By Dan Fleisher
VSP Racing Columnist:

Tim Kaeding made history Saturday night at Thunderbowl Raceway by becoming first ever driver to set fast time and then win the final main event from the 24th starting position, leading to his third overall Cup title. Kaeding started the evening only nine points behind Shane Stewart after Friday’s results. The second-generation driver is slowing but surely catching up with him famous father Brent, who has recorded four Cup titles.

Tim Kaeding. (Photo courtesy: Steve Hardin)

A main results: Tim Kaeding, Randy Hannagan, Kyle Larson, Shane Stewart, Paul McMahan, Craig Stidham, Stephen Allard, Brent Kaeding, Andy Forsberg, Mike Henry, Henry Van Dam, Roger Crockett, Bud Kaeding, Wayne Johnson, Tommy Tarlton, Mark Dobmeier, Tyler Walker, Mason Moore, Sean Becker, Brad Furr, Kyle Hirst, Jonathan Allard, Peter Murphy, Cory Eliason

Final Points standings….Tim Kaeding, Shane Stewart, Paul McMahan, Andy Forsberg, Kyle Larson, Brent Kaeding, Randy Hannagan, Bud Kaeding, Stephen Allard, Craig Stidham, Tommy Tarlton, Tyler Walker, Mike Henry, Wayne Johnson, Henry Van Dam, Bobby McMahan, Brad Furr, Jonathan Allard, Mark Dobmeier, Cory Eliason, Kyle Hirst, Mason Moore, Peter Murphy

Tulare, CA. – Auburn, CA. driver Andy Forsberg is running his last event ever for his long time car owner, and he made the most of a pole assignment to win the opening night main of the 16th Annual Trophy Cup. His prior main event Cup win was in 2000 at Watsonville.

A 68 car field of winged 360’s checked in and Tim Kaeding again set fast time, bettering last year’s top mark with a 13.502 to take the 150 points available in qualifying. The top 48 cars ran one of six heats, inverting six by time and moving the top 3 into the A main. The cars ranked 49 and higher ran one of a trio of non-qualifier heats.

After all heats, the non-qualifier cars ran a pair of D mains, moving the top 2 from each to a 12 lap C main that included the last two from each of the six heats. Randy Hannagan, Ronnie Day, Davey Pombo, Mike Reinke, Roger Crockett, and Zach Zimmerly took the top 6 C main spots to move into the B main.
A talent laden B main inverted 6 by points and moved the top six finishers to the night’s 30 lap headliner. Mike Henry led 16 of the 20 laps from the outside front row before sixth starting Tim Kaeding drove around him on the top of turn 4 for the win. Henry followed to the line with Kyle Hirst, Tommy Tarlton, Steven Tiner, and Craig Stidham claiming the transfers.

Andy Forsberg was the last man standing after day one of the Trophy Cup. (Photo courtesy: johnsracingphotos.com)

The A main inverted 12 by points and was run on a fast, heavy surface. Some drivers were still able to make forward progress, but no significant pressure was put on Forsberg in his flag to flag run. Bobby McMahan ran the entire race in 2nd and Hirst was 3rd in the early stages.
When Hirst bicycled in turn 2 on the 3rd lap, Henry grabbed 3rd but became a DNF after 17 laps to end his run. Henry’s mechanical issues put rim riding Cory Eliason into 3rd and he put intense pressure on B. McMahan for 2nd until the top 3 came upon a lapped car late in the race.
With only 3 yellows slowing the pace, one for Hirst’s broken axle while in the top 5, incoming point leader, Shane Stewart was still able to move forward and took 3rd from his 12th starting spot, using the top of turn 4 on lap 27 for his final pass Forsberg, B. McMahan, and Stewart filled the podium at race’s end with Tyler Walker and Tim Kaeding next in line.

Points after the opening night are:

1. Shane Stewart 278 2. Tim Kaeding 269 3. Tyler Walker 266 4. Andy Forsberg 265 5. Bobby McMahan 263 6. Bud Kaeding 263 7. Cory Eliason 257 8. Brad Furr 256 9. Tommy Tarlton 255 10. Jonathan Allard 247

Main Event finishes: D main 1–Jesse Hockett, Brett Miller, Chad Compton, Kurt Nelson, Jonathan Logan, Todd Miller, Andy Ferris, Rusty Carlisle, Steve Dyer, Koen Shaw

D main 2–Zack Zimmerly, Stan Yockey, Randy Pierce, Albert Pombo, Pat Harvey, Roberto Kirby, Jim Richardson, Jerry Wise, Jr., Steve Jaquith, Burt Foland

C main–Randy Hannagan, Ronnie Day, Davey Pombo, Mike Reinke, Roger Crockett, Steven Tiner, Miller, Anthony Simone, Brad Bumgarner, Yockey, Jason Statler, Chad Groves, Hockett, Cody Darrah, Matt Sargent

B main–Tim Kaeding, Mike Henry, Kyle Hirst, Tommy Tarlton, Tiner, Craig Stidham, Hannagan, Peter Murphy, Craig Smith, Bradley Terrell, Crockett, Brock Lemley, Mason Moore, Sean Becker, Geoff Ensign, D. Pombo, Shane Golobic, Matt Barber, Reinke, Zimmerly, Justyn Cox, Wes Gutierrez, Day, Kyle Harris

A main–Andy Forsberg, Bobby McMahan, Shane Stewart, Tyler Walker, T. Kaeding, Cory Eliason, Jonathan Allard, Bud Kaeding, Brad Furr, Brent Kaeding, Tarlton, Wayne Johnson, Kyle Larson, Henry Van Dam, Stephen Allard, Paul McMahan, Mark Dobmeier, Andy Gregg, Steven Tiner, Cameron Mendes, Henry, Hirst, Greg DeCaires, Craig Stidham

By Dan Fleisher
VSP Racing Columnist

In 1994 Dave Pusateri, the owner of Trophy City in San Jose, CA, came up with the idea of an event that featured a main that was fully inverted, putting the fastest cars at the rear for a passing filled race. The event became known as the Trophy Cup and its remarkable history continues this year with the 16th annual event.

