap Spud Cup Main event. On the initial green Ingram took off and set sail on the field. The first yellow flag came out on lap 11 when Bart Hector and Curtis Adams swapped paint in turn two with Adams spinning to the infield. The restart saw Ingram maintain his lead. Four laps later Steve Sawyer spun in turn 2 bringing out the second yellow. At the halfway mark, Ingram was getting pressure from the trio of Ron Stewart, Brad Morrison and Mitch Kleyn. Stewart used lapped traffic and took the lead on lap 26. Hector to the pit area after lapped traffic caused a bunch-up in turn 3 on lap 28. The final yellow flag was on the 44th lap bunching the field for one last 6 lap dash. With Kleyn pulling up to the outside of Stewart at the commitment cone on the restart and Ingram and Morrison right behind. Kleyn gave it a shot on the outside but couldn’t run down Stewart settling for second. Ingram held on for third. The 2010 Spud Cup champion is Ron Stewart.
The pacesetter for the Jerry’s Auto Supply BIG CAR division was Chris McCart in a car that is supposed to be doing double duty this season also racing in the Hobby Stock class. McCart set fast time with a 17.000 lap. Winning trophy dashes were David Ware and Josh Hector. The heat race was won by McCart. For the BIG CAR main event, all 4 corners were wet down by the fire trucks and madness set in from the drop of the green flag. Josh Hector cleared the front row and led the first 12 laps before a yellow came out to bunch the field. Chris McCart had been pressuring Hector and battling with Troy Lannoye when his right rear wheel took leave of the rest of the race car. The lap 13 restart saw Lannoye spin Hector but not slow him enough to lose a lap. Hector went off the track in turn two on the 17th lap handing the lead to Fred Moore who had been dumped early in the race and had to dig to get back on the lead lap. Hector stuck on the Euke tires in turn two as the white flag came out for Moore who held the lead long enough to take the win. As the race came to and end Ray Hahne took the tabletop jump on the motocross course and flew his BIG CAR for BIG AIR bringing the crowd to its feet!
The class that used to be called Hornets is now called the Pioneer Muffler II Pure Stocks. First fast time of the season was set by Derrick Kapalo at 17.833. In the trophy dashes Mike Mullale and Derrick Kapalo took home hardware. Winning the heat race was Kapalo aiming for a clean sweep. Dallas White led the first lap as they came four wide into turn one. Kapalo and Jake McGraw gave early chase. Kapalo used an outside pass in turn three and took over the lead on the sixth lap for the lead. Kapalo completed the clean sweep by leading the final 9 laps to win.
In the Schaeffers Oil Mini Stocks fast time was set by David Macken of Moses Lake at 16.753. Winning the trophy dashes was Tim Clark and Doug Brown. The heat races went to JR Miner and Sid White. The cars went three wide all the way down the back stretch and into turn three and four. Samantha Todd and Adam Smith made contact and that brought out the first yellow flag. Charles Larr led the first two laps before giving way to JR Miner. Miner held the top spot with Razey, Adam Smith and Doug Brown breathing down his neck. Smith took over the top spot at the ten lap mark with Brown following shuffling Miner back to 4th, Razey working over Brown for second on the high side of the racetrack. Miner wound up going to the pit area with a sickly race car just before the white flag. Smith held on for the win.
RESULTS
BIG CARS
Fast time: 95 Chris McCart 17.00
B dash: 5 David Ware, 111 Lee Love, 11 Ray Hahne
A dash: 84 Josh Hector, 8 Fred Moore, 4 Troy Lannoye, 95 Chris McCart
Heat: 95 McCart, 84 Josh Hector, 8 Moore, 4 Lannoye, 11 Hahne
Main: 8 Fred Moore, 4 Lannoye, 11 Hahne, 111 Love, 84 Josh Hector, 5 David Ware, 95 McCart
Lap leaders: 84 Josh Hector 1-14, 8 Moore 15-20
PURE STOCKS
Fast time: 37 Derrick Kapalo 17.833
B dash: 20 Mike Mullale, 9 Michael White, 62 Jeremy Larsen, 63 Nathan Schell
A dash: 37 Derrick Kapalo, 32 Terry McGraw, 09 Dallas White
Heat: 37 Kapalo, 32 Terry McGraw, 9 Michael White, 8 Brad Arneson, 62 Larsen
Main: 37 Derrick Kapalo, 09 Dallas White, 32 Terry McGraw, 9 Michael White, 62 Larsen, 28 Jake McGraw, 63 Schell, 20 Mullale
Lap leaders: 09 Dallas White 1-5, 37 Kapalo 6-15
MINI STOCKS
Fast time: 52 David Macken 16.753
B dash: 50 Tim Clark, 44 Charles Larr, 19 Eddie Razey, 13 Samantha Todd
A dash: 84 Doug Brown, 18 Jeremy Razey, 52 Macken, 68 Bart Hector, Jr.
