DRESSING UP SUMMER

Three recipes for the price of one this time! The buttermilk dressing is a great one to toss with any of the stone fruit of the summer salad with (strawberries, peaches, apricots and so on-whatever you would like). The white balsamic dressing is great on any salad. Also here is my favorite corn bread recipe. Add bacon and jalapenos for a kick if you want and enjoy!
-Ryan

BUTTERMILK DRESSING:
¼ cup buttermilk
¼ cup crème fraiche
¼ mayo
1 Tlb red wine vin
3 ea minced shallots
1 cup corn oil
S &p tt

Mince shallots and steep in vinegar for 5 minutes. Add buttermilk, mayo, and crème fraiche. Wisk all together. Slowly add oil. Season to taste. Add Tabasco to liking.

WHITE BALSAMIC DRESSING (Yields 2 quarts):
-1/2 cup whole grain mustard
-1/2 cup Dijon mustard
-3/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
-1/2 cup water
-4 TB honey
-1.5 tsp salt
-1/8 tsp Tabasco
-4 cups corn oil

Place all ingredients in blender but corn oil, blend till smooth. Slowly add corn oil to mixture in the blender, continue until all is incorporated.
You may want to adjust the thickness to your taste with water, if you’d like.

CORN BREAD

SWEET:
19 oz flour
13 oz cornmeal
1 # 3 oz sugar (21 oz)
5T baking powder
2T salt
1 qt milk
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups corn oil

SAVORY:
4 cups flour
4 cups cornmeal
1 cup sugar
5 T. baking powder
1 T. salt
4 eggs
1/2 cup corn oil
6 cups milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8 inch square pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

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MENDONCA SIGNS WITH RANGERS

The former Fresno State third baseman will make his professional debut with the Spokane Indians this week.

By George Takata
VSP Senior Writer:

Two physicals and a signature later, Tom Mendonca officially became a Texas Ranger Monday.

Mendonca, arguably the greatest third baseman in Bulldog baseball history, was in Arlington, Texas to sign his deal, and will now head out to Spokane, Washington to make his pro baseball debut either today or Wednesday for the Spokane Indians, a low single ‘A’ team in the Northwest League.

Mendonca’s signing bonus was for $587,700. He was selected by Texas in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft. The Rangers have also agreed to pay for his Fresno State education. Tom was in attendance at the Rangers-Angels game after signing his contract.

Former Bulldog pitcher Justin Miller is also on the Indians roster. Miller and Mendonca both played on the 2008 College World Series Champion Fresno State team.

Mendonca is Fresno State’s all time home run king (56), the 2009 WAC Most Valuable Player, and 2008 CWS Most Outstanding Player.

Former Bulldog Tanner Scheppers has yet to come to contract terms with the Rangers.

A one on one interview with Mendonca will be up on valleysportspulse.com later today!

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MCGEHEE’S SLAM MAKES UP FOR ERROR; BREWERS BEAT METS

The former Diamond Dog gets a curtain call after his first career grand slam.

From The Asssociated Press:

Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum had recently told Casey McGehee that there’s nothing like the emotional swings they face in baseball. McGehee faced it all in the same inning.

“I experienced them both pretty quick,” McGehee said. “It’s ironic people start talking about stuff and it happens right away.”

McGehee hit his first career grand slam moments after committing a costly gaffe in the sixth inning and then took out his frustrations on his helmet in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 10-6 win over the reeling New York Mets on Monday night.

“Me and my helmet are going to have to have a sitdown apology session later,” he joked. “I might have hurt its feelings.”

J.J. Hardy also went 4 for 4 with a homer and was on base all five times for the NL Central leading Brewers, who have won three of four. Hardy also finally got McGehee to smile a few innings after he dropped a routine pop up.

“I think it even took him a couple of innings to realize what he had done because he was still pretty upset about the dropped pop up,” Hardy said. “We were all really excited for him.”

The Mets have lost four straight, falling under .500 (37-38) for the first time since May 5, and not even the previously unflappable Fernando Nieve (3-1) could help. He gave up 11 hits and three runs before being pulled after 3 1/3 innings.

“We’re a below average team. Period,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said.

McGehee nearly gave New York a way out after giving the Mets life with starter Braden Looper (6-4) cruising and Milwaukee leading 3-0.

