NEWS
EAST ADDS "TURKEY NIGHT
G.P." TO IMPRESSIVE "04 LIST - By Ken Wagner - Irwindale, CA. 11/25/04
...USAC National Midget Champion Bobby East of Brownsburg, Indiana won the
64th Turkey Night Grand Prix USAC Midget 100 lap feature at Irwindale Speedway
in Irwindale, CA Thursday night. Bobby grabbed the lead from Tony Hunt on
lap 26 and then battled Arron Fike, who took the lead from him on lap 59,
the rest of the race. East took back the lead on lap 91 and pulled away
for his 16th win of the year, making him the winningest USAC driver in 2004.
with 16 total feature victories in various series. Driving the Steve Lewis,
ASE Ford, Beast, Pink Ford, Bobby said "I used lap traffic like a pick in
basketball after Aaron got by me. Then I moved up and found a line that
was better for me and got faster." Following the leader at the checkered
flag were Aaron Fike, Tracy Hines, Jason Leffler and Jerome Rodela. NASCAR
veteran J J Yeley finished eighth and 2000 "Turkey Night" champ Tony Stewart
was unable to secure a feature slot, encountering mechanical problems early
in his qualifying race. (More)
Lewis gobbles Irwindale
sprints, Hunt crowned champion - By Bobby Gerould - Irwindale, CA.
November 25, 2004. …Michael Lewis, of Noblesville, Indiana ran away
with the Thanksgiving night Casey Diemert Classic at Irwindale Speedway
Thursday. The season ending event on the half-mile paved track also settled
the season championship for the Valvoline United States Auto Club Western
States Sprint Cars. Tony Hunt of Fair Oaks, CA. was crowned as the 2004
champion. The title was the second Western Sprint Car championship for the
winningest driver in the history of the series. The fastest 14 from time-trials
were automatically locked into the 40-lap feature event. Six cars were inverted
by their qualifying times. The rest of the field was comprised of the top
eight finishers in the Qualifying Race. Kody Swanson and Josh Wise shared
the front row, flanked by Tony Stewart and Bobby East. Western Speed teammates
and top-two qualifiers Tony Hunt and Michael Lewis lined up in row three.
(More)
East goes southwest
for Tucson Sprint Sweep - by Bobby Gerould - Tucson, AZ. - November
20, 2004. …Bobby East of Brownsburg, Indiana ran away with the sprint
car portion of the Old Pueblo Classic Saturday night at Tucson Raceway Park.
The United States Auto Club Western States Sprint Car feature event win
was the 15th overall for East in 2004. "This is great!" exclaimed East in
the winner's circle. "My crew had this baby hooked up tonight. The Ford
motor was strong, and the Penske shocks worked perfectly." The 19 year-old's
winning mount was the Klatt Enterprises #5x Beast. (More)
Kaeding captures second
Western World at Manzanita - By Dick Jordan - PHOENIX, Ariz. (November
6, 2004) ...Bud Kaeding of Campbell, Calif. chased down Levi Jones with
four laps to go to win the 37th NAPA Auto Parts/Budweiser "Western World"
title for the second time in front of an overflow crowd at Manzanita Speedway
in Phoenix, Ariz. The 40 lap race had only one yellow flag as Kaeding used
a lap car to squeeze by Jones and beat him to the checkered flag in his
Loan City/High Five Pizza Maxim/Shaver. The excited Kaeding dedicated his
win to a friend who passed away this past week. He said the Western is what
it's all about. "I am so excited to win because Levi was faster than us,"
said Kaeding in victory lane. He let the crowd know he likes having his
name up there with the many famous winners before him. He finished in second
place in the USAC National points behind champion Jay Drake, who finished
eighth in Saturday night's feature. (more)
Kruseman
wins wild Oval Nationals with last lap pass - By Bobby Gerould -
Perris, CA. 10/30/04 ...Cory Kruseman took home $30,000 with a last-lap
pass of Josh Ford to win the 50-lap Perris Oval Nationals at Perris Auto
Speedway Saturday night. Driving the Tony Stewart owned #21, Kruseman drove
deep into turn one on lap 50 to pull even with the low-groove running Ford.