B heat: 07 JR Miner, 7 Adam Smith, 50 Clark, 13 Todd
A heat: 1 Sid White, 84 Brown, 52 Macken, 18 Jeremy Razey
Main: 7 Adam Smith, 18 J, Razey, 84 Brown, 68 Bart Hector Jr., 50 Tim Clark, 1 Sid White, 52 David Macken, 13 Todd, 07 Miner, 44 Larr
Lap Leaders: 44 Larr 1-2, 07 Miner 3-9, 7 Smith 10-30
NWOSS
Fast time: 1 Mitch Kleyn 15.254
C dash: 16 Karen Beller, 25 Bob Greiner, 83 Patrick Lyons
B dash: 97 Josh Ingram, 64 Bill Rutherford,11 Steve Sawyer, 77 Curtis Adams
A dash: 20 Ron Stewart, 4 Brad Morrison, 68 Bart Hector, 1 Mitch Kleyn
B heat: 97 Ingram, 11 Sawyer, 16 Beller, 25 Greiner, 83 Lyons
A heat: 20 Stewart, 4 Morrison, 1 Kleyn, 64 Rutherford, 68 Hector
Main: 20 Ron Stewart, 1 Kleyn, 97 Ingram, 4 Morrison, 16 Beller, 64 Rutherford, 77 Adams, 25 Greiner, 11 Sawyer, 68 Bart Hector, 83 Lyons, 71 Dunagan
Lap leaders: 97 Ingram 1-25, 20 Stewart 26-50
Who killed the Northwest Late Model Tour?
By Scott Whitmore
"Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves …” — Cassius, from Act I, Scene II of the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.
The ASA Northwest Late Model Tour announced earlier this week that it was cancelling all remaining races for the 2010 season. With just two of 12 scheduled events completed, the announcement took many by surprise.
And after the surprise there was a surprising amount of finger-pointing and blame-laying, as well as some expressions of regret and appreciation directed at Scott Ellsworth and Jerry Losch, the pair that put aside their differences and tried to save touring late-model racing in the Northwest last year by combining their competing series.
There were rumors of problems, of course. But rumors of problems are part and parcel of local racing in the Pacific Northwest, aren’t they? Tire problems and low car count at the opener in March at Evergreen Speedway. Loss of a sponsor nearly caused the following race at South South Speedway to be cancelled, but thanks to the generosity of Mark Sundberg that race was held, but once again with a field just barely in double digits. After 40 years Ellsworth announced he would retire from racing at the end of the season.
Now, laying blame is something I’m very familiar with. In my family, no situation is ever over until someone has been assigned the blame — usually a person not in the least bit involved. Dysfunctional? You betcha, as ex-Guvner Sarah would say, but then again my family put the “fun” in dysfunctional.
Who killed the Tour? Well, from various corners of opinion it would appear that it was the tour’s choice of tires … or the drivers … or the tracks … or the fans … or the economy … or the tour directors … or me. Yup, someone actually suggested a semi-retired typist like yours truly played a part.
So, who’s to blame? Any of the above? All of the above? None of the above?
The short answer is: “All of the above,” but of course it is much, much more complicated than that. There are different degrees of blame, different levels of involvement; more gray than black or white. I’m not going to lay any blame here, but I will give you my opinion.
Could more fans have come to the races? Could more drivers have spent more money to get their cars ready and to travel to the races? Could the promoters and/or directors have done a better job getting the fans into the seats and the drivers to the track? Could the tire choice have been better? Could I have written more to help generate interest?
Yes to all of that, but more than anything else the down economy we’re all living through was the biggest factor in the untimely cancellation of the Tour’s season. Although there are indications that the economy is picking up a little now, it wasn’t so this past winter and earlier this spring — the time when teams are making plans and preparing their cars. And we all know late-model racecars are not cheap to build, maintain or race.
How many fans have to choose very, very carefully where to spend their money these days? Although the racing was good in those two Tour events, the ticket prices were a bit higher than that of the normal weekly show.
Let’s not forget what I like to call the “fun factor,” either. No matter how much you love racing — driving, crewing or watching from the stands — how much fun are you having if you’re constantly worried about how the bills are going to get paid?
And don’t ever make the mistake of thinking any promoter cares about anything but his or her own track and local divisions. Yes, a touring series can make for a nice addition to the show, but the local regulars from the weekly series are their bread-and-butter. And I don’t blame them one bit for taking that stand, either. They may be race fans or racers themselves, but they’re also running a business that is competing for those scarce entertainment dollars.