With two outs and a man on first in the sixth inning, the Brewers third baseman dropped Fernando Martinez’s routine fly ball when it hit the heel of his glove and dropped harmlessly to the ground, putting runners on the corners.

“You play long enough you’re going to have one of those, ‘What are you doing moments?’” McGehee said. “[I] more felt terrible for Looper in that because he was throwing the ball so well. … I felt like I took the momentum he had going and kind of put it to a halt.”

Brian Schneider hit the next pitch off the wall for a two-run double to cut it to 3-2, but Looper got out of the jam.

In the bottom of the inning, Hardy had his third extra base hit when Martinez tried to make a diving catch on a liner to put men on second and third with one out.

After Ryan Braun popped out and Prince Fielder was intentionally walked, McGehee drove a high fastball from reliever Brian Stokes into the Brewers bullpen in left center field to make it 7-2.

“I’m sure he went up there to try and redeem himself,” Stokes said.

McGehee, who has hit all five of his career homers in his last 13 games, returned to the dugout, covered his mouth and shouted into his helmet before tossing it aside. Then, he acknowledged a curtain call from the 39,872 fans at Miller Park who booed him coming off the field minutes before.

“Prince had to tell me to get out there and I didn’t even know what he said. I didn’t really know what was going on,” McGehee said. “If somebody would have told me this time last year I’d have 40,000 people calling me out of a dugout for a curtain call, I would’ve told you you were lying.”

That’s because McGehee was in the Cubs organization, stuck at Triple-A Iowa behind slugger Aramis Ramirez before being placed on waivers in the offseason. The Brewers scooped him up because of his ability to play second, third and be an emergency catcher, and McGehee earned his way on the opening day roster with an impressive spring.

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NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS

The North pounds the South in the 24th annual Rotary All-Star game in Chowchilla.

From thechowchillanews.com:

Fred Gaines had just picked up his second interception in the game.

The Chowchilla senior sought out Merced’s Bernard Bolden on the sideline to talk about it.

“Hey, Bernard, you have to get another one,” Gaines said. “Come on.”

Bolden smiled before putting on his helmet to head back out on defense.

“I got you,” said Bolden, who eventually settled for just one interception.

It was that kind of night for the North.

Gaines, Bolden and the rest of the defense combined for five interceptions.

Their offensive teammates were just as impressive, as the North won a lopsided 36-14 contest in the 24th Annual Chowchilla Rotary North/South All-Star Football Game on Friday night in front of a crowd of about 2,500 at Henry Massarro Stadium.

For Gaines, it was one last chance to show off his talents on his old field.

“It felt good to show our fans what I can do one more time,” Gaines said.

Gaines wasn’t the only one to put on show.

The North had plenty of stars.

The scoring onslaught started early when Central Valley quarterback Trevor Mew hooked up with Golden Valley receiver Adrian Abarca on a 23-yard touchdown with 10:39 left in the first quarter.

“It was just a slant pattern,” said Abarca, who caught four passes for 86 yards. “I caught the ball and there was a guy right on me. I had to shake him and then another guy wrapped me up.

“I just kept driving my legs until I was in the end zone.”

The North had built a 16-7 lead when the “Showman” got in the act.

Los Banos’ Rubal Sangha hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Buhach Colony’s Kyle Davey to extend the North lead to 22-7 late in the first half..

“I made an inside move and my guy completely stopped,” Sangha said. “I don’t know what happened.

“I don’t know if he slipped or if he was playing a cover-two.”

Los Banos teammate Jake Barcellos was in the right place at the right time as he pounced on a muffed punt in the end zone for another North score in the third quarter.

Moments later, Mew hooked up with Chowchilla’s Kyle Espinola for a 55-yard scoring strike to put the North ahead 36-7 with 4:53 left in the third quarter.

It was a night where the North didn’t do much wrong.

“Our O-line did a great job of protecting early and it allowed us to get the ball to our weapons,” said LB coach Dennis Stubbs, who coached the North.

“We were able to spread the ball around pretty well.”

