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Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
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RETURN TO THE HOME TRACK by Norm Bogan |
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The two-day show at Skagit last week created
problems for a number of race teams.
Chassis damage was a hot topic in preparation for this
Saturday night’s event. Several
of the competitors that made the journey to Washington suffered
damage or the loss of a chassis at the Alger oval.
The return trip to southern California gave little time to
regroup and obtain necessary parts to build a new car in just a
couple of days. Mike Spencer arrived with a new steed.
They had built it well, as the Engstrom Sprinter captured
fast time on its maiden voyage. Tony Jones thought the DRC chassis that was crashed last
Friday had gone into the dumpster, but alas as the Alexander
Brothers cleared away all the broken pieces and discovered the frame
was carrying a few speed ripples, but was sound.
So new pieces started to get attached and the car that was
administered last rites on Friday was now resurrected and ready for
action. Rip Williams arrived with two cars in tow, one
for him and a backup to be driven by Matt Mitchell.
All Matt did was run away from the pack and win his heat by a
straightaway. This
youngster looks real good and comfortable in the second Jory car.
Rip suffered an announced electrical problem in his heat and
was unable to cure it, in time to run the Semi. J.J. Ercse continues to look strong in the Ruth
#25, since overcoming some nagging engine problems.
Nadine Keller ran with a blubbering engine early in the
evening, but they seemed to get it cleared out and she qualified
ahead of many quality cars. Running
up front in the Semi, until she had a shunt with Matt Rossi from
Phoenix. Both cars flipped and were finished for the night.
Hopefully, Nadine can repeat her strong run when she returns
for the next race. Matt Stewart continues to look better gaining much-needed time on the track. He appears more stable now with more experience and confidence. Many of the newcomers are settling in and running consistently. Bruce St James made the trek from Phoenix and noted how well guys like Damion Gardner and Cory Kruseman are doing now that they have him pushing them along from behind. Brian Camarillo made his 410 debut in Josh Ford’s backup car and gave a good account of himself. He has continued to show improvement in this his rookie year in sprinters. Bobby Cody suffered a broken rocker arm early
in the action and was parked for the night.
Bobby has done a good job in the Moose Mobile this season. Jeremy Sherman, who is the master of Manzy showed flashes of
brilliance, but still struggles away from his Phoenix base. Josh Williams was at the controls of the Blair #12 and was
impressed with horsepower that was at his throttle foot tonight. Evan Suggs qualified thirteenth after several
weeks near the top of the qualifying pile.
This young racer is looking better nearly every outing.
Watch this San Jose State engineering student continue to
challenge the veterans up front.
David Cardey is more comfortable this year while
concentrating on the USAC/CRA sprints and avoiding the Grand
National West and USAC Western States Pavement Sprints.
I guess you could say that he is down and dirty this season. Oh yes, how about the Gardner/Kruseman
continuing shootout. Well
for those of you that witnessed the Saturday feature, you saw these
two run side-by-side for a number of laps and perform numerous slide
jobs back and forth, sometimes two or three times a lap.
It was worth the price of admission to watch these two “Top
Guns” put on a show that appeared to be choreographed for
excitement. As Cory
went under the Demon to take the lead, the car pulled to the inside
of the track and smoke emanated from a cavernous hole in the side of
the block. A few laps
earlier, another hero, Rip Williams, driving the car qualified by
Matt Mitchell, was in the dice with the front running cars, when
suddenly oil belched forth from the perforated engine block and sent
up a pillar of smoke, ending a great charge from the former champ. During this time, the Cowboy was negotiating
the track like a barrel racer, first swinging wide and then diving
low, advancing to the runner up position.
With only Damion to overcome, the master of the slide job
scored a ten as he drove under Gardner for the lead and pulled away.
Appears that the throwaway chassis was okay.
In the meantime, Danny Sheridan who was also fighting wrecked
car gremlins, was driving hard to get in the mix with the two front
runners. Pulling
alongside Damion, but unable to complete the pass, Showtime settled
for the show spot tonight. Fast
timer, Spencer hung in for the fourth position.
Jones is getting comfortable in the Alexander car now and
with their new stronger engine, look for Tony to frequent the
podium. Saturday night August 5th will go down as one of the best races of 2006. |