In a perfect world all the track promoters and tour series directors would sit down and come up with a season schedule with no conflicting races for maximum participation by locals who want to travel to take part in a tour race. But that perfect world doesn’t exist yet, and maybe never will.
So where do we go from here? Word has it Losch wants to regroup and try it all again next year. Here’s hoping that works out. Because even though I respect the promoters’ desire to maintain and build their own weekly shows, I think it is important to have another option for drivers and fans. If the economy continues to improve, all those other issues just may be resolved enough to make that happen.
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so," Hamlet, from Act II, Scene II of Hamlet by William Shakespeare.
Scott Whitmore is a freelance writer who spent three years covering motorsports in the Pacific Northwest for The Herald in Everett, Wash. He can be contacted at scott@scottwhitmore.net.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
RMCS Back in Action at Rocky Mountain Raceways Round Two at RMR Means Excitement, Competition, and Action
BOISE, IDAHO (May 5, 2010) Every time the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series makes its way to the ultra-fast and wide Rocky Mountain Raceways located outside Salt Lake City, Utah, the fans fill the stands the for the kind of action racing is meant to provide. This Saturday night May 8, the RMCS returns to RMR for their 20th event staged at the 3/8-mile paved oval led by Steve Jones of Boise, Idaho who sits atop the point standings.
Jones finished fourth in the opening round but scored the most points in the event and holds a two-point margin over Bruce Quale of Twin Falls, Idaho who scored his first career series victory in round one.
Jones is looking for his first series top five finish at RMR and he thinks this weekend could be it. "We really never had the right motor combination before and now we have a really competitive piece," Jones said. "Racing is the most fun you can have and when you are fast it is a whole lot of fun."
Over the years, RMR has provided some of the most exciting racing in the region and this weekend will be no different. More than 20 of the region's top Late Model drivers will be on hand for a 75-lap shootout. After missing the first race so he could be by his mother's side during her final hours, two-time series champion Zan Sharp from Wellsville, Utah is excited to get back to racing.
Sharp has three victories at RMR with seven top five performances and three Sharp Powder Coating Fast Time Awards. Winning at RMR takes patience, a great setup and a little luck. "RMR is really good track for me," Sharp said. "I have a lot of laps around there and always feel real comfortable in the car. I think this will be a real good race for us."
Lynn "The Hammer" Hardy is the track record holder at RMR with a quick lap of 14.944 seconds/90.377 mph. Hardy is back full-time with the RMCS this season and would like to add to his two RMR wins this weekend.
Craig Bell is not driving this season but will be at the track as crew chief for two-time series champion Dave Minegar. Bell leads all drivers with ten top five finishes at RMR and he hopes to put that experience to work this weekend for Minegar.
Coming off a strong second place performance in round one is Las Vegas, Nevada's Thane Alderman. Alderman's last series victory was at RMR in 2008 and he would like nothing more than to return to victory lane this weekend. "I really like racing at RMR," Alderman offered. "The facility is first rate, the crowds are great, and the RMCS always puts on a good show. We have worked real hard over the winter to get back into competitive form and we feel we have a great car for the race."
Drivers who have won at RMR include: James Eaton (4), Sharp (3), Hardy (2), Minegar (2), John Dillon (2), and six other drivers with one win apiece. Dillon is the only repeat winner at RMR in the last seven RMCS races.
After picking up his first career series victory at his home track of Magic Valley Speedway, Bruce Quale is shifting gears for RMR. "Winning in this series is awesome, but it will only get tougher to do it again." Quale said. We have a really good car and and I would love to make it two in a row." Quale has two top five finishes at RMR.
The RMCS utilizes a racing format not found in ANY other regional touring series around the country. The top 20 qualifiers are inverted for every race putting fast time in the 20th starting position. This format ensures race fans see what they paid for and that is passing. Each driver is awarded three points per position gained in the event. Points are also awarded for qualifying and heat race finishes. Through the history of the series, the winning driver has averaged a 15th place starting position. To ensure competition, the RMCS pays it purse based on total point accumulation for the event and provides several special performance awards for each event.
The CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series is a regional touring series that allows all competitors to race and gain experience on different types of racetracks. It is a high-quality professional racing series that offers maximum opportunity at an affordable price serving the intermountain West. The motto of the series is to “Race Hard and Have Fun!” For all the latest news and information regarding the CarbonX Rocky Mountain Challenge Series log onto www.rmcsracing.com. Follow all the racing action from throughout the West by logging onto www.racingwest.com.
Photo credit: DJS Sports Marketing. Photo of two-time RMCS champion Zan Sharp.
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