Chowchilla Rotary All-Star Game

NORTH 36, SOUTH 14

At Chowchilla

South 7 0 0 7 — 14

North 16 6 14 0 — 36

First Quarter

N — Adrian Abarca 23 pass from Trevor Mew (Humberto Del Rio kick)

N — Isaiah Borba 4 run (Del Rio kick)

N — Safety (Silvestre Yanez sacked Jesse Lownsbury in end zone)

S — Juan Gonzales 35 pass from Cameron Grant (Jose Magana kick)

Second Quarter

N — Rubal Sangha 14 pass from Kyle Davies (kick failed)

Third Quarter

N — Jake Barcellos recovered fumble in end zone (Del Rio kick)

N — Kyle Espinola 55 pass from Mew (Del Rio kick)

Fourth Quarter

S — Jason Linman 13 pass from Grant (Magana kick)

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RAWHIDE TO BE REPRESENTED AT ALL-STAR WEEKEND

From rawhidebaseball.com:

St. Louis will have some Visalian flavor on July 12th, as current Visalia Rawhide reliever Leyson Septimo and former Rawhide starter Jarrod Parker will both represent the Arizona Diamondbacks at this year’s Futures Game.

The Futures Game is held annually prior to the Major League All-Star Game, and pits top emerging talent from around the Minor Leagues.

Ironically, the dynamic duo will be facing each other, as Parker will pitch for the U.S. team while Septimo will throw for the World squad.

Pitching for Visalia this season, Septimo has improved dramatically from last year’s ERA of 5.29. The hard-throwing southpaw is having a terrific 2009 season for the Rawhide with a 2-0 record and a 2.70 ERA, and opponents are hitting just .184 against him.

Parker was briefly with the Rawhide at the start of the season. The 2007 1st Round draft pick dazzled crowds in just 4 starts in a Rawhide uniform. Before being promoted up to AA Mobile, the right hander had a b0.95 ERA, with opponents hitting just .179 against him.

The Futures game rosters were selected by a combined effort of Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, MLB.com, Baseball America, USA Baseball, and the 30 Major League Baseball Clubs. There are representatives of each Major League team and the World team features players from 11 different countries and territories.

The 11th edition of the Futures Game will be broadcast on MLB.tv, ESPN2 and ESPN2HD at 2 p.m. ET.

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A TRUE FIGHTER

Cole Escovedo has fought his way back into the MMA scene.

By James Gilliland
VSP MMA Columnist:

Fresno, CA – Cole Escovedo (12-4) has been involved in martial arts since he was six years old.

“I’ve always been in karate or jiu-jitsu,” said Escovedo. “I never really swayed too much into traditional sports like other kids did.”

But he didn’t intend on being a fighter.

He first had aspirations of being a police officer and to stay in shape he began Mixed Martial Arts training. When the police academy didn’t he work out he decided to fight as a way to make money.

Cole was one of the first fighters to compete in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC). He would become the first WEC featherweight champion defeating Philip Perez by triangle choke.

“It was my first title I had ever won,” said Escovedo. “That was the biggest fight in my career at that point.”

Cole was undefeated for his first seven fights, until he lost to Bao Quach by decision in Gladiator Challenge. He would continue to defend his belt in WEC until he lost to Urijah Faber.

Two weeks later, he lost to UFC Veteran, Jens Pulver in the now defunct International Fight League.

Cole has trained at Pacific Martial Arts his entire career alongside local fighters, Doug “The Rhino” Marshall and “Kid Dynamite” David Espinosa.

Those sessions were close to never happening.

In 2006, Escovedo contracted a staph infection in his arm that was mistreated numerous times and turned into MRSA, which had spread to his lower back.

“It got to the point where I couldn’t sit, sleep, and walk. I couldn’t do anything without being in constant pain,” said Escovedo. “It was an unbearable pain consistently, I was screaming and I’ve had my hand and eye broken in one fight this doesn’t compare to the pain I felt.”

After being admitted to the hospital four different times and talking to neurosurgeon. The problem was found on his spine and surgery was performed, but that wasn’t the end of it.

“The doctor said he would be happy if I walked right,” said Escovedo.

That didn’t sit well for Cole who wanted to start training again. When he was healthy enough, he began teaching at L.A. Boxing.

“After teaching for a while I realized that my body was kind of rehabbing on its own,” said Escovedo. “The more I trained, the more I taught, the more I realized I could do more.”

He kept pushing himself the limits and finally got back into shape, but he kept pushing order to get in fight shape.

After nearly three years, he returned to MMA fighting Michael McDonald in the Palace Fighting Championship.

“That was the first fight back after the surgery and it was going to answer all the questions on whether I could fight anymore.”

