Not from just out West, Like these SRL Supers running at Madera
by
Gerald Laurie
California
Contributor to OWR3
Apr 19 2011
ERA kicks off new season April 30 at Colorado National
by "Keith Shampine"
LITTLETON, Colo. – Supermodified racing in Colorado is set to resume when the Englewood Racing Association opens its 46th season Saturday, April 30 at Colorado National Speedway.
The opener kicks off a nine-race schedule for the ERA at the three-eighths-mile CNS oval. The upcoming season runs from the last Saturday in April to the season closer on October 15.
Fresh off last year’s classic point battle among Harry Stone, Richie Castor and champion Harold Evans Jr., ERA president Castor reflected on the encouraging 2010 season and looked forward to the new year.
Harold Evans is set to defend his 2010 ERA title
Photo courtesy Joe Starr
“It will be hard to top last year’s championship battle and the competitive racing we saw, but we’re going to try. We averaged about 15 cars a show last year, and we’re hoping for 15 to 17 a night in 2011. We should be in for a really good season. Competition is looking good, and guys are stepping up to get some cars out that haven’t seen the track in a few years to help the ERA moving forward,” Castor said.
Castor, who won the ERA championship from 2006 to 2009 before his teammate Evans narrowly edged him last year, is clearly considered one of the favorites for the title this season. Castor posted one feature win last season aboard his No. 2 Hyder chassis.
Evans is set to return to ERA wars in 2011 after earning his first championship since 2003. The Colorado supermodified veteran earned two wins last year on his way to the title. Evans won the ERA’s only visit to a track other than CNS, which came in June at I-25 Speedway.
Last season’s top winner was Pueblo, Colo.’s Johnny Pickard, who wheeled his Mike Pickard-built red No. 02 to three wins in a row late in the year. Pickard, who missed the early-season races which eliminated him from championship contention, said his current plans include running the full ERA slate in 2011.
Pickard spoke about his chances at his first ERA championship since 2005.
“We’ll see what happens. I don’t want to predict anything. We’re optimistic about our chances and we’ll do our best. There is some good competition in ERA so it’s not easy to predict. We have the same car and same stuff. Mike (Pickard) has worked hard to get things ready and we should be good in a couple weeks,” Pickard said.
Another driver set for the opener in two weeks is Chris Sheil, who won one feature last year and has signed Mountain States Toyota as a primary sponsor of the Mikula Racing No. 33 for the new season.
The other key player last year was Stone, who won the 2010 opener and led the point standings until the final show of the season. Entering the last race, Stone held a slim point lead over Evans and Castor before wrecking hard during Friday practice.
Stone and his crew were up all night repairing his No. 40 Masterman mount before returning Saturday only to catch a wheel and in an opening-lap accident and crash hard into the wall.
It’s unsure whether or not Stone will have his super repaired to run this season. Calls made to reach the Denver racer were unsuccessful.
Joe Gallegos has already had his No. 14 super out for open practice at CNS. Joe Priselac, Matt Gilbert, Craig Moore and Larry Lapoint, among others, are all expected to be in action this season.
Priselac, a key ERA board member, recently spoke about the state of the ERA and some improvements to the series this year.
Close competition last season at Colorado National Spdwy
Photo courtesy Joe Starr; www.bigwestracing.com
“We have a solid base of nearly 20 cars in the (Denver) area. A few cars have been parked for awhile, and we’re hoping some come back out this year. We should have no problem hitting the 14-car average we had last season, and hopefully surpassing it. I think the economy continues to play a big role in how many cars show up to the track. We’ve done pretty well despite the hard times over the last few years.
“Scoring this year will be done through MyLaps Sports Timing for the first time, and Colorado National Speedway is now the designated Hoosier tire supplier.”
Priselac also spoke about the possibility of SMRA teams joining the ERA at CNS.
“I know there have been some talks with a few Boise-area drivers. In the past, we’ve had teams from Salt Lake City join us. There have been some rumblings about outside teams racing with us, but no one is saying, ‘we’ll be there.’ We’d obviously welcome any outside teams to run with us.”
