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MARCH
15, 2008 --- All 4 primary divisions plus the Nor Cal Dwarf Cars will bring in the 40th Anniversary Season at Paul and Kathy Hawes’ Marysville Raceway Park this Saturday night March 22nd. The monster 5-division event will be staged on the lightning fast, newly configured clay oval. The Winged Sprint Cars and the equally thrilling Wingless Sprint Cars will headline the show. The MRP Street Stocks and MRP Mini Stocks will also be on the ambitious opening night card..
The MRP RACECAR SHOW is also scheduled for Saturday from 11AM until 3PM and will pay 50 championship points toward the 2008 class championships when you bring your car. All drivers who enter their cars into the show will be awarded. The show will be staged at Les Schwab Tires in Linda. The facility is but a mile or so from the track. The points will become permanent when the driver joins. Remember that if you intend to compete for championship points (and take advantage of the 50 points available at the car show) you must join before event #4 on the MRP calendar. NOT EVENT #4 IN YOUR CLASS BUT EVENT #4 ON THE CALENDAR. You must have your paperwork and your fees paid before the APRIL 12th Fallen Racer Memorial Event. Please notify the promoters or this observer if you intend to run for Rookie of the Year in any one of the 4 primary divisions. This year a family ticket will be available. 2 adults and two children under 12 will be admitted for just $25.
The buzz is that the Winged Sprint Cars will see the return of 3-time champion Korey Lovell of Yuba City. Lovell’s enthusiastic attitude was apparent at the last test sessions. Lovell seems dead set on becoming MRP’s only 4 time Winged Sprint Car champion. The problem with that is that there are a couple of other hot shoes that may have different ideas. Lovell has won often at his home track. Only the other 3-time champion (Colby Wiesz) has more victories at MRP than Lovell. And that number is 5. Wiesz runs a limited schedule and is not scheduled to appear at MRP very often, if at all, this year. Maybe Lovell’s return could prompt Wiesz to challenge for the crown, but that seems unlikely. Lovell ran a limited schedule at MRP last year and as the season drew to a close he was winning with alarming frequency. When he didn’t win he had flat tires and a host of other problems that prohibited from winning while challenging for the checkers.
Defending champion Jeremy Burt has not made this observer aware of his plans for 2008. If Burt defends his title, he could easily upset the applecart. Burt only seems to improve each and every year. Smooth, steady and a wickedly fast qualifier, Burt is one to watch.
Then there are a couple of gents from the Performance Auto Supply stable that have their eyes on the ring. Brandon and Cort Dozier have both been chargers in recent seasons. Cort is a former champion in the northern California stock car wars, as is Brandon. Both own a fist full of feature wins at MRP in the Winged Sprint Car division. Both drivers have a wild, high-flying style that keeps spectators on the edge of their collective seats. Cort seems poised for a mistake-free, calculated season. Promoter Hawes has intimated to this observer that Cort has been quite vocal about wanting the championship this year. By the same token, Brandon has been eerily quiet. If Brandon and Cort can have the seasons they are capable of, this might be a one-two punch that no one will be able to compete with. Some “big picture” racing this year would help both causes. But, mistakes and a healthy dose or two of incredibly bad luck have cost both the Doziers heavily in the points from time to time. Brandon’s 2-week suspension was disastrous last year. Adding a typical number of points that Brandon likely would have accumulated in those races to his point total, he would have been in the thick of the championship hunt. Cort simply didn’t show on occasion last season and still placed 3rd in the final standings.
MRP’s very own “Madman”, Mike Monahan could be the spoiler in all of this. The Sparks Nevada charger had his own share of luckless nights in 2007. They were early enough in the season that the veteran was well out of the points hunt. He decided to pick and choose his races during mid-season, but returned late and was a force to be reckoned with. Monahan wouldn’t be far off if he thought MRP owed him a couple after last year’s runs. Some of the headlines that surrounded Monahan’s year at MRP and elsewhere included, “crashed while leading”, “flat while leading” and “broke while leading”. Still, this observer has never met anyone who expresses his love of driving a sprint car more eloquently than Monahan. The sprinters have burned him and nearly killed him and he still displays an incredible hammer down style. Monahan won it all in 2004. He could do it again.
How’s this for a wild card…Geoff Duppman ran only a few times in 2007. But, when he showed up, he passed people. On one occasion (July 1st) he went from last to 1st with a last lap pass to boot! Duppman is another loose cannon that seems to really go fast when he hits the MRP clay. If the Duppman clan decides to compete for the championship it could be a very interesting year.
This observer would like to see 2-time champ Mike Wasina Jr. take another shot at the title. Not only is he a murderously quick qualifier, he’s a great late race passer. Wasina seems to have other interests these days that keeps his sprint car driving opportunities at a minimum. But, last year he and dad Mike Sr. brought some speed and innovation to MRP. Who can forget the trick front end on Sr.’s car?
In the Wingless Sprinters, 2007 Champion Pat Russum will not be back to defend his title. This will throw it wide open for a host of contenders. Russum will test the asphalt this year. Elbows up victories by Jeremy Hawes in late season action last year may well make him the favorite this year. Hawes had a number of distractions that kept him off of the track for most of 2007. But, when he returned he was on fire. If Russum was the bar, Hawes raised it when he showed up. Hawes seems to be ready to contest the championship for real this time. If he runs all the races, this observer sees but a handful of drivers who can maintain the pace that is likely to be set by the “Flyin’ Ford”.
