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Kaplan
Strong in CASA/USAC “Best in the West” Return to All American
Roseville By Glenn Hopper |
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5-26-07 – Roseville, CA --- Following up a strong run in the “Best in the West” opener, Chico’s Ryan Kaplan kept the ball rolling in sprint car racing’s triumphant return to Roseville’s All American Speedway with a stellar performance capturing the 50 lap CASA/USAC feature event in front of a huge crowd anxious to see the return of high powered open wheelers to the high banks after a 30 plus year absence. To the best recollection of many sources, sprint cars have not competed at the immaculate Placer County Fairgrounds facility since the early to mid 1970’s. The Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) looks to have been the last pure sprint car event to run the high banked quarter mile in 1972 or 1973 and sources seem divided (or unsure) as to who may have won that last event but the leading candidates appear to be 2-time NARC champion, the late great, Mike McCreary or perhaps Bill McCormick. The 1973 and 1974 seasons saw the original Golden State/Golden West Classic open competition series run a couple 100 lappers at All American Speedway and it is believed in 1973, Dave Bowling won in Dave Hail's #98 Bob Allinger built semi-offset super modified, and the 1974 race saw Massachusetts Hall of Famer Ollie Silva take the checkers in his own black #0 sprinter. History aside, sprint car racing was enthusiastically welcomed to the newly remodeled speedway and the near capacity crowd gasped each time a new speed record was set in qualifications. When the transponder based sessions were complete nearby resident Greg Anderson established the new track record at 12.711 seconds at 94.405 MPH to set the standard and top the 16 car field and collect a $100 cash bonus generously offered by Penny Racing Supply. 13 of the 16 drivers who attempted qualifications topped the 90 mile per hour average speed. With several divisions competing, track management limited heat races and made sure the CASA/USAC “Best in the West” feature would run at an optimum time for both track conditions and fan enjoyment. The 50 lap feature was summoned to the track for a 7:30 PM start. With the sun behind the packed grandstand and the track still warm from the near summer-like afternoon, young Ford Focus graduate Laura Hayes in her first sprint car run, took her eighth fast qualifying time to the pole position along side fellow young gun Tanner Swanson, also making his graduation to sprinters, in his family’s #17 substituting for big brother Kody who was competing elsewhere. The field formed into a four-abreast parade lap which was greeted by cheers loud enough to drown the sound of 16 idling 700+ horsepower, sparkling, chromed, candy painted, fuel injected sprint cars as they prepared to do battle on the high banked third mile challenge that lay ahead. They formed back into rows of two and the action was ready to commence. As the youngest front row in recent memory brought the field perfectly to the green flag, Hayes darted into the lead down low while Swanson darted well out of the grove and perilously close to the crashwall before gathering his mount several positions from the lead. The field all shuffled and battled for position under suddenly difficult conditions that displayed themselves before the second lap could be completed. 14th starting Garret Peterson’s mount had left a thin trail of oil during the parade lap that went undetected by many until he spun coming off turn two and down the back straight. Young Swanson, as well as the entire field, had shown great skill and car control in navigating under such slippery conditions and all were able to continue racing with the exception of Peterson who headed to the pits for the evening. After some careful and efficient cleanup by the track crew, racing resumed with Hayes again making good on the start, however 2006 CASA rookie of the Year Joe Helberg had something to say as he pressured Hayes from the restart in an effort to take the top spot. The top six runners began to separate themselves slightly from the pack with Oregon’s Brian Geiszler pressing hard from third and Jimmy Sills, whose most recent pavement sprint car event was in 2002, chased some youngsters and defended himself from others as part of what he referred to as a “dusting myself off” return to the cockpit. Sills was subbing for defending CASA/USAC champ Tony Hunt who was back in Anderson, Indiana to compete in the “Little 500”. Sills was quickly assimilated back to task as he and Kaplan escalated their battle behind the leaders and under the pressure provided by Shauna Hogg and fast-timer Anderson who were hot on the heels of the battle. Helberg’s relentless pressure netted him the lead as he slipped low past Hayes in turn four of lap 12. One lap later