New Tour Trucks class preparing for Orange Show Speedway debut

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (March 4) – It’s always nice to be able to fill a need. Filling two at once is even nicer, and that’s what Best in the West Racing has done with the creation of the Tour Truck class for the 2010 season.

The class is one of four additions to the weekly schedule at Orange Show Speedway, an ASA Member track, and Best in the West owner Rick McCray thinks it will be a positive addition for the racers, the track and the spectators.

It provides a home for racers looking for one and gives the fans another exciting division to follow.

McCray said the class will be open to the trucks that have run in the ASA Speed Truck, Super Truck or Spec Truck and SouthWest or West Coast Pro Truck series, and the rules package now being finalized will include provisions to compensate for the differences in the various trucks and equalize the competition.

“These truck guys just want a place to race,’ said McCray, who is offering potential Tour Trucks entrants a private Test and Tune session from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday (March 5).

The final Test and Tune opportunity for all classes is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (March 6).

“Right now, with the cost of traveling (to races), some people can afford it and some can’t,” McCray added. “If they have a race track they can go to for a weekly series, that’s what they’re going to do. That’s what we’re trying to give them so they’ll have a place to run.”

Jocelyn, who is the owner and crew chief of the car his son Cameron will drive, echoed McCray’s comments in calling it “all a cost deal.” He said the team could have raced all season at Orange Show Speedway for what it spent to run half of the Speed Truck schedule and he was looking for an alternative to another year of part-time competition.

“We just want to come and play. That’s the general consensus with most guys, I think,” said Jocelyn, who’s hopeful the rules package will feature enough cost-control measures to “help the guys who have had the trucks setting in their garages who don’t have the latest of everything so they can get in and race and get these guys who can’t afford to do the tour thing out to Saturday night racing.

“We just want to come play. That’s the general consensus with most guys, I think. And the track wants us. That’s half the battle. They want us.”

The Orange Show Speedway season will open March 20 with a 100-lap Super Late Model race topping a program that will include the Team Too Pony Stocks, Interstate Batteries Factory Fours, Budweiser Legends and M.C. Erectors Bandoleros.

The Tour Trucks will make their debut March 27 along with the JAM Sportswear Late Models, Pick-A-Part Street Stocks, Stock Cars USA and Stock OHV Karts.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

A season ticket good for admission to all events except the Route 66 Rendezvous Burnout also is available for $250 and may be purchased at the speedway box office during the March 6 Test and Tune session or on opening day.

Team Too looking forward to another season of family ties at Orange Show Speedway

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2010) – Team Too, one of the nation’s leading pest control companies, has joined the impressive roster of sponsors partnering with Best in the West Racing for the 2010 season.

The family-owned company this year will sponsor the Team Too Pony Stocks at Orange Show Speedway, an ASA Member Track. It will be Team Too’s initial season as a class sponsor after beginning its affiliation with the track last year by sponsoring the Team Too Heatblast 200 special event.

“We really felt like it was a good match and something that would work real well for us,” Team Too Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Bryan Houtchens said of the decision to become a class sponsor. “We see it as building on the relationship we were able to begin developing last year.

“Last year we did the one race and we thought that was a good opportunity to kind of get started. We got a lot of support from the fans and the racers and it really helped us. People became more aware of what we do and why we do it. We think that’s something that as we go forward we can continue to increase each year.”

Houtchens said in past years the company had been involved in the NASCAR weekends at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, but decided to curtail that involvement this year in order to “do more with ASA and specifically Best in the West.

“One of the things Team Too really promotes is the family aspect,” Houtchens said, “and the folks at Orange Show Speedway, the McCray family (which owns Best in the West Racing) and the racing family really embraced us. We had many of our employees that we didn’t think were interested in being part of the program that became regulars at the track each weekend.”

Team Too was founded by the Houtchens family in the fall of 1978 and the Corona-based company has remained a family enterprise while expanding throughout the West and into the Washington, D.C., area. It has become an industry leader in pest control for commercial buildings, multi-family dwellings and single-family residences with unmatched services and warranties, and is the only company in the nation to have been certified by all of the major environmental agencies.

More information on Team Too Termite and Pest Control may be obtained by calling 1-800-818-TEAM (8326) or by visiting the web site at www.teamtoo.com.

The Team Too Pony Stocks will be one of the featured classes on opening night, March 20. The last of 12 races for the class will be run on the final night of the season, Oct. 23, and could decide what is expected to again be a tense competition between five-time and reigning champion Jim Edmiston, of Highland, and Yucaipa High School senior Robby Hornsby.

Initial practice points to good season of racing at Orange Show Speedway

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Feb. 22) – The first race of the year at Orange Show Speedway is less than a month away and indications are that when the green flag waves on March 20 it will be the start of an extremely interesting and exciting season.

“I’m really anxious to get going. I think it’s going to be a good year for everyone,” Best in the West Racing owner Rick McCray said Saturday afternoon during a Test and Tune session that served as a preview of things to come.

Despite cool temperatures and the threat of rain, teams from San Diego and Orange counties and the High Desert joined those from the Inland Empire, and the vehicles on hand represented a cross-section of the classes that will be in action on the historic, ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval during Best in the West Racing’s second season.

Those classes will include the holdovers from 2009, led by the Super Late Models and JAM Sportswear Late Models; the return of the Pick-A-Part Outlaw Figure 8s; and the addition of USAC sprint cars and midgets, karts, Dwarf cars and a Tour Truck class. That class will incorporate ASA Speed Trucks, SouthWest Tour or West Coast Pro Trucks and similar vehicles.

They’ll all be competing on a regular basis during the season that kicks off with a 100-lap Super Late Model event March 20 and concludes with a 200-lap race for that same class on Oct. 23. There also will be an appearance by the Spears SRL Southwest Tour stock cars April 17 and two visits by the Rockstar Modifieds July 10 and Sept. 11.

There will be racing every Saturday night except April 4 (Easter weekend), May 29 (Memorial Day weekend, when the National Orange Show will be held), and Sept. 25.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

There will be a $5 increase in all ticket prices for the five “special events” on the calendar – the Southwest Tour race, the two Modified appearances and the season-ending 200-lap races for the JAM Sportswear Late Models Oct. 16 and the Super Late Models Oct. 23. The Route 66 Rendezvous Burnout Contest Sept. 18 will have a separate admission price.

However, Best in the West Racing is offering a season ticket, good for all events other than the Burnout Contest, for $250. The season tickets may be purchased at the speedway box office during the second Test and Tune session, March 6, or on opening night.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

McCrays 2nd and 4th in South Africa race

By Jim Short

(Toni McCray, of Highland, a main event winner in the Super Late Model and Late Model divisions at Orange Show Speedway in 2009, finished second in Sunday's (Jan. 31) ASA Transcontinental Free State 500 at the Phakisa Freeway Circuit in Welkom, Free State, South Africa. Her father, Best in the West Racing owner and former NASCAR driver Rick McCray, of Highland, had been forced to cancel his trip early last week for business and personal reasons, but decided late in the week to attend. He arrived on Saturday and finished fourth in the 207-lap, 500-kilometer race.)

Toni McCray, of Highland, the first woman in history to win a Super Late Model main event at Orange Show Speedway, backed up her strong showing in the 2009 Best in the West Racing season with a strong second place finish to John Mickel of the United Kingdom in Sunday's ASA Transcontinental Free State 500 at the 1.5-mile Phakisa Freeway Circuit in Welkom, Free State, South Africa.

McCray, who had qualified sixth, stayed in the top 5 throughout the 207-lap, 500-kilometer race and with just 3 laps to go took the lead when former NASCAR star Geoff Bodine had his 4-second lead erased by engine problems. McCray led into the final lap before Mickel got by and took the checkered flag.

The highlight of the race was watching McCray and her father, former NASCAR driver Rick McCray, swap positions on within the top 5 throughout the race, with Rick finishing fourth. The two never had raced each other before and almost didn't get the opportunity this time. Business and personal reasons had forced Rick McCray to cancel his flight early last week, but the Orange Show Speedway promoter decided late in the week to attend and arrived in South Africa on Saturday.

The top 10:

1. John Mickel, Cambridge, UK, Chevrolet, 207 laps

2. Toni McCray, Highland, Ca., Chevrolet, 207

3. Marc Davis, Silver Springs, Md., Chevrolet, 207

4. Rick McCray, Highland, Ca., Chevrolet, 207

5. Johan Spies, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, Chevrolet, 207

6. Gary Lewis, Bothell, Wash., Chevrolet, 207

7. Tiffany Daniels, Smithfield, Va., Toyota, 207

8. Greg Barnhart, Oklahoma City, Okla., Dodge, 206

9. Geoff Bodine, Chemung, N.Y., Chevrolet, 206

10. Danie Correia, Welkom, Free State, South Africa, Chevrolet, 204

Budweiser strengthens ties with Orange Show Speedway by taking on sponsorship of Legends Cars division

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Jan. 26, 2010) – Budweiser, the legendary American beer, is joining Best in the West Racing and the INEX Legends Cars for an exciting season of racing at Orange Show Speedway.

The Budweiser Legends Cars series will be an integral part of the racing activity at the speedway, with 15 races during the 29-night season that is scheduled to begin March 20 and continue through Oct.16.

The agreement continues and strengthens an association that began last year, when Budweiser became the official beer of Orange Show Speedway and one of the major sponsors for Best in the West Racing’s inaugural season at the historic, ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.

It is, however, the first time Budweiser has elected to sponsor a racing division and Rich Leavitt, director of marketing for Anheuser-Busch Sales of Riverside, said the involvement with the popular, competitive Legends Cars “lets us get our feet wet in terms of a series sponsorship before we look at jumping into a bigger division.

“This is our second year with Best in the West Racing and we believe they’re a first-class organization. We’ve enjoyed our relationship with the McCrays and hope to continue it into the future.

“The benefit of the sponsorship is that it lets us connect with our customer base by being associated with and helping support events and properties that are important to them.”

Rick McCray, the San Bernardino businessman and former NASCAR racer who promotes Orange Show Speedway, said: “We’re extremely proud to be able to continue our association with Budweiser and all the good people at Anheuser-Busch Sales. I’m sure their involvement will raise the interest in the Legends Cars to new levels.”

Legends Cars, which were introduced in April, 1992, are 5/8-scale, full-fendered, fiberglass replicas of the once-popular NASCAR Modifieds powered by 1,250cc Yamaha engines. There are four divisions – Pro (experienced drivers), Masters (40 years old and older), Semi-Pro (novice drivers) and Young Lions (drivers 12 to 16 years old) – and all can be active in the same race.

The first race of the season for the Budweiser Legends Cars will be on opening night, March 20, on a program that also includes Bandoleros, Factory Fours, Pony Stocks and a 100-lap main event for Super Late Models.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Toni McCray's Blog on South Africa Race

By Jim Short

(Toni McCray, of Highland, a main event winner in the Super Late Model and Late Model divisions at Orange Show Speedway in 2009, is in Welkom, Free State, South Africa, to compete in this weekend’s ASA Transcontinental Free State 500 at the Phakisa Freeway Circuit. The 207-lap, 500-kilometer race on Sunday, Jan. 31, is a cooperative effort between the ASA and Motorsports South Africa. The group of 19 American drivers making the trip includes NASCAR veterans Geoff Bodine and Ron Barfield and short-track stars from throughout the nation. Best in the West Racing owner Rick McCray was one of the invitees, but had to cancel for business and personal reasons. Below are some of Toni’s thoughts and impressions on the trip thus far for use at your discretion.)

Wow! What a week it has been so far. Filed all the paperwork and everyone had what they needed to make this exciting journey to South Africa.

My dad and I flew out (Monday) a day earlier than the guys. But we had a little unexpected stop in Phoenix, AZ. Dad (Rick) had to stay to take care of some personal business and I got on a flight Tuesday morning to Atlanta, where I was to meet all the crew. Needless to say, I didn’t have much sleep over the past few days. I guess I better suck it up, as my mom (Sandy) would say.

The guys arrived in Atlanta and of course we stopped at TGI Friday’s for a little dinner before our 15-hour flight to South Africa. Oh, and of course dessert, as we all know that’s my favorite part of a meal.

So we finally board the plane and we are on our way. These poor flight attendants have to deal with all these racers that are loud, wild and a little on the crazy side, but my uncle Larry (McCray) seemed to keep the whole plane entertained all flight long.

After arriving in South Africa and claiming our bags we headed for the bus for a 3-hour drive to the hotel. The natives hounded us for money to help with our bags. And just so you all know, they drive on the opposite side of the road, like maniacs. It was almost dark, but I did get a few pictures of the sun setting on Johannesburg. It was pretty astonishing. Our bus driver seemed to be a little lost, though, and had to stop three times for directions. Kind of scary, I tell you.

We arrived at the hotel and Dennis Huth and the entire ASA staff was there to greet us. We checked into our rooms and got our hard cards and food vouchers for lunch and dinner. Then it was up to the room to shower and go to bed as we had to get up fairly early to go to the track. I talked to my mom and dad and everything was good so I felt a lot better about everything. Plus, dad told me he told everyone he had to come up with some excuse to go home because he couldn’t handle being beat by his daughter. That made me feel so proud and I cannot wait to bring the trophy home to him.

We all met for breakfast in the lobby. Let me tell you the food is very interesting here. Then we headed for the buses to haul us to the race track. When we arrived at the track it was nothing more than a waiting game as Customs had not shown up. So Geoff Bodine took Tif Daniels, Mark Davis and myself for a ride around the track. Then my crew and I walked the track to check out everything. I looked at pickup points and references around the track.

I am ready to go. Once we unload the containers with the cars and pit equipment we’ll prepare the cars for practice tomorrow morning. Tonight we will be going to an Italian restaurant close to the hotel and I have my fingers crossed that I will like it.

Tomorrow (Friday) will be the first time I hit the track in the race car and I cannot wait.

Pick-A-Part expands Orange Show Speedway sponsorship

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Jan. 11) – San Bernardino Pick-A-Part, an Inland Empire leader in the supply and sale of recycled automobile parts and equipment, has expanded its sponsorship of Orange Show Speedway for the 2010 racing season.

The company was one of the first to sign on in support of Rick McCray and Best in the West Racing last year, when it sponsored the Pick-A-Part Street Stocks. This year, it will provide sponsorship for both the Street Stocks and the Pick-A-Part Outlaw Figure 8s.

In addition, racers presenting their Orange Show Speedway membership cards will receive a 10 percent discount on their purchases at the San Bernardino Pick-A-Part, at 434 East 6th Street in San Bernardino.

“Their (speedway) customers are our customers so it will probably work out well for both of us,” said Ted Smith, who also owns Pick-a-Part facilities in Riverside and Hesperia. “I just like being involved in the community.”

Smith for some time has made auto racing one of the primary marketing platforms for his business. He is the oldest continuing sponsor at Perris Auto Speedway, having been with the dirt track since it opened in 1996, and sponsors several drivers, among them Outlaw Figure 8 stars Steve and Rusty Stewart.

“I think that’s (Outlaw Figure 8 racing) the most exciting thing out there, so I don’t mind putting our name on that race, too, and I know Rick will do a good job promoting it,” Smith said of his decision to sponsor a second class this season.

“I appreciate the vote of confidence in Best in the West Racing,” McCray said, “but what I really appreciate is Ted’s willingness to expand San Bernardino Pick-A-Part’s involvement. That kind of support really gives us a chance to be successful at rebuilding the interest in Orange Show Speedway and we’ll do everything we can to make sure Ted and Pick-A-Part want to be here as long as we are.”

Orange Show Speedway’s 2010 season will open March 20 with a program featuring a 100-lap main event for the Super Late Models. The Pick-A-Part Street Stocks will debut March 27, in support of a 100-lap Late Model race, and the opening Pick-A-Part Outlaw Figure 8 event is scheduled for April 21.

ORANGE SHOW SPEEDWAY EXCITED TO RETURN AS AN ASA MEMBER TRACK IN 2010

American Speed Association PR

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Wednesday, December 23, 2009) - If there is one word that Rick McCray, Promoter of Orange Show Speedway, an ASA Member Track in San Bernardino, CA, used a lot lately it's the word "excited." Especially when he talks about the speedway returning as an ASA Member Track in 2010.

"Not whatsoever," when he was asked if there was any hesitancy when it came time to renew his ASA Member Track membership for 2010. "On the promoter side, I am looking for the competitor as well as ourselves, and the insurance is key. It's the best. The insurance policies that ASA has put together for all the members is great and our drivers really like it." McCray said about the policy that the members receive through WSIB Motorsports Insurance which includes coverage from the time they leave home to go to the track, while at the track, and until they return home.

He is also pleased with the service that ASA has provided, "ASA is affordable and accessible where the big guys, you know you could probably make a phone call and be lucky if you got one back. At least, ASA stands besides you and is constantly there for support on the backside." McCray added. "Dennis (Huth, ASA President) made a couple of trips out to our track, and he is a busy guy. He went from one coast to another a few different times and attended our banquet. That says a bunch right there. You know you have his support. Anytime you call the office and have a question, you get an answer immediately. You don't have to go through 20 people, you get a response immediately. That's important."

Last year was a great year for Orange Show Speedway and McCray is optimistic that 2010 will be better. This past season had a great finish, "Three of our divisions came down to the last race so it really hasn't been dominated," McCray recalled. "It has come down the last few laps to determine a champion so it hasn't been a runaway. We had a competitive group of drivers. The racing has gotten better and the cars have gotten faster."

In 2010, fans will see more competitive racing at Orange Show, "We intend to invert all of our races instead of inverting whatever they drew, but invert them all and make them exciting which will more butts in the seats," McCray announced. "Next year it will be better because they are going to start at the back and the way the points are structured, that will give them more points. Not only is it going to be better for them but its going to be better for the crowd because they are not going to have a follow the leader type of a race, they are going to have action packed racing from lap one." This formula may also lead his track to having the 2010 Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track National Champion as well because passing points is one of the equations in the formula used for the National Championship.

Orange Show Speedway has already announced its 2010 schedule and McCray sees the benefits of releasing it now, "We already have our schedule set. We have 26 weeks and it looks pretty good," McCray said. "Our car count kept growing last year. We are really excited that we have our schedule set so our advertising is going to be more effective this year and we look to have a good crowd and a good car count."

"Rick and his team have done an exceptional job at Orange Show Speedway. They definitely fit the mold we are looking for in an ASA Member Track and they are showing a winning formula of being one of the best tracks in the country," Dennis Huth, ASA President said. "They have quickly turned Orange Show into a premiere track in a premiere market. They are an absolute pleasure to work with. Last month I attended their banquet and it had an atmosphere that was unbelievable and awesome."

"ASA's philosophy is to help where we can and network the professionals of this industry," Huth continued to say. "Our ASA Member Tracks and series are a family and we all want to work together and help everyone within our family be successful. Short track racing is alive and strong and our Member Tracks are proving that."

While he is working on his 2010 schedule, McCray is also getting ready along with his daughter Toni to compete in the ASA Transcontinental Series Free State 500 event at the Phakisa Freeway Circuit in Welkom, Free State, South Africa on Sunday, January 31, 2010. "Very excited about that. We have a good group of guys, in fact we have some that went to Australia with me along with a couple of guys that went to Japan," McCray said. "We are very excited that ASA has signed this deal. We are excited to be a part of the first race over there and I think it can bring something towards the future. I think ASA is looking at the bigger picture and not just a one off deal."

When asked if the race came down to him and Toni for the win, who would win? "She will," McCray quickly answered. "She will earn it but she will win. She is going over there for one reason and I am going for another. I am going over to have fun and she is going over to win the race."

TIFF DANIELS & TONI McCRAY LOOK FORWARD TO PROMOTE WOMEN IN RACING IN SOUTH AFRICA

American Speed Association PR

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Friday, December 18, 2009) - The upcoming ASA Transcontinental Series FreeState 500k at the Phakisa Freeway Circuit in Welkom, Free State, South Africa will have a special meaning for all involved. For Tiff Daniels and Toni McCray it's an opportunity to share their passion in another part of the world.

The two female American drivers are honored to be competing in the inaugural event on 31 January 2010 on the 1.5-mile oval. Both are looking forward to the event as well as having the opportunity to meet with future and current female competitors in South Africa and show them that they can be successful in this sport as well.

"It's amazing to be able to have a platform for sending a positive message to young girls," Daniels said. "Racing has provided me with an opportunity to share my story, and highlight the importance of education, self-confidence, being true to yourself, and working hard to achieve your dreams. Through racing, I have also had a chance to meet many of my own role models and people who inspire me to improve with every day."

"This is a huge opportunity and I am very excited and honored to go and compete in this event," McCray said. "To be a role model for some is like being put on a pedestal. They look up to you and want to be like you. It's a great opportunity to tell them to follow their hearts and dreams, that anything is possible. There is so many opportunities in auto racing and you can be successful in it if you put in a lot of effort."

Both Daniels and McCray are looking forward to competing on the Phakisa oval. Daniels is especially looking forward to racing with McCray and her teammate Marc Davis, "The South Africa race is going to be very competitive. There are a lot of talented drivers entered in the race, including my teammate and car owner Marc Davis, and we will be joined by the South African drivers, who will have had some time on the track. ASA has come up with a rules package that should ensure that the cars are very equal, so I expect a lot of tight, door-to-door racing. From the videos I found online, the mile-and-a-half tri-oval should provide for great action, as it looks to be fairly smooth with a wide racing surface that will promote side-by-side multi-groove racing."