It is a winged 360 sprint show that draws attention to the West Coast from across the country. Much of the attention comes from the final night main that puts the highest point cars at the rear of the 24 car field. From qualifying on opening night to heat races and mains, drivers earn points and the highest total after the racing ends wins the Trophy Cup. There has always been two parts to the purse money, about half is paid in the usual racing method and the other half is used to pay the top 24 cars in the point tally.

The Trophy Cup has always been a cooperative effort among businesses, the host track, fans, and all the volunteers that shape the Trophy Cup organization. The event has earned the Short Track Race of the Year from National Speed Sport News, an award befitting the level of competition that fans have enjoyed each year.

L-R: Bud Kaeding, Tim Kaeding, Jonathan Allard. (Photo courtesy: mmracingphotos.com)

San Jose Speedway was the host track until its closing, after the 1994 and the inaugural victory went to Ronnie Day. A one-day format in its early years, two mains were raced and Day won the first one and started next to last as a result in the finale. His 7th place finish in the 2nd main was enough to garner the top point total for the night and the championship. The first three years the show featured winged 410 sprints.

Kevin Pylant won in 1995 after running 4th in each main while the following year Brent Kaeding won his first of four titles in what was the last year as a 410 event and also the last year as a one-day Cup. Concerns over car count prompted the change to the 360 engine and the move to a two-day format allowed teams to not have to race two mains in one night.

In 1997, drivers from nine states produced the largest field in Cup history and Mark Kinser took the treasure back to Oolitic, IN. Kinser, making his only appearance in the event, was 6th quick, won his heat and the opening night main. He backed up that performance with a 2nd in the closing night’s heat and finished 2nd in the main, coming from 24th.

Brent Kaeding won his 2nd title in 1998 despite being only 11th in points after the first night. His 2nd place finish in the final night’s main continued a trend and, after 15 years, the Cup champion has yet to win the final night’s main event. The following year was the last for San Jose Speedway as the track closed due to political maneuvering in the county. Brent Kaeding was champion again, finishing a popular second in the main (fully inverted) after starting 18th. Terry McCarl won the Saturday main, the last race ever on San Jose’s third-mile clay.

Watsonville Speedway hosted the Cup in 2000 and Tommy Tarlton was the champion, again seeing a Cup title going to the 2nd place finisher in the final main. Tarlton started 16th as he was only 9th in points as the final 30 laps unfolded. The following year the Cup was held at Kings Speedway in Hanford where Craig Stidham won the championship, coming from 21st to 2nd in the final main. In 2002 it was Tim Kaeding taking his first Cup title, winning the Friday main and finishing 2nd in the Saturday main, coming from 23rd. It was the 6th consecutive year that the champion finished 2nd in the final main, having to come from the back rows each year to claim the title.

Brent Kaeding. (Photo courtesy: Paul Trevino)

The 2003 version was the closest in Cup history and it was a last lap, last turn pass that made Steve Kent the champion by the slimmest of margins. Ricci Faria passed Tim Kaeding in the last turn, lessening Kaeding’s point total by five and allowing Kent to win the point battle by two points. Ronnie Day also came so close to winning, needing to pass only one more car for the title.

The 2004 Cup was the last at Kings as the track closed in August the following year, at least temporarily. Ronnie Day was again so close to a title, winning the Saturday main from 18th, but coming up five points short of Jac Haudenschild’s total. The Ohio driver known as the “Wild Child,” passed 34 cars over the two day span to earn the honor.

Tulare Thunderbowl, about a 30 minute drive from Kings Speedway, took over the 2005 version on short notice after Kings’ shutting the doors. An unusual Saturday main developed when Brent Kaeding and Mike Faria were far ahead enough in points before the 40 laps started that whoever finished in front of the other would win the title. BK went from 24th to 4th, passing five drivers in one six-lap stretch to edge Faria for his 4th title. His son, Tim, won the main on Saturday.

The 2006 show saw Tim Kaeding win his 2nd title to total six Cup wins for the well- known racing family. TK started 19th and finished the seemingly magical 2nd in the Saturday main to capture the Cup. Then in 2007 it was Jason Meyers from nearby Clovis, who won the title, finishing 3rd from 20th on Saturday to establish the 2nd largest margin of victory in the 14 years.

Last year the first ever three day event drew 59 teams to Tulare and most who have seen every Cup version agree it was the most exciting ever. Superb track conditions led to equally fantastic racing, especially for Brad Sweet, who finished 3rd in the final night’s main event after starting 24th. Sweet collected $11,000 after edging Sammy Swindell by six points.

Cup Champion can earn upwards of $15,000 if he’s successful in capturing Friday and Saturday’s “A” mains, earning $2,500 and $3,000 respectively, along with $8,000 for the Championship. This huge payday comes from the nearly $80,000 purse. Not bad for a weekend’s worth of work.