The answer was yes as he dominated McDonald the whole fight winning in the second round by technical knockout by way of ground and pound.

“After the surgery and the layoff it gave me the ability to train really hard for the first time. And to come back and show that if I want to keep fighting I can keep fighting.”

Besides beating Philip Perez earlier in his career to be the first WEC lightweight championship belt, Escovedo says his return fight against McDonald was one of his biggest fights of his career.

Cole will be fighting for the second time in two months this Saturday, June 27 at the Fresno Fairgrounds in “Disturbing the Peace.”

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SHORT BUT SWEET; RUELAS LEADS COUNTY TO COMEBACK WIN

One name can be used to characterize the 39th Annual City/County boys’ All-Star basketball game.

Juan Ruelas.

From start to finish the 5-foot-7 Ruelas maintained composure and consistency up and down the court to lead his County team to a 99-97 victory at Clovis North High School.

The County trailed by as many as 15 points after a first half that was dominated by the athletically poised Jameal York of Edison, who scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half alone.

Yet in the end it was the smallest man on the court who not only came away with the MVP trophy, but gave a great sense of pride for the city of Parlier.

With his team down by six and just a little over two minutes remaining in the game, Ruelas hit two 3-pointers followed by a clutch free-throw to pull his team within one point.

Cheyanne Alcala then drained two free- throws for County to take the lead. York then scored his only basket of the second half with 30 seconds left, but County rebounded with three more points to take a two point lead with 3.7 seconds in the game.

City then inbounded the ball to York who couldn’t put the ball up in time to give his team the win.

As soon as time expired County supporters rushed the court and family and friends bombarded Ruelas with congratulations as he accepted the MVP award for his stellar 18 point performance.

But for Ruelas, winning the game and the MVP award was more than just an accomplishment for himself but about representing the entire community of Parlier, populated at 13,080.

“Parlier is the best community,” said Ruelas. “Everyone comes to support everyone and this was awesome.”

Introduced to the game in the second grade he said that he never had to think twice about the sport that he was going to pursue and has played nearly every day since he first picked up a ball.

With his height always at an extreme disadvantage for him it just meant Ruelas had to work harder than everyone else to get where he is today.

However, never once did Ruelas use his height as an excuse to not be a standout and he carried that attitude with him Thursday night.

“When I’m on the court I don’t see myself as the smallest guy, but I see myself as the biggest guy on the court,” said Ruelas. “Nothing intimidates me when I am out there.”

And according to County head coach TJ Wilkins of Lemoore it is the positive attitude, hard work, and determination that really set him apart.

“[Ruelas] is just awesome,” said Wilkins. “We always knew he was good and tonight he showed what a stud he is.”

For Ruelas the best part of the all-star experience was being able to play with players he had never faced in competition before. Being able to play with the best in the area offered him in a short 5 week period the opportunity to grow as a player.

But now it is his time to prove himself even more as he heads to Reedley City College in hopes of helping an ever-growing Tiger program.

“I’m excited about going to Reedley and ready to go get a title,” said Ruelas.

In the girls’ game, the City routed the County 101-69.

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EXPLODING ONTO THE SCENE

By James Gilliland
VSP MMA Columnist

David “Kid Dynamite” Espinosa is moving up the ranks in many local lightweight top ten lists.

He exploded onto the valley MMA scene early, fighting his first three out of four fights in the Palace Fighting Championship (PFC) in Lemoore.

Espinosa has recently competed in Cage Combat Fighting Championships (CCFC) Rumble in the Park 1 & 2 at Woodward Park in Fresno.

David got early start in combat sports beginning with wrestling at the age of eight. “I’ve always been a competitor,” said Espinosa. “I always followed UFC as a kid.”

For Espinosa, fighting and competing was a part of his family history.

“I come from a family of martial artists and fighters,” Espinosa said. “My grandpa was a boxer, my grandfather on the other side was a wrestler, and my dad fought and did martial arts for 18 years.”

He would continue wrestling all the way to college. David attended UC Davis, majoring in communications. He wrestled there for five years.

While at Davis, he became friends and teammates with Urijah Faber, former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) featherweight champion. When Faber graduated from Davis he began MMA training. “I would cruise with him to all the fights. Sometimes it would just be him and me,” Espinosa said.

