Showtime
October 14, 2006
The 21st Annual Bud Stanfield Memorial Sprint Car Race
The Bandit-VRA Grand Slam Final
Santa Maria, California
I like writing about Danny “Showtime” Sheridan. When I first became aware of him, I thought that the “Showtime” moniker was a bit precious. But all of that changed when I saw him race April 22 of this year at Ventura. He only took third in that main event but put on a show Ventura fans will never forget, the most hairball deep gut racing you could imagine. Last week in Perris he claimed his first USAC-CRA 410 victory. Last night he ripped the classic Bud Stanfield Memorial in verdant Santa Maria, California. In an evening stuffed with memories and champions, homegrown Sheridan showed family and friends why he is considered one the West Coast’s hottest sprint car drivers…….
Danny Sheridan takes it home
Photo: Frank Bigham
What a gas to be here for the Bud Stanfield Memorial! I thought I was just heading north for the final event of the Bandit-VRA Grand Slam. But somebody was standing on it and suddenly we are racing for all kinds of money, points, trophies and bragging rights. Eddie Stanfield Century 21 Hometown Realty sponsored the purse for these racers. I got to meet Eddie and Allen Stanfield who were both at the track promoting the heartfelt tribute to their father. E.H. (Bud) Stanfield was a military veteran who loved racing and shared that with his family. He was crew chief for a young Mike Knopf when he was tragically killed by an out of control sprint car during a race in 1984. This was the 21st memorial race and it has clearly become a classic.
Eddie and Allen Stanfield keep the memory going
Photo: surfnsprint
Quick Trip through the Pits:
I checked in with wiry Jeff Fiscus who was planning to lock up the Bandit Championship tonight. He was stoked to have the VRA drivers in his house and was looking forward to some hard racing. As it turned out, Jeff’s warhorse inexplicably lay down and he was forced into another car. He crashed that in his heat race and couldn’t get it back together for the semi. Didn’t matter, he had enough points to slide tonight and still finish on top. This guy is a friendly, enthusiastic and skilled driver with some distinct edge.
I also went down to the infield and visited with mini stock champion Andrew Greiman and in car camera maestro Frank Bigham. Frank was hooking up the in car camera on the 00 driven by Ken Kehs. This was timely as tonight this car was locking down the #2 mini stock finish (#1 having already been slotted by Greiman). It was untimely in that they put a forward looking camera on the car. The car went out and dominated the main event. They had plenty of video of open road in front of this winner. Allen Stanfield is also crew on this car! Congratulations to the entire Ken Kehs team.
Lastly got to chat with Clark Templeman III who was setting up his car for Steve Conrad to drive. Clark is still recovering from a couple of mind bending crashes he took this year; however he feels good and says I can look for him at Ventura next year. I expect I’ll see him up front.
Jeff Fiscus takes the Bandit season.
Photo: surfnsprint
Dash for Cash and Sprint Heat Races:
47 freaking sprint cars show up. An overcast afternoon turned into a clear, crisp fall evening. Probably the best rendition of the National Anthem I’ve ever heard was sung by a faultless Rosa Garcia. Santa Maria’s sterling track crew swung into action and we had a Dash for Cash by the six top qualifiers: Davey Pombo had qualified first with a top 14.844. That produces speeds approaching 80 miles per hour. The other top six were Josh Ford, Rusty Carlile, Kevin Kierce, Danny Sheridan and Luis Espinoza. Josh Ford got out front in this quick ten lapper and took home the cash provided by Autotrader.com. Fun!
Five heat races scheduled with nine or ten drivers per heat. The top three will transfer with two semis adding eight more drivers for a total of 23 in the main event. The competition is fierce. First heat kicked off with top Ventura driver Luis Espinoza failing to qualify. Trimble also tripped. Mack, Pombo and Dennis Rodriquez were in. Second heat had Josh Ford, Jimmy Crawford (leading Grand Slam points) and Jimmy Thompson advancing. I wish I knew more about this Thompson. He is obviously a fast guy in these parts. Joe Henderson lost a driveshaft stemming from a hot lap mishap. Josh Ford was really on the gas with Tom Hendricks just missing the cut. Heat three featured the incredible Greg Porte going from fourth to first. I love watching this guy run! Fiscus was in a courtesy car but hit the wall and had to leave. Ventura’s rising star Brian Camarillo clocked second with Steve Conrad driving a Templeton car to third. Carlile is going to the semi. Heat four advanced the rapidly improving Tom Harper in first, Joey Layman and Steve Demott hooked up second and third. These guys are up front in Bandit points and just plain fast. Ventura heavyweight Greg Taylor (second in VRA points) fails to pass and is going to the semi. Kevin Kierce will join Greg in the semi. Fifth and final heat is good for Mike Knopf. Mike is a longtime Santa Maria local who is also at home in Ventura. He comes down frequently and we love him there! He slams first place. Chris Wakim drives a very strong second place followed by Danny Sheridan in third.
Electrons on display, Jimmy “Neutron” Crawford Grand Slams!