The payout is equally divided between racing finishing positions, and a separate point’s kitty. But perhaps the biggest reason for the success of the event is the payout to those further down the line. For instance, the 24th place team can expect to make over $1,000 themselves.

The planned three day show for this year was changed back to two days due to economic factors. To control the car count, only 65 cars were allowed to enter and a flurry of entrants on the last postmark date allowed, built the field to 72. Keeping the car count to a manageable level was necessary as the fairgrounds have a state imposed curfew.

The Trophy Cup organization has supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation every year and every penny of entry fees is given to the cause. Additionally, activities such as a golf tournament, auction, and other items add to the huge amount that has been donated to the very worthy cause. Over $500,000 has been raised for the Foundation by the Trophy Cup. The entire event is possible only through many volunteers supporting the Cup as well as the outstanding support from the host track, Thunderbowl Raceway.

Several former Cup winners head the field of talented drivers including Day, Tarlton, Stidham, Tim Kaeding and his father Brent Kaeding. They, along with a host of other daring, well-known winged Sprint Car pilots will vie for their share of the “Big Bucks” and bragging rights: they include Danny Faria Jr., Peter Murphy, Davey Pombo, Bud Kaeding, exciting Tyler Walker and Jonathan Allard.

POINT DISTRIBUTION:
FRIDAY NIGHT:
Qualifying: 150 points for fast time, minus 1 point for every position thereafter

Qualifier heats: 36 points for 1st place, minus 3 points for every position thereafter

Non-qualifiers: 16 points for 1st place, minus 2 per position thereafter

“D” Main 1: Top 2 finishers transfer to Friday “C” main, no points
“D” Main 2: Top 2 finishers transfer to Friday “C” main, no points
“C” Main: Top 6 finishers transfer to Friday “B” Main, no points
“B” Main: Top 6 finishers awarded no points, but transfer to Friday “A” Main. 50 points for 7th place and minus 2 points per position thereafter.
“A” Main: 100 points for 1st place minus 2 points per position thereafter

SATURDAY NIGHT:
Heats 1 thru 6: 36 points for 1st place, minus 3 points for every position thereafter

TRANSFERS: 1st thru 20th in points trans to “A” Main, 21st thru 40th to “B” main, 41st thru 48th plus 4 transfer to each “D” main.

“D” Main 1 & 2: Top 4 from each transfer to “C” main, No points
“C” Main: Top 4 transfer to “B” main. No points
“B” Main Top 4 transfer to “A” main, No points

ENTRY LIST

#0 Jonathan Allard
#00 Cory Eliason
#00 Jason Statler
#1X Brett Miller
#1X Randy Hannagan
#2SB Sean Becker
#3 Craig Stidham
#3P Davey Pombo
#3X – TBA
#4 Burt Foland Jr
#4 Stephen Allard
#4 Ricky Eberhardt
#4J Andy Ferris
#4S Koen Shaw
#5 Geoff Ensign
#5H Justyn Cox
#6 Kyle Hirst
#7 Myles Bishop
#7 Stan Yockey
#7 Wes Gutierrez
#7B Brent Bjork
#8 Jim Richardson
#9A Steve Dyer
#9S Colby Solomon
#10 Anthony Simone
#10X Roberto Kirby
#11 Roger Crockett
#13 Peter Murphy
#14 Tyler Spath
#14 Matt Sargent
#15 Pat Harvey Jr
#15 Eric Hamphries
#17V Danny Faria Jr.
#18 Mark Dobmeier
#20 Ronnie Day
#21 Tommy Tarlton
#24 Tyler Walker
#25C Chad Groves
#25K Scott Kenny
#29 Bud Kaeding
#29 Cody Darran
#29X Cameron Mendez
#32 Jonathan Logan
#35 Ricky Wright
#35 – TBA
#35A – TBA
#35B – TBA
#39 Greg DeCaires
#39 Craig Smith
#40 Brock Lemley
#43 Bradley Terrell
#53 Andy Gregg
#57 Shane Stewart
#58 Matt Barber
#67 Shain Matthews
#68 Eric Rossi
#69 Brent Kaeding
#69C Chad Campton
#71G Garrett Ishii
#72W Kurt Nelson
#82J Steve Jaquith
#83 Tim Kaeding
#83 – TBA
#83JR – TBA
#83M Mike Stallings
#83V Kyle Larson
#88 Brad Bumgarner
#92 Andy Forsberg
#94 Zach Zimmerly
#94 Steven Tiner
#121 Shane Golobic
#X1 Mason Moore

Ticket prices for the Trophy Cup:

Friday- Reserved Grandstand $30 Adults, $15 for kids.
General admission – Adults $25, kids $13

Saturday – Reserved Grandstand $35 Adults, $18 for kids.
General admission – Adults $30, kids $15

Pit passes – $45 on Friday & Saturday Parking – FREE

There will be a Fiesta night for Friday and Spaghetti Feed for Saturday with a $5.00 Donation If you purchase a 2 day pass or pit pass – Eat for FREE

Visit www.tularethunderbowl.com to view the seating chart, then call 559-688-0909 for reservations. Credit cards are accepted for phone reservations. Tickets will also be sold (cash only) at trackside. Thunderbowl Raceway is located in the heart of Tulare at Bardsley and “K” Streets.