Geiszler made contact with Hayes trying to wrest second spot away and spun himself out of the top three for a second caution flag. When racing resumed Helberg maintained the point and the laps began clicking off quickly. Lap 20 saw Jessica Helberg exit to the pits and by lap 25 Kaplan was now nipping at Joe Helberg’s rear bumper. The two had separated a good distance ahead of the balance of the field but it was apparent Kaplan was capable of pressing harder in challenging than was Helberg in defending and on lap 27 Kaplan shot into the lead after a lap long side by side dual. Two-time CASA champ Nick Rescino, Jr. retired from the fray on lap 30 but the action was still hot and heavy as Sills and Anderson nudged and nerfed each other for position and all the leaders were engaged in lapped traffic. With just ten laps remaining Kaplan’s superiority was apparent as he stretched his lead to a full straightway over Helberg, Hayes, and the tight cluster of Sills, Anderson, Hogg and now Swanson who had worked his way back to the front pack. Lap 42 saw the caution wave again as Geiszler spun for the second time. With his large lead wiped out, Kaplan again had Helberg at his heals for the restart. With cooler tires Helberg mounted his charge but Kaplan would have nothing to do with it, and undeterred, set about reestablishing his dominance over the field. As the flagman prepared to wave the white flag over Kaplan indicating but a single go-round to seal his victory, in heavy traffic Anderson spun to the infield and out of contention. The white flag waved as scheduled. And .333 miles later Kaplan’s beautiful #21 blasted under a pair of fluttering black and white checkered flags to huge applause from the assembled crowd who witnessed not only a great victory but a great realization that sprint car racing had been sorely missed, and would always be welcomed, throughout the greater metropolitan Sacramento area. The finishing order on this historic return to All American Speedway read Ryan Kaplan with the impressive win, Jo-Jo Helberg with a well earned second, Laura Hayes impressing all with third place in her first run, Roseville resident Shauna Hogg in a fine drive claimed fourth and Tanner Swanson, who like Hogg, took full advantage of the traffic complications of lap 48 netted a top five finish in his first ride in the family owned sprinter. Fresh from “dusting” himself off, semi-retired superstar Jimmy Sills captured sixth, Jim Kaiser in the team car to Sills ran a solid seventh, Geiszler returned to run eighth, Eric Humphries was ninth and Anderson netted enough laps to salvage tenth after running so well. First time “Best in the West” competitor Richard Bailey of Bailey Brothers Engine fame ran 11th, Alan Harney finished 12th. Scott Clough who departed just before the end of the race with a fuel leak was credited with 13th, Rescino was 14th, Jessica Helberg was 15th, and Peterson was scored in position 16. Next up: CASA will co-sanction with USAC Western States for round 3 of the “Best in the West Series” when Altamont Raceway’s ultra-fast half mile hosts the sprinters at speeds approaching 150 MPH, Saturday June 16th. For more information on CASA activity, visit www.casaracing.com QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Greg Anderson 12.711 94.405 MPH (NTR) 2. Brian Geiszler 12.279 3. Shauna Hogg 12.772 4. Jo-Jo Helberg 12.847 5. Ryan Kaplan 12.859 6. Jimmy Sills 12.899 7. Tanner Swanson 12.902 8. Laura Hayes 12.928 9. Jim Kaiser 12.990 10. Nick Rescino, Jr. 13.025 11. Jessica Helberg 13.037 12. Eric Humphries 13.103 13. Richard Bailey 13.227 14. Garrett Peterson 14.002 15. Alan Harney 15.025 16. Scott Clough 15.949 FEATURE: (50 laps) NT 1. Ryan Kaplan 2. Joe Helberg 3. Laura Hayes 4. Shauna Hogg 5. Tanner Swanson 6. Jimmy Sills 7. Jim Kaiser 8. Brian Geiszler 9. Eric Humphries 10. Greg Anderson 11. Richard Bailey 12. Alan Harney 13. Scott Clough (DNF-Fuel Leak) 14. Nick Rescino, Jr. (DNF-Unknown) 15. Jessica Helberg (DNF- Unknown) 16. Garrett Peterson (DNF-Oil Leak) FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-12, Hayes; 13-26, Joe Helberg; 27-50, Kaplan CASA Point Standings as of 5/26/2007 Driver Points 1 Joe Helberg 105 2 Jim Kaiser 94 3 Scott Clough 88 4 Jessica Helberg 82 5 Kody Swanson 54 6 Tony Hunt 53 7 Tanner Swanson 52 8 Matt DeMartini 45 Alan Harney 45 2007 “Best in the West” Series Points as of 5/26/2007 Driver Points Change 1 Ryan Kaplan 117 +3 Joe Helberg 117 +2 3 Shauna Hogg 112 +3 4 Greg Anderson 107 +1 5 Brian Geiszler 106 +3 6 Eric Humphries 104 +3 7 Jim Kaiser 101 +7 8 Scott Clough 97 +5 9 Jessica Helberg 91 +7 Nick Rescino, Jr. 91 +8 11 Kody Swanson 60 -10 12 Tony Hunt 59 -11 13 Laura Hayes 58 NA 14 Tanner Swanson 56 NA 15 Jimmy Sills 55 NA 16 Brian McClish 54 -9 17 Evan Funk 51 -7 18 Dave Gilmore 50 -7 Richard Bailey 50 NA 20 Alan Harney 49 NA 21 Anthony Simone 48 -8 22 Matt DeMartini 46 -7 23 Garrett Peterson 45 NA |