Kruseman won by less than a car-length at checkered flag. Levi Jones drove
from the rear of the starting grid to complete the podium finishers. Bud
Kaeding and Tony Elliott completed the top-five. Mike Kirby led the opening
38 laps but was involved in a fluky accident with Damion Gardner that eliminated
both from contention for a win. As Gardner slid past Kirby in turn four
on lap 39, Kirby charged back, lifting the front end of his Crossno #38.
The front nerf bar on the #38 came down on the rear nerf bar of Gardner's
car. The two were connected like toy trains and although they tried to shake
each other off to untangle themselves, they ended up spinning in turn one.
The lead fell to Bud Kaeding but his stay at the point was short-lived as
the sixth starting Kruseman, and fourth starting Ford raced to the front.
Ford was in the lead on lap 49 but Kruseman was the man pumping his fist
in victory on the cool down lap. C-Main winner Mike Spencer transferred
through the C-Main and B-Main to finish sixth! Charles Davis Jr. was running
in the top-four late in the race but ended up seventh. Rip Williams, the
USAC/CRA points leader finished eighth, followed by Steve Ostling, and Dave
Darland. Brent Kaeding won the B-Main and ran 14th in the feature. Kruseman
sliced heavily into Jay Drake's USAC National points lead; reducing the
margin to 72 points. Drake finished 15th in the Oval Nationals A-Main.
STRATTON
CHARGES TO BCRA/USAC MIDGET WIN AT HANFORD - By Floyd Busby, HANFORD,
CA., OCT. 9: Danny Stratton charged from twelfth to capture the 30-lap Bay
Cities Racing Association and Untied States Auto Club Western States co-sanctioned
Midget race in the Pacific Coast Open at the Kings Speedway in Hanford.
(more)
Hot
Kirby has something to say about USAC/CRA title chase
- By Ken Wagner - 09/25/04 - Phoenix, AZ. …For the third time on
four weeks, Mike Kirby won a Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car race. Kirby said
on Friday before the trip, "I am going to win Saturday night, guaranteed!"
After the win, he said "watch out for us at Perris in two weeks, I'll do
it again!" It was Kirby's sixth win this season with the club and 9th overall
in the Glenn and Carol Crossno TCR running with two other associations.
With 34 cars signed in, it was a fast paced night on a racy track. (More)
Paden takes advantage,
wins Ventura USAC Western States Midgets event - By Bobby Gerould,
09/25/04 - Ventura, CA. …Steven Paden capitalized on a tangle between
the first and second place running cars Saturday night to win the 30 lap
USAC Western States Midget feature event at Ventura Raceway. The 2003 series
champion assumed the lead on a lap 21 restart when Wally Pankratz and leader
Jerome Rodela crashed. It was Paden's fourth win on the 2004 season. (More)
DAMION
GARDNER PASSES PETER MURPHY LATE TO WIN SEVENTH.
- By Ken Wagner – Perris, CA. 09/18/04 …The 20th Valvoline
USAC/CRA event of the season featured Damion Gardner's last lap pass of
Aussie driver, Peter Murphy, as they went under the white flag exciting
the crowd. Peter led 28 laps before Damion made a very calculated pass for
his seventh win of the season. Gardner said "I knew I was faster than Murphy,
but he was running in the middle of the track, and I had to wait for "my
lane" to open up before I could go for it". (More)
Madera USAC / BCRA go to Lewis
– By Bobby Gerould, 09/18/04
– Madera, CA. …The United States Auto Club Western States Midgets and
Bay Cities Racing Association Midgets came together to co-sanction the 33rd
annualar Harvest Classic at chilly Madera Speedway Saturday evening. At
the end of 40 laps, Michael Lewis stood in the winner’s circle, having driven
brilliantly in the Western Speed Racing #40. "Our start was good and
then it went away", said the winner. "The car really changed at
the end of the race and I was super tight in turns three and four. Larry
(Trigueiro Jr.) was giving me hand signals and he was trying to tell me
(Thomas) Meseraull was coming on the bottom but I thought he was telling
me to get to the bottom. It worked out though, thanks to the great equipment
we have which is possible because of Red Line Oil, Wirtgen, Hoosier Tires,
and all of our sponsors." (More)
Kirby moves into second in USAC / CRA points
with big Perris victory - By Ken Wagner - 09/11/04 - Perris, CA…Mike
Kirby beat point leader, Rip Williams, for the second week in a row as he
won his fifth Valvoline USAC/CRA race of 18 events this season. Kirby led
all 30 laps at Perris Auto Speedway and afterwards in the winners circle
said about the Ripper "He raced me clean all night and if I don't win the
championship, I hope he does." Kirby now is in second place in the championship
race, less than 100 points behind Ripper. The top three in points all won
their heats this week and set the stage for another shootout in the main
event, but one of them didn't finish the main. (Read
it all)
USAC win in Starr Classic is second
of season for 'road racer' Tim Barber - By Bobby Gerould - Stockton,
CA. - September 4, 2004. …Tim Barber showed again at Stockton 99 Speedway
why he could be a force to be reckoned with on the pavement oval track scene.
