PHOENIX, AZ, September 15 --
Not since the inaugural Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) event has the
significance of a race being held seemed more important than the final outcome,
but that was exactly the case Saturday night at the Manzanita Speedway in light
of the recent terrorist attacks against the United States.
Tony Jones won the 30 lap main event on a night that will likely be remembered
more for the patriotism that was displayed than for Jones giving his car owner
Mike Wall his first ever SCRA victory during the running of the
Hall of Fame Classic. Fans and participants alike seemed eager to
celebrate freedom, while providing donations to a relief fund that was
established for the families of the victims. Before the evening's racing,
every person the
entire pit area stood on the front straight and joined the main grandstand in
the singing of our National Anthem.
It was an emotional scene, but one that never would have been experienced had
Manzanita Speedway promoter Keith Hall followed the wave of sports cancellations
throughout the country. Ultimately, Hall felt that is was
important to race and was rewarded with one of his largest crowds of the season.
"We decided to go ahead and continue racing because we are not going to let
our enemies change our style of life," Hall adamantly stated.
"About 90% of the people that called us wanted us to run tonight.
It's been five days now, and I think people want to do more than just sit around
and watch the tragedies that occurred in New York and Washington, so we elected
to go ahead and race."
SCRA President Ron Shuman celebrated his 49th birthday and during intermission
was formally inducted into the Arizona Motorsports Hall of Fame along with Hall
and motorcycle great Bryon Boaz. During the week, Shuman
wrestled with whether to follow other sanctioning bodies and postpone the event.
Upon reflection, Shuman felt it was best to race as scheduled.
"One of the first things that I heard President Bush say was that we need
to carry on with our daily duties because we would be giving in to what the
terrorists want," Shuman said. "We were supposed to race here
tonight, so we
figured that we'd go on and do what we were supposed to do and not give into the
terrorist ways and put a show on for the folks. I'm not much of a politician,
but from what I've seen watching the news we're suppose to carry
on like normal. This is what's normal to us and we're going to keep on
going."
Through the years, Rip Williams has proven he know what it takes to keep going
as well. Before the race, Williams proclaimed that he was here because
"racing is part of the American way." Williams went on win his
second JE Pistons Dash of the season giving the Sharon Jory / Vista Paint No. 3
Gambler the pole for the main event.
Outside front row starter Danny Sheridan ran second to Williams until he dropped
out with a brake problem on the fifth lap. SCRA Champion Richard Griffin
moved into the second position. In an earlier statement, Griffin
encouraged "everyone to come together and go forward." As if by
example, Griffin quickly moved forward and was in a position to challenge for
the lead by the ninth lap despite being half a straight-away behind Williams at
the
time he gained the second spot. Unfortunately for Griffin, he would bring
out the only yellow flag of the race three circuits later after a large clod of
dirt apparently knocked his fuel line loose and he coasted to a stop.
The race restarted with the Harlan Willis / WorldGate Networks No. 45 TCR driven
by Cory Kruseman in the runner-up spot. Jones, who had started eighth, now
occupied the third position. Despite dropping a cylinder a few laps
earlier, Jones pulled off a lap 21 slide job on Kruseman and instantly had the
Mike Wall Trucking No. 37 Avenger within striking distance of Williams.
One lap later, Jones executed a picture perfect turn three slide
job to take the lead.
Once out front, Jones pulled away from the rest of the field and went on to win
his third SCRA main event of the season. Remarkably, Jones's victory came
in only his third start behind the wheel of the John Vermeer prepared
machine.
"I usually dedicate all my wins to my son Kyle, but tonight I'd also like
to include all the people and families affected by the tragedies this week.
God bless every one of them back there and my prayers are definitely with
them," Jones said in victory lane. "We came out here tonight to
show everyone that we're not shutting down. We a had a big crowd here
tonight and we all saluted the flag before the races and all I can say is that
it was an honor
for me to win tonight."
Williams and Kruseman joined Jones on the podium. Troy Rutherford, who
ranks third in series points behind Kruseman and Griffin, drove the Jack Gardner
Jr., No. 4 Sled to a fourth place finish ahead of the BRAT Racing / B&R
Automotive entry driven by Bob Ream, Jr. With a miniature pair of American
flags proudly waving from the back of his rollcage, Charles Davis, Jr. won his
second straight Sander Engineering Fast Time Award in time trials. Jerry
Coons, Jr. took a break from his midget schedule and won the TW Metals Hard
Charger Award with his 17th to sixth place run in the main event.
