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| RACING SCENE Column – (USAC-CRA SPRINTS - GLENN HOWARD MEMORIAL @ PAS) By Tim Kennedy |
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Los Angeles, CA.-- The Lucas Oil USAC-CRA Sprint Car Series season finale at Perris Auto Speedway (PAS) on Saturday, November 29 was a fitting tribute to the late, multi-faceted Glenn Howard (10/13/30—9/22/07). The former auto racing driver, car owner, racing equipment businessman, race sanctioning body leader, and father of three CRA sprint car racing drivers left a legacy of good work and fond memories. The November 29 race was the latest date in the year that a sprint car race has been run at The PAS, which opened in 1996. A solid crowd of 75-80% of capacity in the main grandstand was present with the first and fourth turns grandstands each about a third full. It was weird in a nice way hearing Christmas music playing on the PAS outstanding sound system throughout the night during breaks in on-track action. Glenn's son Steve now operates the family business—So Cal Hi-Performance Racing Components—in Downey and in the pits at race tracks. Steve went to work this year and raised about $38,000 in cash and contingency awards. That money was added to the regular PAS race purse for the new USAC-CRA sprint car event—the inaugural Glenn Howard Memorial—to honor the memory of his respected father. The event paid in excess of $50,000 to racing teams and is expected to become an annual event at The PAS and on the USAC-CRA schedule. Climatologists cooperated and a pleasant, sunny day with 71-degrees at 4:00 pm greeted racers at The PAS. It was still 53 degrees at 10:45 pm and jacket weather. The lack of a strong wind kept the flags outside turn two limp most of the day and evening and kept the track moist and racy for competitors. How many other parts of the nation could enjoy such late November weather? Maybe in Florida or Hawaii. We are blessed in Southern California to enjoy auto racing from January through November. The local off-season is the month of December. FLIPS: As expected, the added purse for the Glenn Howard Memorial race attracted drivers from the Midwest. They included Dave Darland, Jesse "the Rocket" Hockett, Shane "the Throttle" Cottle, Bill Rose, Damion Gardner, Brady Bacon and Casey Shuman. They all drove California-based cars. Whether it was the extra money up for grabs or something else, racing was hard, fast and tumultuous all night. Eight flips started during the 5:56 to 6:34 pm time trials for the 39 sprinters present. No drivers required medical transport from the pits. Mike Spencer, the 27-year old Cal Poly Pomona mechanical engineering graduate and first-time sprint car champion in 2008, pushed off to qualify as the 35th qualifier. He hit the third turn wall before taking the green flag and executed three and a half endos by the crash-wall and landed overturned. He was unhurt. His crew, led by crew chief Bruce Bromme, Jr., repaired the car (broken front axle, birdcage and suspension parts). The car raced later and gave car owner Ron Chaffin his tenth sprint car owner's championship. Brien Kinney flipped in three or four endos at turn four during the C-main. Chad Boat, 16, flipped twice onto the third turn embankment on lap 9 of the fourth heat race while running sixth. He was angry at Alan Ballard for contact that launched his car. On the lap 9 restart Ballard became the fourth flip victim when his Stansberry/Bach 75 jumped the third turn cushion and flipped once. The 30-lap A-main provided the final four flips of the night and dragged out the event to 58-minutes (9:33 to 10:31 pm) because of the four red and two yellow flag incidents. Nic Faas, running ninth, was the first driver to flip in the feature. He turned turtle once on lap 6 next to the third turn crash-wall. His 17F sprinter exited on a wrecker hook with damage to the frame, shocks, radius rods and torsion arms according to infield announcer Ronnie "the racing grandma" Everhart. Next Rodney Argo flipped on lap 8 in two to three and a half endos at the second turn The badly damaged Argo Ford also exited on the business end of a wrecker. On lap 9 Dave Darland flipped the No. 73x Josh Ford backup Mopar one and a half times in the first turn. His car went to the work area with a reported broken front axle and did