McCray has been doing her talking behind the wheel as she won a 100-lap feature event at Orange Show Speedway, an ASA Member Track, back on October 22 where she held off her fellow competitors which included NASCAR competitor David Gilliland. In fact, she had to come through the field twice to win the event by over two seconds to the second place finisher. "I wouldn't trade anything in for what I get to do," McCray said. "It just goes to show that when you work hard, you can be successful."

Both are proud to be successful in this sport but realize they do have a lot to prove, "As a woman in racing, it has been important for me to take steady progressions & not push things," Daniels said. "We have a lot to prove, but we have also been given an amazing opportunity to inspire generations of women (and men!) If you stick to your dreams, never give up, and always approach every challenge with grace, respect & dignity - you will succeed with the right attitude."

Many of the South African fans will have an opportunity to meet Daniels and McCray along with the rest of the competitors during the daily Pit Walkabout each day of the four-day event.

Both have seen their successes through auto racing. Daniels is one of a few females in the sport with an engineering degree. In fact, she graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Carolina - Charlotte's prestigious mechanical engineering department and has high-level job at Earnhardt Ganassi where she works closely with drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and their new driver Jamie McMurray. "My engineering background has proved very useful in my driving career, giving me a solid foundation so I could fully utilize my driving skills," Daniels explained. "Graduating from UNC Charlotte's Motorsports Engineering program and working as an engineer for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates has helped grow my knowledge of the race car, which is particularly useful when diagnosing handling issues on the racetrack, suggesting changes to the setup, and communicating with the crew."

"Tiff and Toni are great role models for today's generation and the next generation of female drivers in the world," Dennis Huth, ASA President said. "Both have each taken their own path to success in this sport and that is something that needs to be shown today. Success in motorsports comes in different ways and they are great examples of this."

To learn more about Phakisa Freeway, visit www.phakisa.com or www.freestate500.com.

To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based American Speed Association call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and regional tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.

ASA™, ASA Racing™ American Speed Association® are trademarks of Racing Speed Associates, LLC. ASA International, LLC or Racing Speed Associates, LLC are not related to or affiliated with ASA Late Model Series, LLC.

New classes, visiting series highlight 2010 racing schedule for Orange Show Speedway

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2009) – The addition of two new classes and appearances by the SRL Spears Southwest Series, Lucas Oil SuperClean Modifieds and USAC open-wheel cars are among the highlights of Best in the West Racing’s 2010 schedule for Orange Show Speedway.

The schedule, which is tentative and subject to change, calls for 29 weeks of racing at the historic quarter-mile paved oval adjacent to the National Orange Show grounds. It will be the 63rd season of competition at the speedway, which is sanctioned by the American Speed Association (ASA), and the second season under the management of Best in the West Racing, Inc.

The season is scheduled to get under way March 20, 2010, with a 100-lap Super Late Model event and conclude Oct. 16 with a 200-lap race for the same division. There will be racing every Saturday night except on Easter weekend (April 3) and Memorial Day weekend (May 29), when the National Orange Show Festival is in progress.

Super Late Models and Late Models will continue to be the track’s premier divisions, but there have been some changes in the supporting cast. Classes for Dwarf Cars and Stock OHV Karts have been added and there are no events scheduled for the Pro 4 division. The USAC Western Sprint cars, Ford Focus Midgets and Junior Focus Midgets and National Midget Racing Association Three-Quarter Midgets will make multiple appearances as well.

The SRL Spears Southwest Tour will make its Orange Show Speedway debut on April 17 and the Lucas Oil SuperClean Modifieds are scheduled for July 10 and Sept. 11.

Click here for the complete 2010 Race Schedule.

Orange Show Speedway champions honored in “electric” dinner ceremony

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Nov. 22, 2009) – Best in the West Racing honored the 2009 Orange Show Speedway champions Saturday night with a beautifully-executed dinner and awards ceremony at the San Bernardino Hilton Hotel.

The evening was a celebration of the successful completion of Best in the West Racing Inc.’s inaugural season promoting weekly racing programs at the historic quarter-mile oval adjacent to the National Orange Show grounds.

Farmers Insurance Group sponsored the ceremony.

Best in the West president Rick McCray thanked the racers, his staff and the public for their cooperation and enthusiasm during what many termed a year of rebirth for the 62-year-old facility. Dennis Huth, whose American Speed Association sanctions the activity at the track, said during his remarks that he seldom had attended a banquet with such a positive, electric atmosphere and added his praise for all involved in the effort.

The track was without a promoter and in danger of being closed until McCray signed a long-term lease on the afternoon of Feb. 15. The owner of a San Bernardino truck repair business and former NASCAR race winner, McCray outlined his plans to an estimated 200 attendees at a public meeting just hours after signing the lease and began making improvements.

Timing and scoring was modernized by the use of transponders, concrete pads were laid in the pits, a superb sound system was installed and the services of famed announcer Bruce Flanders obtained, new vendors solicited and the cadre of officials assembled.

The season opened March 28 with a program headlined by the premier Super Late Model class and closed Oct. 24 with the Lucas Oil/Pick-A-Part Outlaw Figure 8 West Coast Championship, a late addition to the schedule.

Opening night turned out to be a harbinger of things to come, with Mark Shackleford of Riverside winning the Super Late Model main, Jim Edmiston of Highland capturing the JAM Sportswear Pony Stock feature and Chad Schug of Oak Hills taking the Legends Cars race. All three went on to win their class championships.

It was the second Super Late Model title and the seventh championship overall for Shackleford and the fifth Pony Stock crown and sixth championship overall for Edmiston.

The other repeat champions were Johnny Russo of Big Bear City, who won his sixth Pick-A-Part Street Stock title, and Don Minut of Moreno Valley, who took home his second Pro 4 trophy.

The roll call of first-time champions included Schug, Ryan Daniel of Mentone (Late Model), Dwayne Blay of Riverside (Factory Four), Tom Whitson of Lake Elsinore (Stock Cars USA), Dave Foster of Riverside (USA Figure 8) and Aaron Anderson of Lancaster (Bandoleros).

All were presented with trophies, awards and champions’ jackets.

McCray and his wife, Sandy, were given several standing ovations during the evening.

Planning for the 2010 season is well under way, with both the competition rule book and a tentative schedule expected to be available this week.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

Washington drivers take top spots in Outlaw Figure 8 championship to cap Orange Show Speedway season

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2009) – The Gundersons of Maple Valley, Wash., made the Lucas Oil/Pick-A-Part Outlaw Figure 8 West Coast Championships a family affair Saturday night.

Nick Gunderson won the 200-lap, $25,000 affair at Orange Show Speedway and his father, Brian Gunderson, teamed with Bill Wade to finish second, one lap behind the winner and 17 laps ahead of third-place Jerry Toporek, of Venice, Calif.

Those finishes were worth a total of $11,600 to the Gunderson-Wade combine. Nick got $7,500 for the victory, Brian shared the $3,500 runner-up prize with Wade and both got $300 in tow money to partially reimburse them for making the 1,200-mile trip. Toporek took home $2,500 for third.

The race, which was placed on the schedule only about eight weeks ago, brought Best in the West Racing’s inaugural season at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile to a close, and about 4,500 spectators were on hand to see it.

Unfortunately, the late addition of the race, the depressed economy, indirect interference by a nearby track and what West Coast organizer Rod Proctor said at the drivers’ meeting was “too much faith” in other racing organizations combined to keep the entry list from reaching the hoped-for level of 20 cars or more. Then a myriad of mechanical problems befell many of those who were in attendance.

Corey Turner, of Indianapolis, the only Midwest driver to make the trip, won the pole and led by more than 5 seconds before his motor broke on lap 41 of the opening segment. Engine maladies also struck Proctor, of Riverside, who took the lead when Turner broke, and Greg Scott, of Monroe, Wash., while Harry Kuenigger, of San Bernardino, was hampered by driveshaft problems.

There were 13 starters in the opening segment, which Nick Gunderson finished a lap ahead of his father, but only seven made an appearance for the second 100 laps, in which Toporek moved from fifth to third ahead of Proctor and Jay Henson, of Oak Hills, Calif.

Big payday awaits Outlaw Figure 8 winner Saturday night at Orange Show Speedway

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Oct. 20) – The figures that matter in Figure 8 this week are $25,000 and $7,500.

The first is the amount of the guaranteed purse the best Figure 8 racers in the country will be competing in Saturday’s International Outlaw Figure 8 West Coast Championships at Orange Show Speedway.

The second is the amount the winner will take home after surviving 200 laps of intense, high-speed competition on the course that bisects the infield of the quarter-mile, ASA-sanctioned oval.

It’s enough money to make the race attractive to the top drivers in other areas, and early entries have been received from seven Washington state teams and a trio of Midwest stars. They’ll join a strong local group headed by Rod Proctor, of Riverside, “Barefoot Billy” Ziemann, of Bloomington, and Steve Stewart, of Long Beach.

Charlie Hargraves, one of the founders of the International Outlaw Figure 8 Series (IOFS), and Proctor worked with Best in the West Racing boss Rick McCray to put this race together with the hope that it will become an annual event and lead to more national competition.

The event was added to the calendar too late in the current season for many of the out-of-state teams to include it in their budgets or make definite commitments to attend, but the number of entries is expected to grow throughout the week and Proctor is confident there will be about two dozen entries by race day.

Hargraves, who was second in the IOFS standings, will be making the trip from Indianapolis, Ind., along with Eddie Van Meter and Corey Turner. The Washington contingent will be led by the Gunderson family -- father Brian and sons Ryan and Nick.

The cars must run on 10-inch tires and weigh a minimum of 2,200 pounds, and traction control and tire treating are prohibited. Other than that, it’s pretty much anything goes. Some of the cars will have aerodynamic wings, some won’t, and some of them might be Super Late Models or Late Models since this is an open competition.

The race will be run in two 100-lap segments divided by an intermission and Olympic scoring will be used, with the final standings determined by the drivers’ aggregate finishes.

Shackleford wins Super Late Model title when White breaks with 2 laps to go and Manke wins the 100-lap finale at Orange Show Speedway

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Oct. 17, 2009) – Mark Shackleford called Saturday night’s 100-lap Super Late Model main event “absolutely insane” and it would be hard to quarrel with that description.

John Manke won the race, Shackleford won the championship when Linny White’s car rolled to a stop with two laps to go, there were 10 caution flags, the electronic scoring quit working for awhile and a good time was had by all at Orange Show Speedway.

White, the 2008 champion, said his bid for a second straight title turned into a case of “championship blues. If there was an accident, I was in the middle of it.” It was damage sustained in some of those incidents that contributed to the motor and rear end problems that left him parked in the infield of the quarter-mile oval while Shackleford was chasing Manke to the finish.

Shackleford, the 2004 champion, had started the double points race 6 points behind White. He finished 14 ahead.

“I feel horrible for Linny White,” he said. “He was better than me all night. My tires went away and I was slipping and sliding all over the place. But hey, I won.”

Manke, the fourth leader, got the top spot on lap 83 when he passed White, who had been sent to the back of the field after an incident just five laps into the race. Following Manke and Shackleford across the line were Barry Karr, early leader Glen Cummings and David Ross.

Earlier, Chad Schug, of Oak Hills, got his first Legends Cars title, but literally had to sweat out the final 7 laps of a 35-lap race won by Cale Kanke, of Granada Hills. Schug, who went into the event 20 points head of Brent Scheidemantle, had his car burst into flames 28 laps into the race. That relegated him to a 12th place finish and Scheidemantle could have won the title by finishing first or second.

Scheidemantle wasn’t in his own car, since that one had been destroyed when the throttle stuck and he hit the wall during Friday night’s practice. Instead, driving the Ford owned by Paul Vitale, of Wildomar, Scheidemantle had to settle for fifth and Schug took the championship by 6 points.

Aaron Anderson, 13, of Lancaster, capped his championship season by winning the 20-lap Bandolero main. Anderson, who won the California state title and stands sixth nationally in the Young Guns (11-14) division, was followed to the finish by Ryan Cansdale, 10, of Laguna Beach, who is No. 1 in the state and No. 4 in the nation in the Bandit (8-11) category.

Points leader Christian Copley, of Santa Ynez, got his Chevrolet to the front on the opening lap and never was headed in winning the 35-lap SouthWest Tour Truck race over Dalton Kuhn, of Vista, and Jeff Williams, of Newbury Park.

The three-quarter or TQ Midgets of the National Midget Racing Association made their only appearance of the year at the speedway and West Evans, of Clovis, took the 25-lap main event over Scott Dobson, of Newbury Park, who won the championship. The race, which capped the 17-race season, was the only one of the year on a paved oval.

Harry Kuenniger, of San Bernardino, brought the night to a close by winning the 20-lap Trailer race in his Outlaw Figure 8 car.

White, Shackleford both hoping to win Super Late Model title Saturday at Orange Show Speedway

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Oct. 15) – A series of battle that started on March 28 will come to an end Saturday (Oct. 17) when the champions of the Super Late Models, Legends Cars and Bandoleros classes are determined at Orange Show Speedway.

The Super Late Models will run a 100-lap, double-points main event, and when it’s over the likelihood is that either reigning champion and class leader Linny White or former champion Mark Shackleford will wear this year’s crown.

White, of Colton, and Shackleford, of Riverside, will go into the last of the 13 races separated by 6 points. That’s a difference of three finishing positions in the normal points structure (50-48-46-44, etc.), meaning if Shackleford won the race White could finish fourth to tie in the standings and repeat as champion because he has five wins and Shackleford would have three.

In Saturday’s format, however, a win will be worth 100 points and there is a drop of 4 points per finishing position (100-96-92-88 and so on), and in that scenario White has to finish ahead of or within one position of his rival to claim the title. So it’s safe to say that each will be keeping a close eye on the other throughout the night, and that could benefit Rob Kiemele.

Kiemele, of Riverside, is third in the standings, 50 points behind White. But he’s had one of the fastest cars in the field all season, and if the leaders pay too much attention to each other or encounter problems, he could steal away with the championship.

There’s not as much mystery in the Legends Cars and Bandoleros ranks. Chad Schug of Oak Hills is 20 points ahead of Brent Scheidemantle of Alta Loma in the Legends class and Aaron Anderson of Lancaster has a 20-point lead over Ryan Cansdale of Laguna Beach in the Bandoleros and both will be champions with 10th-place finishes.

Deciding those championships won’t be the only activity at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval, though. The SouthWest Tour Trucks will make their third visit of the year, the National Midget Racing Association will wrap up its season with the only pavement race of the year for the three-quarter midgets, and there are Trailer races and a Demolition Derby on the schedule as well.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

Figure 8 star Proctor to make personal appearance Saturday

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Oct. 13) – Outlaw Figure 8 racing star Rod Proctor, one of the organizers of the $25,000 International Outlaw Figure 8 West Coast Championships at Orange Show Speedway Oct. 24, will make a personal appearance at the Smart & Final store at 4039 Tyler Avenue in Riverside from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17.

Proctor, a Riverside resident, will have his Smart & Final Outlaw Figure 8 car on display and will answer any questions about the sport and the event at Orange Show Speedway that is attracting entries from around the country. He’ll also be signing autographs, handing out T-shirts and distributing discount coupons that can be redeemed at The Little Green Onion, the restaurant Proctor owns on Brockton Avenue in Riverside.

The International Outlaw Figure 8 Championships will be a 200-lap race – run in 100-lap segments separated by an intermission – that will pay $7,500 to the winner. In addition to the top Outlaw Figure 8 racers in Southern California, there are commitments from a half-dozen Midwest stars and at least that many from Washington, and Proctor calls it potentially the best Figure 8 race ever in Southern California.

McCray steals the show with 100-lap Late Model win; Daniel, Russo win titles at OSS

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Oct. 10) – NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Gilliland made a guest appearance but Toni McCray was the star of the show Saturday night at Orange Show Speedway.

Twice sent to the end of the lead lap for impolite driving, McCray had no trouble overcoming the penalties to lead the final quarter of a 100-lap ASA Late Model main event and claim her third win of the season in the class and her fourth overall counting a Super Late Model victory Oct. 3.

McCray, of Highland, got her Lucas Oil Chevrolet to the checkered flag 2 seconds ahead of Jim Conklin, of Big Bear City, with Barry Karr of Redlands third, Ryan Daniel fourth and Steve Smith after leading the first 75 laps of an event that was changed from a twin 50-lap format to a single 100-lap race for double points.

Gilliland, who had finished eighth in the Nationwide Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana earlier Saturday, was seventh in his first race at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.

Daniel, 31, of Mentone, won his first track championship. He had gone into the evening 18 points ahead of Kevin James and 40 in front of John Mattie and finished 40 in front of past champion Conklin. James, of Yucaipa, got married at 5 p.m. Saturday and did not race and Mattie was forced to pit for several laps early in the race due to a flat tire and finished ninth.

McCray’s win left her third in points, even though she missed the opening race of the season, with Mattie fourth, rookie Matt Goodwin, of Wildomar, fifth and James sixth.

McCray and Ryan Daniel tied for the class lead with three wins apiece.

Johnny Russo, a 56-year-old retiree from Big Bear City, faded to an eighth-place finish in the 35-lap San Bernardino Pick-A-Part Street Stock main, but that was more than good enough to secure his sixth class championship. Russo, who went into the night 20 points ahead of Kyle Meyer and Cliff Conklin, finished 12 points ahead of Conklin and 14 up on Meyer.

While all that was going on, however, Jesse James Lawson, of Big Bear City, won for the fourth time in five races, beating Jeff Grill by 0.170 of a second in the closest finish of the season. Lawson finished fourth in the standings, 18 points behind.

Gilliland’s homecoming weekend will include his first race at Orange Show Speedway

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Oct. 5) – David Gilliland will fill a hole in his resume Saturday night when he races in the ASA Late Model Twin 50s at Orange Show Speedway.

Gilliland, a Southern California native who’s now competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide series, has had great success on both pavement and dirt at other tracks in the area, but has never raced on the speedway’s quarter-mile oval.

“I went there as a kid and watched my dad once and went there and tested once just to shake a car down, but that was it,” said Gilliland, a former Riverside resident who served as the crew chief for his father, Butch, when the elder Gilliland won the NASCAR Winston West title.

In fact, Gilliland said, it’s been four or five years since he last raced on a quarter-mile oval, so his main objective will be to enjoy himself while those who have been racing in the class all year settle the issue of the track championship in the two 50-lap main events.

Ryan Daniel, 31, of Mentone, will go into the evening with an 18-point lead over Kevin James, 45, of Yucaipa, and Daniel said last month that his only concern was finishing just ahead or just behind his rival. Third-place John Mattie, of Highland, is 40 points behind Daniel and 22 behind James and would need misfortune to befall both men to have a chance of claiming the title.

The San Bernardino Pick-A-Part Street Stocks also will decide their championship, with Johnny Russo needing to finish 10th or better to thwart any challenges by Kyle Meyer and Cliff Conklin and collect his sixth class title. Meyer and Conklin are tied for second, 20 points behind.

Also on the schedule are the Vintage Midgets and Sprint cars of the Western Racing Association, Train races and Drifting.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

Gilliland, 33, is going to have a busy weekend between his appearance at Orange Show Speedway and his duties at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, where he’s scheduled to compete in both the Copart 300 Nationwide Series race Saturday afternoon and the Pepsi 500 on Sunday.

The Pepsi 500 will be the 26th race Gilliland has driven this season for TRG Motorsports, the team he joined after finding out shortly before the Daytona 500 that Yates Racing was disbanding his team for financial reasons. He’s also scheduled to drive three races for the Joe Gibbs’ team as he attempts to finalize his plans for 2010.

“It’s been interesting,” Gilliland said of this season. “It’s been a little different, but I definitely can’t complain because I’m doing what a lot of people would give anything to be doing. Sometimes it’s not exactly the way I want to be doing it, but I’m here and I’m working hard to stay here.”

Gilliland will have a lot of familiar figures supporting him at Orange Show Speedway. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo he’ll be driving is being prepared by Luke Dodd, of Luke’s Transmissions, and Linny White, who owns the car, and long-time car owner Jerry Dodd will be on hand for advice and moral support.

“I’m excited about coming back to California,” said Gilliland, who’s living in Mooresville, N.C. “Hopefully I can get out there and have some fun.”

Toni McCray gets first Super Late Model win at Orange Show Speedway

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Oct. 3) – Toni McCray got her first Super Late Model main event win and reigning champion Linny White added a little padding to his points lead Saturday night at Orange Show Speedway.

McCray, who started on the outside of the front row alongside brother Rickey, inherited the lead on lap 15 when Rickey was forced to pit because of a rear quarter-panel rubbing on his right rear tire.

Once in front, Toni McCray never put a wheel wrong on her NAPA/Lucas Oil Chevrolet, withstanding race-long pressure from past champion Glen Cummings and taking the checkered flag at the end of 50 laps 0.427 seconds in front of Cummings, with White third, Mark Shackleford fourth and Jim Conklin fifth.

That order of finish enabled White to gain two points on Shackleford in their head-to-head battle for the title and White will take a 6-point lead into the two 50-lap races that will close the season at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval on Oct. 17.

Toni McCray, who is fifth in the standings, won a Late Model main event June 27. Her best previous Super Late Model finish was a second to Shackleford Aug. 22.

Earlier in the evening Jim Edmiston of Highland celebrated his third straight Pony Stock championship by winning that 35-lap main event, Corona’s Cary Cecil won the 35-lap main event and Riverside’s Dwayne Blay claimed the title in the Factory Four division, and Riverside’s Kevin Cook won the 25-lap Stock Cars USA feature after Lake Elsinore’s Tom Whitson had taken the title by starting the race. Riverside’s Shaun Estes took the checkered flag in front, but was penalized to the end of the lead lap for a technical infraction and finished eighth.

