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Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
| 2004
SCRA SEASON OPENER AT TULARE THUNDERBOWL by Norm Bogan |
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The long awaited premier of the 2004 SCRA racing season occurred at the Tulare Thunderbowl for a Sunday afternoon event. While day races are usually taboo for diehard fans, the Thunderbowl worked very hard to keep the track in prime condition throughout the show. Even a day show with afternoon temps near 80 degrees was not a problem for the track crew. They watered, harrowed and ran in the track on several occasions to keep ruts to a minimum and maintain a tacky consistency with the clay. Forty sprinters were on hand with thirty-eight actually getting a time and joined by the California Clash Dirt Late Models as the companion class. Shifting of this event from the original Saturday night to a Sunday afternoon, allowed a number of competitors that had run at other venues on Saturday to make the journey to Tulare and have another opportunity to race and enhance their weekend bankroll. First of all there were a number of Arizona travelers including Kaylene Verville, Bruce St. James, Mike Martin and Ronnie Clark, plus the Smiley team of Rickie Gaunt and Charles Davis Jr. along with rookie candidate, Alex Pruett. Wing racers like Brent and Tim Kaeding, drove down after a Chico race to run sans the wing. Frequent visitor, Aussie Peter Murphy arrived with the #21T car of Tommy Tarleton, which had suffered serious damage to the front end of the chassis on the previous night. The team worked all night with torches and a “porta-power” to put the frame back in line. Local Bandit campaigner, A.J. Burgin brought out his 360 and young wing racer, Brad Sweet made the trip down from the northern California to try racing a traditional sprinter. A couple of local 410 wing racers, Mike Faria and Brian Coelho, supported this event. Others on site were teams that have run with SCRA for the past several years. Starting with the ten-car “C” main, four cars transferred, one to the back of each heat. Those transferring were Peter Murphy, Brad Sweet, Kevin Urton and Ronnie Clark. The following four heat races moved four cars each into the feature. Heat winners were Aaron Altaffer, Brent Kaeding, Cory Kruseman and Brian Coelho. Rickie Gaunt, followed by Gardner, Tim Kaeding, Kruseman, Hermansader, Case, English and Sheridan, captured the JE Pistons Dash. A side item was that this was the first traditional sprint car outing for Tim Kaeding, who was in the #83Jr Beef Packers car. Although Dennis Roth operates several teams running with both the World of Outlaws and Golden State Series, I have seen him as an interested spectator at previous non-wing races and have wondered if he might venture into competition at some point. Tim took to racing without the wing just like Dad, Brent and brother, Bud, qualifying the #83Jr car fifth fastest. The “B” Feature found quick timer, Charles Davis Jr. coming back to claim victory and transferring to the “A” Main. He was followed by Alan Ballard, Verne Sweeney, Troy Rutherford aboard the Mike Sala #19S car today, Kevin Urton and Bandit regular, Richard Harvey Jr. It was an exciting start, when Gaunt got knocked sideway and collected Tim Kaeding piggy back on his tail tank, sliding into the infield. With a couple of cars further back also coming to a stop, SCRA restarted the field as it was originally gridded. Gardner jumped into the early lead and it looked as if he would run away until Gaunt got untracked and chased down the Demon, passing him for the lead on lap 23. Mike English in the Mel Murphy #62 car and Tim Kaeding put on a show back in the pack, running side by side and first one then the other gaining an advantage. Suddenly, Kaeding slowed and pulled into the infield with a blown left rear tire, possibly a result of the opening lap altercation. For about the last ten laps of the race, the front three of Gardner, Gaunt and Kruseman put a dice with each surging forward and then being overcome by one of the others. The crowd loved it, cheering, as their particular favorite assumed the lead. On lap 27, Kruseman moved in front and went on to capture the brass ring followed by Gardner, Gaunt, Hermansader and English. Only Tim Kaeding fell out of the feature as twenty-one of the 22 starters took the checkers. Ironically, Kruseman was supposed to race at Eldora and Anderson, IN this weekend, but the shows were cancelled due to inclement weather. Cory called car owner Mark Alexander to see if they could have a car ready, then caught the redeye out of Indy on Friday night for California. Alexander was elated, as he was not only the feature winner, but also the second car with Hermansader finished fourth. Mel Murphy, who retired from driving after last season, felt as if he had won, when English came home in fifth. The fans applauded SCRA President, Ron Shuman and Thunderbowl Promoter, Steve Faria for a great program and the efforts of the track staff to make this an outstanding experience for the fans. With approximately twenty Late Models on hand the fans enjoyed a racy show in their thirty-lap feature with Steve Drake claiming the spoils over multi-time winner Bobby Hogge IV. This series has shown some great side-by-side racing in a professional and clean manner. Next for SCRA will be the opening race at the new Barona Speedway Park venue on April 17th. It will be interesting to see if any of the competitors from central and northern California will venture to northern San Diego County. The following week, SCRA returns to Tulare and fans are anticipating an even better show with the Saturday evening program. |