Espinosa would graduate from Davis with a bachelor’s degree.

After graduation, and unsure of what he wanted to do, Espinosa began training with Faber. Six months later he would make his fighting debut.

Espinosa won a unanimous decision over Jesse Bowen in Gladiator Challenge. “Everything I had learned up to that point went out the window and it was all instinct.”

David would train with Faber for four more fights before deciding on a change of scenery.

He left Sacramento and move to the Central Valley, “I thought it was in my best interest to branch out and become my own nucleus,” said Espinosa. “There’s a solid MMA community out here.”

He began training with Visalia native and former WEC light heavyweight champion, Doug “The Rhino” Marshall and Fresno native Cole Escovedo at Pacific Martial Arts.

It’s about the fighting for Espinosa, not the publicity. “I try not to get caught up in that hype,” said Espinosa. “I just fight as hard as I can, I bring it every time.”

In his first CCFC fight, he battled to a draw with then bantamweight champion Rolando Velasco.

In his second outing in CCFC, he would win the championship against Anthony Figueroa (4-4) by rear naked choke in the first round. (Note: Velasco would relinquish the title to pursue a college degree)

David has also become the super lightweight champion in Gladiator Challenge, beating Jordan Sutton in the first round by North-South choke.

Espinosa continues challenging himself and setting new goals on his way to the top. “You set goals, you reach those goals, and re-evaluate those goals,” said Espinosa. “A goal of mine is to crack the top ten of the world.”

To find out more information on “Kid Dynamite” check out his blog at http://www.mega979.com/pages/kid_dynamite or http://www.myspace.com/oceanminded

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REVENGE IS SWEET FOR GARZA, RAYS

The former Fresno State pitcher goes eight innings for the Rays to beat the Phillies, the team that beat them in the 2008 World Series.

From The Associated Press:

Matt Garza (Fresno State) and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-1 Wednesday night in the middle game of a rematch between the participants in last season’s World Series. Garza allowed just one run in eight innings with seven strikeouts to get his first win in his last six starts.

Tampa Bay scored five times in the eighth inning to give Garza a comfortable cushion.

“I got back to what I’ve been talking about, being aggressive,” Garza said. “I went after thses guys with my fastball, and that’s what I’ve been known to do. I got back to who I was, and that’s throwing the heater and saying: ‘Hey, beat me at this.’”

Garza breezed through the first three innings before walking Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to load the bases with no outs in the fourth.

There was a time when the 25-year-old might have fallen apart in such situations; however he kept his emotions in check and escaped without allowing a run by getting Werth to ground into a first-pitch double play (third to home to first) and fanning Matt Stairs.

Hitless up to that point, the Phillies broke through when Greg Dobbs lined the first pitch of the fifth inning to right field. Garza didn’t allow another baserunner until Jayson Werth’s 13th homer on a 3-2 pitch with one out in the seventh.

Stairs followed with a single for the third hit off the Tampa Bay starter, however Garza retired Dobbs and Pedro Feliz to get out of the seventh without any further damage.

“He was very aggressive. … He definitely contained us,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

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TWO PROPOSED VALLEY RACETRACKS NEED SUPPORT

Tulare needs additional grass roots support, Kern County needs financing.

By Dan Fleisher
VSP Racing Columnist:

Here is the status of two proposed race facilities:

TULARE MOTORSPORTS COMPLEX: This is a 711-acre development near Tulare’s International Agri-Center, the vision of a group headed by developer Bud Long. The complex includes a one-mile D-shaped oval race track with seating capacity of 52,600, and a drag strip with seating for 39,800 fans. Also on the drawing board are 350 condos, a go-cart track and a 59-acre RV park. Added to this would be a tech-oriented business park, retail stores with 1.2 million square footage, commercial offices and hotels, four of which would encompass 1,000 total rooms. The concept was approved by Tulare’s City Council in December of last year, the second favorable split-vote (3-2).

The passage was based on several things including the EIR sub-study done by The Ramsey Group, who says the Complex will bring in an additional $224 million in sales activity.

Earlier in December, The Tulare Planning Commission approved the project by a 5-2 margin. The positives votes were based on forecasts that the complex could provide thousands of jobs and $1.4 million annually to the city treasury. Having the complex built next to the home of the World Ag Expo was another plus for supporters including Council Member Richard Ortega. The Ag Expo is currently being threatened by competing shows in Florida and elsewhere because of a lack of near-by, available lodging for exhibitors and visitors. The addition of this complex could help secure its continued survival.