For more information on the Englewood Racing Association, visit http://erasupermodifieds.tripod.com.
Mar 1 2011
Nicotra eager to start season with trio of supermodifieds
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Nicotra Racing, led by four-time defending Oswego Speedway track champion and chief mechanic Otto Sitterly, has another full slate of supermodified racing on tap for the 2011 season.
Owner John Nicotra says the team plans for Sitterly to return to Oswego in May to attempt to win four track championships in a row and his fifth overall. Indy car ace Davey Hamilton will return to run “a handful of Oswego shows,” Nicotra says, while Sitterly will look to make select ISMA shows throughout the Northeast, as he’s done for the past few seasons.
Which car Sitterly will field at Oswego this year is the question.
Headlining the offseason news for the team is the purchase of a brand new Hawk Jr. super, which gives Nicotra three nearly identical Hawk-built chassis in the team’s stable. Sitterly picked up the frame from Joe Hawksby Jr.’s Oswego, N.Y., shop in the fall, and he and his crew have worked all winter to build the new mount.
The car will hit the track this spring, although Nicotra says he hopes Otto continues to field the reliable G&I Homes blue No. 7 with which he’s won seven Oswego features in the last two years, including the 2009 Budweiser International Classic 200.
“I told Otto, ‘why change something that doesn’t need fixing?’” Nicotra said from his Homestead, Fla., winter residence. “I think Davey will probably start with the new car, and I hope Otto chooses to stay with the current one. I’d be very surprised if (Sitterly) decides to start with anything other than the car he’s won with. It’s like riding a horse, and he’s very comfortable with that car.”
Nicotra went on to stress that other than the new car, very little will change in 2011.
“Otto’s doing the same thing he always does: working hard in the shop and going over everything meticulously. I thought about changing the paint scheme, but we don’t even want to touch that. The cars will come back with the same paint, fresh motors and we’ll give 100-percent effort like we’ve been doing. We’ll take it one lap at a time and let the chips fall,” Nicotra added.
The three-car team will once again give Nicotra an opportunity to enter a trio of supers in September’s International Classic. This occurred in 2009, when Sitterly, Hamilton and Bobby Santos III wheeled Nicotra-owned cars in the 200-lap grind, which Sitterly won.
Nicotra says he would like to enter all three cars in Oswego’s season-ending race.
“We like to stick with what we know with the Oswego stuff, and we’d like to give someone a shot in one of our cars. I have someone in mind, and we’re trying to work a deal that would be a big story in supermodified racing if it happened. I hope it can work out because it’d be good for non-wing and winged super racing,” said Nicotra, who wouldn’t reveal any further details about the potential deal.
Oswego’s season kicks off with an ISMA-sanctioned 50-lapper on May 7. The Oswego non-wing season gets the green flag with the Jim Shampine Memorial 75 on May 28.
About Nicotra Racing
A shot from Otto’s Canajoharie, N.Y
Nicotra Racing is owned by longtime supermodified fan John Nicotra, a Central New York native who makes his living as a produce broker in Homestead, Fla. The team, led by top driver and mechanic Otto Sitterly, debuted in 2007 and since has won three Oswego supermodified championships and eight Oswego features, including the 2009 International Classic. Nicotra Racing operates out of Sitterly’s shop in Canajoharie, N.Y.
Feb 1 2011
Bob Reis eyes return to Oswego supers
Racer” Bob Reis.
New Concept Race Media
by Keith Shampine
Elma, N.Y. – Bob Reis is on his way back to Oswego Speedway, and it’s not in a modified.
The Buffalo, N.Y., racer struck a deal last week with former Oswego veteran Bill Peri to buy the former Peri Engineering No. 14, a 1999 Peri-built mount that last saw the track early in the 2006 season.
Reis’s new super at Oswego in ’05 (Mike “Pinner” Johnson photos)
Reis went to Peri’s Cortland, N.Y., area shop last week to survey the car. He says the four torsion-bar super is in good shape and he plans to build a new body and make some engine improvement before bringing it to Oswego.