The 'road racer' from San Francisco started Ken Pierson's Eagle #14 outside
of the second row and snatched the lead from Greg Anderson on lap three
before cruising to a late-night win Saturday. Barber was challenged by Tony
Hunt in the final set of turns but slammed the door on the former champion
and won his second United States Auto Club Western States Sprint Car feature
event. (More)
Sportsmanship
helps rookie Anderson to first USAC win - By Bobby Gerould - Boise,
Idaho. - August 28, 2004. …Greg Anderson didn't know if his family operated
team would be able to race Saturday at Meridian Speedway after a hard crash
Friday night heavily damaged his Eagle chassis #2 sprint car. However, with
a helping hand from many traveling USAC Western States Sprint Car teams,
the rookie not only was able to compete but he walked off with his initial
sprint car feature event win. The 22 year-old son of Wendell (JR.) and Sharon
is the nephew of former NARC driving champions Billy and Johnny Anderson.
(more)
Murgoitio uses home track advantage to
win USAC Western feature - By Bobby Gerould - Boise, Idaho. - August
27, 2004. …Mike Murgoitio, having already won this season at Meridian
Speedway in a late model stock car and winged sprint car, can add non-winged
sprinter to the list. The Meridian Idaho driver led all 40 laps of the USAC
Western States Sprint Car Series feature event Friday night. The win was
the first under the USAC sanction for the talented 20 year-old. Following
Murgoitio to the finish line were Tony Hunt, Robert Beck, Brad Bumgarner,
and Tim Barber. (more)
Photos
from Madera!
Lewis sprints to 100-lap
Trigueiro Classic loot - By Bobby Gerould - Madera, CA. - August
21, 2004. …The biggest race of the year for the USAC Western States
Sprint Car Series took place Saturday night at warm and breezy Madera Speedway.
The "Trigueiro Classic" honored the family that has produced winning race
cars in Central California for 45 years. Appropriately it was the Larry
Trigueiro Jr. wrenched Western Speed Racing #40 driven by Michael Lewis
that emerged victorious in the 100-lap race. Lewis withheld a late challenge
from teammate Tony Hunt by slicing through traffic with a surgeon's precision.
"The car was awesome", said Lewis after his fifth win of the 2004 USAC Western
States season. "To run 100-laps with a perfect car is unbelievable." (read
it all)
Quick time and feature
to Hunt in USAC Western States Madera go - By Bobby Gerould - August
7, 2004 - Madera, CA. …"Billy Vukovich (III), and Davey Hamilton taught
me a lot about Madera Speedway. The top is where the track is", stated winner
Tony Hunt. Emerging from his Western Speed Racing Eagle/Wes-Mar sprinter
after a 50-lap victory in the United States Auto Club Western States main
event, Hunt continued, "Things were not going our way early in the race,
and I had to control my emotions to get this result. Running races like
the Little 500 really helps condition you to think of the race like a blackjack
table. It will be hot and cold. Early, this race was cold, later it came
to us, and became hot. It was a matter of sticking with it." (Read
it all!)
Gardner loves Skagit,
powers to 40-lap USAC / CRA win - By Bobby Gerould - July 31, 2004
- Alger, WA. ...Even before the weekend started, Damion "The Demon"
Gardner was professing his love for Skagit Speedway. It is rare that sprint
cars race at the 3/10's mile dirt oval without wings and Gardner seemingly
could not wait to run the cushion at the Northwest speedplant. Saturday
night, Gardner defeated a 24 car main-event field to win the 40-lap USAC
/ CRA sprint car feature in front of a large audience. Gardner started on
the pole, and led every lap, holding off first Cory Kruseman, and then series
points leader Rip Williams. (More)
Rip Williams and Damion
Gardner lead USAC / CRA to Skagit Speedway. Kruseman, Murphy, Kirby, and
Kaeding Entered too. - By Bobby Gerould - Sacramento, CA. July 21,
2004. …Rip Williams doesn't bother with hype, and gossip. He just races.