not return. On the lap 9 restart, Henry Clarke hit the fourth turn cushion at speed, got into the crash-wall and performed three or four barrel-rolls. It also took a wrecker ride back to the pits. Pit announcer Everhart said, "Drivers are trying to fly these things tonight and they don't fly well." Chief announcer Scott Deloisio added that the USAC record for flips during one event is13 and the PAS count stood at eight. He hoped flipping was finished. Thankfully, it was and the final 22 laps clicked off from 10:21 to 10:31 pm with only one yellow flag on lap 17 for Hockett's fourth place car that hopped the fourth turn cushion and stalled. He returned with a replaced LF tire and finished 15th. Former Phoenix resident and current Indianan Casey Shuman, making his first start in one of Glenn Crossno's Vipers, was the second driver to qualify. He turned the eventual 18th fastest qualifying time on his first lap, hit the turn one wall on his second lap and "whirly-birded" or helicoptered his No. 83 Viper four or five times to the second turn without flipping. His team also got the damaged car ready to race in the B-main although it missed the second heat race in which it was to start third. Dennis "Howlin'" Howell, a former USAC Ford Focus Midget main event winner at Ventura on 9/30/06 in his No. 62 Midget, made his first sprint car start at Perris. The Palos Verdes Estates resident turned consistent laps of 17.565 and 17.445 for 30th fastest time, also in a car No. 62. Dennis placed sixth in the second 10-lap heat race and 11th in the 12-lap B-main. Howell could be a contender for 2009 USAC-CRA rookie of the year along with Austin Williams and Ronnie Gardner. Austin Williams, 2004 USAC-CRA champion Rip's 18-year old second-born son, made his first PAS start in a Jory Racing No. 3x Stinger and qualified at 18.105 and 17.419 for 28th quickest qualifying time. It was his third sprint car race. Following two races earlier this year at Victorville. Austin had an eventful three days from November 27-29. He raced in the USAC Turkey Night GP at Irwindale on Thanksgiving evening in one of two Wally Pankratz-owned Edmunds Autoresearch Ford Focus Midgets. Austin dropped out on lap 32 (out of fuel) and placed 26th in a 31-car field. On Friday, Nov. 28 Austin (wearing No. 12) played starting linebacker for his El Dorado High School football team in a CIF playoff game. His team lost and was eliminated from the H/S football championship chase. On November 29 at PAS Austin turned 28th best qualifying lap (17.419) and his year older brother Cody was 24th fastest at 17.071 in a second Jory No. 3 Stinger. Both Williams brothers started in the fourth heat race with "Cadillac" Cody on the pole and "Awesome" Austin starting seventh. Cody finished fourth, ten yards in front of his fast-closing younger sibling. Austin finished 13th (- 1 L) in the 12-lap B-main and Cody finished 13th, on the lead lap, in the 30-lap main. Following his hot-lap session, I asked Austin how close the November wildfire in Yorba Linda came to the Williams family home. He said it came within a mile. The fire did consume homes on the block where the Mitchell family lives. Nick Mitchell (No. 37 Mitchell Racing) was shown on local TV channel news shows talking about the fire that cost neighbors their homes. Thankfully, Nick's home was spared. The Glenn Howard Memorial 3-lap trophy dash had $1,100 cash for the four fastest qualifiers to chase. It paid $500, $300, $200 and $100. D. Gardner, Blake Miller, Hockett and Faas, the highest USAC-CRA rookie in points (tenth) finished in that order. "Bullet" Blake Miller lived up to his nickname by running the fastest qualifying lap (16.304) of the year at The PAS according to announcer Daloisio. Impressive Faas, 19, was second fastest at 16.358. Two nights earlier, Faas, the 2008 USAC Western Midget Series champion driving the Western Speed Racing No. 40, made the TNGP feature in Irwindale. He won the Don Basile Memorial rookie of the race award in the 98-lap Thanksgiving Night GP. The 2007 USAC California Ford Focus champion, driving for his Faas family-owned team, reportedly is headed to the Midwest in 2009 to race sprint cars and midgets. Chad Boat chose that career path in 2008 and won a USAC National Sprint Series main event on June 7 at Hagerstown, MD. Boat won the USAC National Sprint car