“The car has some really good parts on it,” Reis says. “It’s a little wide in the front, which doesn’t help the aero. But I think it’s a good car and capable of running around 17 seconds. We won’t go 16.5 with it, but it should be a solid, consistent car. The motor has the old Oswego spec heads on it. I’ll put a good set of heads on it that I’m told will give it 75 more horsepower.”
Reis, who also owns a Troyer asphalt modified, has plans to run the car in at least three shows at Oswego in 2011. He has an eye on the modified, supermod doubleheaders at the lakeside oval, which take place Memorial Day weekend, the Race of Champions on July 23 and Labor Day’s International Classic weekend.
“It might be a stretch to get everything ready for the Memorial Day show, but we’re going to try. We’d like to run the modified and super in the doubleheader shows. It’d be really cool to do that, and a lot of fun. Since I have both cars, it makes sense to give it a try,” Reis said.
Reis added that his interest in supermodified racing was rekindled last September when he wheeled a Steve Stout-owned super to a seventh-place finish in the second annual non-wing race at Ohio’s Sandusky Speedway.
The Peri super brings Reis’s tally of racecars back to four. He now owns the modified, super, a 360 sprint car and a Ford Focus midget. He previously owned a Graves super, which he bought from Stout before selling it back to the Ohio owner in 2009, and an independent front-end West chassis, which he sold off this winter.
Reis said that in addition to running the mod and super, he plans to race his sprinter in several Patriot Sprint Tour shows this season around New York and southern Ontario.
The Peri roadster was driven for several years at Oswego by Bill Peri but saw its best season in 2005 when four-time Oswego track champ Otto Sitterly drove it to five top-five finishes, including a second-place run May 29, 2005, in the Jim Shampine Memorial 100.
Oct 5 2010
Evans takes win, championship in ERA season finale
Joe Starr photos www.bigwestracing.com
Evans is a big winner Saturday at CNS
DACONO, Colo. – Harold Evans saved his best run of the season for last when he won Saturday’s Englewood Supermodified Ass’n main at Colorado National Speedway. The win marked Evans second ERA triumph of the season and also earned him the series championship in what was one of the tightest ERA point battles in the organization’s history.
A happy Harold in victory lane
Evans entered the race third in the standings, nine points back of opening night winner and yearlong point leader Harry Stone. Evans’s teammate, Rich Castor Jr., began the night only two points back of Stone.
Starting eighth in the 11-car field, Evans made quick work of his competitors, passing July 17 winner Chris Sheil for the lead on lap 15 of the 30-lap season closer. One of the drivers Evans passed on his way to the front was Johnny Pickard, who was in the market for his fourth ERA win in a row after missing the early part of the season. Pickard apparently received a bad set of tires for his potent No. 02 and was never a factor in the feature.
Evans was never headed after overtaking Sheil and the 40-plus-year veteran of supermodified racing cruised to his second win of the season and the ERA championship, an award he’s now earned an unprecedented 16 times.
“It was by far the best our car has been all season,” Evans said. “We hit the setup and it worked so well I didn’t want to get out of it after the race. It would have been nice if there were 20 more laps to run – that’s how good the car was.
“I just didn’t want to make any mistakes. The points were really tight with Harry, Richie and me. Once I got out front, I wanted to keep focus and be smooth and consistent.”
Evans battled Stone all season in the points, and he was looking forward to an on-track clash with his fellow supermodified veteran on Saturday night to decide the standings.
But Stone had a miserable weekend. He experienced a mechanical failure in Friday practice and made heavy contact with the CNS wall. After a long night in the shop repairing his No. 40 Masterman, Stone was involved in a multi-car opening-lap accident in the feature which saw him jump the right-rear tire of Joe Priselac and climb the catch fence.
Stone was removed from his super on a back brace; he was OK and talking with competitors in the pits later, but it was a rough end to an otherwise fine season for the 61-year-old racer.
“What happened to Harry was a shame,” Evans remarked. “I’ve raced with Harry for a long time and I was looking forward to battling it out with him for the championship. Harry put together a real quality year, and to have it end like that was too bad. He deserved to win it too; I wasn’t going to roll over and neither was Richie, but it would have been nice to race against him for it.”