"I work during the week, and race on the weekends", said the United States
Auto Club / California Racing Association points leader. That matter of
fact approach has always been associated with the 48 year-old veteran driver
from Yorba Linda, California. It is the approach that Williams will use
over the weekend of July 30th and 31st as the USAC / CRA series visits Skagit
Speedway in Alger, Washington. (more)
Baisch cooks at home, wins Salt Lake
sprint - Salt Lake City, Utah - 07/24/04 - Mike Baisch the points
leader in the USAC Rocky Mountain Region, earned a big win in the USAC Western
States, Rocky Mountain Sprint Car Series Saturday night. His Rocky Mountain
Raceways victory included a top-three sweep for local drivers as Jim Waters,
and Brian Evans finished second and third. Western States stars Shauna Hogg,
and Greg Anderson rounded out the top five. (more)
Hansen Ventura Winner
- Ventura, CA. 07/24/04 ...Garrett Hansen passed Wally Pankratz on
the final lap to win the United States Auto Club Western States Midget feature
event Saturday evening. Hansen, driving his family owned #70, also had quick-time.
(More)
Lewis is hot! Four
for six in USAC Western States - By Bobby Gerould - July 17, 2004
- Monroe, WA. …To say Michael Lewis was dominant would be a huge understatement.
The Noblesville, IN. pilot lapped up to sixth place in the 40-lap feature
race at Evergreen Speedway Saturday evening. The victory in the United States
Auto Club Western States Sprint Car Series was the fourth of the year for
Lewis. Considering there have been only a half-dozen races so far this season,
you could call Lewis red-hot! (more)
Lewis scores at South
Sound - By Bobby Gerould - July 16, 2004 - Tenino, WA. …Beautiful
weather and 28 United States Auto Club Western States sprint cars invaded
South Sound Speedway Friday night. At the conclusion of the 40-lap feature
event Michael Lewis, the defending series champion stood in the winner's
circle after a non-stop drive on the 3/8's-mile paved oval. (more)
USAC Western
States Midgets Photos
Paden Bakersfield
Best, Rahe King of Focus - By Bobby Gerould, 07/10/04 - Oildale, CA.
…Steven Paden scored his second win of the year in USAC Western States Midget
competition at Bakersfield Speedway Saturday night. The win was the third
overall in the 2004 series for the Downey, California driver. The winning
mount was the Richard Farrier Stealth (Indy) / Esslinger #0, wrenched in
part by Paden's brother Nathan Senecal. (More)
USAC
/ CRA Photos from Perris July 3, 2004
Gardner Towers in Firecracker 50
- By Bobby Gerould - 07/03/04 - Perris, CA. …Standing room only was
the rule at Perris Auto Speedway Saturday night as the Valvoline United
States Auto Club California Racing Association sprint cars took to the ½-mile
clay oval for the Budweiser Firecracker 50. Concord California's Damion
"The Demon" Gardner responded to a late race challenge from Mike Kirby to
win an exciting feature event. (More)
WILLIAMS "RIPS" THROUGH
PERRIS CRA FIELD - Rip Williams of Yorba Linda, Calif. continues to
lead the Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series standings after his third
win of 2004 Saturday night at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway. Williams and
his John Jory Corporation/Weld Wheels Stinger/Shaver led the final nine
laps of the 30-lap feature after passing Jordan Hermansader on lap 22. Hermansader
slipped to third at the checkered flag behind Damion Gardner, who trails
Williams by 56 points in the CRA standings going into a July 3 race at Perris.
(More)
Rodela Flies at Seaside
- By Bobby Gerould, 06/19/04 - Ventura, CA. …Jerome Rodela scored
his first career dirt feature win with a dominant drive in the 30-lap feature
event for the United States Auto Club Western States Midgets at Seaside
Park Saturday evening. The El Monte, CA. driver took the lead from Johnny
Rodriguez on lap nine with a low pass in turn two. The win capped a big
effort for Rodela who also notched his fourth consecutive quick-time run
in the West Coast's premier midget car series. "Once the first couple of
laps went down, I felt I had a car underneath me that was capable of winning
the race", said the 23 year-old Rodela. "Andy Bondio, and Van Dyne engineering
helped me out a ton. This was only our second start at Ventura." (More)
Photos
of Bakersfield Midgets June 5, 2004.