Chase Catania of El Cajon took the 35-lap Legends Cars feature and Aaron Anderson of Lancaster won the 20-lap Bandolero race.

The only points battle really decided was the one between Blay and Ben Mahan of Oak Hills in the Factory Four class. Blay went into the night with a 4-point lead in the standings and a touch of drama was added early in the day, when second-place Ben Mahan lost second gear in his BMW. Mahan had to move into the driver’s seat of the Isuzu pickup Moreno Valley’s Ed Reid had brought to the track for the first time this season.

It got a little more tense during the race, when Blay twice was involved in incidents that sent him to the rear of the field. But while he charged back to finish third, Mahan faded, taking the checkered flag in sixth and wind up 10 points behind Blay.

Orange Show Speedway promoter Rick McCray said racing won’t be affected by long-term plans to develop NOS Events Center property

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Sept. 30) – There will be automobile racing at Orange Show Speedway for at least the next four years.

Rick McCray, the owner of Best in the West Racing and the promoter for the historic quarter-mile oval adjacent to the National Orange Show Events Center, said Wednesday that he signed a “hard, hard 5-year lease” with a 3-year option in February and plans to continue staging weekly racing programs at the 62-year-old track even if there is development on other portions of the NOS property.

The next of those programs will be run Saturday (Oct. 3), when the high-powered Super Late Models will be joined by the JAM Sportswear Pony Stocks, Factory Fours, Stock Cars USA, Legends Cars and Bandoleros.

It is the first of four straight weeks of racing to conclude Best in the West Racing’s inaugural season.

McCray, who also owns a successful truck repair business in San Bernardino, made his remarks to answer any questions about the speedway’s future that may have been raised by Tuesday’s press conference regarding the possible future sale and development of NOS grounds.

San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris and NOS board of directors chairman Bob Balzer were among those attending the press conference to announce plans to sell portions of the state-owned fair grounds to the Lewis Group of Companies, which would undertake various commercial, industrial and office projects.

Balzer, in his comments, said any decisions regarding the speedway will be based on its future economic viability and that “we’ll know down the road if the raceway stays or not.”

However, terms of the sale have not been finalized and no firm timelines have been established for either the sale or development. McCray said that while the long-term and often-rumored project would be a tremendous boost to the city, which currently gets no tax revenue from NOS, he questions whether it is feasible given San Bernardino’s depressed economy.

McCray, who has made a tremendous financial investment in improvements to the facility, said that from his standpoint, it will remain business as usual. The terms of his lease give him complete control of the speedway beginning in 2010 and provide for significant financial indemnity if the lease if terminated or altered.

“We’re going to be there. We’re not going anywhere,” said McCray, who pays a fixed monthly rent.

McCray definitely will be at the speedway Saturday, when the Super Late Models set the stage for their Oct. 17 finale and the Pony Stocks, Factory Fours and Stock Cars USA crown their champions.

Highland’s Jim Edmiston has clinched his third straight and fifth overall Pony Stock title and Lake Elsinore’s Tom Whitson has a 34-point lead and needs only to start the Stock cars USA main event to secure his championship. But Riverside’s Dwayne Blay and Ben Mahan of Oak Hills have taken the Factory Four fight to the final round.

Blay, 41, has a 4-point lead over Mahan, 14, and will win the title by finishing within two positions of his young rival in their 35-lap main event. Should they finish tied in points, Blay would prevail based on most wins. He has seven victories to four for Mahan.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Seven titles, a NASCAR guest driver and an Outlaw Figure 8 special event on tap during final month of Orange Show Speedway season

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Sept. 25) – The final month of the season at Orange Show Speedway promises to be one of the most exciting periods in recent history, with championships to be decided in seven divisions, a NASCAR Sprint cup driver making a Homecoming appearance and an all-star field assembling for a special Outlaw Figure 8 event.

It all begins Oct. 3, when the Super Late Models, Pony Stocks, Factory Fours, Stock Cars USA, Legends and Bandoleros assemble at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile. The Late Models and San Bernardino Pick-A-Part Street Stocks will wrap up their seasons Oct. 10, with the WRA Vintage open-wheel cars and a Train race providing support, and on Oct. 17 the Super Late Models will crown their champion on a program that includes the SouthWest Tour Trucks, National Midget Racing Association, Trailer races and a Demolition Derby.

The final event of Best in the West Racing’s inaugural year as the operator and promoter of the historic speedway will be the recently-added Outlaw Figure 8 event, with drivers from Indiana, Kentucky, Colorado and Washington expected to join the Southern California regulars for a pair of 100-lap races.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m. for all four programs, with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

The Oct. 10 autograph session will be highlighted by an appearance by Sprint Cup driver David Gilliland. The former Chino Hills and Riverside resident will return to his Inland short-track roots by competing in the Late Model class, which will wrap up its season with a pair of 50-lap main events.

Gilliland, who lives in North Carolina, will be in the area to compete in the Pepsi 500 weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana Oct. 9-11.

Best in the West Racing owner Rick McCray is in discussions with other NASCAR drivers as well.

There’ll be a new man in charge for the final events at Orange Show Speedway. Veteran official Jim Overly has replaced Billy McCray as director of racing and will move from the flag stand he has shared with son Jason to the press box, where he’ll oversee the on-track competition and resolve any disputes. Overly began his new duties on Sept. 12.

Billy McCray, who was instrumental in the planning for this season, resigned to devote his attention to son Evan, who plays high school football and recently began racing in the Pony Stock class.

The season-ending Best in the West Racing Awards Banquet is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the San Bernardino Hilton Hotel. Tickets are $50 per person and reservations may be made by completing the form available here

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

Outlaw Figure 8 Twin 100s at Orange Show Speedway attracting top drivers from across the country

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO – The high-powered, exciting Outlaw Figure 8 cars are coming back to Orange Show Speedway, and they’re bringing some friends with them.

Best in the West Racing, which has three weeks remaining in its initial stock car season, is extending its schedule by a week to host the Outlaw Figure 8 Twin 100s on Oct. 24.

A field consisting of drivers from throughout the country will compete in a pair of 100-lap races on what championship driver Rod Proctor calls the “ultimate Figure 8 track” inside the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.

“I’ve raced on five tracks in five states and Orange Show is the best I’ve been on,” said Proctor, who is helping Best in the West Racing organize the event. “It’s fast and it’s smooth. I love it.”

The Outlaw Figure 8s had a full-time presence at the speedway in 2007, but have appeared only sporadically since because of scheduling conflicts and haven’t raced at the track since mid-May, when Proctor won the main event. The Riverside restaurant owner said he expects most of the local Figure 8 drivers to be on hand for this special event, however, especially with an opportunity to test their skills against drivers from other areas and $7,500 going to the winner from a $25,000 purse.

The final standings will be determined by a driver’s combined results from both races.

Proctor said it will be an open competition race with essentially just two rules – everyone must use 10-inch tires and no one can have traction control – and all cars except Pure Stocks or Bombers are welcome.

“If you want to run a Super Late Model or a Late Model, bring it,” Proctor said.

So far, Proctor said, there have been tentative commitments from Indiana star Jeff Shackleford and Florida-based Eddie Van Meter. Charlie Hargraves, the director of the touring International Outlaw Figure 8 Series, said about a half-dozen IOFS drivers are planning to make the trip, another half-dozen or so are expected from Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash.

Several IMCA Modified regulars also have expressed interest in joining Southern California stars Proctor, “Barefoot Billy” Ziemann, Willy Voesten, brothers Rusty and Steve Stewart, Tony Curtis, Jerry Toporek and others.

“This is definitely a race nobody should miss,” Proctor said.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m. with the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

White regains lead, Minut wins title at Orange Show Speedway

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Sept. 12) – Reigning champion Linny White regained the top spot in the Super Late Model point standings and Don Minut won the Pro 4 championship Saturday night at Orange Show Speedway.

White, of Colton, went into the 11th of the 14 races for the class trailing Riverside’s Mark Shackleford by 4 points and left the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval 4 points ahead after he won the 50-lap main event and Shackleford finished fifth.

White drove his Excel Bed Liners Chevrolet to an 0.558 of a second win over Brett Edwards of Yucaipa, with Highland’s Glenn Cummings third and Jim Conklin of Big Bear City fourth. It was White’s fifth win of the season.

Minut, of Moreno Valley, left no doubt about who had the best car in the sixth and final race of the year for the Pro 4s. He qualified his Ford Fusion on the pole and won the 35-lap main event by two laps over David Glidewell of Riverside. Minut won the title by 14 points over La Quinta’s Keith Blomgren.

Jesse James Lawson of Big Bear City got his third win in eight starts in the San Bernardino Pick-A-Part Street Stock class, beating class leader Johnny Russo of Big Bear City by 0.398 of a second.

Racing at Orange Show Speedway will resume Oct. 3.

Long-time rivals Shackleford, White locked in another points battle at Orange Show Speedway

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Sept. 11) – Mark Shackleford is leading Orange Show Speedway’s Super Late Model standings with four races to go and he’s happy about that. He’s not making plans for a championship celebration just yet, though.

For one thing, his lead over reigning champion Linny White is just 4 points. For another, he’s been in better positions in the past and seen others walk away with the title.

“Four points is nothing; way too much can happen,” Shackleford said. “I lost a Pony Stock championship to Linny (in 2003) and I had a 52-point lead with three races to go. When we went into the last race, he had like an 8-point lead.”

Shackleford eventually won four Pony Stock championships. One of those came in 2004, when the Riverside resident also won the Super Late Model title and was NASCAR’s regional short-track champion. So he’s familiar with what it takes to win, and what it takes to beat White, who’ll also be in the lineup Saturday night (Sept. 12) when the Super Late Models will be joined by the San Bernardino Pick-A-Part Street Stocks, Pro 4s, a Stock Cars USA Figure 8 and a Demolition Derby.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

This week, Best in the West Racing is honoring those who performed so gallantly in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, by offering free admission to all Police and Fire department employees who present a valid identification at the speedway box office.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

Shackleford, 40, who surged into the class lead with a victory and a third in the two 50-lap races on Aug. 22, won the season-opening race March 28 and has 5 top five finishes in addition to his two victories. White, 31, of Colton, has won four times and been a runner-up twice.

Rob Kiemele, 38, of Riverside, is the third man in the title fight. He’s 30 points behind Shackleford after picking up his first win Aug. 22, and he’s the unknown factor. The other two know each other extremely well, having gone from rivals and enemies to friends and teammates when both won championships for car owners Jerry and Pam Dodd on the dirt at Perris Auto Speedway.

“I’d say we’re pretty good friends – until he takes me out,” Shackleford said with a laugh. “We don’t barbecue together or anything like that, but that’s probably just because we’re both too busy. Our friendship definitely progressed because we were teammates, but we were friends before that. He grew up a lot and I grew up a lot and that made things a lot easier.”

The racing isn’t any easier, though. Quite the opposite.

“I think it’s been pretty clean,” said Shackleford, whose Chevrolet Monte Carlo is sponsored by Bud’s Tire and Wheels, Luke’s Transmission, Luke’s Auto Body, International Auto Crafters, Cannon Heating and Air and Jerry and Pam Dodd Racing.

“Everybody’s had incidents and issues, but they’re just racing deals. I wouldn’t say anybody is driving dirty or anything. All in all it’s been really clean. And the competition level is just out of this world right now.

“That makes it fun and frustrating at the same time, because if you miss (the setup) even a little, guys will be passing you on the outside and you’ll be wondering what happened.”

Smith pays tribute to late racer with Late Model victory at Orange Show Speedway

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Sept. 5) – Steve Smith changed his car number to honor a recently-deceased driver before Saturday’s races at Orange Show Speedway, then paid him the ultimate tribute by winning the 50-lap ASA Late Model main event in wire-to-wire fashion to cap the “Grand Opening” program.

NASCAR legend Bobby Allison, Winston Cup car owner Warner Hodgdon and noted West Coast racers Jimmy Insolo, Ron Esau and Ray Johnstone were among those in a crowd of approximately 6,000 who watched Andrew Phipps of Simi Valley win the 75-lap race for the Lucas Oil SuperClean Modifieds and Smith hold off rookie Matt Goodwin and Brandon Loverock on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.

Smith, the 2008 champion but an infrequent competitor this year, changed his car number from 00 to 133 to honor Chuck Morris, a long-time Orange Show racer who died earlier in the week, and all 17 Late Models bore decals in his memory.

He started on the pole in the 17-car field, beat Linny White into the first turn and settled into a lead he held firmly despite late pressure from Matt Goodwin, of Wildomar.

Phipps, who went into the race 2 points behind James Cole, pulled into a tie by winning for the second time in six races while Cole, who had won here July 11, finished second. Cole started on the outside of the front row and led the first caution-filled 22 laps before giving way to Phipps, who never was in danger of being overtaken.

Those two will continue their battle at Lake Havasu City Sept. 26, but Moreno Valley’s Jim Mardis, who was only 6 points behind in third going into the race, dropped out on the opening lap with driveline problems.

Robby Hornsby of Yucaipa posted his second straight JAM Sportswear Pony Stock win, but runner-up Jim Edmiston clinched his third straight title and fifth class championship overall.

Ben Mahan of Oak Hills got his second straight win in the 35-lap Factory Four main event to pull within four points of runner-up Dwayne Blay in a championship battle that has one race remaining, on Oct. 3.

Kevin Cook of Riverside got the evening’s main events under way by winning the 25-lapper for the Stock Cars USA class and Tom Whitson of Lake Elsinore finished second to extend his points lead to 34 over Dave Foster of Riverside with just an Oct. 3 race to go.

Edmiston celebrates earliest title-clinching and third straight Pony Stock crown at Orange Show

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Sept. 7) – Jim Edmiston celebrated another first in his racing career Saturday night at Orange Show Speedway.

The 48-year-old Highland resident clinched his third straight JAM Sportswear Pony Stock championship by finishing second to Robby Hornsby in a 35-lap main event. That means that when the others in the class assemble for their final race of the season on Oct. 3, Edmiston can take the night off if he chooses.

“I’ve never won one this early. I’ve always had to at least start the (final) race before,” Edmiston said after claiming his fifth Pony Stock title and his sixth track championship overall. He got his first Pony Stock crown in 1996, won that class again in 2005, took Sport Truck honors in 2006, and has dominated the Pony Stock division since 2007.

Since 2005, Edmiston has won 20 of the 55 Pony Stock races and finished in the top three an incredible 46 times. He has five victories and three seconds this season in his Clearwater Pipeline/StickShift Transmissions/Kidd Racing Engines Ford Pinto, and he has finished lower than third just once in the past two years – a fourth on Aug. 9, 2008.

The pipeline foreman has a good memory, too, because every title since 2005 has been won on the final night. But he promised he’d still show up on Oct. 3.

There won’t be any title clinching this Saturday (Sept. 12), when the Super Late Models, Street Stocks, Pro Fours, Stock Car USA Figure 8s and a Demolition Derby are on the schedule. But the Pro 4 championship will be decided between Don Minut, Keith Blomgren and David Glidewell in the last of the six races for the class.

Minut will go into the race 4 points ahead of Blomgren, who won the most recent event on Aug. 29, and 14 ahead of Glidewell, a winner on June 27.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, good for admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

Best in the West Racing Hosts a Very Class Grand Opening

By Dave Greyson

Sept: 5th, 2009: Best In The West Racing, the promoters of ASA sanctioned racing at the Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino-California, rolled out the red carpert on the evening of September 5th for their gala grand opening. The direct beneficiaries of this special evening were the approximate 6,000 racing fans who showed up at the Orange Show Speedway that night. Best In The West Racing Promoter Rick McCray presented the appreciative audience a night of racing action from five divisions. They also paid tribute to past west coast champions that included a special appearance by NASCAR legend Bobby Allison. Then they capped the evening off by lighting up the San Bernardino skyline with a fireworks show.

Highlighting the on track action was an appearance the SuperClean Modified Racing Series and the K&N Air Filters 75. The race, won by Andrew Phipps, had the makings of a crash festival during the early laps but soon settled down to some good wheel to wheel racing all throughout the 22 car field. The SuperClean Modified teams really garnered a lot of attention during the pre race warm up laps. All 22 drivers drove around the track carrying American flags while the public address system played Lee Greenwood's "God Bless The USA." This patriotic moment was accompanied by the inspirational sight and sound of 6,000 Americans singing along with the music.

The speedway's ASA Late Model division also brought some inspirational moments on this night. Their 50 lap main event was in honor of long time Orange Show Speedway driver-car owner Chuck Morris who sadly passed away this past September 1st. All 17 late models displayed special decals with Morris' #133 on their cars. There were also many race fans wearing Morris commemorative T shirts. But 2008 late model champion Steve Smith took that tribute a giant step further by changing his traditional car number, #00, to #133 in honor of Morris. Smith took a tribute to his friend to an even higher level by crossing under the checkers after leading all 50 laps.

The Orange Show Speedway's always fun Stock Car USA class turned up a first time winner after Riverside's Kevin Cook led all 25 laps of the feature in his Wicked Sand Toys Chevrolet Malibu.

The Factory Four Division saw 12 year old Benjamin Mahan win his second, consecutive, 35 lap feature. The Oak Hills driver, in his BMW, has now become a major player in the division's championship picture. Not so long ago this young man was driving in the Bandolero division. The ASA was so impressed with his progress they granted him a special waiver that allowed him to move up to a higher racing class at age 12 instead of making him wait until his 14th birthday. The victory lane interview with young Mahn also turned up one of the better lines of the evening from Bruce Flanders, the speedway's very personable track announcer, who quipped "I bet Bobby Allison has shoes older than this kid."

In the Jam Sportswear Stock Pony division Yucaipa's Robby Hornsby's Ford Pinto took command of the 35 lap feature midway through the race and won his second consecutive feature. But it was series veteran Jim Edmiston who won the grand prize. Edmiston's second place finish was all he needed to clinch his third consecutive, and fifth overall, division championship.

The Orange Show Speedway's grand opening was also an opportunity to salute many of the west coast based racing champions who paved the way for many of the drivers that are enjoying success today.  Old school race fans were delighted over the opportunity to meet and reminisce with west coast champions such as George and Ron Esau, Jimmy Insolo, Charles Saied, Ray Johnstone and former NASCAR Winston Cup team owner Warner Hodgdon. Fans of all ages were delighted to meet the evening's Grand Marshall: NASCAR legend and champion Bobby Allison. Allison and his lovely wife Judy really enjoyed the time they spent at the special autograph table meeting the fans. Of particular interest were the youngsters in driving suits who stared at the racing legend in awe stuck wonder. Allison made them feel special by talking racing with them and treating them like a colleague. He was only too happy to sign autographs and pose for photos with the fans. Later in the evening he said "I've always thought of being asked for an autograph as a compliment and you never pass up a compliment."

This special evening was truly a cause to celebrate when you consider the fact that it was less than a year ago when many southern California racing fans were wondering if there was going to be racing at the Orange Show Speedway at all. Back then it appeared that six plus decades of competition, loaded with racing history, at the quarter mile oval was in the process of coming to a grinding halt. Enter Rick McCray and family who signed a lease to operate the Orange Show Speedway that says we can enjoy racing there for at least the next five years. From the very beginning Rick McCray brought two very important aspects to the Orange Show Speedway. The first was his long time tenure as a NASCAR race driver both in local speedway and regional touring venues. That meant the drivers and teams were dealing with someone who could relate to their mindset. From the very onset Best In The West Racing encouraged their various racing divisions to select a representative to act as a liason with the track management. That was a major plus for the drivers and team owners because it was clear to them that they were dealing with someone who truly wanted their input. The second important aspect here is the McCray family's well known reputation for being successful business owners. This is a group of people who fully understand the business bottom line and what it takes to maintain it. When they signed the lease with the National Orange Show Fairgrounds Board of Directors to operate the speedway the McCrays had a long way to go and a short time to get there in terms of launching their first ever racing season. They pulled it off with polished organization and a willingness to embrace hard work. During the course of their gala grand opening night, Best In The West Racing clearly established taht the Orange Show Speedway is going to be in very good hands for many years to come.

Daniel gets an unexpected reminder of what family means

By Jim Short

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Sept. 2, 2009) – Ryan Daniel learned last Saturday that he really is part of a large family at Orange Show Speedway.

The ASA Late Model points leader had run three laps in practice in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo he said was “really fast.” However, as he exited Turn 2 and pressed on the accelerator on the fourth lap of the quarter-mile oval, a rocker arm broke and bent a valve in the motor.

Daniel was devastated. He was debuting new sponsorship from Larry Jacinto Construction, he was 4 points ahead of Kevin James with four races to go, and he knew if he had to miss the race he’d probably fall out of contention for the title. But what followed convinced Daniel that when racers speak of themselves as a family, it’s not just empty talk.

“Just about everybody in the pits offered some help,” said Daniel, 30, of Mentone.

Sam Newcomer and Ryan Becker offered Daniel the use of their race cars if his couldn’t be repaired. Jim Conklin, promoter Rick McCray and others offered Daniel’s team a cylinder head so they could make repairs. Clay Wooster, who prepares the cars for James and Toni McCray, offered manpower. Daniel called car owner Sherm Taylor and Taylor told Daniel that by the time he could get to Taylor’s shop in Upland, the race car would be loaded on the trailer and the trailer hooked up to a truck that was ready to roll.