The night was bittersweet for Castor, who saw his teammate win the title but was denied of his fourth straight championship.
“I’m bummed I didn’t get it,” Castor admitted, “but I’m glad the championship stayed in the team. I can’t complain; the race went OK. We haven’t had the car right since we wrecked a couple races ago. It takes awhile for us to get the car back to where it needs to be after a wreck.”
Castor had the same mixed emotions when speaking of his 2010 season, which saw him net one feature win and five top threes in eight starts.
“It was an all right season, but not what I’m used to. We’ve won a lot over the last few years. You get used to it and want more. But considering everything, it wasn’t too bad. I’ve got to thank Leary Racing Shocks, USA Performance Engines, our team owner Richard Castor Sr., and crewmembers Leigh, Cher, Dorsey and Chelsey.”
Evans had many of the same people to thank when speaking of his championship season.
“I want to thank the car owners Richard and Richie Castor and the entire Castor family. Leary Racing does so many great things for us and teams all over this area, and John Gerloff does a great job with the motors. I’d also like to thank all my competitors for a great season. It was tough out there. There are a lot of quality cars and I think eight or nine cars can win on a given night. I enjoy the competition and that’s why I keep doing it.”
The finish:
Harold Evans, Nick Haygood, Chris Sheil, Johnny Pickard, Rich Castor Jr., Joe Priselac, Kevin Day, Matt Gilbert, Matt Griffen, Joe Gallegos, Harry Stone, Craig Moore (DNS)
For more information on the Englewood Racing Association, visit http://erasupermodifieds.tripod.com.
Press written by Keith Shampine. Contact Keith at 315-657-2207 or e-mail keithrb5@aol.com for more information.
Sept 20 2010
Tanner Swanson and Lonnie Adamson Take Harvest Classic Features
by
Gerald Laurie
California
Contributor to OWR3
Madera Speedway presented the Annual Harvest Classic featuring BCRA Midgets, 360 Supermodifieds and Open Supermodifieds on Saturday September 18. When it was over, Tanner Swanson had dominated the Midget Feature and Lonnie Adamson had survived the fast and wild Super Feature for Harvest Classic wins.
The evening’s festivities started with the Bay Cities Racing Association Midget Qualifications. Tanner Swanson was fastest at 13.985 seconds on the 1/3 mile banking. Chad Nichols was second at 14.165 and Nick Foster, Jr. was third at 14.255.
Dan Vanderpool paced the 360 Supermodifieds with a lap of 13.342 followed by Kyle Vanderpool at 13.599 and Willie Northammer at 13.834. Kenny Kinchen did not qualify due to a practice crash.
Lonnie Adamson was fastest among the open Supermodifieds with a lap of 12.169 seconds. Jeff Russell at 12.365 and Jim Birges at 12.399 rounded out the top three
The Midget Trophy Dash lined up with Danny Parker and Nick Foster in the first row and Chad Nichols and Tanner Swanson in the second row. Nichols blasted by Parker in turn four of lap one as Swanson got hung up going three wide trying to pass Foster. Lap one order was Nichols, Parker, Foster, and Swanson. Lap three saw Tanner pass both Foster and Parker. However, there was not enough time left to track down Nichols. The lap four checkers waved over Nichols, Swanson, Parker, and Foster.
The four lap 360 Supermodified Trophy Dash featured Willie Northammer, Kyle Vanderpool, his father Dan Vanderpool, and Kenny Kinchen after affecting repairs. There was a bit of a scramble on the start with Kyle Vanderpool grabbing the lead followed by Dan Vanderpool, Kinchen, and Northammer. Kinchen made several attempts to pass, but the end reflected the first lap. The Vanderpools (son, then father) finished one and two followed by Kinchen and Northammer.
The Supermodified Dash was originally scheduled to start Tanner Swanson, Jim Birges, Jeff Russell, and Lonnie Adamson. Russell opted out and Jeff Collins was added to the field. During warm up laps, Birges had something break in the front suspension and plowed into the third turn wall very hard. After removing the 32 car, Kody Swanson was added to the Dash. The starting order was Tanner Swanson, Lonnie Adamson, Jeff Collins, and Kody Swanson. Adamson blasted around the outside followed by Kody Swanson in turn three to make the order Adamson, K. Swanson, T. Swanson, and Collins. And that was the race. Adamson finished with win followed by the same cast of characters.