“This opportunity is a once in a lifetime, I am going to support it” he said.

Despite the Council’s and the Planning Commission’s approval, Long said there’s a long way to go for the project, first introduced at a Council meeting way back in November 2006, gets underway because of continued opposition.

Those (opposition) forces are still fighting the plan and yet another Council Meeting is planned for Tuesday June 30. (A previous meeting scheduled for the 23rd was taken off the agenda at the last minute) to discuss the matter. Apparently, two council members, Wayne Ross and David Macedo, are attempting to stall the project hoping other groups, or possible lawsuits, will intervene and “make it all go away,” my quote.

I’m not totally familiar with the political process, but I don’t understand how they (City Council) can continually rehash something that has already passed TWICE.

A GRASS ROOTS EFFORT is needed by supporters of the complex, especially racing fans who would love to have a state-of-the-art facility in the Central Valley. You’re encouraged to attend the meeting on the 30th at 7pm and voice your support of the project. The developers are scheduled to provide a project up-date and show a five-minute computer generated “fly through” of the complex. The address is 137 N. “M” Street, Tulare.

In the event you’re unable to attend, PLEASE contact Councilman Ross (559/303-1988) and Councilman Macedo (559/901-7081) to vocalize your approval of the project.

KERN COUNTY RACEWAY: At the conclusion of the 2005 racing season, popular Mesa Marin Raceway shuttered its doors in favor of real estate development. Another sad day for avid racing fans who enjoyed keen competition on the ½-mile banked paved facility.

For more than 28 years, various types of racing cars visited the venue including NASCAR’s Southwest Series with standout stars Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Crafton, Ron Hornaday Jr., and Rick Carelli. They all conquered Mesa Marin Raceway before moving up to NASCAR’s top three national series including the Craftsman’s Truck Series, which was an annual event at the Bakersfield track.

When Mesa Marin was shutdown, Owner/Promoter Larry Collins said his family had no clue they would get back into the racing business. But shortly thereafter, a replacement venue was sought and the Collins family joined forces (no financial involvement) with the Destefani family in attempts to build a modernistic facility close to Hwy 5 and Hwy 43. Plans were drawn to incorporate a high banked 1/2 mile paved oval, a smaller flat oval, and 1/8 mile dragstrip with initials plans for 5,000 seats.
Building of the $30 million facility went smoothly for quite awhile and was nearly 85% complete when construction stopped more than a year ago because of mounting debt. As of Monday, May 11, 2009, the developers filed for bankruptcy

They are scrambling to find a buyer or bridge loan to help it emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to prevent a foreclosure auction. Enos Lane Farm Properties LLC, managed by Alan Destefani, filed the bankruptcy as a group of lenders was preparing to sell the property at auction to pay off a $4.5 million loan. A group of private investors had made the loan about a year ago.

“The bankruptcy allows us some time to come up with a reorganization plan and resolve outstanding issues with all of our creditors, not just a few of them,” said Tim Elrod, chief financial officer of Destefani Farms.

Elrod said negotiations were underway with a potential buyer who was unable to complete due diligence in time to prevent the bankruptcy. If that fails, Elrod hopes a private investor will step up with a bridge loan as a bank loan isn’t likely in view of the credit crunch.

The bankruptcy filing listed an estimated 50 to 99 creditors owed $10,000,001 to $50 million, and assets of $10,000,001 to $50 million. Most of the creditors are contractors and subcontractors who worked on the partially built race track, which broke ground in February 2007. The largest unsecured claim is from M.S. Walker & Associates, a Bakersfield contractor owed more than $2.7 million.

According to Alan Destefani, “Simply put, we have invested huge sums of money in the racetrack and it is about 80 to 85% complete. We need to use the Chapter 11 process to determine who has just and legitimate claims against the assets and then work together in a cooperative way, under the supervision of the court, to come up with a mechanism to get the racetrack completed and into operation so that creditors can s be paid and the public can enjoy the long awaited racetrack.”

Larry Collins hasn’t given up hope. “On the positive side, there’s enough construction done that some day, someone will come in and finish it,” he said. “It’s just a question of who and when.”

This writer can be reached at: danfleisher1@yahoo.com

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