rookie of the year award for his successful rookie season. Faas is capable of matching or surpassing Boat's USAC national series rookie achievements next season. LAP MONEY: The money raised by Steve Howard paid $12,000 in total A-main lap money to the top three drivers on each of the 30 laps. The leader of each lap received $180, with second place worth $120 per lap and third position paying $100 per lap. Tony "Cowboy" Jones led all 30 laps and received $5,400 of the A-main lap money. Other drivers who shared in the king-size lap fund were: Rip Williams (P. 2 L 1-20 = $2,400 and P. 3 L 21-30 = $1,000 for a total of $3,400); Danny Sheridan (P. 3 L 1-16 = $1,600), and Damion Gardner (P. 3 L 17-20 = $400 and P. 2 L 21-30 = $1,200 for a total of $1,600. What will people remember in years to come about the first Glenn Howard Memorial race at The PAS? Two things will come to mind immediately. 1. The herculean work done by Steve Howard to inspire the concept of the memorial or tribute race for his late father and then raise thousands of dollars to enrich the purse for PAS competitors. 2. The Tony Jones A-main winner story is what many people will remember about the inaugural GHM event. It was Hollywood movie-like. Tony started and finished first after leading all 30 laps in the A-main. Earlier in November Tony had announced his retirement from sprint car racing following the November 29 race. After winning the 30-lap A-main Tony spun his No. 4 Alexander brothers sprinter to a halt at the finish line at 10:33 pm. He climbed the fence to the starters' stand and stood atop the starter's stand top rail and saluted cheering fans. Tony climbed back down the fence to the track and raised his arms in triumph after his final race before retiring. When interviewed by infield announcer Chris Holt, Tony said, "That wasn't an easy race for an old man like me if I can't beat Rip and he's a mad man. When you're leading a race here you're everything. What a way to go out. Glenn Howard is right in my heart. We had fun. The Alexander brothers put out a great race car. Maybe Chris Holt could drive it next year. I ran as hard as I could as long as I could." Someone gave him a partial check for his lap fund winnings and said with only a lap to go Gardner was coming hard. "He's always fast," Tony replied. "He's the man. He's one of the best drivers of my time. This was the best way to go out I guess. Thanks to everyone. I really appreciate it." Everyone agreed, it was a storybook way to end a racing career. Next interviewee of Holt was third place Williams. The Ripper said, "This is a brand new car (a Maxim) and its second time out. I got a little tired with ten laps to go. We're trying new equipment. I wish I was in my Stinger and I could've given them a run for their money. We had extra crew tonight to work on all three cars." When asked about his two racing sons competing for the first time at Perris, Rip said, "I'm proud of both of them. Cody only has run about 16 races this year." (Cody finished 14th in final USAC-CRA driver points, only four points in back of 13th place Rickie Gaunt.) Holt interviewed runner-up D. Gardner next. "My car was real good. It took me too long to get it figured out. I passed a lot of cars at the end. Darryl Saucier helped our team turn the wrenches tonight. I'll be back back in February to race the national races in the West (Manzanita and Las Vegas) and at the PAS. I'll be tired tomorrow." Holt then interviewed 2008 USAC-CRA champion Mike Spencer and asked about his college degree and any girlfriend in his life. He said he did not have a special girl right now. Mike continued, "I'm glad it's over. My mom brought champaign at the last two races (to celebrate the championship) and I crashed both times. I'll never let her bring champaign again. I did this interview in my mind 200 times." Mike thanked his car owner Ron Chaffin, Bruce Bromme, Jr. and his crew members. Mike added, "The track was tacky all night. Our goal was to win the championship and be on top again. I hope for a better year next year." That Tony Jones started from the pole position for his final race was almost like it was his destiny to win his final race. Tony was the 15th fastest qualifier and with the usual USAC-CRA inversion of the first eight starting positions in the main event it required seven faster