This writer can be reached at: danfleisher1@yahoo.com
(Portions of the above article were supplied by Trophy Cup owner Dave Pusateri)

By Dan Harp
Kings Speedway:

The Western All-Stars Late Models return to Kings Speedway for the final points race of the year. Additionally, the West Coast Sprinters wrap up their season with a double points night. Points winners in both divisions will be crowned on Halloween (Saturday, October 31st).

This year will mark a change in the annual fall event. Kings Speedway, in an effort to combat rising costs, unemployment, and a desire to allow more teams to compete and provide a bigger bang for your entertainment buck, will present a one day event. Additionally, Kings is continuing the $10 dollar admission deal.

To allow the younger set plenty of time for a night of Trick or Treating, gates will open at 1pm. Youngsters will get to Trick or Treat the drivers on the front straight before they fan out over the city for their annual sugar high.

Divisions filling out the race card for the day will be the Western Allstars Late Models, West Coast Sprinters, Open Comp Modifieds, and IMCA Stocks.

For those drivers and crews who arrive on Friday afternoon and night, camping will be free, and pit crew contest and Hamburger BBQ will be held to add some food and good times to the event.

Saturday morning, sign-ins will start at 10 am, Gates open at 1pm and Drivers meeting at 1 pm.

With the championships up for grabs in two divisions, large car counts are expected in both Western Allstars and West Coast Sprinters.

Do you remember racing decals?

This article is totally offbeat compared to the regular ones appearing on VSP.com but I recently came across a slew of racing decals that brought back memories galore. Thought you’d like to see them.

When you were a kid, did you collect Baseball, Football and Basketball cards? Almost all boys did including me (no offense girls). As a matter of fact, some adults still partake because in recent years, selling and trading cards has become BIG BUSINESS.

But what about racing related decals? Have you ever collected or saved them? I’m not referring to current decals appearing on the back window of your pickup truck or mini-van, like the NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt popular #3 or Jeff Gordon #24 multicolored ones.

I’m referring to decals that pictured RACING CARS: Midgets, Big Cars, Track Roadsters, Indy Cars, Dragsters and even Land Speed racers. Most of these were used as advertising materials by affiliated sponsors or businesses.

Back in 1947, my Dad placed the following decal on the front windshield of the family’s 4-door Plymouth. It was really neat but after selling the car in 1950, I never saw the same decal until two weeks ago, some 59 years later. I went bonkers seeing it on e-bay and promptly gobbled it up for a whopping (sic) $4.99. It was more than a bargain folks, it was a gift. WOW, what a find!

Side Note: Rose Tire Company not only supplied tires for Midget racecars, they also had a small Tow Vehicle used to help start Midgets in those days. There were no “push” trucks, only pickup’s with a man sitting in the “bed” holding a quick release rope that was tied to the front axel of the racecar. After pulling the racer up to speed, the driver hit the magneto switch starting the unique sounding Offy or Elto engines (a Marine engine), then hand-signaled the man in the truck-bed to disengage the rope using the specially designed release. Primitive yet effective! I still don’t know (technically) how it worked.

During that era, I constantly looked at other passenger cars hoping to see racing decals. If I saw one, I knew we had something in common; the guy had to be a race fan right? Also, when attending races at Gilmore Stadium and other tracks in Los Angeles, I went through the parking lot looking to see who had what on their window and if I saw a decal I didn’t have, I asked Dad to get it for me. They were free for the asking if you found the sponsoring company because they loved the free advertising.

In later years, like most of us, I cleaned out the closets and garages, throwing out what I thought was “junk,” never realizing they might be “treasures” or worth some greenbacks 30, 40 or 50 years down the road. Too bad I didn’t have foresight. If nothing else, the junk would have served as memories for the next generations. I’ve often kicked myself in the rear but thank goodness for the internet and the ability to find almost anything from the past.

Take a look at some of the NEAT decals from bygone years, including the Bakersfield Drags image I’ve included for you “Valleyites.” They don’t make ‘um like they used to.



If you have a collection and would like to swap stories, or decals, feel free to contact me: danfleisher1@yahoo.com

By Andrew Marden
VSP Senior Writer:

REEDLEY, Calif – He’s 59 years old and has been retired since 1994.

But he’s still Mario Andretti.

And that’s why people in Reedley were wrapped around I Street Thursday, waiting to get his autograph.

Hall of Famer Mario Andretti is still in the fast lane as an ambassador to racing.

“That’s my son, 25 years ago, getting Mario’s autograph,” smiled one woman in line, pointing to a picture she was carrying.

She also proudly showed off a bronze belt buckle, featuring a much-younger Andretti and the words, ‘1978 World Champion.’

“I’m just enjoying today tremendously,” said Andretti, a four-time Indy Car national champion and arguably the greatest race car driver of all time. “It’s a wonderful thing, because fans have always been a very important part of my career.”

Andretti’s career spanned decades, landed him in five separate halls of fame and the Associated Press title, “Driver of the Century.”

“I definitely miss it,” he said. “It was a hell of a ride.”

Andretti at Hanford Motor Speedway in 1967. (Photo courtesy: John Wilson Photography)

Though he is undeniably retired, (”Get back in the car? I don’t think so,” smiled Andretti), he still makes public appearances; hence the reason for the Thursday visit to Reedley.

“I’m here on behalf of Firestone and we’re celebrating Lee’s Performance Tire…60 years in the business,” said Andretti. “(It’s) been extremely hospitable here so I’m having a ball.”