Rough Bakersfield Track Survived by
Flock and Rahe - By Bobby Gerould - June 5, 2004 - Oildale, CA.
…Robby Flock survived a rough and rugged Bakersfeild Speedway Saturday night
to win the United States Auto Club Western States Midget feature event.
In a wild, ten caution, two red flag, 30 lap race, the finish came down
to a two-lap shootout between Flock, and Johnny Rodriguez. The latter is
the points leader in the traveling dirt and pavement series. (More)
Bakersfield Speedway Ready for USAC Western
States Midgets Saturday – By Bobby Gerould – Oildale, CA. 06/02/04 …A spectacular
sight in auto racing is viewable this Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.
The top racers in the Western United States will compete in the United States
Auto Club midget races on the track perfectly suited for such cars. Defending
champion, Steven Paden of Downey, California heads the pre-entry list for
Saturday night’s event at the 1/3-mile high-banked dirt speed plant. Paden
(24) is riding a two race feature win streak in the Richard Farrier Esslinger
/ Stealth #01. Paden’s two wins have come at Bakersfield, and Perris. The
tenth round of the USAC Western States Midgets Series will run with Johnny
Rodriguez of Elk Grove, CA. leading the point standings in the popular 26-race
series that crowns champion of West Coast midget racing. (more)
GARDNER TAKES PERRIS SPRINT, NOW 3RD IN POINTS - Damion Gardner of Concord, Calif. led the final 16 laps of Saturday
night's 50-lap Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint car feature at the Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway. The victory in Ron Chaffin's Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply/Arizona
Race Mart John Boy/Shaver left him third in the series standings
going into a June 12 race at the same track.
(More)
Gardner Perris
Winner - May 29, 2004.
Williams Blasts USAC/CRA Foes at Ventura
- By Bobby Gerould, 05/22/04, Ventura, CA. … The 1/5 mile Ventura
Raceway at Seaside Park is one of a handful of special places in the USA
to view a sprint car race. With the cool marine climate, and tight, close
quartered racing, the track drips with atmosphere. Saturday night, the United
States Auto Club (USAC), and California Racing Association (CRA) sprinters
showed up 26-strong to contest a full program at the track that lies just
few yards from the Pacific Ocean. When the checkered flag fell at 9:02 PM,
points leader Rip Williams won by over a straightaway in a non-stop event.
(more)
Paden Powers to Perris Win - By
Dick Jordan - 05/22/04 - Perris, CA. ...Defending USAC Western Midget
Car Champion Steve Paden of Downey, Calif. notched his second consecutive
series feature win in Saturday night's 30-lapper at Perris (Calif.) Auto
Speedway. The win boosted him to fifth in the new series standings going
into a June 5 race at the Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway. Paden and the Richard
Farrier Esslinger Engineering/Anglemyer Crane Stealth/Esslinger passed Josh
Lakatos on lap 19 and led the final 12 laps to beat series point leader
Johnny Rodriguez, former series champ Wally Pankratz, Mike Leslie and four-time
series champ Robby Flock. (more)
Paden Masters Oildale Clay, Bragg Focus
Hero - By Bobby Gerould - May 15, 2004 - Bakersfield, CA. …Steven
Paden took on all comers in the United States Auto Club Western States Midgets
30 lap feature event at Bakersfield Speedway Saturday night. The Downey,
California resident took the lead on lap four and once in front was never
headed. "I want to thank my crew," said Paden. "We made bar changes and
chased the track all night." (more)
Tim Barber Christens New & Improved Shasta
Raceway Park - By Bobby Gerould - May 8, 2004 - Anderson, CA.
…Shasta Raceway Park underwent major improvements during the off-season.