qualifiers not making transfers to the A-main by finishing in the top four positions in the four heat races. How could the top eight starting positions go all the way down to the 15th FQ? It happened. Only four of the eight fastest qualifiers made the top eight starting positions. They were the third, fourth, fifth and sixth FQ and they started the feature in P. 8, 7, 6 and 5. So what happened to the other qualifiers faster than Tony? Ballard (8th FQ) and Boat (12th FQ) both flipped in heat four and were out for the night. Fastest qualifiers 1 (Miller) 2 (Faas), 7 (Cory Kruseman), 10 (J. Hermansader) and 13 (Darland) all made the feature by finishing in the top six positions of the 12-lap B-main. However, they could not start in the top eight grid positions because they did not finish in the top four of a heat race. They started the A in positions 9-13. So who were the four drivers who benefited and started the A-main in positions four through one? Ninth FQ Sheridan started from P. 4. Alex Schutte, the 11th FQ, started from P. 3; 14th FQ Rip Williams started from P. 2, leaving the key pole position for 15th FQ Jones. Maybe it was fate and Jones will win his final race one had to think upon looking at the starting grid during driver introductions. However, the old saying, "That's why they play the game" or "That's why they run the race" is true. Looking at outside front row starter Williams in the Jory No. 44 Maxim and 3rd FQ/8th starter Gardner in Jason Leffler's No 71 you had to wonder about the outcome. Gardner had won two PAS main events this season in Leffler's 71 on October 18 and November 15 and he had won the Glenn Howard Memorial 3-lap trophy dash earlier in the evening. As the feature unfolded Jones grabbed the lap 1 lead over Williams in turn one and opened a 50-yard lead by the lap 6 red flag. Jones held a half straight lead over Williams at the lap 16 yellow flag. He still maintained a 40-yard lead over Gardner when Damon passed Rip for second on lap 21. Gardner trailed Jones by 35 yards at lap 23, 30 yards after lap 24, 25 yards at lap 27, 15 yards at lap 28, 5 yards at the lap 29 white flag and by a mere 1 yard at the lap 30 checkers. Clearly, inside-running Gardner needed only one more lap to take the lead from outside-running Jones. But 30-laps means 30 laps and Jones earned his 35th career and most popular victory. Third place Rip was a straightaway in back of the two leaders. Jones started his 410 sprint car career in 1994 in SCRA, won the 2000 PAS Oval National Championship and was the 2007 USAC-CRA sprint car champion driving the Alexander brothers silver No. 4 sprinter. Tony raced a part-time schedule in 2008 and still finished fourth in final driver points. He will be missed by fans and competitors alike for his ability and clean driving style. Tony said he is not a good race watcher from the grandstands, but he will have to learn how to watch sprint car racing from the PAS grandstand with his wife and family. Tony Jones and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. have a lot in common. Both are fan favorites and most popular drivers on their respective racing circuits and are sons of national hall of fame racing champions of their sport-- Bubby Jones (sprint cars) and Dale Earnhardt, Sr. (NASCAR). ATTENDEES: Among attendees at The PAS finale November 29 was 1963 Indianapolis 500 winner Parnelli Jones, a long-time friend of Glenn Howard. Pit announcer Holt interviewed Parnelli who said, "I took Glenn Howard to races in CJA (California Jalopy Assn.) days because he was a big guy and the real deal. No one roughed me up as a newcomer. He later raced in CJA and was a long-time friend. You wouldn't have it any other way. I'm sorry he isn't with us any longer. It's nice to see a dirt track race." Other persons who attended the PAS Glenn Howard Memorial race included retired drivers Oren Prosser, Jay East, Jimmy Oskie, Mike Sweeney, Dale Crossno, Billy Wilkerson and Dwight Cheney, plus current drivers Kenny Hendrick (NASCAR Nationwide Series No. 31 Stanton Barrett driver), and Ron Mongenel (Speed Truck and Speedway Cycle racer). Roger and Kim Toops, former owners/publishers of Western Racing News, came from Phoenix with their son A.J to see the PAS November 29 race and visited friends in the pits. Gary G. Howard, the oldest of Glenn's three racing sons