Daniel was third-fastest in qualifying, finished second in the 4-lap Trophy Dash and won the 50-lap main event over Toni McCray and James. So Daniel, who has two wins and two seconds in the past four races, will take an 8-point lead over James into this Saturday’s “Grand Opening” show.

NASCAR legend Bobby Allison will be the Grand Marshal and will be on hand to meet the racers and the public. The touring Lucas Oil SuperClean Modifieds will join the ASA Late Models, Pony Stocks, Factory Fours and Stock Cars USA to provide the racing action. Lucas Oil, K&N Filers, the Riverside International Raceway Museum and others will have displays, and the activitiy will conclude with a Fireworks show.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

Daniel may have a harder time maintaining his performance level, however. He said the recent success is “100 percent” attributable to Greeny and his dad, Ron, who is “really, really good” at setting up a car and telling the driver what adjustments to make during a race. But Ryan said when Ron is racing “it’s all about his car,” and after sitting out the past four events, Ron Daniel will be racing this week.

May 16 race winner Logan Mainella of Palmdale is expected to race, too, and Daniel said he’s been trying to talk drivers he knows in Blythe and Las Vegas into showing up. He realizes that with more drivers there’s more chance of something happening to jeopardize his championship bid, but he’s not worried about that.

“I’ve known Kevin for 15 years,” said Daniel, who is in his third year in the Late Model division. “To see him win the thing wouldn’t hurt my feelings. I’d like to win it, but if Kevin wins it, that’s awesome, too. It’s been a great, great year.”

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

SUPERCLEAN MODIFIED RACING SERIES BRINGS A SKIN TIGHT POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP TO THE ORANGE SHOW SPEEDWAY

BY DAVE GRAYSON

The SuperClean Modified Racing Series teams will be loading their car haulers and making the journey to San Bernardino-California, September 5th, for round six of what has been an outstanding and highly competitive 2009 racing season.Saturday night's race, the K&N Air Filters 75, will be held at the Orange Show Speedway. This ASA sanctioned quarter mile paved oval has a long and rich history for outstanding racing shows.

That certainly was the case this past July 11th when the SuperClean Modified Series last visited the Orange Show Speedway. On that night the fans were on their feet cheering wildly while watching eventual race winner James Cole and home town favorite Jim Mardis stage a side by side duel to the checkers.

The anticipated excitement level this Saturday night will be enhanced by the skin tight points battle for the series championship. There is presently only 16 points separation between the top four drivers in the standings.

While the SuperClean Modified Series easily lives up to its reputation of featuring the best driving talent from the western states area, it's a long, tall, San Antonio-Texan who is sitting on top of the championship points standings going into the Orange Show Speedway race.

Since last year James Cole has been racking up the travel miles to participate in this series and that effort is now rewarding him. Cole comes into Saturday night's K&N Air Filters 75 with a series leading 226 points based on one win, four top five finishes and one top ten finish.

Just mention the name Orange Show Speedway and Cole breaks out in a Texas sized smile. "I'm really excited about returning there," he said adding " that night, (July 11th), was the first time that we took this car to the Orange Show and I think we're going to find more speed in it when we return. I think that we learned a lot from the 75 lapper we ran there the last time and I know (Jim) Mardis is going to be tough, because that's his home town track, but hopefully we'll have something for him again."

However that Cole's lead is only two points over Andrew Phipps who is someone else who knows the directions to the Orange Show Speedway's victory lane. The Simi Valley-California driver won the series' race in Las Vegas, back on May 16th, and has backed that win with five top five finishes.

Third in the standings, and only a mere six points away from the top of the chart, is Jim Mardis. Now here's a driver who knows every square inch of the Orange Show Speedway's quarter mile oval like he knows his Riverside-California address. He's proven that with his track championship, and multiple feature wins, in the track's ASA Stock Pony division. Mardis and his team joined the SuperClean Modified Racing Series late last year and has been coming on strong every since. Many series observers have been saying that it's just a short matter of time before he pulls off that first series win. He almost did exactly that July 11th at his home track and he's got a better than great chance of getting that first win Saturday night. So far this season Mardis has four top five finishes and one top ten.

Chris Gerchman won the series' season opener, March 28th, at his home track: the Havasu 95 Speedway, He's also the series' only two time winner following his most recent win, August 15th, at the Las Vegas Bullring. Despite two wins and four top five finishes, Gerchman is fourth in the series' points but only 16 markers from the leader. There's a reason for that and it's the Orange Show Speedway. The series' July 11th race was a mechanical disaster for the Lake Havasu City-Arizona native and he only collected 16 points that night. One has to believe that Gerchman may be arriving in San Bernardino Saturday high thinking the Orange Show Speedway owes him one. It's absolutely safe to believe that he'll be looking to settle the score Saturday night.

Commenting on that night Gerchman said "we had a semi DNF the last time we raced at Orange Show. The bottom line is we need to keep winning these races and make up those points that we lost that night and see what we can make of this thing. We just need to keep our nose clean at Orange Show and I think our car will be ready for it. We have never lost that feeling of being championship players."

The K&N Air Filters 75 will start 22 modifieds Saturday night with the drivers going after the $1,000 winner's check. When the SuperClean Modifies Series promotes a 75 lap feature they mean exactly that. The fans will be treated to 75 green flag laps of racing.The series' car count has been extremely healthy this season despite the economy and it's likely that a B main, or last chance race, will be needed.

Series promoters Greg Scheidecker and Bill Rozhon are thrilled with the racing they've seen from the teams so far and both men are excited about the potential of the K&N Air Filters 75 this Saturday night. "Orange Show Speedway is my home track," Scheidecker said adding "the people who are running that race track are really trying hard. My hat's off to the McCray family and the effort there. I'm really looking forward to our September 5th race there. Bobby Allison is going to be the special guest Grand Marshall and will be doing an autograph session. There's also going to be a large fireworks show that night. This is going to be a race to attend because all the bells and whistles are in place and I know that Rick McCray is going to put on one terrific show that night. Our SuperClean Modified teams put on a great race last July. Rick McCray is excited to have our series there. We're really looking forward to this event."

Bill Rozhon is also excited about the SuperClean Modified Racing Series returning to the Orange Show Speedway and said "Rick McCray has a big show scheduled for his grand opening that night. Greg and I are very proud of the fact that Rick considered bringing our series to his track for their grand opening."

Rozhon also said he was looking forward to watching his teams put on the same high level show that the fans saw at the July 11th event at the Orange Show. "The last three laps of that race, when Jim Mardis and James Cole put on that side by side finish was one very good show." he added.

Scheidecker is also excited about the prospect of shaking hands with NASCAR legend Bobby Allison Saturday night. The McCray family, and their Best In The West Racing promotion, will be celebrating their grand opening on this night and will be treating their fans to a meet and greet with Allison the former NASCAR champion and ring leader of the famed racing group known as "The Alabama Gang."

In addition to the K&N Air Filters 75, the Orange Show Speedway will also be presenting racing action from their ASA sanctioned late model, stock pony, factory four and stock car USA divisions.

In addition to their title sponsor, the SuperClean Modified Racing Series is supported by a highly potent marketing concept known as Team Lucas that includes Lucas Oil Products Inc, E3 Spark Plugs, R&L Carriers, Dixie Chopper, General Tire and K&N Performance Filters.

There is also strong support from series sponsors including SuperClean Products, Hoosier Tire West, Budweiser, Blue Water Resort and Casino, Sunoco Fuel, Frank's Radio, DJ Safety, Steve Teets of STR-Short Track Race Cars, Polydome Plastic Products and Racing Plus.

Orange Show grand marshal Bobby Allison enjoyed great success at area tracks

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Aug. 30) – NASCAR legend Bobby Allison, who will be the Grand Marshal for Orange Show Speedway's 'Grand Opening' celebration Saturday night (Sept. 5), is no stranger to the Inland area’s race tracks.

Allison, whose 84 Winston (Sprint) Cup victories put him third on NASCAR’s all-time win list, holds the record for most Cup race wins at Riverside International Raceway.

Allison had six wins on the 2.62-mile, 8-turn road stock car course, one of three road course configurations used at the track that was an international racing mecca from 1957 until 1988, when it was closed to make room for what is now the Moreno Valley Towngate Mall and adjacent housing and commercial developments.

His status as the winningest Cup driver at the track is something Allison still takes pride in. But making it even more remarkable is the fact Allison got those six wins in five different makes of cars.

The first win came in the Golden State 400 on June 20, 1971, in a Dodge. Two years later, on June 17, 1973, Allison won the Tuborg 400 in a Chevrolet. On Jan. 19, 1975, the one-time leader of the famed Alabama Gang won the Winston Western 500 in an AMC Matador. He drove a Ford to victory in the NAPA 400 on June 10, 1979, then won the Winston Western 500 twice in 1981, on Jan. 11 in a Chevrolet and on Nov. 22 in a Buick.

Riverside had three Cup races that year, the two 500s and the June 400. The track’s January race traditionally opened the Cup season, but the teams regarded it as an unnecessary interruption in their preparations for the Daytona 500. So when the season’s final race became available with the closing of Ontario Motor Speedway in 1980, Riverside president Les Richter agreed to trade the year’s first race for the last.

There was no January race after the 1981 season. Instead, Riverside hosted the season finale through 1987.

Allison, who put the finishing touch on his 1983 Winston Cup championship at Riverside, also won two rounds of the International Race of Champions at the track, giving him eight wins overall, and frequently raced at Orange Show Speedway against Ray Johnstone, Ivan Baldwin and the other stars of the era.

A profile on Allison that appeared in the program for Riverside’s final Cup race on June 12, 1988, is attached for your enjoyment and may be reprinted in whole or in part if so desired.

Allison, 72, will be on hand to sign autographs and chat with racers and fans at Orange Show Speedway Saturday, when the racing action on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval will be provided by the Lucas Oil SuperClean Modifieds, ASA Late Models, Pony Stocks, Factory Fours and Stock Cars USA.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

Daniel gets well-earned win at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Aug. 29) – Ryan Daniel got a well-earned victory Saturday night at Orange Show Speedway.

Daniel put in a patient, intelligent drive en route to his win in the 50-lap ASA Late Model main event, and the Mentone resident was able to do that because of the work put in by his father, Ron, and crew members and friends in the sweltering afternoon heat.

A rocker arm in the engine of Daniel’s Lucas Oil/Finish Line Motorsports Chevrolet came loose early in practice, resulting in a bent valve. That made an engine rebuild necessary, and with a half-dozen people working on the car at time that was completed just in time for Daniel to be the last car out for qualifying on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.

That the repairs were done well was evident in the race, with Daniel stalking early leader Matt Goodwin, of Wildomar, until Goodwin left him an opening on the inside of the track going into Turn 1. Once in front, Daniel pulled away easily en route to his third win of the season, but Goodwin faded to sixth at the finish.

Toni McCray, of Highland, and Kevin James, of Yucaipa, followed Daniel across the finish line.

Five-time champion Johnny Russo, of Big Bear City, got win No. 53 in his black Chevrolet Monte Carlo by taking the 35-lap Pick-A-Part Street Stock main event and Keith Blomgren, of La Quinta, won a Pro 4 race cut from 35 to 20 laps after a series of mishaps.

Russo was the third leader of the race, taking the top spot from Meyer on lap 21 and holding on to win by 0.698 of a second. Jesse James Lawson led early, but had his bid for a third straight win ruined by mechanical woes that forced him out on 15.

Two-time and reigning champion Darren Amidon, of Santee, won an entertaining, competitive Legends Cars main event over Bree Brewer, of Riverside, and Tony Green, of Oak Hills. Brewer, who won here Friday night in her first race in more than a year, led the first 20 of the 35 laps, then gave way to Chad Schug, who in turn was passed by Amidon on lap 28.

Steve Waugh, 65, of Barstow, and Dick Hughes, 84, of West Covina won the 12-lap main events for the Western Racing Association’s vintage Sprint Cars and Midgets, respectively.

Race results for all races are posted here.

It’s ‘Final Four’ time for Orange Show Speedway Late Models

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Aug. 26) – It’s Final Four time at Orange Show Speedway. That’s how many races remain on the schedule for the ASA Late Models, and it may take all of them to determine a champion in the ultra-competitive class.

Jim Conklin, Ryan Daniel and Kevin James all have led the class during the first nine races and Daniel is in the top spot going into the first of those final four races on Saturday, Aug. 29, when the Late Models will be joined on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval by the San Bernardino Pick-A-Part Street Stocks, Pro 4s, Legends Cars and the vintage open-wheel Sprint Cars and Midgets of the Western Racing Association.

Daniel, 31, a diesel mechanic from Mentone isn’t likely to relax, though, because James is just four points behind. That’s a difference of just two positions in the finishing order and should make for an interesting stretch run unless one of the two has major problems.

John Mattie, who won the second half of an Aug. 1 doubleheader, is in third place, 24 points behind Daniel and 20 in back of James. Conklin is fourth, 40 points down to Daniel, and Toni McCray is fifth, 44 points behind. Mattie’s deficit isn’t insurmountable, but for Conklin or McCray to win the title it would take a lot of good luck for themselves and a lot of bad luck for their rivals.

So far, James, 45, has been the most consistent driver in the group in his Tri-City Towing/Burgeson’s Heating and Air Pontiac Grand Prix. The Union Pacific Railroad conductor has one victory and has finished out of the top five just once, a ninth on July 11. Daniel has two wins in his Lucas Oil/Finish Line Motorsports Chevrolet, including the first half of the Aug. 1 doubleheader, but also has been eighth or worse three times.

Mattie has one win, but also finished 13th once. Conklin, a two-time class champion, won the opening race, but since has finished out of the top five five times. And McCray, who missed the first race, has two wins and three seconds, but was ninth on July 25 and 13th in the second race Aug.1.

There’s a similar situation in the point standings for the Pick-A-Part Street Stocks after six of their nine races. Five-time champion Johnny Russo leads by four points over reigning champion Kyle Meyer and just 34 points separate the leader and sixth-place Tony Forfa Jr.

The man to watch in this division may be Jesse James Lawson, 25, of Big Bear City. He has rebounded from his worst finish of the season, an eighth on June 13, to win the past two events in impressive fashion. He is 18 points behind Russo and four in back of third-place Cliff Conklin.

Moreno Valley’s Don Minut has won two of the four races and leads the Pro 4 class and Chad Schug is setting the pace in the Legends Cars, which have raced at Orange Show Speedway just once since May 23.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

MICHAEL LEWIS DOMINATES FORD FOCUS FEATURE AT ORANGE SHOW SPEEDWAY

Laguna Beach, California (August 24, 2009)—Michael Lewis had a stellar night being the driver to beat from setting quick time to crossing the finish line ahead of the pack in the #60 Western Speed Ford Focus midget at the famous Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California, on Saturday, August 22. He began the evening with a strong qualifying effort by setting a quick time of 12.838 that put him just ahead of teammate Cody Gerhardt. Michael then started fourth in the four-lap Trophy Dash and finished third. For the 30-lap USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Series main event, Michael started outside the second row and at the drop of the green flag Michael went to the high groove and quickly passed the front row drivers and set sail building a huge gap on the field as the race progressed. Although several cautions occurred during the later stages of the feature race, after each yellow flag Michael's restarts were perfect and he maintained a healthy gap on the second place finisher at the end of the feature event.

"Kevin and Kent Gerhardt gave me a perfect car on Saturday night and all I had to do was hit my marks, keep the car straight, and everything fell into place," said Michael. "It felt good to win at the Orange Show Speedway track as I know about the extensive racing history of this famous facility, which meant a lot to our sponsor team and for the Western Speed Ford Focus team."

"Michael was quick from the time we unloaded and tested," said Western Speed team owner Kevin Gerhardt. "His fast-time qualification out of 13 competitors at a track he has never competed at is quite an accomplishment. After starting outside of the second row and jetting to the front of the field by the 3rd lap Michael set sail and dominated the race stretching his lead by half a lap at times. Needless to say the team is extremely happy for Michael having won at Orange Show Speedway…a place where his father Steve witnessed his first midget race and claims 'this is what started it all,' referring to his long tenure as a midget team owner."

The win at San Bernardino was the third USAC Ford Focus feature win this season for Michael. He retains fifth position in the drivers points, while the Western Speed Racing #60 car remains first in entrant points. Teammate Cody Gerhardt lies in second place in the series standings, and his #40 car is second in series' entrant points.

"The best and greatest race drivers have raced and won at the Orange Show Speedway, which is a facility that was built in the late 1930s as a Roosevelt era WPA project," added Michael’s father Steve Lewis. "URA midget greats Billy Cantrell, Johnny Morehouse, Allen Heath, along with Rodger Ward, Troy Ruttman, and many other midget greats raced at the Orange Show Speedway. Also, the Orange Show track has been where all the great Southern California late model drivers like Dan Press, Ron Hornaday (Sr. and Jr.), and the Scheidecker family have raced over the years, so it was truly a special moment for Michael to cross the finish line first in the very competitive Ford Focus Feature event."

Michael's next event will be the final two rounds of the Formula BMW Americas Championship this weekend, August 29–30, at Mosport International Raceway in Canada, and his next scheduled Ford Focus event will be at Madera Speedway on September 19.

A great sponsor team is involved with Michael's USAC Focus effort, which includes CTECH, Eibach Springs, Position One Motorsports, SSi Decals, Oakley, Team ASE, Klotz, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando Convention & Visitors Bureau, Bell Racing, and Earl's Performance Plumbing, along with Performance Trailer, Western Speed Racing, K&N Motorsports, Weld Racing, Aurora Bearing Company, and Mettec.

Please visit Michael's website at www.mjlracing.com.

Shackleford is big winner in Super Late Model doubleheader at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Aug. 22) – Mark Shackleford and Rob Kiemele took the wins and Shackleford emerged with the points lead after two races and 79 laps of competition in the Super Late Model class at Orange Show Speedway Saturday night.

The class was scheduled to run a pair of 50-lap events on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval. But the night’s racing program had been slowed several times by lengthy delays following accidents, and when the engine in Frankie Gould’s Super Late Model let go and triggered a three-car mishap in the second race for the class, race director Billy McCray declared the event over due to time constraints.

Shackleford, of Riverside, went into the night’s doubleheader trailing Linny White by 2 points. He got the first race win and the points lead by being in position to take the lead when Kiemele and White got together in Turn 2 on lap 40, after Kiemele had been foiled repeatedly in his attempts to pass pole-sitter and fast qualifier White.

Highland’s Toni McCray and Roger Brown of Corona followed Shackleford to the finish, with White and Kiemele fifth and sixth, respectively.

In the second race, Riverside’s Kiemele got the lead at the start and maintained a safe lead until Gould’s motor let go and McCray and Jim Conklin slid through the oil into the wall in the apex of Turn 3. White, who went into the night with a three-race win streak, was second. Shackleford was third and will carry a 4-point lead into the next Super Late Model affair on Sept. 12.

Robby Hornsby, 17, of Yucaipa, ended Jim Edmiston’s three-race win streak in the Pony Stock class by stalking him for 25 laps and grabbing the lead with three laps to go in the 35-lap feature. It was Hornsby’s second win in seven starts. Edmiston, of Highland, has won the other five.

Ben Mahan, of Oak Hills, overcame gearshift problems and a dozen rivals to win the 35-lap Factory Fours main event and narrow the gap between himself and class leader Dwayne Blay to 6 points with 2 races to go.

A worn bushing caused the transmission in Mahan’s BMW 318i to jump out of gear. But the 13-year-old still was able to move from 12th at the start to the lead on lap 11 and pull away to beat Blay by 6.939 seconds, with Cary Cecil of Corona third.

Lancaster’s Alex Anderson scored his seventh win in nine starts in the Bandoleros class, beating Ryan Cansdale by 0.266 of a second after the two had dueled for 20 laps.

The first race of the season featuring open-wheel cars went to Michael Lewis of Laguna Beach, who won the 30-lap USAC Ford Focus Midget feature by 1.45 seconds over series points leader Nik Romano of Pleasanton. It was Lewis’s third win of the season. J.R. Williams, 74, of Carson City, Nevada, finished fifth.

Super Late Models, Focus Midgets to share Orange Show Speedway spotlight

SAN BERNARDINO – Has a week off been time enough for tempers to cool? Are some title-contenders cashing in bottles because of late-season budget woes? Will worries about turning 14 affect Ben Mahan’s driving? Can Jon and Kate find happiness again?

Almost all those questions and more will be answered Saturday (Aug. 22) at Orange Show Speedway when the Super Late Model stock cars play a doubleheader, the Pony Stocks, Factory Fours, Bandoleros and Drifting return and the USAC Ford Focus Midgets join the fun on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.

It’s back to school night at the speedway. All teachers and students presenting valid identification and the coupon that can be found at www.bestinthewestracing.com will be admitted free. Otherwise, tickets are priced at $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

The Super Late Models, which have six races remaining, will run a pair of 50-lap races Saturday that could be extremely meaningful to the quartet of drivers at the top of the point standings.

Reigning champion Linny White, of Colton, who struggled through the first three races of the season, has won four of the past five – including the past three – and finished second in the other. That surge has given him a 2-point lead over 2004 champion Mark Shackleford, of Riverside, who has one victory.

Track record-holder Rob Kiemele, of Riverside, is third, 26 points behind White, who has fueled a budding rivalry by spoiling Kiemele’s victory hopes in the past two races. Three-time champion Glen Cummings, of Highland, is fourth, another six points back. Redlands resident Barry Karr, who led the standings for five races, missed the most recent event on Aug. 8 and dropped to fifth place.