By Dan Harp
Kings Speedway:

Mention “Cotton Classic” and many memories are dredged from the aging gray matter. I remember the first one. Brent Kaeding, Steve Kent, Less Martella, and Wally Pankrantz are just a few that come to mind. Like today, in the early days, Cotton was King. Promoter Frank Dias is honoring and recognizing the place that valuable commodity has in all our lives, by keeping alive that long time tradition at Kings Speedway, the “Cotton Classic.” The popular race will be held October 3rd.

This year, as we all know, is a down year. Promoting races and fielding a race team is increasingly expensive and difficult. Everyone suffers, from the family coming out to the races and parting with their hard earned money, to the weekend warrior who tapes his car together for a chance to bring home the checkered flag. Keeping in mind dwindling sponsor dollars and the declining number of 410 race car teams willing to make the trip to Kings Speedway, the 2009 Cotton Classic will feature the 360 non-winged West Coast Sprinters.

Chasing the current point’s leader Justyne Hamblin, will be locals Jared Little, Rusty Carlile, T.J. Smith, Jace & Richard VanderWeerd and Craig Stidham. Joining the locals, are Bud Kaeding, Wally Pankrantz, and Kory Kruseman & Company.

In addition, the always competitive BCRA and USAC Midgets will join together to compete at Kings Speedway. Point’s leader, David Pricketts, will be joined by Shannon McQueen, and the Sala Team will provide the ride for fan favorite Robby Flock.

The very popular Dwarf cars will return to Kings as well as the Mini Dwarfs. In May of this year, the Dwarf Nationals filled two nights of racing at Kings. Dwarf enthusiasts have been clamping at the bit to return to the new clay 1/5 mile track.

In keeping with tradition, the ever popular Cotton/Money trailer will provide a great opportunity for the youngsters in attendance to gather up some real greenbacks. The younger set, by age groups, will be invited to dive into the cotton and come up with cash.

Promoter Frank Dias has been out in the community getting commitments from sponsors, both old and new, to kick in lots of Freebies for this great tradition. Tower Dave will be jumping, giving away all the goodies. Remember, vocal wins, even if you aren’t a turn four rowdy.

Instead of saving the best until last, the icing on the cake will actually be before the races begin. A meet and greet will occur from 3:00 until 4:30 whereas the race cars, drivers, and crews will be gathered around the flag stand so the fans can get up close and personal. Bring you camera, your driver t-shirts, take lots of pictures and get that shirt autographed. This is great opportunity to see, smell, and feel, what a race car is like up close. Don’t miss it.

With the West Coast Sprinters Kings Crown up for grabs, the final WCS Race of the season on October 31 will be a double points race. Double points will guarantee a wild night of racing. By doubling the points, who knows who might vault into the lead. Current leaders, Rusty Carlile (1), Justyne Hamblin (2), Jared Little, (3) Richard VanderWeerd (4), and Jace VanderWeerd (5), will let it all out to capture the points lead and bragging rights for another year.

TICKET PRICES:

All races will be $10.00
Senior and active military will get $2.00 off
High school student with Valid High school ID will get in front gate for $5.00
Kids 12 and under free all races

By Tony Veneziano
World of Outlaws PR Director:

Jason Meyers saved his best for last on Wednesday night at Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer, Iowa as he charged around Joey Saldana on the high side of turn two on the final lap to pick up a thrilling win in the third annual Arnold Motor Supply Shootout.

For Meyers it was his first career win at the 3/8-mile located at the historic fairgrounds and his eighth A-Feature victory of the season. He traded the lead with Saldana four times en route to the $10,000 triumph before a packed grandstand, including on three occasions over the final five laps.

Clovis native Jason Meyers is back in the winners circle.

“That’s a race right there,” said Meyers in Victory Lane. “Joey (Saldana) has been fast all season and we are tight in this points deal so you have to go for it. You have to go hard or go home. Joey didn’t get a good run off (turn) four and kind of went to the middle and I just gave it all I had up top and it about turned over and it got tight up there on the cushion and we jumped it. I don’t know how it came back down on all fours.”

Meyers led early in the race before Saldana took a commanding lead in the middle portion of the 30-lapper. Meyers retook the top spot on the 26th lap on the back straighthaway. With just two laps to go, Saldana charged off the top of turn four to take back the point. Meyers used a strong run exiting the second turn on the white flag lap to get around Saldana on the high side of the track, with the pair nearly making contact and both having to get on their brakes. Meyers charged down the back strightaway and held off Saldana to earn the 34th A-Feature win of his World of Outlaws career aboard the GLR Investments KPC.

“I can’t say enough about this team and all the people involved in this and makes this car go around,” said Meyers, who hails from Clovis, California. “They give me a great race car each night.”

Meyers started on the outside of the front and took the lead from Tony Bruce Jr. who started on the pole, in turn two of the opening circuit. By the second lap, Meyers had opened about an eight car length lead over Saldana who moved from fourth to second on the opening lap.

Meyers encountered lapped traffic for the first time on the sixth lap, allowing Saldana to close right in on him. On the eighth lap, Saldana looked high off turn two and nearly took the lead, then dove low in turn four and moved into the top spot, as the pair split a lapped car. Saldana opened up a sizeable lead at this point as Meyers was held up in traffic when the first caution of the night flew on the 14th lap.