A completely reworked west end turn added length to the former 1/3 mile
paved oval, making it a faster 3/8's mile. Saturday night, the new layout
was tested by the non-wing sprint cars of the traveling Valvoline USAC Western
States series. At the end of the 40 lap feature event, San Francisco's Tim
Barber emerged as the winner, and the racetrack's debut produced exciting
wheel-to-wheel racing. (more)
USAC Western States
Sprint Cars - Madera Speedway - Madera, CA. 05/01/04 - 1. Michael Lewis,
2. Tony Hunt, 3. Brad Bumgarner, 4. Jeff Gardner, 5. Chad Nichols
Ripper is USAC / CRA Winner at Perris
- Rip Williams of Yorba Linda, Calif. leads the new Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint
Car point standings after scoring his initial series feature victory in
Saturday night's 30-lap race at the Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway. (more)
Photos of
Madera Western States Sprints and Ford Focus
Michael Lewis a USAC Western States Flash
at Madera - By Bobby Gerould - April 24, 2004 - Madera, CA. …Noblesville
Indiana is the home of Michael Lewis but he has been making a living at
Madera Speedway. For the second time in two tries this month, Lewis walked
away with USAC cash in Central California. This time Lewis backed up his
Midget win of 14 days ago with a strong run on the Madera pavement in a
Western States sprint car. (more)
Madera Ready for USAC Sprints and Ford
Focus Midgets - By Bobby Gerould - 04/21/04
- Madera, CA. …The Valvoline Untied States Auto Club (USAC) Western
States Sprint Car series will open its 2004 racing season Saturday night
April 24th at Madera Speedway. A strong list of pre entrants has thrown
their helmets into the ring for the paved sprint car event with a purse
approaching $16,000. No less than six states will be represented Saturday
night at the fast one-third mile Central California speed plant. (more)
Garrett Hansen is Ventura Midget Ace
- HD Staff - Garrett Hansen was almost perfect Saturday night at Ventura
Raceway. A second place run in his heat was the only "blemish"
on a night when Hansen won the feature, and set quick time. Trailing Hansen
at the checkered were Dallen McKinney, Johnny Rodriguez, Wally Pankratz,
and Robby Flock. (Summary)
Madera Photos
Michael Lewis Endures for 100 Lap USAC
Western States Cash - By Bobby Gerould - Madera, CA. 04/10/04 …The
United States Auto Club Western States and Bay Cities Racing Association
came together for the 2nd Annual Fred Gerhardt Classic for midgets Saturday
night. Under breezy conditions the speedy cars took to the one-third mile
paved oval Madera Speedway for a 100-lap 'throwback' style race. Michael
Lewis of Noblesville, Indiana walked away with the $3,000 winner's share
after leading every lap of a caution filled endurance test. "When the car
is as good as it was tonight, our job is easy", said Lewis from the winner's
circle. "The guys that work on this Western Speed Racing #40 put in so many
hours. 100 laps was hectic but there is not anywhere I'd rather be." (More)
Four Winners in Four Races in USAC/CRA,
Gardner takes Hanford - By Bobby Gerould, 04/03/04, Hanford, CA.
…Non-winged sprint cars with 410 cubic inch motors, and 800 plus horsepower
returned to sticky Kings Speedway Saturday night. Marking the first time
since 1997 that such an event has run at the Hanford fairgrounds, the United
States Auto Club, California Racing Association race was highly anticipated
in the Central Valley. At the completion of 30 laps of clay slinging, Concord,
California's Damion Gardner became the fourth different Feature winner in
as many 2004 races for the Valvoline sponsored series. (more)
USAC/CRA SPRINTS AT KINGS SPEEDWAY SATURDAY
- By Dick Jordan. ...The Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series visits
Kings Speedway in Hanford, Calif. this Saturday night, with a 30-lap feature
event scheduled on the 3/8-mile dirt oval. The race is the first for the
new series at the historic Hanford oval and should shake up the current
standings after the first three races, which sported three different winners.
Mike Kirby, Dave Darland and Cory Kruseman are the race winners so far,
but Damion Gardner of Concord, Calif. resides second in the standings, just
20 back of Kruseman going into Saturday's program. (more)
WESTERN "TRIPLEHEADER" AT LVMS "BULLRING"
SATURDAY ...Three USAC racing series convene Saturday at the Bullring
at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, kicking off the 2004 racing season for the
Western Sprint Cars and also featuring the Western Midgets and California
Ford Focus Midgets. (more)
Bobby East Goes West, 'Steeles' the Show
– By Bobby Gerould – 03/27/04 – Baldwin Park, CA. …It was supposed
to be Dave Steele’s $50,000. A story worthy of nearby Hollywood’s attention.