The battle for the Factory Four class championship is almost as good as the one the Super Late Models have going, with Dwayne Blay, Mahan and Kim Marzullo separated by just 26 points with three races to go.

Blay, 41, an automobile service writer who lives in the Woodcrest area of Riverside, has three races in a row and five of the past six to claim the points lead. He hasn’t been able to shake Mahan, however, because the youngster from Oak Hills who’ll be 14 on Aug. 28 has finished second in five of the six races since his back-to-back wins in May. As a result, Blay’s lead is just 8 points over Mahan and 26 over Marzullo, of San Bernardino.

The Pony Stock class is devoid of drama, thanks to Highland’s Jim Edmiston. The 48-year-old pipeline foreman has won the past two class titles and four overall, and in a few more weeks he’ll have number five. Edmiston had won five of the six races, finished second once and has a 50-point lead over track chaplain Joe Bubbico with three events left.

On the other hand, what had looked like a Parker Malone runaway in the Bandoleros has gotten extremely tight with six races to go. Malone, 12, of Redlands, still leads. But he is just 2 points ahead of six-time winner Aaron Anderson, 13, of Lancaster, and 10-year-old Ryan Cansdale, of Laguna Beach, is only 20 points behind.

This will be the 12th race of the season for the USAC Ford Focus Pavement Midgets, an open-wheel class so named because all cars are powered by the specially-prepared, sealed versions of the engine available in the Ford Focus street car.

Alex Bowman, the 2008 national champion, won the opening race at Havasu 95 Speedway March 14 and Tanner Swanson won the most recent outing, besting eight rivals on Aug. 15 at Madera. In between, Jeff Oleen has been in the winner’s circle three times and Michael Lewis twice, but neither man leads the point standings. That honor belongs to Nick Romano, who’s still looking for a win.

The Focus Midgets will run a heat race and 25-lap main event.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

Orange Show Speedway racers taking rest before more intense competition

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Aug. 14) – After five weeks of exciting racing that saw tempers flare, old rivalries renewed and new rivalries created, the competitors and staff of Orange Show Speedway are taking a week off to catch their collective breath and get ready for another month of intense action on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.

The most recent night of racing (Aug. 8) had about 4,000 spectators on Youth Sports Night on their feet repeatedly as Colton’s Linny White won his third straight Super Late Model main event, Jim Edmiston of Highland continued his domination of the JAM Sportswear Pony Stocks, Dwayne Blay of Riverside got his third win in a row in the Factory Four class, 10-year-old Ryan Cansdale took the Bandoleros race and Riverside’s Shaun Estes won both Stock Car USA races, 25 laps on the oval and 20 on the infield Figure 8 course.

Every win was accompanied by the kind of fender-to-fender and bumper-to-bumper action that makes short track racing so enjoyable, and there’ll be more of the same in the next month.

When racing resumes Aug. 22, the Super Late Models will headline the program with a pair of 50-lap races. The Late Models will be in action Aug. 29 and again Sept. 5, when the Lucas Oil SuperClean Modifieds make their second appearance, and the Super Late Models will be back on Sept. 12.

Spectator gates open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18, and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

NASCAR legend Bobby Allison will be Grand Marshal Sept. 5

Bobby Allison, one of the finalists in the voting to choose the first group of NASCAR greats to be enshrined in the series’ new Hall of Fame, will be the Grand Marshal for Orange Show Speedway’s Labor Day weekend program.

Allison, third on the all-time list with 84 victories, will meet with and sign autographs for fans and participate in other activities on what Best in the West Racing Inc. owner Rick McCray has designated “Grand Opening” weekend to commemorate his first season as promoter of the 62-year-old speedway.

Other events still are being scheduled for that evening.

Super Late Model champ John Manke featured in magazine

Two-time Super Late Model champion John Manke has been named the August Weekend Warrior Award winner by Late Model Racer magazine. The article briefly summarizes Manke’s 11-year career and is accompanied by a photo by OSS track photographer “Ms. Mary” Secord.

Late Model Racer is available by subscription only, at $18 for 9 issues per year. It may be ordered by mail (Late Model Racer, P.O. Box 310, Linden, Va., 22642) or through the web site, www.latemodel.com/latemodelracer.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

White wins third straight at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (August 8) – Linny White won his third race in a row and his fourth in the past five events in the Super Late Model class at Orange Show Speedway Saturday night.

It was far from an easy race, however, with several on-track incidents and numerous angry words in the pits after the 50-lap contest that closed the show before a Youth Sports Night crowd of approximately 4,000 spectators at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.

White, the reigning class champion, didn’t take the lead until lap 42, when he got his Chevrolet Monte Carlo underneath the Chevrolet of Riverside’s Rob Kiemele, who had set the pace for the previous 30 laps after early leader John Manke pulled off with mechanical issues.

Once in front, White had to endure five pressure-filled restarts following five yellow caution flags before taking the checkered flag ..429 of a second in front of Riverside’s Mark Shackleford, who had started the night tied with White atop the point standings.

Glen Cummings of Highland got third, Andre Prescott of La Quinta was fourth despite several spins during the race and Toni McCray was fifth. Kiemele, who had to pit on lap 45 because of a body panel rubbing on his right rear tire, finished eighth.

Dwayne Blay of Riverside and Ben Mahan of Oak Hills continued their intense battle for the Factory Fours class championship, with Blay taking the lead from Mahan on lap 16 of their 35-lap main event and holding on to win by less than half a second. The win, Blay’s third in a row and seventh of the season, left him 8 points ahead of Mahan with three of the 13 races remaining.

Jim Edmiston continued his drive to a fifth Pony Stock championship, winning for the fifth time in six races and stretching his lead over Joe Bubbico to 50 points with three of the nine races left.

Riverside’s Shaun Estes hit the trifecta in the Stock Cars USA class, winning the Trophy Dash, the 25-lap oval main and the 20-lap Figure 8 contest. Riverside’s Dave Foster was second in both main events.

Ryan Cansdale, 10, of Laguna Beach won the 20-lap Bandolero main event.

Lucas McCray, 16, of Riverside was transported to the hospital for observation after a collision with Josh Hodges at the end of the 4-lap Trophy Dash sent McCray’s Ford Pinto into the cement crash wall on the front straightaway. The car had to be cut apart to free McCray, who was driving his first race, and he was complaining of a sore neck.

Midgets have been removed from this week's schedule

Midgets have been removed from this week's racing schedule due to engine issues. We're sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Late Model doubleheader, SouthWest Tour Trucks on Orange Show Speedway menu Saturday night

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (July 29) – Seven drivers have six races to decide one championship.

That’s the situation competitors in the ASA Late Model division are in as they get ready to run a pair of 50-lap races Saturday (Aug. 1) at Orange Show Speedway, which continues to earn praise from racers and fans alike in its first season under the control of Best in the West Racing, Inc.

The new management team, under the direction of veteran racer and successful businessman Rick McCray, has made significant improvements at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval (the latest one is the planting of two orange trees in the pit area) and rekindled the enthusiasm of the community.

One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the depth of competition in the Late Model class, which will be joined on Saturday by the Pro 4 and San Bernardino Pick-A-Part Street Stock divisions, the second appearance of the SouthWest Tour Trucks and a Demolition Derby.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, with a coupon on www.BestInTheWestRacing.com good for one free admission with one paid. Seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel are $8 with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

Late Model points leader Kevin James became the sixth winner in seven races last weekend and 10 different drivers have at least one top three finish. That diversity is reflected in the standings, with seven drivers within 50 points of the leader with six races remaining.

James has 300 points and is followed by Ryan Daniel with 294, Toni McCray with 274, Jim Conklin and John Mattie with 272, Logan Mainella with 264 and rookie Matt Goodwin with 250. Calling all seven championship contenders may be stretching a point since the Orange Show Speedway point system (50-48-46-44-42, etc.) rewards consistency more than winning.

There can be changes, however. That was the case two races back, when Conklin went out after a first-lap accident and finished last in the 13-car field. He dropped from third to fifth in the standings but lost only 8 points to James, who finished ninth. Last week, while James was winning McCray finished ninth and went from 10 points behind to 26 back.

The Pick-A-Part Street Stock and Pro 4 classes have been competitive, too. Cliff Conklin (twice), Kyle Meyer, Johnny Russo and Jesse James Lawson have recorded victories in the five Street Stock races and Keith Blomgren, Don Minut and David Glidewell have won the three Pro 4 events.

The SouthWest Tour Trucks made their Orange Show Speedway debut May 11 with 17-year-old Dalton Kuhn winning a 40-lap main event. However, Kuhn was disqualified in the post-race technical inspection and the win went to second place Christian Copley, of Santa Ynez, who is the points leader. Kuhn has won the other three races and is sixth in the standings.

This will be the fifth of 12 races for the series, which will return to the speedway on Oct. 17.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

Colton’s White makes it two in a row with Super Late Model win at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (July 25) – Linny White patiently stalked the leader for 34 laps, then became the leader for the final 16 and won the 50-lap Super Late Model main event at Orange Show Speedway Saturday night.

It was the second straight win and third in four races for White, the reigning champion, and it moved him into a tie for the points lead with fifth-place Mark Shackleford of Riverside after seven of 14 races. Barry Karr of Redlands, who had been the leader, suffered heavy right front wheel damage in a lap 15 incident, finished 12th and trails White and Shackleford by 2 points.

Dusty Davis, 17, of Las Vegas, started on the pole for his first race on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile and did a good job of holding off teammate Justin Johnson and White until Whiter, of Colton, got the inside line into Turn 1 on lap 35. Rob Kiemele and Shackleford followed White to the front. Kiemele held on to second, but Johnson and Davis both slipped by Shackleford.

Union Pacific train conductor Kevin James, the ASA Late Model points leader since May 16, solidified his hold on the top spot with his first win of the season. James started on the pole and led all 50 laps while withstanding almost constant pressure from runner-up Ryan Daniel.

James, of Yucaipa, won by 0.341 seconds over Daniel, with Brandon Loverock of Highland third. Toni McCray, who had won the past two races, finished ninth in the 11-car field. James leads Daniel by 6 points after seven of 13 races.

Riverside’s Dwayne Blay benefitted from being in the right place at the opportune time and regained the Factory Fours points lead by winning the 35-lap main event. Blay was third with just over three laps to go, then was in the lead when Kim Marzullo and Ben Mahan made contact while fighting for the top spot in Turn 4. Marzullo was able to regroup and hold onto second place, but Mahan dropped to sixth. That enabled Blay to go from 4 points behind Mahan to 6 ahead after 10 of 14 races.

Stock Cars USA points leader Tom Whitson of Lake Elsinore inherited the pole position when Riverside’s Dave Foster was unable to start and led every inch of the 25-lap race for his third win in five starts. Runner-up Kevin Cook of Riverside was in position to challenge for the lead on lap 22, but Whitson used traffic to his advantage and pulled away.

Conklin’s hoping to rebuild his title hopes in rebuilt Late Model

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (July 22) – Jim Conklin will be in the starting lineup for Saturday night’s (July 25) ASA Late Model main event at Orange Show Speedway. That’s a given, because he hasn’t missed a race since moving into the class and winning the first of his two championships in 2006.

He said his Chevrolet-powered Pontiac Grand Prix might be faster than ever, too, and that’s a surprise, because when Conklin was ready to leave the speedway on July 11 he needed the help of other racers and even some spectators to push his bent and broken car into the trailer.

Conklin had been in the wrong place at the wrong time on the opening lap of the race. The Chevrolet of Ryan Daniel had been bumped and spun and was sliding down the track in Turn 2. Conklin saw the incident, moved to the low side of the track and pressed his gas pedal to the floor to try to avoid any contact. Instead, Daniel’s car slid into the side of Conklin’s car.

Conklin said he wasn’t sure if it was one of the hardest crashes he’s been in, but he was positive it was the most expensive. The car’s frame was bent and the rear differential, drive shaft, shock absorbers, springs and right rear brake assembly were destroyed. Conklin said he didn’t know if he’d be able to get that car repaired or if he’d have to prepare his backup car, the one that Gerald Lair drove to Pro Stock titles in 1996 and ’97.

Wednesday, the owner of Conklin’s Hot Rods and Collision Repair in Big Bear City said his primary car was ready to go. He said he had some of the needed parts in his warehouse and most of the repair work was done in his shop, but it still took “in the neighborhood of $3,000” just to cover his costs.

It may be money well-spent, however, because Conklin tested the car at the speedway last Friday night and said it is “faster than it was before. I’m very pleased with the result.”

The result Conklin needs most, though, is a victory. The 2006 and 2007 champion won the opening race of the season April 4, but has just one top five finish in the five races since and has fallen to fifth in the standings, 22 points behind leader Kevin James.

The dominant driver in the class has been Toni McCray, who has set two track records in qualifying and will be going for her third straight win on Saturday, when the Super Late Models, Factory Fours and Stock Cars USA are joined by the Old Farts Car Show and Kenny Asche’s Flaming Camaro.

McCray missed the opening race, but has two seconds and a fourth to go along with the two wins and is third in the standings, just 10 points behind James. Ryan Daniel is second, 4 points behind the leader.

McCray also will be driving in the Super Late Model division, where reigning champion Linny White won on Saturday (July 18) for his second victory in the past three events.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, but this week a $3 discount is available to anyone printing out the coupon at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com and presenting it at the box office. Admission is $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

One race, two winners at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (July 20) – Linny White and Barry Karr both were winners in Saturday night’s Super Late Model main event at Orange Show Speedway.

White got his second victory in three starts by leading the 50-lap race from start to finish. Karr was second in the race. But that finish enabled him to add to his lead in the championship standings after six of the 13 races for the class.

Karr, who has two wins this season, picked up four points on opening-night winner Mark Shackleford and will take a 12-point advantage into this Saturday night’s (July 25) main event.

The Super Late Models and Late Models will share star billing on a program that also includes the Factory Fours, Stock Cars USA and the Old Farts Car Club, who will present both a car show and their Flaming Camaro.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, but this week there is a coupon good for a $3 discount at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com. Other ticket prices are $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40. Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

While Karr was able to strengthen his hold on the top spot in the standings, reigning champion White moved into third place, 20 points behind the leader. Glen Cummings is fourth, 24 back, and fifth-place Rob Kiemele trails by 30.

A race winner receives 50 points and there is a drop of two points for each finishing position after that, with fifth place earning 42 points, 10th place 32 and so forth.

Karr wasn’t the only driver padding his lead Saturday. Two-time defending Pony Stock champion Jim Edmiston collected his fourth win in five races, and with four events remaining he has a 46-point lead over Sean Spencer and Robby Hornsby, who are tied for second after finishing 13th and 11th, respectively.

It was a different situation in the other classes, however. Dwayne Blay got his third win in four races in the Factory Fours division and trails leader Ben Mahan, who was second Saturday, by just 4 points with four races to go. And Brent Schiedemantle’s second win in three starts moved him within 8 points of leader Chad Schug with six races left for the Legends Cars.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

Good night for front-runners at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (July 18) – Saturday night was a night for front-runners at Orange Show Speedway as four of the five main events were won with wire-to-wire performances.

Linny White in the Super Late Model class, Dwayne Blay in Factory Fours, Brent Scheidemantle in the Legends Cars and Aaron Anderson in Bandoleros all led from start to finish in their respective races, and only in the 35-lap Legends main event was the margin of victory under 1.9 seconds.

Highland’s Jim Edmiston had to come from behind to win the Pony Stock class but had no trouble accomplishing that. He started sixth, took the lead on lap 7 and won the 35-lap contest by 0.654 seconds over Corona’s Adrienne Murlin.

Riverside’s Rob Kiemele led qualifying in the Super Late Model class with a track-record 12.915-second lap, but the top four – Kiemele, White, Glen Cummings and Frankie Gould – all eclipsed the previous record of 13.006 set by White on April 11.

Kiemele pulled a 3 on the inversion draw following qualifying. That meant he would start on the inside of the second row, alongside Gould, and put No. 3 qualifier Cummings and No. 2 White on the front row.

When the green flag waved White beat Cummings to the start-finish line, and when a spin by Ricky McCray forced a restart it was the same story. White surged to the front and was able to pull away seemingly at will throughout the 50 laps on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval, winning by 2.224 seconds.

Cummings and Kiemele battled for second until lap 40, when Kiemele tried to get inside Cummings on a restart after a caution period and the ensuing contact got both drivers sent to the rear of the field. That set up class leader Barry Karr for a second-place finish, with John Manke third, Mark Shackleford fourth and Toni McCray fifth.

Dwayne Blay and Ben Mahan ran one-two for 35 laps in the Factory Fours main event with Riverside’s Blay getting his Toyota truck to the finish 1.98 seconds ahead of the BMW sedan of the Oak Hills 13-year-old, who holds a 4-point lead after 9 of the 13 races.

Scheidemantle, 16, of Alta Loma, was pressured throughout the race by Tyler Fabozzi, 13, but never bobbled in winning by 0.104 seconds.

Aaron Anderson, 13, of Lancaster, won the 20-lap Bandolero main event by 2.598 seconds over Blake Dunkleberger, of Simi Valley. Parker Malone, 13, of Redlands, had won Friday night’s race.

Super Late Models, Legends Cars return to Orange Show Speedway after lengthy layoffs

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (July 15) – There are no Homecoming celebrations in short track auto racing, but if there were Saturday night’s (July 18) event at Orange Show Speedway would be one of them.

The Super Late Models will return to the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval for the first time in five weeks and the Legends Cars will make their first appearance since May 23. They’ll be joined by two classes that last raced on June 27, the JAM Sportswear Pony Stock and Factory Fours, and the Bandoleros, who have been away since May 30.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40. Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

This week, however, anyone 55 and older will be admitted free by printing out the coupon available at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com web site and presenting it at the speedway box office.

John Manke is 10 years too young to take advantage of that free admission offer, but he’ll still be at the track to seek his second straight win in the Super Late Model class. Manke, a two-time class champion, got his first win of the season June 13 when he led Linny White and Glen Cummings across the finish line.

It was the 10th win in four-plus seasons for Manke, a Ramona resident who began racing at Orange Show Speedway in 2005 following the closure of Cajon Speedway.

Manke’s win corresponded with a troubled ninth-place finish by two-time race winner and class leader Barry Karr, who is 8 points ahead of Mark Shackleford and 10 upon Cummings after five of 13 races.

In the competitive and contentious Factory Fours class, San Bernardino High School teacher and coach Kim Marzullo will try to repeat her winning effort of June 27, when she held off points leaders Ben Mahan and Dwayne Blay. Mahan has a 6-point lead over Blay and Marzullo is 16 points farther back in what has become a three-driver fight for the title after eight of 13 races.

Highland’s Jim Edmiston appears well on the way to his third straight and fifth overall JAM Sportswear Pony Stock title. He has won three of the four races, including the most recent on June 27, and has a 22-point advantage over Sean Spencer of Riverside with five events remaining.

Reigning champion Darren Amidon, of Santee, has won two of the past three races in the Legends Cars division, but missed the first two events in the 12-race season and probably won’t be a factor in the point standings currently led by Chad Schug of Oak Hills.

Ryan Cansdale, 10, of Laguna Beach, won the Bandoleros race on May 30 after running second to Lancaster’s Aaron Anderson in the three previous races.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

McCray’s second win tightens up OSS Late Model standings

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (July 13) – Toni McCray’s second straight win and a subpar finish by championship leader Kevin James Saturday night (July 11) have left Orange Show Speedway’s ASA Late Model standings in turmoil as the halfway point of the season nears.

McCray, who also competes in the Super Late Model division, missed the first Late Model race of the season but has been sensational since making her debut in the Lucas Oil Quick Mist/Racecar Factory Chevrolet May 2, finishing second, second and fourth before making it to victory lane for the first time June 27.

Her latest win moved her into third in the standings, just 10 points behind leader Kevin James, a Union Pacific train conductor who lives in Yucaipa. James has led the division standings since May 16, but after bringing the Tri-City Towing/Burgeson’s Heating and Air Pontiac home ninth on Saturday his lead is just 4 points over Ryan Daniel of Mentone, who finished eighth in his Hangar 24 Craft Brewery Chevrolet.

Two-time class champion Jim Conklin of Big Bear Lake, who had been third, fell to fifth. Conklin’s MyIrishPride.com Pontiac got the worst of an opening lap accident that also involved Daniel and he finished last in the 13-car field.

Five-time champion Johnny Russo of Big Bear City finished second to neighbor Jesse James Lawson in Saturday night’s 35-lap Pick-A-Part Street Stock main and the driver of the Mercer Auto Chevrolet has a 6-point lead over 2008 champion Kyle Meyer of Highland after five of nine races. And in the Stock Cars USA class, season-long leader Tom Whitson of Lake Elsinore is 4 points ahead of Jimmy Rouse Jr. of Fontana after four of eight events.

McCray will be back on the track this Saturday (July 18) when the Super Late Models are joined by the JAM Sportswear Pony Stocks, Factory Fours, Legends Cars and Bandoleros for a night of racing anyone 55 or over can watch for free by printing out the coupon at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com and presenting it at the speedway box office.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40. Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

A Texan and a lady take starring roles at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (July 11) – James Cole won a Modified championship in San Antonio, Texas, and went looking for new race tracks to conquer. Saturday night he found Orange Show Speedway to his liking.

Inheriting the pole position after Riverside’s Bryan Harrell crashed in the Trophy Dash, Cole led the Lucas Oil SuperClean Modified series 75-lap main event from start to finish and held off a late charge by Riverside’s Jim Mardis to get his first victory of the season on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.

Toni McCray turned in another dazzling performance in the ASA Late Model class, setting a track record in qualifying and holding off Linny White and Logan Mainella to post her second win in a row.