Another caution on the next lap kept the leaders in open track at the halfway point of the 30-lap contest. With 10 laps to go they were in traffic again, allowing Meyers to close back in. Over the last five laps they traded the lead three times.

“With a guy like Joey (Saldana) or Donny (Schatz) you can’t be patient,” noted Meyers after the race. “You have to go and get to them and get to them as fast as you can. I gave it all I had the whole race and I just needed traffic to slow him up a little bit. I knew I had to be there when we got to traffic too. It was a great race track here tonight. It had a top groove and a bottom groove. Good race tracks make good races. They did a heck of a job here tonight.”

Meyers gained 12 points on Donny Schatz in the series championship standings after the latter finished sixth, and the gap between the two is now just 17 markers with 10 point paying events remaining on the schedule, as Meyers chases his first series title.

“We’ve had a good car for the last two or three months and have had some breaks come our way as well, which we hadn’t been getting,” shared Meyers. “We’ve had some good pill draws and things like that here lately. You can’t lie about that, that helps. The breaks are coming our way and we are capitalizing on them and that’s what it takes to win championships and we’re getting closer.”

Saldana led a race-high 22 laps as he made a bid for his 18th A-Feature win of the season, coming up just three-tenths of a second short at the line in the Budweiser Maxim. He gained 11 points in the standings and remains third, 54 markers out of the lead as he too chases his first title.

“It was a great race, I just lost,” said Saldana. “He (Meyers) did a great job. I had a great car and I totally gave it away and came home with a second. We’ll go on to the next race and hopefully can do better.”

The World of Outlaws return to action on Saturday, September 19 at Deer Creek Speedway in Minnesota for an event postponed by rain last month.

CLAY COUNTY FAIR SPEEDWAY NOTES

• FAST QUALIFIER: Kerry Madsen paced the 33 cars that took time with a record setting AMB i.t. timed lap around the semi-banked 3/8-mile oval at 13.345 seconds at 101.161 mph. For his qualifying effort, Madsen earned five bonus points. The next four fastest qualifiers also earned bonus points, including: Bronson Maeschen (4), Joey Saldana (3), Terry McCarl (2), and Danny Lasoski (1).

• QUALIFYING WINNERS: Donny Schatz, Jason Meyers, Tony Bruce Jr. and Tim Kaeding won heat races. Tony Bruce Jr. won the Crane Cams Dash. Sam Hafertepe Jr. won the B-Main.

• FEATURE WINNERS: There has been 57 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series A-Feature event held in 2009. The winners include: Joey Saldana (Volusia Speedway Park, Silver Dollar Speedway-twice, Thunderbowl Raceway, Lone Star Speedway, Houston Raceway Park, The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Virginia Motor Speedway, Lawrenceburg Speedway, Dodge City Raceway Park-twice, U.S. 36 Raceway, 34 Raceway, I-55 Raceway, Castrol Raceway-twice and Skagit Speedway), Donny Schatz (Volusia Speedway Park-twice, The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Knoxville Raceway, Eldora Speedway, Canandaigua Speedway, Lawrenceburg Speedway, River Cities Speedway, Cedar Lake Speedway, Eldora Speedway, K-C Raceway and Dacotah Speedway), Jason Meyers (Silver Dollar Speedway, Paducah International Raceway, I-96 Speedway, Red River Valley Speedway, Ohsweken Speedway, Skagit Speedway, Cottage Grove Speedway and Clay County Fair Speedway), Danny Lasoski (Delaware International Speedway, Nodak Speedway, Eagle Raceway, Charter Raceway Park and Lernerville Speedway), Craig Dollansky (Lebanon Valley Speedway, I-55 Raceway and River Cities Speedway), Greg Hodnett (Williams Grove Speedway-twice), Steve Kinser (Tri-State Speedway and Limaland Motorsports Park), Terry McCarl (Knoxville Raceway and Eldora Speedway), Dale Blaney (Attica Raceway Park), Randy Hannagan (Thunderbowl Raceway), Tim Kaeding (Riverside International Speedway),Chad Kemenah (Manzanita Speedway), Jason Sides (Ohsweken Speedway) and Stevie Smith (Lernerville Speedway).

• PRELIMINARY FEATURE WINNERS: There has been two World of Outlaws preliminary features this season. The winners include: Jason Meyers (Silver Dollar Speedway) and Joey Saldana (Silver Dollar Speedway).

• 3/8-MILE WINNERS: Clay County Fair Speedway is a semi-banked 3/8-mile oval. The World of Outlaws have raced 16 times on a track that size this season. The winners include: Joey Saldana (Lawrenceburg Speedway, Dodge City Raceway Park-twice, U.S. 36 Raceway, 34 Raceway and Castrol Raceway-twice), Donny Schatz (Lawrenceburg Speedway, Cedar Lake Speedway, K-C Raceway and Dacotah Speedway), Jason Meyers (Paducah International Raceway, Ohsweken Speedway and Clay County Fair Speedway), Danny Lasoski (Nodak Speedway) and Jason Sides (Ohsweken Speedway).