Photo: surfnsprint
Semi Main Events:
Semi #1 represents critical VRA points for both Espinoza and Taylor. But the top story is how Rusty Carlile gets out front and dominates the race. This guy is tough as nails and holds a determined Eric Severson at bay. Severson was all over Rusty, an exciting and high speed race, with Rusty only allowing him to get by after the checkers. Espinoza and Taylor took third and fourth. Wes Richardson was driving it like he stole it, but just missed the transfer. The second semi was notable in that Jeff Fiscus wasn’t ready to start and is out for the night, yet champion for the Bandit season. Congratulations Jeff! Kierce got on it first, chased by the sharp looking Jason May. Patrick Frisco is solid in third with Ventura rising star Hobie Conway battling San Jose veteran Michael Trimble for the final transfer. Whilst May is nicking Kierce for first, Trimble gets on the gas on the backstretch, comes hard into three and gets crossed up. He gathers up Albert Pombo, Trimble is done and Pombo to the back! Conway will take that fourth as May, Kierce and Frisco are bunched and battling as they cross the finish. It’s May, Kierce, Frisco and Conway getting the final transfers. Tough break for Albert Pombo.
Santa Maria Speedway makes it happen for their fans
Photo: surfnsprint
The Bud Stanfield Memorial Sprint Car Race and VRA-Bandit Grand Slam Final
More words than your typical race, more cars, more laps, more money, more champions and more action than you can throw a crankshaft at. Forty freaking laps and the winner takes home 2.5K.
The beautiful Santa Maria Speedway has it all going tonight; the stands are full, the pits are packed, the beer and food stands are in overdrive, the weather is beautiful and we are racing!
Ventura’s Tom Harper is on the pole, but Greg Porte shoots the hole and takes the lead barely over Jimmy Thompson. Sheridan and Ford are behind them with Davey Pombo, Harper, Crawford and Wakim also in the hunt. Twenty three sprint car engines are at full throttle and I think it’s shaking the crops all the way to Fresno! Huge deafening roar as they all get sorted out in a great start. The track appears dry slick but seems to be taking rubber. With the exception of Danny Sheridan moving past Thompson for the second spot, positions aren’t changing much. It looks like a giant dragon chasing its own tail as it flies around the track. Ten laps and Danny Sheridan is challenging Porte for the lead. Incredible high stake turns as these two stars fight for first. Sheridan locks into first and now Ford moves up to fourth past Pombo. It’s Sheridan Porte, Thompson, Ford and Pombo and they are all on the gas. Porte is smoking but he drives like that’s a good thing. He is all over Danny Sheridan and both drivers look like they are having the best time! The cars are taking a beating! We have to be about thirty laps by now when suddenly Patrick Frisco’s ride loses control. He is out and the machines take a yellow. From the line up it looks like we are getting some lapped cars. Green again and the dragon is in full flight. Suddenly Pombo who was making a move catches Porte’s wheel and takes a vicious flyer in turn three. We are red as they activate all safety systems. This ace track crew gets it all back together in a hurry (Pombo was fine) and we start to push off again. While this was going on, Ventura’s top runner Crawford took a tire change and goes to the back. I don’t know what was happening to everybody else tires after a thirty lap green, but it couldn’t have been pretty! You had one pit member per car during the red. We are now green with six laps to go. Porte hits a rut in turn two, wobbles, Ford and Thompson capitalize with second and third. Now Carlile hits the wall in four, we are yellow, he refires to the back. Brian Camarillo takes a new tire and also goes to the back. Still six to go and now everybody is going to blow out the stops. Ventura’s Chris Wakim is screaming fifth with hard driving Eric Severson trying to take it away from him. Sheridan, Ford, Porte and Thompson are top four as the white comes out. It was Ford that stole it away from Sheridan on that gutsy race in April! He is again trying to ruin Danny’s night, but this is Sheridan’s track! They have spent all they have and in the final lap no quarter is given. Danny Sheridan wows the home crowd with a scorching first place finish. Gotta love that Josh Ford in second place; Strawberry Fields Forever. Unbelievable effort by Porte in third, exciting Jimmy Thompson in fourth and Ventura great Chris Wakim in fifth (shout out to Arnie and Clint). Jimmy Crawford crosses thirteenth but that’s the lucky number for the Grand Slam Champion. Congratulations to the supercharged Jimmy “Neutron“ Crawford!
Danny “Showtime” Sheridan and crew with the “Trophy”
Photo: surfnsprint
So much to say, so little time…. Thanks Santa Maria for hosting your brothers from the south. I have really enjoyed learning about great racers like Carlile, Hunsaker, Layman, Denome, May, Simas, Severson, Mack and others too many to mention. I dig Santa Maria Speedway, the track officials and the fans. Sincere thanks to Cliff Morgan and Dave Swindell for the Grand Slam Series. Thanks for putting it together for the drivers and fans like me! Let’s all hook up again!
Grand Slam Points
Crawford 410
Kierce 408
Taylor 396
Espinoza 388
Wakim 378
VRA Points
Espinoza 18165 we will resume normal programming next week
Taylor 16825 (1340 to catch Espy)
Crawford 16365 (so near yet so far)
Kierce 15325 (Coming! The Jim Kierce Memorial!)
Wakim 13955
Bandit Season Champion
Congratulations Jeff Fiscus