###
SCRA RACE #31 - MANZANITA SPEEDWAY, PHOENIX, AZ
Date of Race: 09/15/01
SANDER ENGINEERING TIME TRIALS
1. Charles Davis, Jr, Chandler AZ, Morales 94 , 19.132
2. Rickie Gaunt, Torrance CA, M&B Racing 5X , 19.156
3. Troy Rutherford, Ojai CA, Gardner, Jr 4 , 19.251
4. Richard Griffin, Silver City NM, Chaffin 50 , 19.275
5. Cory Kruseman, Ventura CA, Willis 45, 19.303
6. Steve Ostling, Corona CA, Fischer Mtrspts 29 , 19.389
7. Mike English, Norwalk CA, Priestley 7 , 19.393
8. Mike Boat, Glendale, AZ, Boat 74, 19.394
9. Tony Jones, Corona CA, Wall 37, 19.409
10. Rip Williams, Yorba Linda CA, Jory 3 , 19.418
11. Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria CA, Sertich 92 , 19.446
12. Lance Gremett, San Marcos CA., Gremett 85 , 19.454
13. Bob Ream, Jr., Glendale, AZ, BRAT Racing 8, 19.478
14. Jeremy Sherman, Phoenix AZ, Ellis 21, 19.567
15. John Scott, Hesperia CA, Scott Mtrsprts 83 , 19.573
16. Mike Kirby, Lomita CA, M&B Racing 5, 19.684
17. Mike Spencer, (R) Temecula CA, Engstrom 44, 19.695
18. Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, AZ, Coons, Sr. 12A, 19.759
19. Ronnie Clark, (R) Tucson AZ, Winter 33 , 19.785
20. Cal Smith, Montclair CA, Francis 65 , 19.934
21. Bobby Graham, Riverside CA, Lancaster 14, 20.096
22. Paul Beregszaszy, Glendale, AZ, Bereg Racing 5B, 20.288
23. Michael Hinrichsen, (R) Lakeside CA, Lake Mtrsprts. 16, 20.342
24. Nathan High, Glendale, AZ, High 3A, 20.504
25. Glenn Crossno, (R) Alta Loma CA, Crossno 38, 21.029
26. Jimmy Gardner, (R) Garden Grove CA, Gardner Jr 96 , 21.095
27. Steve Venard, Silverado, CA, Glover 49, No Time
HEDMAN HEDDERS HEAT 1
1. Kirby, 2. Ream, 3. Williams, 4. English, 5. Griffin, 6. Charles Davis, Jr, 7.
Beregszaszy, 8. Crossno, 9. Clark,
SHAVER ENGINES HEAT 2
1. Smith, 2. Spencer, 3. Sherman, 4. Sheridan, 5. Kruseman, 6. Boat, 7. Gaunt,
8. Hinrichsen, 9. Gardner
KSE RACE PRODUCTS / SIMPSON RACE HEAT 3
1. Coons, 2. Graham, 3. Scott, 4. Jones, 5. Gremett, 6. Ostling, 7. High, 8.
Rutherford,
JE PISTONS DASH
1. Williams, 2. Sheridan, 3. Griffin, 4. Kruseman, 5. Ream, 6. Gremett, 7.
English, 8. Jones.
JB ENTERPRISE B FEATURE
1. Davis, 2. Rutherford, 3. Gaunt, 4. Ostling, 5. Clark, 6. Hinrichsen, 7. Beregszaszy,
8. High, 9. Crossno, 10. Venard, 11. Gardner, 12. Boat.,
A FEATURE (30 Laps)
1. Jones, 2. Williams, 3. Kruseman, 4. Rutherford, 5. Ream, 6. Coons, 7. Gaunt,
8. Sherman, 9. Gremett, 10. Kirby, 11. Scott, 12. Ostling, 13. English, 14.
Hinrichsen, 15. Graham, 16. Davis, 17. Spencer, 18. Clark, 19.
Smith, 20. Beregszaszy, 21. Griffin, 22. Sheridan.
Laps Led: Williams 1-21, Jones 22-30
SCRA DRIVER Point Standings as of: 09/02/01
CAR NAME
HOMETOWN
STARTS POINTS
1. 45 Cory Kruseman
Ventura CA
31 2142
2. 50 Richard Griffin
Silver City NM
29 1845
3. 4 Troy
Rutherford Ojai CA
31 1802
4. 5 Mike
Kirby
Lomita CA
31 1684
5. 83 John Scott
Hesperia CA
31 1606
6. 3 Rip
Williams Yorba
Linda CA
31 1441
7. 5X Rickie Gaunt
Torrance CA
31 1416
8. 29 Steve Ostling
Corona CA
30 1335
9. 7 Mike English
Norwalk CA
30 1292
10. 94 Charles Davis, Jr
Chandler AZ
30 1171
11. 37 Tony Jones
Corona CA
20 1040
12. 92 Danny Sheridan
Santa Maria CA
30
1036
13. 2IJ Troy Cline
Santa Clarita CA
19
870
14. 19 Rodney Argo
Gardena CA
23 781
15. 85 Lance Gremett
San Marcos CA
31 635
16. 99 Adam Mitchell
Escondido CA
27 588
17. 16 Michael Hinrichsen(R) Lakeside
CA
31 584
18. 69 Jarrett Chaney
Clovis CA
16 477
19. 14 Bobby Graham
Riverside CA
22 469
20. 33 Ronnie Clark
(R) Tucson AZ
30 451