Jesse James Lawson, of Big Bear City, got his first main event win with a wire-to-wire victory in the 35-lap contest for the Pick-A-Part Street Stocks and Riverside’s Shaun Estes, in his first race of the season, captured Stock Cars USA’s 25-lap feature.

Cole, who had been third at Las Vegas May 16 in round three of the series, led by more than 2 seconds on lap 35, and after two caution periods tightened up what remained of the 22-car field the Texan rebuilt his advantage to 1.45 seconds on lap 60.

Mardis, the fastest qualifier, spent 60-plus laps trying to find some way to pass Tim Morse for second. Mardis finally made the pass on lap 65 and quickly closed the gap on Cole. On lap 72 Mardis moved high on the track and he and Cole ran side by side, but Mardis couldn’t complete the pass and fell in line behind Cole on the final turn of the final lap.

McCray, the first woman to win a main event in one of Orange Show’s premier divisions, battled Ryan Daniel for second early on, then got the lead from his father, Ron Daniel, when he and McCray touched and he spun at start-finish on lap 30. White moved in to second at the same time, but never seriously challenged.

Modifieds, Late Models will share spotlight as racing heats up at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (July 7) – The temperature isn’t the only thing heating up these days. So is the racing at Orange Show Speedway, and in the next 10 weeks the historic quarter-mile oval once again will become the place to be for fun and family entertainment on a Saturday night.

The process begins this Saturday (July 11), when the Lucas Oil SuperClean Modifieds join the ASA Late Models, Pick-A-Part Street Stocks and Stock Cars USA to kick off the most sustained period of activity for the season.

There will be nine nights of racing in the next 10 weeks, and in that period the track’s regular competitors will be joined by the USAC Western Midgets, USAC Ford Focus Midgets, SouthWest Tour Trucks, Old Farts Car Show and another round of the SuperClean Modifieds touring series.

It’s a varied menu with something for every taste, and this week’s program is a good example. The powerful SuperClean Modifieds will run a 75-lap main event, the ultra-competitive Late Models will have a 50-lap feature, and the Street Stocks and Stock Cars USA will compete in 35-lap races. The Modifieds also might run a B main to help determine their starting lineup if more than 22 cars are entered.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:40 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40. Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

This week also there is a coupon at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com that can be printed and presented at the box office to get one general admission ticket at half-price with the purchase of one at the full price.

Saturday’s race will be the fourth of the eight-race season for the Modifieds, who will return to ASA-sanctioned Orange Show Speedway on Sept. 5. Chris Gerchman of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., won the opener March 28 at his hometown Havasu 95 Speedway, 2008 champion Jimmy Dickerson took round two at Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway in Blythe April 18 and Andrew Phipps of Simi Valley was the winner May 16 at Las Vegas.

Gerchman, with a win, a third and a second, leads the standings by 6 points over Phipps, who has two fourths to go with his victory. Jim Mardis, Orange Show’s 2006 Pony Stock champion, has finished third, sixth and fourth and is third in the points, 14 behind Gerchman.

Two weeks ago, Toni McCray became the first woman to win a main event in one of the speedway’s premier divisions when she captured the 50-lap ASA Late Model main event. She was the fifth different winner in as many races for the class. She also has two seconds and a fourth in her four starts and is fourth in the standings despite missing the opening race.

Yucaipa train conductor Kevin James is the points leader by 6 over May 2 winner Ryan Daniel and 14 over April 4 winner Jim Conklin. Logan Mainella and Dan DiGiammarino won the other two races.

In the Pick-A-Part Street Stock class, which has had four different winners in as many races, five-time champion Johnny Russo of Big Bear City is 2 points ahead of reigning champion Kyle Meyer of Highland and 12 up on Cliff Conklin of Big Bear Lake.

Lake Elsinore’s Tom Whitson has won two of the three races in the Stock Cars USA division and tops the standings by 2 points over Jimmy Rouse Jr. and 4 over Dave Foster.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

OSS Asks That You Please Help Support Darrell Kelsoe's Family

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (July 7) – Cindy Kelsoe, the wife of Orange Show Speedway Pony Stock racer Darrell Kelsoe, unexpectedly died in her sleep Monday night or Tuesday morning. She was 52. The cause of death has not been determined.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Kelsoe is survived by three adult children -- Aaron Rodriguez, Rebecca Rodriguez and Autumn Wilson -- and two grandchildren.

A fund has been established to assist the Kelsoe family with funeral expenses and related expenditures. Contributions may be sent in Kelsoe’s name to Scheidecker Fabrications, 415 West Rialto Ave., Rialto, Calif., 92376, or Highland Avenue Lumber, 1680 West Highland Ave., San Bernardino, Calif., 92411, ATTN: Ken.

Racing, gender aren’t only bonds for McCray and Marzullo

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – There is a common bond aside from their gender and their love of racing that binds Toni McCray and Kim Marzullo, the women who made history at Orange Show Speedway by winning their main events June 27.

McCray, who became the first woman to win a race at one of the 62-year-old track’s top-level divisions by capturing the 50-lap ASA Late Model feature, describes herself as “very competitive in everything I do,” and Marzullo, who captured the 35-lap Factory Fours main, said she has “always been competitive.”

They find different outlets for much of that competitiveness, though.

McCray might have been destined to race, given that her parents and grandparents and assorted other family members have been involved in motor sports at various levels, and she’d like to fulfill that destiny on NASCAR’s national stage.

Marzullo already has a career. She’s a teacher in the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) at San Bernardino High School, passing on many of the skills she acquired during the 12 years she owned a bakery. She’s also coach of the boys and girls water polo and swim teams and the cheerleading squad.

She’s a San Bernardino native who’s lived in the same house all her life, and she remembers spending a lot of Saturday nights at Orange Show Speedway watching a friend’s father race. Marzullo never thought about racing herself, however, until fellow teacher and racer Jeff Imbriani goaded her into trying, and she said she does it simply for the “pure fun.”

There is another incentive, though. She admits to that by laughing happily when she’s asked if beating all the men in the class makes winning more enjoyable.

Asked if beating all the men in the class makes winning more enjoyable. “Are you kidding?” Marzullo said. “That’s the whole point. It feels great, and it’s so easy to say something to them, like ‘you got beat by a girl.’”

In fact, Marzullo has “trucks are for girls’ painted across the tailgate of her lime green Toyota pickup so her rivals can “read that when they’re on my bumper.”

Marzullo has fun chiding the men in her class, but she also knows they like and respect her, and it’s the same in McCray’s case. She said in the aftermath of her victory “there have been a lot of phone calls, a lot of people calling to congratulate me.

“I think every driver came over and congratulated me after the race. Those guys have accepted me and been great to me.”

McCray, whose father, Rick, formed Best in the West Racing, Inc., to promote the races at ASA-sanctioned Orange Show Speedway, wasn’t planning to race in the Late Model class this season. She was going to drive a Super Late Model Chevrolet and serve as the marketing director for Best in the West. It was in the latter capacity that she called car owner Clay Wooster and asked if he’d bring another car to the track.

“I was trying to build car count,” McCray said. “I said, ‘you want me to start it and park, just to get the count up?’ The next day he called me back and said ‘how would you like to drive it?’ I said heck yeah, no problem. That was on a Wednesday. “I practiced in it on Thursday, just to get a few laps. That night he told me I was running (Trophy) dash times and told me he couldn’t believe how quick I’d adapted to it, because the Late Model and the Super Late are completely different. That Saturday night (May 2) I broke the (qualifying) record and started seventh and finished second.”

McCray was second again May 16 and fourth in the 100-lap race May 30 before leading all the way en route to the initial main event win of her career June 27. It was a race replete with nine yellow caution flags, the final one with just five laps remaining and May 2 race winner Ryan Daniel right behind her.

“I couldn’t believe the caution came out,” McCray said. “Loren (Hill, her spotter) keeps me real calm. Our restarts had been real good all night and he said ‘all right, let’s do it again.’ I drove away from him (Daniel). I pulled him like six cars down the backstretch and I knew I just had to hit my marks after that.”

The win boosted McCray to fourth in the standings, 26 points behind leader Kevin James, despite missing the opening race. Marzullo, meanwhile, strengthened her grip on third in the Factory Fours class and trails leader Ben Mahan by 22 points after eight races. She was second last season.

“Last season, I never had one crash or one repair, I never had any major anything (happen),” said Marzullo, who jokes that some of her students attend every race hoping she’ll hit the wall so they can laugh at her. “This year already I’ve had to replace the front end, and when I crossed the finish line Saturday I blew the motor.

“I was watching the temperature gauge the whole race and holding my breath. There were two laps left when they threw the yellow and when they slowed us down the temperature shot up. I just held my breath. I said, ‘I can’t pull off now.’ Then when I took the checkered flag and was going into Turn 1, poof, the motor let go.

“This is pure fun,” said Marzullo, whose personal car is a Corvette. “I could have gone up in class this season but I like the entry level. I feel very competitive, and when you do crash it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg to make repairs. Had I done this at Toni’s age or younger I would have pursued it. Now, I’m not naïve. I’m lucky I can climb in and out of that window.”

McCray will be back on the track July 11, when the ASA Late Models, Pick-A-Part Street Stocks and Stock Cars USA are joined by the touring Lucas Oil SuperClean Modified series. Marzullo’s next race is July 18.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

It was a night for women drivers at OSS as McCray and Marzullo win main events

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (June 27) – It was Ladies Night at Orange Show Speedway Saturday when Toni McCray got the first main event win of her career and Kim Marzullo got her first victory of the year.

McCray bested 14 male rivals to win the 50-lap ASA Late Model main event and Marzullo outran eight male foes to claim the 35-lap Factory Fours feature. Both women won their 4-lap Trophy Dashes as well.

It took two tries to get the Late Model main started, but it finally was under way McCray, 32, of Highland, had a lead she never relinquished despite having to endure nine caution flags and late pressure from Ryan Daniel in a contest that was more of a Demolition Derby than the one that closed the show for an estimated 2,000 spectators.

Dan DiGiammarino, who had dominated the 100-lap Late Model race May 30, was an early victim of Saturday night’s carnage and finished 15th, and potential contenders Ron Daniel, Barry Karr, Logan Mainella and Kevin James all suffered early-race setbacks.

McCray, the marketing director for Best in the West Racing and the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval, got an excellent restart after the final caution on lap 45 and finished 0.647 seconds ahead of Ryan Daniel, with Jim Conklin third.

Marzullo, 43, of San Bernardino, went into the evening third in points in the Factory Fours class and strengthened her hold on that spot with her 0.137-second victory over championship leader Ben Mahan.

The San Bernardino High School teacher and coach started eighth in the nine-car field in her lime green Toyota pickup, but took the lead from Daniel Allred on lap 6 and never was pressured after that.

Four-time and reigning JAM Sportswear Pony Stock champion Jim Edmiston got his third win in four races this season, but spent the first 28 laps of the 35-lap race trying to stay with and find a way to pass Robby Hornsby, 17, of Yucaipa. Those two ran almost nose-to-tail from the start and put the rest of the 15-car field well behind.

Edmiston finally made his pass by getting inside Hornsby going into Turn 1 on lap 29, and as the lap ended the motor in Hornsby’s Ford Pinto exploded, relegating him to a 12th-place finish. Second went to Riverside’s Sean Spencer, who went from first to last at the start when he had to make a quick pit stop due to a fluid leak.

David Glidewell led from start to finish in a Pro 4 main event shortened from 35 to 25 laps after a lengthy, and scary, delay when the Chevrolet of Tony Edwards caught fire in Turn 2 on lap 13. Edwards was able to exit the car safely with the help of corner worker Chris Singleton, but the car burned for several minutes.

Orange Show Speedway will be dark July 4. Racing will resume July 11 with the first appearance of the Lucas Oil SuperClean Modifieds, ASA Late Models, Pick-A-Part Street Stocks and Stock Cars USA.

‘Dizzy Dan’ will try to extend his domination when Late Models return to OSS Saturday night

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (June 24) – The last time the ASA Late Model stock cars were on the track at Orange Show Speedway, most of them were getting lapped by the car driven by Dan DiGiammarino.

That was back on May 30, when former OSS regular DiGiammarino came out from Ohio to drive car owner Clay Wooster’s Chevrolet-powered Toyota Camry to a dominating victory in a 100-main event. The driver known as “Dizzy Dan” lapped all but four of his 19 rivals that night and might have put everyone at least a lap behind if not for a late-race caution flag.

The Late Models will be back Saturday night (June 27) and so will DiGiammarino. So it will be interesting to see if the others have closed the performance gap or if DiGiammarino just had one of those almost magical nights when everything went exactly right.

The JAM Sportswear Pony Stocks, Pro 4s and Factory Fours also will be in action on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval, and rounding out the show will be another round of Trailer races and a Demolition Derby.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40. Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

In addition, a pre-race Internet visit to www.BestInTheWestRacing.com will yield a coupon good for a free hot dog with the purchase of a general admission ticket until 7 p.m.

DiGiammarino’s margin of victory, 8.5 seconds over Ron Daniel, was the biggest of the season in any class other than Bandoleros and looks like an aberration in a class that has had four different winners in four races and eight different drivers with top three placings. Jim Conklin, of Big Bear Lake, won the April 4 opener by 0.174 seconds, Ryan Daniel, of Mentone, took the honors May 2 by 0.397 seconds, and Palmdale’s Logan Mainella won the May 16 event by 1.04 seconds, but there was just 8.71 seconds between first and 10th.

Yucaipa’s Kevin James has used consistency (four top 5 finishes) to lead the standings. Ryan Daniel and father Ron Daniel trail by 12 and 14 points, respectively.

The JAM Sportswear Pony Stock championship appears to be a battle between reigning champion Jim Edmiston, who won the first two races, and 17-year-old Robby Hornsby, who won the most recent race on May 23. Edmiston leads by 4 points.

The Factory Four title fight also is shaping up as a one-on-one duel between two-time winner Ben Mahan and Dwayne Blay, who has won the past two events and four overall. Mahan, 13, who also has three runner-up efforts, has a 4-point lead after seven races.

The Pro 4s will be making their third appearance of the season and have a three-way tie for the lead between April 11 winner Keith Blomgren of La Quinta, May 23 winner Don Minut of Moreno Valley, and John Soares of San Bernardino.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

Manke Returns to Winner’s Circle at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (June 13) – Two-time champion John Manke got his first win of the season Saturday night with a wire-to-wire victory in the 50-lap Super Late Model main event at Orange Show Speedway.

Manke, 44, of Ramona, missed the opening race of the season, but said in the final laps of the 100-lap contest two weeks ago that he felt his Lucas Oil Chevrolet Monte Carlo finally was running the way he wanted.

That certainly was true Saturday night. With an estimated 3,000 spectators looking on, the 2005 and 2007 class champion started on the pole and never was behind for a second despite five yellow caution flags and pressure from Highland’s Glen Cummings early and reigning champion Linny White in the closing laps.

Manke won by 0.802 seconds over White, with Cummings, rookie Jake Engle and Travis Stockman rounding out the top five in the 15-car field.

Riverside’s Dwayne Blay benefitted from a red flag in the 35-lap Factory Fours main and won by 1.144 seconds over Ben Mahan, of Oak Hills. Mahan, 13, was leading Blay by 1.658 seconds when the race was red flagged after Victor Garcia, of San Bernardino, rolled his Toyota pickup at the end of the front straightaway on lap 24.

The stoppage erased Mahan’s lead, and on lap 30 Blay got his Toyota pickup in front of Mahan’s BMW. Mahan fell to third temporarily, but reclaimed second from Kim Marzullo on the final lap.

Cliff Conklin had a good night in the Pick-A-Part Street Stock class, qualifying No. 1 with a new track record and winning the 35-lap main event by 1.056 seconds over five-time champion Johnny Russo, with reigning champion Kyle Meyer third. Russo’s runner-up finish gave him the points lead by 2 over Meyer after four races.

Ryan Cansdale of Laguna Beach took the 20-lap Bandoleros feature for his first win after three straight second-place efforts.

Super Late Models top early Father’s Day program at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (June 10) – Linny White will be seeking his second win of the season and Barry Karr will be trying to extend his lead in the standings when stock car racing returns to Orange Show Speedway Saturday night (June 13).

White erased the frustration he’d felt during a string of problem-plagued races early this season by winning the 100-lap Super Late Model main event that brought the HeatBlast.com 200 to a close May 30.

On what White had termed his “back to black” night, the 2008 Super Late Model champion posted a 2.2-second victory after replacing the Chevrolet Monte Carlo’s blue-and-white paint scheme with a solid black one. In the process, he snapped a two-race win streak by Karr, who finished fifth and leads the championship standings by 12 points.

An evening of racing that includes the popular Factory Fours, the Pick-A-Part Street Stocks, Bandoleros, Drifting and the entertaining Train races will be an early Father’s Day celebration at the ASA-sanctioned speedway, which will be closed on the June 20-21 weekend. All dads will be admitted for half-price by presenting the coupon available at the track’s web site – www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

In addition, it will be Matco Tools night, KFROG radio (95.1 FM) will be doing a remote broadcast from the speedway courtesy of Budweiser, and Racing West’s Bob Gardner will be on hand to provide lap-by-lap “Near Live” coverage of all the evening’s races on the Racing West web site.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40. Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

The Factory Fours, the only class in Southern California that is a mixture of cars and trucks with 4-cylinder motors, is turning into a rivalry between two drivers with limited experience – 13-year-old Ben Mahan and 41-year-old Dwayne Blay. Mahan, in his second year in the Factory Four class after three seasons in Mini StocKars, has won two of the six races thus far and has a 6-point lead over Blay, who has three wins in just his second season as a driver.

Reigning champion Kyle Meyer and multi-time champion Johnny Russo share the lead in the Pick-A-Part Street Stocks, which have had three different winners in their three races.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

Orange Show Speedway Drivers are ‘Training’ for a Championship

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (June 5) – It’s still early in the Orange Show Speedway stock car racing season, but it’s starting to look as though the best way to win a championship may be to take a train ride or go to school.

Barry Karr and Kevin James, the leaders of the premier Super Late Model and Late Model classes, respectively, both work on trains. Karr, of Redlands, is an engineer for Union Pacific and James, of Yucaipa, is a conductor.

That means Karr is used to being in front and James is accustomed to telling people where to go, but exactly how that translates into racing success isn’t clear. Obviously, however, both are off to good starts to their seasons, and after 4 of 11 events in each class, both men enjoy 12-point leads in the standings.

Karr, who has two wins, a second and a fifth, is trailed by opening-night main event winner Mark Shackleford, of Riverside in the Super Late Model championship. James, with a third, fourth and two fifths, leads Ryan Daniel, of Mentone in the Late Model division.

Two other classes are led by full-time students Kyle Meyer and Ben Mahan. Meyer, a junior at California Baptist University in Riverside, shares the Pick-A-Part Street Stock lead with Johnny Russo, of Big Bear City, after 3 of 9 races. Mahan, a middle school student in Oak Hills, has a 6-point advantage over Dwayne Blay, of Riverside, after 6 of 13 races in the Factory Fours division.

There is no racing at Orange Show Speedway this weekend. The Super Late Models, Street Stocks, Factory Fours and Trains (of a different sort than Karr and James work on) will race June 13, when Best In The West Racing has an early Father’s Day celebration, and the Late Models, Pony Stocks, Pro 4s and Factory Fours will be joined by a Demolition Derby and Trailer races June 27, following another weekend off at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.

Drivers Rick Chavez of Murrieta (Super Late Models), Robert Chavez of El Cajon (Legends) and Chad Schug of Oak Hills (Legends) are scheduled to be in Los Angeles Monday (June 8) to shoot some scenes for the movie IronMan II, starring Robert Downey Jr.

All three men were chosen to portray pit crew members for a Formula One Grand Prix-style race. Rick Chavez said he and nephew Robert will be on Downey’s crew, “but I think Chad is on the villain’s crew.”

The standings: (A race winner receives 50 points and there is a drop of 2 points for each position thereafter – i.e., 50-48-46-44-42, etc.)

SUPER LATE MODELS – 1. Barry Karr, Redlands, 190; 2. Mark Shackleford, Riverside, 178; 3. Rob Kiemele, Riverside, 170; 4. Glen Cummings, Highland, 168; 5. Linny White, Colton, 154; 6. Rickey McCray, Highland, 146; 7. John Manke, Ramona, 138; 8. Dee Cable, Santee, 136; 9. Dave Scheidecker, Rialto, 128; 10. Toni McCray, Highland, 108.

LATE MODELS – 1. Kevin James, Yucaipa, 174; 2. Ryan Daniel, Mentone, 162; 3. Ron Daniel, Mentone, 160; 4. Jim Conklin, Big Bear Lake, 156; 5. Matt Goodwin, Wildomar, 152; 6. John Mattie, Highland, 148; 7. Brian Malone, Redlands, 144; 8. Toni McCray, Highland, 140; 9. Logan Mainella, Palmdale, 138; 10. Sam Newcomer, Apple Valley, 108.

FACTORY FOURS – 1. Ben Mahan, Oak Hills, 280; 2. Dwayne Blay, Riverside, 274; 3. Andy Reed, Bloomington, 260; 4. Kim Marzullo, San Bernardino, 258; 5. Victor Garcia, San Bernardino, 224; 6. Ed Hill, Santa Ana, 210; 7. Gil Everhart, Bloomington, 200; 8. Tony Dumont, Irvine, and Gary Mendoza, Bloomington, 178; 10. Greg Barnett, Hemet, 166.

