surfnsprint
Monday, September 17, 2007
Long Shining Moment
I worry about the stupidest things. It really bummed me that Luis Espinoza was not at Ventura Raceway last night. He picked up a 410 ride at Perris and more power to him. But I’m used to Luis sitting all cool and champion in his trailer. I like seeing his folks every week. I’m used to hanging out with Super Dave. I don’t like change. They say you have to live in the moment but the moment keeps changing on me. The days are getting shorter and the sun is going down earlier every week. That’s really hurting my pictures of the sprint car heats. What’s up with that? Jimmy cuts the track. Rutherford rips the Main. Everything seems normal but the ground is moving under me and the landscape is shifting…
All Thrill No Fill! Tom Hendricks Is Running Up Front
The Great Campaign is coming to an end. Next weekend is the final race for the IMCA Modifieds and last year’s champion and this year’s point leader Jack Parker is trying to outrun the avalanche. I have become a great fan of the “bellowing behemoths”. It’s because of outstanding talent up front by drivers Jack Parker, Randy McGraw, Steve Smith and Damon Redman. Big breakout year also for Austin Rodarte! Last night McGraw knew it was make it or break it. After a couple of laps led by Shane Jones, McGraw willed his way to the front and made it stick. Shane was still in it but he had lots of company. Austin Rodarte was running third with Redman in fourth. Patient Jack Parker kept to it and was rocking in fifth. We were talking in turn one about what a technician Jack is. No wasted motion there. Andrew Grieman took a beating and was out mid race. Austin got past Shane for second. This is a hard crowd with lots of elbowing and bent metal. Robert “Joey” Claborn (down from Santa Maria and enjoying the view) was on the gas at the end and passed Parker, Redman and Shane for the third spot. No quarter offered as they checkered McGraw (breezing), Austin Rodarte, Joey Claborn, Shane Jones and Damon Redman. Jack Parker came in sixth and preserved a fifteen-point lead over Randy McGraw for this year’s championship. Shootout at the OK Corral next Saturday night and only one will be left standing!
Damon Redman Has Given The Fans A Great Show This Year
Pistons! Tommy Velasquez took first place in the Mini Dwarfs Piston class. Cameron McCaule took second place while James Billings captured third. Outstanding driving has Tommy in second place points behind Ricky Lewis.
In the Mini Dwarf Supercharger class, Devin McCree drove his way to first. Brennan Rogers was in second place and Chase Lippert landed third. Riley Helland, who finished sixth, is still leading the point’s race.
In the VRA Junior Midgets, Jessica Clark barely beat Amanda Green for the checkered flag. Michaela Stanton took third. Jessica is also holding off Amanda for the points lead.
In all of these classes, three races to go. Last year’s inaugural race for these classes fielded twenty-one cars. Last night thirty-four cars checked in. Hat’s off to the hardworking officials and parents. This series is a smashing success. Kids gotta race!
Tommy’s Checking Out the Photographers
Devin’s Good With
Mike Van Acker Took Care of Senior Dwarf Regionals
Western States Dwarf Car Regional pulled into V-town and took care of business. For the Senior Dwarf Car Regionals it was visitor Mike Van Acker who got out front and never looked back. If he did, he saw VRA veteran John Lynch giving it hell. When John developed car trouble it was VRA point’s leader Ed Niedzwiecki who took over the chase. For Mike to stay out in front of both John and Ed the whole race is a testament to his abilities. It finished at the checker with Van Acker, Niedzwiecki, Gordon Brand, Bill Van Praag and Gary Conditt.
There was big anticipation for the Pro Dwarf Regionals. Sprint car observers were surprised to see local Angel Figueroa climb into the ring. Hand to hand, wheel to wheel, the action was intense from the flag. Brent Stevens was in the lead but Angel and Jim Scribellito were right with him. Clusters took out drivers here and there but Stevens and Figueroa were hanging tough. Chris Olson got up there and they were three wide in front of the grandstands. Angel Figueroa made his move and split Stevens and Olsen like a ripe melon. Kevin Drake got up to third but Scribellito took that back. Stevens was all over Angel but then got a little loose coming down the front. That put him back a couple and Scribellito was up to second. But Angel was in his element and on the gas. He was tracking beautiful lines and best times. Stevens was back up to third but got stuffed behind some bad traffic, bounced off the berm and took it out the back. Angel took it home, Drake second, Scribellito third but stayed first in VRA points. Incredible driving by the well liked Angel Figueroa. First class racing all around.
The Most Underrated Driver in
Hey Mike, Thanks For Making The Drive
Great to see Jesse Mack, Mike Knopf, Bobby Michnowicz, Tom Stansberry and others on the heat sheet. This was going to be a party and everybody got right on it. Chris Wakim made the first turn and looked huge rocketing out of turn two. Unfortunately he biked badly coming out of four and flipped hard. We are red and it’s migraine #476 for Chris Wakim. Crowd adjusted for the restart and Tom Hendricks got on the pole. He got out front with Greg Taylor and Dennis Rodriquez battling for second. Taylor took care of that and here comes Troy Rutherford and Rick Hendrix. Brent Camarillo and Jake Hodges mixed in turn two for the first yellow. We fire again and you just want to see who’s going high and who’s going low. Hendricks’s low,
Naylor Says It’s All About Giving The Drivers A Chance To Excel
The ground is moving and the landscape is shifting. I’m worried about work and I’m worried about racing. I’m trying to get in the moment but the moment is wandering. It’s been wandering for thirty years and here we are. I think I’m writing because I want to capture quicksilver in a bottle. I regret I will never see Rick Taylor win at Ventura. I would like to be able to read about that. I would have liked to seen some pictures. This community and these races are something special spinning in time. We come, we race and then it’s gone. I’m just trying to nail that one long shining moment.
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