World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Statistical Report; Clay County Fair Speedway; Spencer, IA; September 16, 2009

Qualifying
1) 55-Kerry Madsen 13.345
2) 96-Bronson Maeschen 13.509
3) 9-Joey Saldana 13.518
4) 24-Terry McCarl 13.551
5) 6-Danny Lasoski 13.581
6) 20-Kraig Kinser 13.590
7) 5W-Lucas Wolfe 13.608
7S-Jason Sides 13.619
9) 15-Donny Schatz 13.637
10) 14-Jason Meyers 13.651
11) 23W-Scott Winters 13.701
12) 13-Mark Dobmeier 13.703
13) 63-Chad Kemenah 13.726
14) R19-Jac Haudenschild 13.776
15) 18-Tony Bruce Jr. 13.783
16) 83-Tim Kaeding 13.791
17) 19W-Bob Weuve 13.826
18) 19-Craig Dollansky 13.845
19) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr. 13.849
20) 21-Brian Brown 13.870
21) 14AJ-Wayne Johnson 13.881
22) 11-Steve Kinser 13.888
23) 2W-Johnny Herrera 13.904
24) 13V-Seth Brahmer 14.007
25) 7TAZ-Tasker Phillips 14.087
26) 10X-Rager Phillips 14.097
27) 7K-Kaley Gharst 14.139
28) 12-Lynton Jeffrey 14.162
29) 4W-Matt Wasmund 14.179
30) 7-Sid Blandford 14.435
31) 12L-John Lambertz 14.531
32) 1A-Robby Wolfgang 14.576
33) 32-Greg Valentine 15.218

By Dan Fleisher
VS Racing Columnist:

Marchbanks Speedway Revisited

Within my April 25th column, I mentioned Marchbanks Speedway, aka, Hanford Motor Speedway, as a vanishing facility. A portion of that story follows:

“Marchbanks Speedway, located a few miles east of Hanford, close to Hwy. 198, was built by local farmer B. L. Marchbanks. It began as a half-mile dirt track but later paved as a 1.4-mile high-banked track. At one time it was owned and operated by Kal Simon but J.C. Agajanian leased the track and promoted USAC events, including three Indy Car and a couple of Stock Car shows. The last event was in spring 1969 when legendary Mario Andretti sped to victory in his rear-engine Indy Car. It’s reported that Firestone conducted some tire tests in early 1970 with Gary Bettenhausen behind the wheel and was then placed back on the 1971 schedule. However, USAC deemed the facility inadequate without upgrading but no one wanted to provide the financing. That was pretty much it although there were sporadic reports of reopening including Warren Fry’s announcement of major plans in the mid-70s but nothing happened. The track sat dormant until 1984 when it was bulldozed and reverted to being a cotton field.”

Mario Andretti at Marchbanks Speedway in Hanford, 1967

Let’s relive the short two years when the big boys came to the Central Valley.

Thanks to the graciousness of Fresno resident Scott Fitzpatrick, I recently obtained the November 3, 1968 Souvenir Program, the second of the three Indy Car events held at the track.

The first-class program contains twenty 11 x 17 pages of action photos, stories, a speed chart and of course, the list of entrants. Check out these names: A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Gordon Johncock, Al Unser, Johnny Rutherford, Roger McCluskey, Gary Bettenhausen, Mel Kenyon, Art Pollard, Lloyd Ruby, Jim McElrath, Wally Dallenback, Joe Leonard, Mike Mosley and local Valley hero, Billy Vukovich, who was “Rookie of the Year” at Indy that year. They were the “who’s-who” of the generation.

I realize many of you won’t recall all the names but the “old-timers” surely will. Any young’ns following racing should at least remember the all-time standout names like A.J., Mario, Rutherford and the Unser clan; who wouldn’t?

In talking with Scott, it turns out he was an avid racing fan and a frequent visitor to Kearney Bowl as a 14-year-old. When provided the chance to see the Indy crop run at March- banks, he thought he was in seventh-heaven. Upon arriving at the track, he purchased the program, took out his trusty pencil and promptly recorded the qualifying times and finishing order for prosperity. He didn’t realize the significance of jotting down the information at the time.

The one-lap track record was set by Bobby Unser on March 17, 1968 (second event held) at 34.68 seconds, a speed of 155.709 m.p.h. WOW! A lot faster than Scott saw at tiny Kearney Bowl. Johncock established the race record on October 22, 1967 (the first event) at 1 hour, 34 minutes, an average of 127.523 m.p.h.

On this particular sunny Sunday, former AMA Motorcycle champion Joe Leonard, driving the wedge shaped Parnelli Jones-STP Turbine powered car captured the pole position. His “SWISH MOBIL” (that’s all you could hear when the turbine engine car passed by) ran a lap at 33.11 seconds or 163.141 m.p.h., obliterating the previous standard. Leonard was joined by Andretti on the front-row, the green flag dropped and the race was on.

After 250 grueling miles of action-packed racing which included pit stops, “Super Tex,” as Foyt was called, took top honors over Bobby Unser, Andretti, and Leonard, with Jim McElreath rounding out the top-five. The event was a treat for all racing fans and brought credibility to the small farming town of Hanford.