JAM SPORTSWEAR PONY STOCKS – 1. Jim Edmiston, Highland, 148; 2. Robby Hornsby, Yucaipa, 144; 3. Sean Spencer, Riverside, 128; 4. Adrianne Murlin, Corona, and Joe Bubbico, Perris, 126; 6. Bud Smith, Orange, 104; 7. Jim Gebhart, Yucaipa, 90; 8. Josh Hodges, Yucaipa, 72; 9. Jeremy Perez, Chino, 68; 10. David Pangas, Redlands, 58.

LEGENDS CARS – 1. Chad Schug, Oak Hills, 238; 2. Brent Scheidemantle, Alta Loma, 224; 3. Brian Tyczki, El Cajon, 214; 4. Chase Catania, El Cajon, 208; 5. Cale Kanke, Granada Hills, 158; 6. Paul Vitali, Wildomar, 152; 7. Donny St. Ours, Upland, 136; 8. Darren Amidon, Santee, 134; 9. Mark Borchetta, Valencia, 120; 10. Jairo Avila Jr., Alhambra, 80.

PICK-A-PART STREET STOCKS – 1. Kyle Meyer, Highland, and Johnny Russo, Big Bear City, 144; 3. Cliff Conklin, Big Bear Lake, 132; 4. Jesse Lawson, Big Bear City, 130; 5. Mike Stone, Fontana, and Tony Forfa Jr. San Bernardino, 126; 7. Jeff Watson, Huntington Beach, 118; 8. Mark Miller, San Bernardino, 68; 9. John Reid, Perris, 44; 10, Mike MartinellI, Hemet, 34.

STOCK CARS USA – 1. Tom Whitson, Lake Elsinore, 144; 2. Jimmy Rouse Jr., 142; 3. Dave Foster, Riverside, 140; 4. Blake Usilton, Corona, 118; 5. Jimmy Rouse, San Bernardino, 90; 6. Michele Rouse, San Bernardino, 84; 7. Bill Bartleson, Riverside, 80; 8. Joel Crawford, Oak Hills, 66; 9. Mark Fetchall, Riverside, 46; 10. John Mattie, Highland, 42.

PRO 4 – 1. Keith Blomgren, La Quinta, John Soares, San Bernardino, and Don Minut, Moreno Valley, 94; 4. David Glidewell, Riverside, 86; 5. Randy Davidhizer, Highland, 84; 6. Tony Edwards, Mentone, 78; 7. Jeremy Edwards, Yucaipa, 48; 8. Frank Young Jr., Fontana, 36; 9. Kendall Scheidecker, Hesperia, 34.

BANDOLEROS – 1. Parker Malone, Redlands, 230; 2. Aaron Anderson, Lancaster, 150; 3. Ryan Cansdale, Laguna Beach, 142; 4. Mikael Lovas, Menifee, and Chancellor Tiscareno, Menifee, 86; 6. Ivan Gudmestad, Crestline, 82; 7. Bernardo Lopez-Garcia, Leon, Mexico, and Ian Wesolowski, Menifee, 44; 9. Patrick O’Hanley, North Las Vegas, 42; 10. Blake Dunkleberger, Simi Valley, 38.

A Special Thank You to Team Too Termite and Pest Control

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (June 2) - Best in the West Racing would like to give a special thank you to Team Too Termite & Pest Control for their support of the Saturday, May 30th 2009 HEATBLAST.COM 200 Event. We are so happy to have them be a part of the racing family this year! We couldn't have done it without them!

A Special Thank You to Dennis Huth

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (June 1) - Best in the West Racing would like to thank Dennis Huth for making a special trip out to visit everyone at the Orange Show Speedway. We appreciate the support that he and everyone at ASA Racing have given us this year.

White Goes Back to Black and Back to the Winner’s Circle at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (May 30) – Linny White said he was going to paint his race car black again to try to change his luck. It worked.

Three times this season, White felt his blue-and-white Paradise Ponds Chevrolet was the best car in the Super Late Model field at Orange Show Speedway and three times mechanical problems had spoiled his night. So White said this week that car owner Joe Perez had given him permission to “go back to black” for the 100-lap Super Late Model portion of Saturday night’s HeatBlast.com 200, which was presented by Team Too Termite and Pest Control.

When the evening ended, White was back in the winner’s circle. The reigning Super Late Model champion coasted there after losing the rear end in the first turn of the final lap around the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval. The fact he could do that and not lose the lead indicates how easily he led the race after overtaking early pacesetter Rob Kiemele, of Riverside, who finished 2.2 seconds back in second.

Earlier, former Orange Show regular Dan DiGiammarino made his homecoming enjoyable by winning the 100-lap Late Model race. DiGiammarino, who moved to Ohio two years ago and was here on vacation, started on the outside of the front row in the 20-car field in a Chevrolet usually driven by Brandon Loverock. DiGiammarino took the lead from pole-sitter John Mattie at the start and lapped all but four cars on his way to an 8.5-second victory over fast qualifier Ron Daniel, of Mentone, and Logan Mainella, of Palmdale, who had won here May 16.

The margin of victory would have been even bigger if not for the fourth caution flag of the race, on lap 75. When that occurred, DiGiammarino was 9.2 seconds ahead.

White collected $2,000 for his win and DiGiammarino picked up $1,000.

White, who had planned to compete in both 100-lap events, didn’t start the Late Model race. Busy preparing his own Super Late Model car and several others, White turned his Late Model ride over to Austin Murphy, of Lancaster, who could only limp around after a first-lap incident with Jered King.

Toni McCray did run both events. Sort of. She finished fourth in the Late Model feature, but was knocked out of the Super Late Model race in a first-lap, first-turn mishap that involved five of the 17 starters.

Wayne Blay, of Riverside, returned to the winner’s circle in the Factory Fours class with a half-second victory over Ben Mahan, 13, of Oak Hills, with fast qualifier Andy Reed third in the 30-lap contest.

Tom Whitson, of Lake Elsinore, won the 25-lap Stock Cars USA feature by 4.2 seconds over Dave Foster, of Riverside. Aaron Anderson, of Lancaster, won the 16-lap Bandolero main after starting last in the 8-car field.

For complete race results, click here

Yucaipa’s Hornsby Captures Pony Stock Win at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (May 23) – Robby Hornsby was last year’s Rookie of the Year in the JAM Sportswear Pony Stock class at Orange Show Speedway.

This year he wants to be champion, and Saturday night he demonstrated he was a contender for that honor by winning the 35-lap main event over reigning champion Jim Edmiston.

Hornsby, 17, of Yucaipa, inherited the lead from Jim Gebhart when Gebhart and Edmiston got together in Turn 2 on lap 13 and easily held off Edmiston the rest of the way to win by 1.46 seconds.

The low-key night of racing, run with the National Orange Show Fair in the background, included wins by Darren Amidon in the Legends Cars and Don Minut in Pro-4s, exhibitions by drivers from the Super Late Model, Late Model and Street Stock classes, Quarter-midgets and an appearance by the Pick Your Parts Inferno jet truck.

The exhibitions by the Super Late Models and Late Models were a preview of next week’s (May 30) HeatBlast.com 200 Presented by Team Too Termite and pest Control. Both the Super Late Models and Late Models will run 100-lap main events and the Factory Fours, Stock Cars USA and Bandoleros will round out the program.

Amidon, 24, of Santee, won the past two Legends Cars championships at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile, but missed the first two races this season. He has won two of three starts since his return, this one coming after he stalked leader Brent Scheidemantle for 25 laps before moving to the front with five laps to go.

Minut, of Moreno Valley, had an easy time of it. Mechanical problems reduced the Pro 4 field to just six cars, and after Minut took the lead from John Soares on lap 3 he widened his advantage each lap. Minut won by 8.6 seconds and lapped everyone except runner-up Soares.

Orange Show Speedway will have its own Pony (Stock) rides on fair weekend

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (May 19) – This is the weekend of the National Orange Show Fair. That means two things are guaranteed to happen.

One, it will rain. Yes, that’s an old wives’ tale unsupported by scientific data. But those who have lived in the Inland Empire for awhile are aware that more often than not, it rains at least one day during the fair. So don’t say you weren’t warned.

Two, stock car racing at Orange Show Speedway will be impacted. That’s not an old wives’ tale. It’s happened every year and it will happen again this weekend, even though Best in the West Racing Inc. has taken control of the track from the NOS board of directors. The scope of both activities makes overlap inevitable.

There will be racing, with the Pro 4s, JAM Sportswear Pony Stocks and Legends Cars providing the entertainment. And as usual spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Getting to the gates will require a little more effort and patience, however, because the fair will be using the speedway’s normal parking area. So to say thank you to all those who do attend, Best in the West Racing is offering two tickets for the price of one to anyone who prints out the coupon on the www.BestInTheWestRacing.com Internet site and presents it at the time of purchase.

In addition, the first 500 fans through the gates will receive free Best in the West Racing lanyards, which have a multitude of uses.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A new Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

This weekend only, the tickets will be on sale at Gate 9 off Arrowhead Avenue, the box office adjacent to the main gate of the speedway and at the pit gate (Gate 1) off E Street. Parking for the speedway (at $5 per vehicle) will be off Arrowhead Avenue on the East side of the NOS property. Those entering through Gates 1 and 9 will have direct access to the speedway without having to contend with foot traffic at the fair.

Robby Hornsby, Adrianne Murlin and the others in the Pony Stocks class are looking for direct access to the winner’s circle that Jimmy Edmiston has occupied after the first two races.

Edmiston, of Highland, has won the past two championships and three of the past four, and with two race wins already he’s well on the way to another title. Hornsby, a 17-year-old Yucaipa High student, has been the most consistent challenger, finishing second in the March 28 opener and third behind Edmiston and Murlin two weeks ago.

La Quinta’s Keith Blomgren took the win in the Pro 4 division’s only race so far, on April 11.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

Teenager Mainella gives himself a birthday present with Late Model win at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (May 16) – His father was in the pits overseeing the preparation of his race car and his mother and a half-dozen family and friends drove down from Palmdale to be on hand in case Logan Mainella did anything noteworthy on the eve of his 18th birthday.

Mainella made all those efforts worthwhile with something extremely notable – his first win in a Late Model main event before approximately 2,000 spectators at ASA-sanctioned Orange Show Speedway.

Starting fifth in a Chevrolet-powered Dodge that still carries the name of his late mentor, Richard Hooper, Mainella had moved up to third by lap 10 on the quarter-mile paved speedway. He nudged Toni McCray out of the way to take second on lap 18 and got the inside line through Turn 1 on lap 22 to take the lead from pole-sitter Ryan Daniel.

McCray took second from Daniel on lap 28, but it was obvious that she would need a yellow caution flag to have any chance of overtaking Mainella in the 50-lap event. She got that on lap 39, when Daniel, Jim Conklin, Ron Daniel and Brian Malone got together heading into Turn 4. But a brief bobble by McCray just after the restart on lap 40 let Mainella pull away again and he took the checkered flag 1.044 seconds in front of McCray with Kevin James third.

Rod Proctor, of Riverside, won the 25-lap Outlaw Figure 8 main over Rusty Stewart, of Long Beach, but the race was stopped twice after accidents involving Harry Kuenniger and Billy Ziemann. The second mishap left both cars unable to continue.

The new SouthWest Tour Truck Series made its debut at the speedway with a 40-lap main event that was won by Dalton Kuhn, the son of Modified star Dean Kuhn. The younger Kuhn put his Chevrolet in the lead on lap 6 and never was threatened in winning by 0.961 seconds over Christian Copley of Santa Ynez.

Benjamin Mahan, the talented 13-year-old from Oak Hills, led from start to finish to win the 30-lap Factory Fours main event in his BMW. He beat Bloomington’s Andrew Reed by 1.9 seconds, with Kim Marzullo of San Bernardino third. Mahan’s task was made easier when a lap 2 incident sent two-time winner Dwayne Blay to the pits for repairs that cost him 9 laps. Blay finished eighth and dropped from first to third in the standings, 8 points behind Mahan and 2 behind Marzullo.

Jimmy Rouse Jr., 16, of Fontana, got the evening started with a 1.3-second win over dad Jimmy Rouse in the 25-lap Stock Cars USA main.

Late Model battle will resume on Armed Forces Night at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (May 13) – They’ve run two races in the Late Model division at Orange Show Speedway this year and the margin of victory has been just over half a second. That’s for both races.

In the season opener for the class on April 4, two-time champion Jim Conklin beat Ron Daniel by 0.179 seconds, and in the most recent contest, on May 2, Ryan Daniel finished 0.349 seconds ahead of fast-closing Toni McCray.

The drivers in what is promising to be the most competitive division at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval will be back on Saturday (May 16), when the old phrase “your mother wears combat boots” will take on new meaning.

That phrase used to be an insult kids verbally hurled at each other to infer that mom perhaps wasn’t the perfect little housewife type her mother and grandmother had been. It’s meaningless now, except in the most literal sense. Mothers do and have worn combat boots – and the uniforms of the various U.S. military branches.

If mom does fit that description and shows up at the speedway box office Saturday with the proper identification (combat boots are optional), Best in the West Racing will say thank you on what has been designated Armed Forces Night.

Active military personnel with identification and veterans with valid Veterans Administration identification cards will be admitted free for a night of racing that includes the Factory Four stocks, Stock Cars USA, Outlaw Figure 8s, Drifting and the SouthWest Tour Truck Series.

In addition to free admission for active military and veterans, anyone visiting the Internet web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com will be able to print a coupon good for $3 off the price of admission.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors (60 and older) and students 11 to 18. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40. Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

Ryan Daniel’s win two weeks ago coupled with his third-place finish in the opening race have given the Mentone resident an early 8-point lead in the standings over Conklin, with Kevin James 10 points behind and Ron Daniel trailing his son by 12 points.

In the Factory Four division, with four races in the books, two-time winner Dwayne Blay, of Riverside, has a 6-point lead over Ben Mahan, the precocious 13-year-old from Oak Hills who won the most recent main event. San Bernardino High School teacher Kim Marzullo is third, 8 points behind.

Tom Whitson, of Lake Elsinore, won the opening race for Stock Cars USA April 4 and Harry Kuenniger of San Bernardino and Rod Proctor of Riverside have won the Figure 8 events.

The SouthWest Tour Trucks, a regional touring series formerly known as West Coast Pro Trucks, ran its opening race at Irwindale April 4 with Dalton Kuhn of San Marcos taking the win.

The Late Models and SouthWest Tour Trucks both will run 50-lap main events.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

Railroad engineer Karr gets second straight Super Late Model victory at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (May 9) – Barry Karr engineered another victory at Orange Show Speedway Saturday night.

A Mother’s Day eve crowd of approximately 4,000 was on hand for a night that featured the return of Trailer racing to the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile, one scheduled Demolition Derby and enough impromptu destruction to make it a pleasureable experience for all.

Karr enjoyed it as much as anyone. A Union Pacific Railroad engineer from Redlands, Karr got his second straight Super Late Model win by stalking early leader Linny White for 16 laps, then opening a comfortable enough lead to be be able to hold off Mark Shackleford without any trouble late in the 50-lap feature contest.

Karr, who had been third-fastest in qualifying in his Burgeson’s Heating and Air Chevrolet, started alongside White on the front row and began looking for a spot to pass almost immediately. Once he found it he was able to open a lead of almost a second over Shackleford and won by 0.706 of a second.

John Manke, Travis Stockman and Glen Cummings rounded out the top five.

Mark Miller of San Bernardino won the Trailer race over three rivals on the infield Figure 8 course and Dan McDonald won the audience vote over Dan Bachella and was declared the Demoliton Derby winner after both cars had lost their steering.

Earlier, four-time class champion Jim Edmiston of Highland somehow avoided all the incidents that led to six yellow flags in the first 15 laps and made it two-for-two in the 35-lap JAM Sportswear Pony Stock main event, with Corona’s Adrianne Murlin second and Robby Hornsby of Yucaipa third.

Five-time champion Johnny Russo of Big Bear City took the lead in the Street Stock main on lap 11 and ran away from everyone, finishing the 35-lap race 2.35 seconds up on Kyle Meyer, who won a week ago.

Brent Scheidemantle, 16, of Alta Loma, led 20 of the 30 laps to post his initial Legends Cars main event win and Aaron Anderson of Lancaster won his second Bandoleros main of the season.

Orange Show Speedway will honor wives and mothers with free admission Saturday night

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (May 5) – Best in the West Racing and Orange Show Speedway have a Mother’s Day present for all women with free admission to an exciting and varied night of racing action on Saturday, May 9.

It promises to be an extremely entertaining night. The serious stock car competition will be provided by the Super Late Models, Pony Stocks, Street Stocks, Legends Cars and Bandoleros, and the fun will come with the return of Trailer racing.

Always a spectator favorite, Trailer racing is just what the name implies. Drivers in vehicles of their choice towing trailers of their choice will compete on the infield Figure 8 course. The preferred method is to keep the trailers on their wheels, but there’s no rule against dragging them should the wheels not stay on the ground, and on the Figure 8 course that’s almost guaranteed.

There’s also room on Saturday’s schedule for a Demolition Derby. But that event is contingent on the presence of enough drivers with old cars and destruction on their minds to make things interesting for the fans and the competitors.

One thing is certain. This is a program with something for the entire family, and the wives and mothers can see it all for free. For everyone else, tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors 60 and older, students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under also are admitted free. A new Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

Ryan Daniel goes from hunter to hunted while winning Late Model main event at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (May 2) – Ryan Daniel played the roles of both the hunter and the hunted Saturday night (May 2) at Orange Show Speedway.

Daniel, of Mentone, stalked leader Brian Malone for the first half of the 40-lap ASA Late Model main event, then took the lead and held off a strong late charge by fast qualifier Toni McCray to win by 0.397 seconds.

The 31-year-old Daniel started alongside Malone on the front row in the 15-car field, then settled in on the Redlands driver’s rear bumper as the top seven made just one position change over the first 15 laps. Then, a series of incidents resulted in front-runners Jim Conklin and Ron Daniel being sent to the rear of the field, and on the restart after a yellow flag on lap 25, Ryan Daniel took first away from Malone.

McCray, making her first Late Model start at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile, was fourth with 15 laps to go and moved into second with 9 to go, but never could find a way around the leader.

Earlier in the evening, Woodcrest resident Dwayne Blay demonstrated why he is the driver to beat for the Factory Four championship, winning the first 30-lap main event and finishing a close second to 13-year-old Ben Mahan, of Oak Hills, in the second 30-lapper.

Blay, who had spent most of the afternoon trying to find bolts to replace the half-dozen that had snapped on his Toyota’s crankshaft, started at the rear of the 18-car field in the opening race and overtook leader Tony Dumont with 3 laps to go.

In the second race, Blay started ninth, moved into second on lap 24 and made several attempts to slip by Mahan’s BMW in the final stages.

Riverside’s Rod Proctor jumped into the lead at the start and never was threatened in winning the 15-lap Outlaw Figure 8 feature over Harry Kuenniger, of San Bernardino.

Reigning champion Kyle Meyer, of Highland, got inside position on Cliff Conklin to take the lead going into Turn 1 with 5 laps to go and held on to win the 35-lap Pick-A-Part Street Stock feature over Big Bear City neighbors Jesse James Lawson and Johnny Russo, respectively.

The Super Late Models return next week (May 9) to head a program that includes Pony Stocks, Street Stocks, Legends Cars, a Demolition Derby and the return of Trailer Races, which literally are races between cars towing trailers.

Late Models, Figure 8s Top the Program, but Factory Fours Will Do Double Duty as Racing Resumes at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (April 30) – Orange Show Speedway, closed for the past two weeks, will echo with sound of race cars again Saturday, May 2, as the stock car season resumes.

A busy and diverse program will be headed by the ASA Late Model class, which last season saw six different drivers win the nine races, and highlighted by the return of the powerful, exciting Outlaw Figure 8 cars.

Also on the schedule are the San Bernardino Pick-A-Part Street Stocks, Factory Fours, Bandoleros and the second appearance of the season for the Western Racing Association’s Vintage Sprint Cars and Midgets.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A new Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

The two-week layoff, while not planned, did give Best in the West Racing officials and track personnel time to relax and take some deep breaths after a frenetic two-month period in which Best if the West owner Rick McCray and crew signed a five-year lease on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile, put together a schedule, made significant improvements to the 62-year-old facility and staged three racing programs.

That rest will be helpful now, because Saturday’s program is the first of five consecutive weekends of racing that will feature, among other things, the return of Trailer races (May 9) and the debut of the SouthWest Tour Trucks series (May 16).

Saturday will be the second races of the season for the Late Model, Street Stock and Outlaw Figure 8 classes and the third and fourth for the Factory Fours division, which will run a pair of 25-lap main events.

The initial appearances of the Late Models and Street Stocks resulted in two wins for the Conklin brothers of Big Bear. Older brother Jim Conklin, 55, a two-time class champion, held off the father-son duo of Ron and Ryan Daniel for a 0.174-second win in the 50-lap Late Model main. Cliff Conklin, 52, also a past class champion, was a winner over past champion and mountain neighbor Johnny Russo by 0.860 seconds in the 35-lap Street Stock feature.

Two races into the season, the Factory Fours already have a terrific championship fight going, with veteran Tony Dumont of Irvine and 13-year-old Ben Mahan of Oak Hills tied for the lead, but just two points ahead of high school teacher Kim Marzullo of San Bernardino and Dwayne Blay of Riverside, who won the most recent outing.