with Mike in the middle and Steve the youngest, was in the PAS pits. He said he now lives in Santa Clarita and works for American Honda Corp. on the Grand Am project. Sharon Kennedy, youngest daughter of the late USAC Midget and CRA sprint driver Walt Kennedy, was in the PAS pits. She said her dad died at age 59 in 1996 during a car crash on I-10 between Cabazon and Palm Springs. Her mom Dottie was in the car and uninjured and now lives in Lake Havasu, AZ. Also in attendance in the pits was Valarie Sokola, widow of racing official Gary Sokola. Nor Cal writer Bill Sessa attended the USAC TNGP in Irwindale and was able to catch the GHM at The PAS two nights later as a bonus. MISCELLANEOUS: The Crossno crew said Danita Cardey, wife of their driver David Cardey, had not given birth to their first child yet. ... USAC President Kevin Miller attended the Glenn Howard Memorial in Perris and presented a special appreciation award to Steve Howard for all his work in organizing the USAC-CRA Sprints (32 cars) and USAC Western Midget Series double-header at Calistoga in Napa Valley on August 30-31 and for his GHM significant efforts as well. Tim Kaeding (No. 83jr Roth) and Kevin Swindell (No. 10 Rolfe) won the two Calistoga sprint car features. ... PAS President Don Kazarian interviewed Tony Jones, 38, at the front of the main grandstand during an intermission. Tony said, "I've been thinking about retiring for a long time. When you walk out the door to go race and see your wife and little boy with sad eyes it's time to hang it up." Tony said his dad Bubby was hospitalized with pneumonia and unable to be present. He added that Bubby was getting better and will be released soon. Earlier this year Bubby had heart surgery for an aneurysm and he got back on his feet after that medical emergency. ... Kazarian also interviewed 2008 USAC-CRA champion Mike Spencer. Don said Mike first came to prominence at the 2006 PAS Oval Nationals when he drove Hal Engstrom's No. 44 sprint car, passed Dave Darland for the lead in a main event and eventually finished third. Mike said he received a call from crew chief Bromme, Jr. before the end of 2006 to drive Chaffin's No. 50. Mike thanked his car owner, crew chief, crew, sponsors and his father Mike, a CRA main event driver of note himself at Ascot from 1976 through at least 1983. Mike Sr., 55, was the co-CRA rookie of the year with Buster Venard in 1976. "My dad discouraged me from racing sprint cars and my grandpa did too. He wanted me to build and sell things to racers. Now my dad never misses a race." Drivers that Bromme, Jr. helped win sprint car championships are the late Dean Thompson, and aboard the Chaffin No. 50 retired Richard Griffin, Damion Gardner and now Spencer. At the starting line during an 8:30 pm intermission Holt also interviewed retiring Jones, his wife Tammy, some of his fellow drivers and sponsors. Tony said, "Support the sport. Bring a friend." Tony talked on the infield PA microphone about Glenn Howard. "He was the greatest, always giving to everybody. He believed in God and living your life right and was an inspiration to all of us." Champion Spencer spoke about Glenn also. "He did a lot for the sport and got organizations going (SCRA and USAC-CRA). My dad even drove at least once for Glenn." Kazarian added, "Glenn Howard was a key man in getting The PAS track started in 1996." During the evening, long-time CRA sprint car driver and car owner Lee Robison was remembered. Lee, 74, died from cancer Thursday morning, November 6, 2008. His funeral service was held Friday morning, November 14 in San Diego. Lee's son-in-law is USAC TQ-Midget, Western Midget and USAC 360 sprint car driver Scott Hansen, who raced until recent years out of Simi Valley. ... SPRINT CAR INFO.-- The No. 71 Leffler-owned sprint car that Gardner drove to second place behind Jones in the November 29 PAS feature was a Beast chassis. The backup chassis in the hauler was an Eagle. Gardner drove a different Eagle chassis in the October 30-November 1 PAS Oval Nationals and that car was wiped out a week later at Manzanita Speedway during a Western World Championship wild flip. The No. 27 Kershaw sprint car driven by Ed McWilliams, of San Diego, is a 2000 Victory chassis, one of three ever built. It's like a Richard Harvey-built Stinger chassis according to members of the team. |