There was no way anyone was as fast in an open track as the Tampa, Florida
pavement ace was Saturday night. He out-qualified the field by over four-tenths
of a second on the banked half-mile Irwindale Speedway showplace. At stake
in the MOPAR Twin 25’s was a 50 grand bonus from Automotive Racing Products
to anyone who could win the first 25 lap midget race, and then start 25th
in the second Twin 25, and somehow win that too. When Steele dominated the
dash from sixth starting spot and had the lead in two laps, the writing
appeared to be on the script. Steele looked like a shoe-in. (more)
Steele Untouchable in Copper World Silver
Crown - 03/21/04 ...Avondale, AZ. ...Tampa Florida's Dave Steele
continued his dominance at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday with
a wire-to-wire victory in the the 27th Annual "Copper World Classic", leading
all 100 laps in the USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown Series' opening event.
It was his third consecutive victory in the event. (more)
Kruseman Collects Sokola Classic Cash
- By Bobby Gerould - 03/20/04, Phoenix, AZ. …Ventura California driver
Cory Kruseman mastered the Manzanita Speedway half-mile Saturday night to
score the $3,500 winner's share of the Valvoline, United States Auto Club
/ California Racing Association, Sokola Classic sprint car feature event.
Driving the Alexander Racing #4, Kruseman pressured early leader Tony Jones
for the opening 17 of 40 laps. The winning pass on lap 18 came on the low
groove of the first set of turns on the heavy, sticky, dirt surface. (more)
Yeley takes "Copper World" Midget 25-lapper
- PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 21, 2004) J.J. Yeley of Phoenix, Ariz. scored
his 51st USAC National feature victory Saturday afternoon at Phoenix (Ariz.)
International Raceway, winning the 27th Annual "Copper World Classic" 25-miler
at the 1-mile paved oval. Yeley started second in the 33-car field and led
the first 15 laps before yielding to new track record holder Dave Steele.
Steele then led through lap 23, but Yeley regained the lead on the white-flag
lap and led to the checkered flag in his ASE/Ford Beast/Pink Ford. (more)
Darland Wheels Unfamiliar Car to Manzy
USAC/CRA Win - By Bobby Gerould, 03/19/04, Phoenix, AZ. …Lincoln
Indiana's Dave Darland was busy during driver introductions. He and his
son, 17 year-old Trenton, were in a deep pre-feature race discussion about
the fast way around the Manzanita Speedway half-mile dirt track. Whatever
was said between the two should be written in the family archives. Daddy
Dave jumped behind the wheel of Ben Lancaster's #14 sprint car and led all
twenty laps at Manzanita Friday night to post a convincing victory in the
newly formed Valvoline United States Auto Club / California Racing Association
series. The 1999 USAC National sprint car driving champion started outside
the front row in his first drive for the Las Vegas car owner. (more)
STEELE GOES FOR THREE-PEAT SUNDAY AT PIR!
Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. will try to do something Sunday only one other
driver has ever done in 102 USAC races at Phoenix International Raceway
since the track opened in 1964! (more)
POLLOCK BACK TO DEFEND COPPER WORLD MIDGET
TITLE Aaron Pollock of Troy, Ohio scored a surprise victory in last
year's "Copper World Classic" USAC National/Midget race at Phoenix International
Raceway, but the surprise is now gone and he'll face a formidable challenge
to repeat in this weekend's 25-miler. (more)
KIRBY LEADS USAC/CRA TO "SOKOLA CLASSIC"
AT MANZY Mike Kirby of Torrance, Calif. will try to protect his slim
lead in the Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car standings when the series visits
the 1/2-mile dirt Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Ariz. this weekend for
the "Sokola Classic." (more)
LAS VEGAS' "BULLRING" TO HOST USAC TRIPLEHEADER
APRIL 3 - The Bullring at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway will host
a USAC racing "tripleheader" on April 3, featuring the Western Sprint Cars,
Western Midgets and California Ford Focus Midgets on the 3/8-mile paved
oval. (more)
Kirby Dominant in USAC-CRA Opener -
By Bobby Gerould - 03/06/04 - Perris, CA. ...Eleven years have passed
since Mike Kirby was crowned 1993 CRA driving champion. Saturday night,
it was as if time stood still. Kirby dominated the first ever Valvoline,
United States Auto Club, California Racing Association feature event at
Perris Auto Speedway. Flying around the beautifully prepared half-mile dirt
track in the Crossno Racing #38, Kirby looked untouchable in the 30 lap
sprint car headliner. (More)
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