“Dirty Harry” Kuenniger of San Bernardino won the initial Outlaw Figure 8 race, a hastily-arranged contest on April 4, and is expected to have several more challengers this time around.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

Orange Show Speedway remembers history-making driver Jack McCoy

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (April 22) – A piece of Orange Show Speedway’s history was laid to rest this week.

Jack McCoy, who won several races on the San Bernardino quarter-mile oval in the early days of the NASCAR Grand National West series, passed away last week at 72 and was honored with a memorial service in his hometown of Modesto on Monday.

Best in the West Racing owner and Orange Show Speedway promoter Rick McCray remembers McCoy as “a nice guy with a great family, and he supported racing even after he’d done his share (to popularize it). He was one of those guys that if you needed something, he was going to take care of you.”

Ken Clapp, for three decades NASCAR’s key West Coast official, called McCoy “one of the best drivers we’ve had in the West, a legend and a real gentlemen. There isn’t anything he couldn’t drive and drive fast. He was a winner.”

McCoy, who retired as a driver in 1974 and was inducted into West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2002, won 54 races and two Grand National West titles. Four of those wins came at Orange Show Speedway, the track McCoy called “ … the tight little ¼-miler inside the Orange Show Stadium (where) You often put a “Darlington Stripe” on the right rear quarter panel if you were running well.”

Two of those victories held special significance both for McCoy and the Grand National West series.

His first win at the track came on July 26, 1969, when he took the checkered flag after 150 laps with Ray Elder second. McCoy made it two in a row on Aug. 8, 1970, this time with Don Noel as runner-up. But as McCoy related in his marvelous autobiography, “Racing’s Real McCoy,” what made that race important was what happened afterward.

“At the end of the race, total chaos seemed to ensue,” McCoy wrote. “The Bown clan was hot at being black-flagged for dragging a traction bar … and costing them the race.”

McCoy said Clapp, who was in charge, had tried to use hand gestures to tell official Floyd Johnson not to give Dick Bown the black flag, but that Johnson either failed to understand the signals or decided to ignore them. Ron Hornaday Sr. was so incensed by the decision he charged from the grandstand to the infield, and soon a full-scale brawl was under way – with NASCAR founder Bill France looking on.

As a result, McCoy said, “France vowed from that point on there would be radio communications between the head official and the field official in charge of running the event.”

McCoy got his third straight win in San Bernardino in the Orange 400 on March 7, 1971, leading Elder, Johnny Steele and a local rookie named Ivan Baldwin across the finish line in the longest short track race ever run in the West series. It also was the richest at the time, with the winner getting $1,500 of the $7,200 purse.

McCoy qualified first, won the Trophy Dash and had his 1971 Dodge in front for every lap of the race, which was run in two 200-lap segments separated by a 30-minute pit stop.

The last of the four wins came on Aug. 4, 1973, with Elder once again second in the final Grand National West race at the 62-year-old track. McCoy retired following the 1974 season and convinced Baldwin and protégé Gary Nelson to move to Modesto to run his race team while he focused on his role as the West Coast distributor for McCreary tires.

One of the first Grand National West cars Baldwin and Nelson built in McCoy’s shop was for McCray, who in February signed a five-year contract giving him control of the ASA-sanctioned facility and guaranteeing that racing would continue at the West’s oldest continually-operating track. The exploits of McCoy and others from that era were major factors in his decision.

“There’s been so much history made here,” said McCray, who began his own career at the track and went on to race in all the major NASCAR series. “That’s why I decided to get involved. There’s no way I could have just sat back and let them close the doors on all the great memories.”

McCoy’s memories provide the framework for an entertaining and compelling look at the history of stock car racing in the West. “Racing’s Real McCoy: Sharing the road with the pioneers of the wild west,” with race results, statistics and more than 900 photographs, is available for $39.95, plus shipping and handling, by contacting McRacebk Publishing, 916 Princeton Ave., Modesto, Calif., 95350-5037, (209) 521-9640.

McCray will be trying to provide more memorable moments when racing at Orange Show Speedway resumes May 2.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

New contenders already emerging in Orange Show Speedway point battles

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (April 16, 2009) – The Orange Show Speedway season is only three weeks old, but it’s already apparent that come October some new champions will be crowned.

Linny White, the reigning Super Late Model champion, is off to a slow start in 2009, finishing 11th on opening night, March 28, and seventh in the most recent race, April 11. Those results have left him tied for ninth in the standings, 30 points behind leader Barry Karr, who finished second to Mark Shackleford March 28 and won the April 11 main event.

There are 11 more races for the class, including twin 50-lap main events on closing night, so there is ample time for White to make up his deficit. However, the point system in place at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval is weighted heavily in favor of consistency, with 50 points to a race winner, 48 to the runner-up, 46 for third and each subsequent finishing position earning 2 points fewer than the one above it.

Karr, of Redlands, has the lead with 98 points to 94 for Riverside’s Shackleford, the 2004 class champion. Another past champion, Glen Cummings, is third with 86 points.

New champions in the Factory Fours and Legends Cars divisions are almost assured despite just two races having been run, because neither 2008 Factory Fours champion Art Ramirez nor 2007-2008 Legends titleholder Darren Amidon has raced this season.

The Factory Fours class is giving indications of being extremely competitive throughout the season, with 13-year-old Ben Mahan and veteran Tony Dumont sharing the lead and only 6 points separating the top six. In the Legends class, Chad Schug and Donny St. Ours share the lead by 8 points over Brian Tyczki.

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All of the drifting exhibitions on the track’s schedule have been cancelled, a decision that resulted in an unexpected Saturday off this weekend (April 18) and a two-week vacation before racing resumes May 2. To replace drifting and augment the serious events, promoter Rick McCray is bringing back some of the events that proved extremely popular with spectators in years past.

The first of those was the April 11 “train” race, which featured four teams racing on the Figure 8 course in a train of three cars linked by a chain. It was won by San Bernardino’s Harry Kuenniger, an Outlaw Figure 8 regular, who’ll be back for round 2 on June 13.

The May 2 program will include the Outlaw Figure 8s, and May 9 will feature the debut of the Trailer races and Demolition Derby. As the name implies, a Trailer race is one in which the drivers tow unwieldy camper trailers or similar impediments. A Demolition Derby, of course, is all-out mayhem, the object of which is to be the final car capable of moving under its own power.

Spectator gates open at 4 p.m. with the first race at 7 p.m. every race night.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older) and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A new Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40. A season ticket, good for all 23 nights of racing, is available for $150.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

Karr benefits from rivals’ mishaps to claim victory in Super Late Model main at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (April 11, 2009) – Barry Karr demonstrated the benefit of being in the right place at the right time Saturday night.

Karr, of Redlands, ran just off the pace of the leaders for most of the 50-lap Super Late Model main event at Orange Show Speedway and wound up with the lead, and the win, after most of his rivals saw their chances for victory destroyed by accidents and spins.

Rob Kiemele, of Riverside, started on the pole and led the first 40 laps over the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval, until he and fast qualifier Linny White got together in Turn 4 and were sent to the rear of the 10-car field. White, of Fontana, had fought back to second after him and Glen Cummings, of Highland, touched and spun on lap 10 while battling for second.

That incident left Karr second until opening night winner Mark Shackleford, of Riverside, took the position on lap 30. Shackleford made a bid for the lead by getting inside of Kiemele in Turn 2 on lap 38, but couldn’t hold his line and spun. That put White into second, with Karr and two-time champion John Manke in pursuit.

Then White and Kiemele spun in Turn 4, giving Karr the lead, and he took the checkered flag in his Burgeson’s Heating and Air Chevrolet 0.888 of a second ahead of Manke, with Dave Scheidecker third.

The real carnage followed, however, when Outlaw Figure 8 driver Harry Kuenniger, of San Bernardino, won a 10-lap Train Race over three opponents. Kuenniger, of San Bernardino, was the only one who managed to keep his three-car “train” attached and on its wheels throughout the race on the infield Figure 8 course.

Keith Blomgren, of La Quinta, opened the Pro 4 season with his first main event win. Blomgren, a realtor who had taken a pair of Trophy Dash wins and finished third in the standings last season, has added the technical expertise of multi-time champion Eddie Secord to his team and it clearly paid dividends Saturday night.

Blomgren, 34, was the fast qualifier in his Revolution Ride Shop Ford and started fifth in the 9-car field due to the inversion. But he was second when the yellow caution flag waved on lap 12, took the lead from Don Minut, of Moreno Valley, on lap 17 and finished the 35-lap contest 8/10ths of a second ahead of No. 2 qualifier Jeremy Edwards.

The 30-lap Factory Fours main went to Dwayne Blay, of Riverside, in his Toyota pickup. Blay, who said yes to a proposal by girlfriend Michelle Williams after the season-opening race on March 28, started on the outside of the front row, nudged pole-sitter Tony Dumont out of the lead on lap 10 and motored away to a 2.4-second victory.

El Cajon’s Chase Catania, last season’s Rookie of the Year, led all but the first lap of the 30-lap Legends Cars main event and won by 2/10ths of a second over Donny St. Ours, of Upland, who came from the rear of the field after being involved in a mid-race collision 10 laps into the contest.

Aaron Anderson, of Lancaster, won the 20-lap Bandoleros main event.

SUPER LATE MODELS (50 laps) – 1. Barry Karr, Redlands, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 2. John Manke, Ramona, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 3. Dave Scheidecker, Rialto, Pontiac Grand Prix; 4. Mark Shackleford, Riverside, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 5. Glen Cummings, Highland, Pontiac Grand Prix; 6. Ricky McCray, Highland, Ford Fusion; 7. Linny White, Fontana, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 8. Rob Kiemele, Riverside, Toyota Camry/Chevrolet; 9. Dee Cable, Santee, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 10. Toni McCray, Highland, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 11. C.J. Evans, San Bernardino, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 12. Rick Chavez, Murrieta, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 13. Frankie Gould, Woodland Hills, Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Fast qualifier – White, :13.006. Trophy Dash winner – Shackleford.

PRO 4S (35 laps) – 1. Keith Blomgren, La Quinta, Ford Fusion; 2. Jeremy Edwards, Yucaipa, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 3. John Soares, San Bernardino, Ford Fusion; 4. Don Minut, Moreno Valley, Ford Fusion; 5. Randy Davidhizer, Highland, Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Ford; 6. David Glidewell, Riverside, Pontiac GTO/Ford; 7. Tony Edwards, Mentone, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 8. Frank Young Jr., Fontana, Chevrolet Monte Carlo/Ford; 9. Kendall Scheidecker, Hesperia, Ford Fusion. Fast qualifier – Blomgren, :13.525. Trophy Dash winner – Soares.

FACTORY FOURS (30 laps) – 1. Dwayne Blay, Riverside, Toyota truck; 2. Kim Marzullo, San Bernardino, Toyota truck; 3. Tony Dumont, Irvine, Mercedes-Benz; 4. Ben Mahan, Oak Hills, BMW 318i; 5. Andy Reed, Bloomington, Toyota truck; 6. Victor Garcia, San Bernardino, Toyota truck; 7. Ed Hill, Santa Ana, Mercedes-Benz; 8. Daniel Allred, San Bernardino, Ford truck; 9. Brad Barnett, Hemet, Toyota Celica; 10. Gilbert Everhart, Bloomington, Toyota truck; 11. Greg Barnett, Hemet, Nissan 200SX; 12. Gary Mendoza, Bloomington, Mazda B2000; 13. Stan Chatwood, Toyota sedan. Fast qualifier – Mahan, :16.065. Trophy Dash winner – Dumont.

LEGENDS CARS (30 laps) – 1. Chase Catania, El Cajon, ’34 Ford coupe; 2. Donny St. Ours, Upland, ’34 Ford coupe; 3. Chad Schug, Oak Hills, ’37 Ford sedan; 4. Brian Tyczki, El Cajon, ’34 Ford coupe 5. Cale Kanke, Granada Hills, ’34 Ford sedan; 6. Jairo Avila Jr.; 7. Fred Chavez, Alpine, ’37 Ford sedan; 8. Frank Silva, Costa Mesa; 9. Brent Scheidemantle, Alta Loma, ’34 Ford coupe; 10. Gary Scheuerell, Murrieta, ’37 Ford sedan. Fast qualifier – Catania, :14.587. Trophy Dash winner – Scheidemantle.

BANDOLEROS (15 laps) – 1. Aaron Anderson, Lancaster; 2. Parker Malone, Redlands; 3. Ryan Cansdale, Laguna Beach; 4. Michael Lovas, Menifee; 5. Ivan Gudmestad, Crestline. Fast qualifier – Anderson, :14.916. Trophy Dash winner – Anderson.

‘Train’ racing returns to Orange Show Speedway Saturday

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (April 8, 2009) – Orange Show Speedway will be turned into a Train station Saturday night.

Train races, for many years one of the most popular events on the speedway schedule, will be revived on an Easter eve (April 11) program that includes the second race of the season for the Super Late Models and Factory Fours, the debut of the Pro-4s and a bicycle giveaway and Easter egg distribution.

Cal’s Towing has generously donated three girls and three boys bicycles that will be given to one girl and one boy in each of three age groups – 4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 13. The winners will be determined in a drawing by the evening’s Trophy Dash winners during their award ceremony. Entry blanks will be available at the main spectator gate.

Earlier, during the 6 to 6:45 p.m. on-track autograph session, the drivers will be handing out plastic eggs containing small prizes or coupons that can be redeemed at the concession or souvenir stands.

Train racing, for those who never have seen it, could just as easily be called “train wreck” racing. Each train consists of three cars chained together. The lead car driver controls the steering and gas pedal and the driver in the rear car operates the brakes. The middle car in each train does not have a driver, which probably is a good thing because it makes a convenient target as the trains race through the infield Figure 8 course. Intersection collisions are quite common, and entertaining for those not directly involved.

While the trains provide an off-beat note, there will be a good deal of serious racing as well, with Mark Shackleford of Riverside (Super Late Model), Ed Hill of Santa Ana (Factory Fours) and Chad Schug of Oak Hills (Legends Cars) all bidding for their second wins of the year and Bryan Glidewell of Cerritos opening his pursuit of a second straight Pro 4 championship at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m. with the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18, and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A new Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40. A season ticket, good for all 23 nights of racing, is available for $150.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.

For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

Conklin brothers make trip from frigid Big Bear pay off in wins at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (April 4, 2009) – The Conklin brothers found a great way to warm up Saturday night by winning two main events at Orange Show Speedway.

Jim Conklin led all 50 laps of the first Late Model main event of the season to beat father-son teammates Ron and Ryan Daniel of Mentone and younger brother Cliff Conklin led 31 of 35 laps to win the Pick-A-Part Street Stock main over Johnny Russo and 2008 class champion Kyle Meyer.

It was the best way the Big Bear residents could think of to justify loading their cars on trailers in 20-degree weather Saturday morning for the trip down the mountain to the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.

Jim Conklin, 55, of Big Bear City, started his Conklin Hot Rods Pontiac on the pole after the five fastest qualifiers were lined up in inverted order. He held off front-row mate Brian Malone on the first lap and wasn’t really threatened after that until Ron Daniel got the Lucas Oil Chevrolet in position to nudge him a couple of times in the closing laps of a race interrupted by five yellow caution flags.

“That was a hard race. Those guys are fast,” Conklin told an estimated 2,500 spectators. “The right rear (tire) went away and it was spinning pretty badly, but I was lucky.”

Younger brother Cliff, 52, of Big Bear Lake, had a trouble-free run by comparison. He started his Conklin Hot Rods Chevrolet Camaro on the outside of the second row, but got the lead when front-runners Russo, Meyer and Jesse James Lawson all spun in Turn 2 on the fifth lap, then held off Russo and Meyer in the latter stages of the race.

Lake Elsinore’s Tom Whitson had a most enjoyable night himself by winning two races for the Stock Cars USA division, a 25-lap main event on the oval and a 20-lap race on the infield Figure 8 course. Jimmy Rouse Jr. of Fontana took second on the oval and Dave Foster of Riverside was the Figure 8 runner-up.

The final race of the night, a 12-lap exhibition for the Outlaw Figure 8 cars, was won by Harry Kuenniger of San Bernardino.

A two-heat Drifting competition, featuring nine cars divided into three teams, was decided based on audience reaction and was won by the trio of Ryan Littereal of Colton, Michael Essa and Matt Powers.

The Super Late Models return April 11, along with the Pro 4s, Factory Fours, Legends Cars, Bandoleros and a Train Race. In that one, three cars are linked together, with the lead car providing the power and the rear car the brakes, to race other teams on the Figure 8 course.

April 3, 2009: Late Models, Drifting top this week’s Orange Show Speedway program

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (April 3, 2009) – The always-entertaining Late Model stock cars will make their 2009 season debut when racing resumes at Orange Show Speedway Saturday night (April 4).

Steve Smith, Ryan Daniel, Jim Conklin, Brian Malone and the others who made last year’s nine races so competitive are expected to return for another try at the championship Smith won by displaying textbook consistency.

In past seasons, San Bernardino’s Smith had raced at various tracks and never competed for a series title. Last year, he decided to focus his efforts on winning the championship at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval and did so by driving the Tri-City Towing Chevrolet to two victories and six other top three finishes in the nine races. That gave him a final 20-point edge over Daniel, who had one win.

Conklin, the 2006 and 2007 champion, and Malone each had two race wins, but struggled through inconsistent campaigns. John Mattie and Austin Murphy were the other race winners.

Rounding out this week’s program are Street Stocks, Stock Cars USA, Figure-8 cars and the artistic, tire-smoking Drifting competitors.

Kyle Meyer, 21, of Highland, a psychology major at California Baptist University, took the 2008 Street Stock crown by winning four of the seven races while Jesse Cottrell of Lancaster captured the first and last events of the year and Cliff Conklin claimed the other victory.

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m. with the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older) and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A new Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40. A season ticket, good for all 23 nights of racing, is available for $150.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com. For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

April 1, 2009: Opening night reviews were good, but there’s still work to do at Orange Show Speedway

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (April 1, 2009) – Rick McCray has high expectations and in the immediate aftermath of opening night at Orange Show Speedway Saturday (March 28) he said he was a little disappointed.

A couple of days later, after digesting the predominantly positive comments from fans and racers and reflecting on all that his Best In The West Racing team had accomplished in just five weeks, he amended his original comments.

“All in all, with no more time than we had to get everything done, I think it was pretty smooth,” McCray said of an evening on which an estimated 3,000 fans watched Mark Shackleford (Super Late Model), Jim Edmiston (Pony Stock), Ed Hill (Factory Four) and Chad Schug (Legends Cars) take the first wins of the year.

This Saturday (April 4), the always competitive Late Models will anchor a program that includes Street Stocks, Stock Cars USA, Figure-8’s and Drifting, and by then the issues raised on opening night will have been addressed.

“There were a lot of little odds and ends, but all in all everything was very positive,” said McCray, who had spent most of his time since Feb. 18 overseeing renovations and preparations at the historic, ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval on the National Orange Show grounds.

McCray, 53, a successful businessman and former NASCAR racer, has a 5-year lease that gives him control of the speedway, the concessions and the parking and should make it easier to address whatever problems arise.

Some of the complaints from the enthusiastic crowd dealt with the time spent in line waiting to enter the parking area, the walk from the parking lot to the speedway, and a lack of adequate identification for the new food and beverage vendors.

McCray said the parking delays were caused primarily because NOS had booked a concert into the nearby Valencia pavilion, a conflict which won’t occur every weekend, and he is going to add another shuttle to carry spectators from their cars to the OSS entry gate. There also will be signs to clearly identify the various concessionaires.

“I think we’ve still got a lot that we need to do to make it better, but we’ll get there,” McCray said. “We know we’ve got to get better all the way around and we will. This is a learning curve, a learning experience for all of us.”

One of the disappointments for McCray was the light turnout of race cars, with just 42 of them spread over the four divisions. He said he attributes that in part to the fact that after the abrupt resignation of former promoter Joe Ganino there was a great deal of speculation regarding the future of the 62-year-old facility and many racers simply quit working on their cars.

“Everyone was so skeptical, and then with us getting a late start, nobody knew if the track would be there or not,” McCray said. “I think now things will start to improve.”

 Judging by the comments of the racers, that should be the case.

Pony Stock driver Martin Timm, of San Diego, who finished third in the main event, has raced at tracks throughout the West. He was impressed by the even-handed officiating and the Best In The West staff’s efforts to make everyone feel welcome and said it was “the best time I’ve ever had at a race track.”

Super Late Model driver Dave Scheidecker, whose family has raced at Orange Show Speedway since it opened in 1947, told the San Bernardino Sun: “I like what he’s (McCray) doing. I think he can pull it off. He’s trying to work with the racers. With the changes he’s made, he’s put us in the 21st century.”

Shackleford noticed several of those changes immediately. There is a new announcer (Bruce Flanders) and a new sound system and “you could actually hear what they were saying,” Shackleford said. There were also radio commercials and increased prize money, a definite anomaly at a time when all short tracks are struggling financially.

“I think we’re fortunate,” Shackleford told the Sun. “(McCray’s) the right guy at the right time.”

The right guy knows better than anyone that this still is a work in progress, though.

“I think we’ve still got a lot that we need to do to make it better all the way around, but we’ll get there,” McCray said. “This is a learning curve, a learning experience for all of us.”

Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m. Saturday with the first race at 7 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older) and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A new Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40. A season ticket, good for all 22 nights of racing, is available for $150.

Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.

For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com. For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.

March 2009: OSS Gets a New VIP Observation Deck!

The Crew at OSS installing the new VIP checkered floor.

The new deck before finishing it off with a fresh coat of paint.