The treasured program also listed informative stats, including the winners of the then current season along with the up-to-date Championship point standings:

EVENT WINNERS:
March 17 Hanford Gordon Johncock Oval
March 31 Las Vegas Bobby Unser Oval
April 7 Phoenix Bobby Unser Oval
April 21 Trenton Bobby Unser Oval
May 30 Indianapolis 500 Bobby Unser Oval
June 9 Milwaukee Lloyd Ruby Oval
June 15 Mosport, Canada Dan Gurney Road Race
June 23 Langhorne Gordon Johncock Oval
June 30 Pikes Peak Bobby Unser Hill Climb
July 7 Castle Rock A.J. Foyt Oval
July 13 Nazareth Al Unser Oval
July 21 Indianapolis Raceway Park Al Unser Road Race
July 28 Langhorne Al Unser Oval
Aug. 4 St. Jovite, Canada Mario Andretti Road Race
Aug. 17 Springfield Roger McCluskey Dirt Aug. 18 Milwaukee Lloyd Ruby Oval
Sept. 2 DuQuoin Mario Andretti Dirt
Sept. 7 Indianapolis Raceway Park A.J. Foyt Road Race
Sept. 22 Trenton Mario Andretti Oval
Sept. 29 Sacramento A.J. Foyt Dirt
Oct. 13 Irish Hills (Michigan Int’l) Ronnie Bucknum Oval

POINTS STANDINGS:
1. Andretti 3538
2. B. Unser 3406
3. A. Unser 2571
4. Ruby 2223
5. Vukovich 1790
6. Foyt 1360
7. Kenyon 1355
8. Malloy 1215
9. Gurney 1200
10. Bettenhausen 1195

Interesting to note the Unser bros captured eight of the 21 events while Foyt and Andretti garnering six more between them. Fourteen wins in 21 events equates to a staggering 66.7 winning percentage among four of the GREATEST drivers of all time.

Further proof as to their eventual greatness, the four recorded an incredible 12 Indianapolis 500 victories: Foyt 1961-’64-’67-’77, Al Unser 1970-’71-’78-’87, Bobby Unser 1968-’75-’81 and Andretti 1969. Add the names of Johncock 1973-’82 and Rutherford 1974-’76- ’80, the total jumps to a whopping 17 “500” winners competing in little ‘ole Hanford in one event. The fans attending had no idea of what they were witnessing or what was yet to come. It was the “Crem de la Crem.”
While perusing the program further, it was interesting to see that sales manager Chris Agajanian solicited and obtained a handful of local sponsors that are still familiar names some 41 years later, like the Fahrney Automotive group in Selma, the Lamp Liter Inn in Visalia, and the best pizza west of Chicago, Me ’n Ed’s, to name but a few. I’ll bet they got their monies worth.

Being age 72, and covering that golden era of racing as a movie cameraman, viewing this program and reliving the past makes me feel young again and brings “goose bumps” to my skin. I have Scott Fitzpatrick to thank for that.

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

Tulare driver on the verge?

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (formerly Craftsman) competition is rugged, intense, keen, and demanding, so my question is, “How does a young upstart from the farming town of Tulare buck the likes of Ron Hornaday, who has won only (sic) 44 main events and amazed earnings of $4,965,076, and Mike Skinner who has 26 wins and earned a meager $3,707,192? The answer is he doesn’t yet, except in one area, MONEY. The ‘he’ is Matt Crafton.

Money wise, Crafton has earned a hefty $2,818,141 in nine short years but can’t match the winning ways of the two veterans. He still has however, 17 years left before reaching the half-century old mark like the two wily veterans.

Young Matt is 33 years old, being born June 11th 1976, so he’s obviously not in the teeny-bopper range like Joey Lagano, but he doesn’t have gray whiskers like old man Hornaday and Skinner. Hornaday the Palmdale, CA resident, just celebrated his 51st birthday in June, while Skinner celebrated his 52nd birthday, also in June. Coincidently, Skinner is also a California hot-shoe residing in Ontario, after being born and raised in Susanville. Hey, what’s up with the similarities of all three being born in California and all in the month of June?

Matt Crafton celebrating another victory. (Photo courtesy: RacinToday, David Vaughn)

As a youngster, Crafton raced under the tutelage of his father, Danny, also a driver, and it didn’t take him long to learn an important lesson, “We built our own cars, and we didn’t have much money or equipment,” he recalled. “So if we tore up our cars, we couldn’t race again until we rebuilt them.”
After winning the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series championship in 2000, he immediately joined the Truck series and garnered a top-10 finish and a check for $11,325 in his initial and only start. Not a bad payday considering the quote in the above paragraph.

He joined ThorSportRacing the following year (2001) and has now taken the green flag 209 times for owner Bud Haefele. In each of the last two seasons, he’s earned top-ten finishes in the championship standings and is determined to repeat or better the position this year. He currently sits third (1,922), having recorded five top-five finishes, along with 10 top-ten finishes, behind only, you guessed it, Hornaday (2,098) and Skinner (1,924).

Crafton was second in the standings until Skinner leapfrogged over him last Saturday at O’Reilly Raceway Park with an impressive second-place finish to Hornaday. Meanwhile Crafton settled for a disappointing 16th-place ending after starting a strong fifth on the grid. The good news, he sits 119 points ahead of fourth-place veteran Todd Bodine. The win was Hornaday’s fourth consecutive, the first time the feat has been accomplished in Truck series history.

Crafton has been close to victory on several occasions only to encounter bad luck or a “red-hot” driver like Hornaday, but he did reach the winners’ circle at North Carolina in May of 2008. Ever the competitor, Crafton wants to win races, of course, but says the key to success is consistency. “It’s about being there at the end of the race…being in the contention and leaving yourself a change to win each time out,” he said. “I’m focused on being consistent each week, and winning the war instead of the battle.” Overall, he’s recorded 27 top-five and 98 top-ten finishes in his career, or 60% of each event started. I’d say that’s consistent.

The next battle takes place this Saturday (August 1) at Nashville, a 1.333-mile oval. Can he buck the trend and reach the winners’ circle? Check your local sports listing Sunday.

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