Mark Hill is one of those chauffeurs that can get the job done. But, if what he is saying comes to pass, he’ll miss a few shows. The other real threat could be Sacramento’s John Anderson. Anderson, aboard Bill Felver’s #21, accumulated the most points per performance of any driver in the class last year. He won feature events…when he showed. He won an uncanny number of heat races…when he showed. So, it follows, that if he shows he’ll win his share. He could be the champion with that kind of winning percentage.
Another young lion waiting in the wings for a break-through season is Tim Sherman Jr. 3rd in points last year with a consistent effort, his late season runs were exemplary. Sherman is starting to pass people with regularity. That bodes well for his chances this season.
2007 Rookie of the Year Eddie Gardner may well be ready for the next step. Gardner has new power for 2008. Gardner kind of quietly crept into the top 5 last year in his inaugural sprint car season. While winning often may be a way off yet, getting to victory lane is a definite possibility. Combined with the consistency he showed last year, Gardner could be in the hunt all year.
Then there’s Phillip Shelby. What will the 2-time MRP Street Stock champion do in his rookie year? This observer thinks he’ll be fast right out of the box. If there was a rookie contender who could take it all, it could be Shelby. Getting a couple of good, solid early season finishes without making the dreaded “rookie mistakes” might just get Shelby the springboard he needs to propel him into a contender. The early races will decide it for Shelby. Consistency and getting some valuable points early on will be key.
And where will Jerry Bartlett fit into all of this? His new sprinter hasn’t been seen since the big crash on playday.
The fendered divisions are up for grabs. None of 2007’s champions will be returning to defend their titles (unless Heather Bartlett has a change of heart). That opens it up…bigtime.
The MRP Street Stocks are in a bit of a transition with rule changes that will be in effect this year. The rules, however, have been locked in for 5 years. There will be incentive to build and compete in this class for, hopefully, many years to come. 2007 MRP Mini Stock champion Lisa Shelby will saddle up in the familiar #88 livery. She will make the switch that her brother made so successfully some time ago. How she’ll do as a rookie is the magic question.
The odds-on favorite, however, must be Jeff Olschowka. Olschowka was monster fast all season last year. If he didn’t break, he usually won…and won big. Only Phillip Shelby and grizzled veteran Jerry Bartlett were able to compete on Olschowka’s level. They are both gone, and unless Billy Knoop decides that another title run is in the cards, I don’t see anyone stopping Olschowka. Jeff has always been fast. He’s a title holder at another track…but, MRP is his HOME track and it’s got to be grating at Olschowka that he has never been champion here. I think he can be.
Knoop is the question mark here. Billy is sharp, confident and very smooth. He could easily parlay those qualities into yet another championship. What about it Billy?…and there’s this blue #25 that is waiting in the wings for a dash of good fortune. Yuba City’s Ray Benkowski looks like he might be poised for a breakout season. Benkowski is charger that had successful seasons at Antioch Speedway prior to his moving to Yuba City. Benkowski has new power this season and could be a real player.
The MRP Mini Stocks title race is simply unpredictable. There are so many fast, capable drivers in this division that simple luck (or lack there of) may decide the championship. It looks like Jamey Ollar and James Foster are going to be very quick right out of the box. If Foster keeps his head on straight he’ll be tough to beat. But, Foster sometimes beats himself. An agonizing suspension last year eliminated Foster’s title hopes. When he got back he continued his winning ways.
Ollar, on the other hand is so quick and winds his mount so tight that he breaks way too often. Jamey puts his #8 in sprint car country (on the cushion) and generally passes at will. If Ollar can keep it underneath him he’ll win a lot.
So will Joel Giusti. I never thought I’d think of this fine young racer as a veteran. But, time and experience has planted him in this role. Giusti was right in it all the way last year after his stellar championship performance in 2006. If you are in his way, he’ll find a way around. He’s good…real good at driving one of these sleek little rockets.
The 3 Merritt Brothers will be a factor if they can get their hot rods finished up and going by opening day. All of them are fast. They just need to find a way to finish. Damian has been fastest lately, but Mike nearly won a title. Shaun Merritt wins nearly every year. It would not surprise me to see the top 10 packed with Merritts again this season.
Then there’s Blane Baker in his potent #40. This racer can do it all, every night. Baker has charged so hard through the field, so often, that it boggles the mind. The problem is that it’s always some early race crash or spin that puts him in the back so he can make these charges to the front. Generally they are not his fault. If Baker gets some breaks this year, he’ll be there. I like his chances a lot.
What about the team of Robert Luster and Alan Furuta? Furuta stunned everyone by getting into the top 5 last year and securing Rookie of the Year honors. Luster, who couldn’t buy a break and even missed shows, still got into the top 10. Luster is due. Furuta is a rising star.
Oh yeah. There’s this guy named Holsey. If Gary runs the season, everyone may be looking at the back of #2.
Something to say?: Drop this observer a line at raceproducer@yahoo.com . Were looking for great racing stories from MRP’s glorious past (or present). Got a great memory or story? Let’s hear it!! If you email it, we’ll print it (within the parameters of good taste and humor).
Don’t forget this one: The Western All Stars Super Late Model extravaganza is on for April 26. Do not miss this show. Visit http://www.westernallstars.com/ to have a look at some of the fantastic racecars that will challenge MRP
Put www.marysvilleracewaypark.com on your “favorites” button on you computer. Watch this site for press releases, updates and complete results.
Note: Please make this observer aware of any names that are misspelled or incorrect. The text is based on information we have at the time of its release. Complete finishes, stats and points become official and available at the close of business on Tuesday and will be posted to the web site.
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