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LAPS WITH NORM BOGAN #15 (7/27/03) by Norm Bogan |
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Perris fans got a bonus last night as the Semi and “A” Main, postponed from April 26th was presented before the regular full program. For those who don’t know the reason for this postponement, it was a tragic accident, when the “B” Main was halted as contact between cars coming to the green at the flag stand, caused one car to flip violently over the infield wall and strike two people in the pits who were viewing this start near the wall. The couple, Paul and Helen Bagley were fatally injured and a dark pall was cast over Perris Auto Speedway and the SCRA. The Bagleys have been strong supporters of sprint car racing for years, losing their son, Jeff at Ascot in a 1989 racing incident. Paul served for many years as a member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Paul and Helen helped a number of the racers over the years with monies to keep them going and were highly respected members of the racing community. The Bagleys were influential in the formation of the Sprint Car Racing Association in 1993. The driver of the car that flipped, Jack DeArmond Jr. was severely injured and is enduring a long arduous period of recuperation at this time. Tonight’s makeup show was to honor the Bagleys for their unselfish contributions to SCRA and overall sprint car racing. Substitutions were made for drivers, who were not present and a couple of cars were added to make up for lost racecars. The “B” Main saw a number of heavy hitters move to the front with Adam Mitchell taking the checkers followed by Steve Ostling and Tony Jones. In the “A” Main, early challenger, Richard Griffin cut a tire and was unable to get it changed and rejoin the chase. Damion Gardner captured his seventh win of the season, followed by Steve Ostling and Rip Williams. Point leader, Griffin scored a twenty-first place finish. Once the makeup portion was over, the program began for the scheduled show. Rip Williams captured fast time and won the first heat. Second year driver, Mark Heidenreich continues to impress us as he held off Steve Ostling and Richard Griffin to take the second heat. Rookie Josh Ford looked much like his teammate, Damion Gardner, as he roared away from the competition in the third heat. Rickie Gaunt upstaged Troy Rutherford to clinch the fourth heat. The Demon beat out Griffin, Ostling and Jones in the Dash. In the “B” Main, sixteen-year-old Alan Ballard showed the strength of his new engine as he captured the victory over Cary Faas and Danny Sheridan. The “A” Main found a front row of Gardner and Griffin followed by Ostling and Jones. With a dice between the Demon and the Gasman, Tony Jones joined the mix in one of his strongest exhibitions this season. The Cowboy’s bad luck continued as he ran hard to the cushion between one and two, the hub on the right rear broke off, taking Tony for a hard tumble. In the meantime, Griffin and Gardner made contact on the backstretch, with Damion putting two wheels up on the K rail, causing a flat tire. Once the tire was replaced, Gardner rejoined the field to make it back to thirteenth at the finish. Rip Williams, who had looked so strong earlier suffered a mechanical malady and placed nineteenth. Griffin maintained the lead to the checkered flag, followed by Troy Rutherford, Steve Ostling and Rickie Gaunt. Young Alan Ballard scored his best finish with a sixth. This ends the early season of SCRA at the PAS, since next week many teams will be heading out on the NWWC Tour with their first race in Albuquerque on August 9 and moving on to Oskaloosa, Iowa on the twelfth for the $30,000 to win feature. From there, the wandering band perseveres on to Terre Haute, Indiana, and then spends four nights in Illinois at Farmer City, Granite City, Highland and Godfrey. The tour will conclude at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas on August 21, 22 & 23. Of course there will be a roster of familiar names from SCRA, like Richard Griffin, Troy Rutherford, Damion Gardner, Rip Williams, Rickie Gaunt, Mike Spencer and Mike English, all with their sights set on winning all the features and enhancing their bragging rights. Probably one of the strongest rookie classes in a number of years are coming back and might just upset some of the veterans. Keep an eye on Josh Ford, Seth Wilson, Alan Ballard and Jimmy Crawford. My sentimental favorite will be Mel Murphy, who at fifty-four isn’t trying to impress a NASCAR owner to secure a truck ride, but is taking a vacation with three of his crew buddies on his first real racing tour. He just hopes to make the shows and plans for this to be a fun trip for his guys. To all those who travel on the NWWC tour, we wish you a safe journey, good weather and an enjoyable experience. Go back there and show those folks in the heartland what a great bunch of competitors we have in southern California. |