The Midgets lined up for heat race action with Pete Davis and Floyd Alvis in row one. Nick Foster and Danny Parker occupied row two. Tanner Swanson, Chad Nichols, and Dillon Silverman rounded out the field. On lap one, Foster and Swanson made daring inside passes and the order after one was Foster, Swanson, Davis, Nichols and Parker. Foster and Swanson went side by side with Swanson trying to pass on both sides. Nichols and Parker both passed Davis on lap two. Swanson finally got the nose in front of Foster on lap four only to have Foster retake the lead on lap six. The order at the end of the eight lapper was Foster, Swanson, Nichols, Parker, and Davis.
The 360 Heat lined up with Dan Vanderpool on the pole flanked by Kyle Vanderpool. Willie Northammer and Kenny Kinchen resided in the second row. Kyle moved to the lead with Dan and Kinchen side by side behind and banging wheels with one another through turn one and two. Coming off four, Dan Vanderpool pushed up the track and contacted Kinchen again causing a near spin and a yellow flag. Northammer spun to avoid the incident. Officials then black flagged Dan Vanderpool for rough driving. With his father in the infield, Kyle Vanderpool went flag to flag in the lead with Kinchen trying hard to pass to no avail. At the checkers, Vanderpool won over Kinchen and Northammer.
The open Supermodified heat race featured six cars with Birges still in the pits with wrenches, torches, and parts flying fast and furiously trying to get ready for the feature. Lonnie Adamson paced the field followed by Jeff Russell, Jeff Collins, Tanner Swanson, Kody Swanson, and George Greenway. Greenway opted out at the last minute, leaving five cars for the eight lap contest. Russell proved the high side was the fast way around by grabbing the point followed by Adamson, Tanner Swanson, older brother Kody Swanson, and Collins. The order stayed the same throughout the heat until Collins spun in turn four bringing out the yellow and checkers a lap early.
The BCRA Feature Event was scheduled to go thirty laps. The line-up featured Danny Parker, Nick Foster, Chad Nichols, and Tanner Swanson in the first two rows. Behind the invert were Pete Davis, Floyd Alvis, and Dillon Silverman. Nichols blasted through from the second row to lead lap one over Foster, Swanson, Parker and Davis. Swanson worked his way around Foster on lap eight and Silverman dropped a lap on the tenth circuit. The order at one third distance was Nichols, Swanson, Foster, Parker and Davis. Alvis went down a lap on the leaders lap 16 and then Nichols slowed dramatically on lap nineteen and headed for the infield with a loss of power, later diagnosed as a loose plug wire. Order after twenty laps was Swanson over Foster, Parker, Davis, and Alvis. Davis lost a lap on circuit 23 and Parker did likewise on the twenty-seventh round. Swanson won pulling away with Foster second on the lead lap. Davis, Alvis and Parker all finished a lap in arrears.
Madera Speedway combines the 360 and Open Supermodifieds for the fifty lap feature to provide a very thrilling race for the fans. Willie Northammer, Kyle Vanderpool, Dan Vanderpool, and Kenny Kinchen lined up in the first two rows. Kody Swanson, Jeff Collins, Tanner Swanson, and Jim Birges were scheduled to go in rows three and four. Jeff Russell, Lonnie Adamson, and George Greenway rounded out the field. While the drivers were being introduced, Birges’ crew were bleeding the brakes and buttoning up panels after a tremendous thrash to get the entire front end of the car rebuilt. As the announcer was interviewing the last starter, the pink thirty two was pushed from the pits without having had the opportunity to set toe-in, springs , etc. They guessed at the cross weight and pushed the car out.
The start was absolutely mad as Kody Swanson managed to pass all four 360’s by going three wide down the front stretch with brother Tanner hot on his heals. Birges took a brave pill and shoved through the middle of a three wide blast in turn two. The order at the end of lap one was Kody over K. Vanderpool, Northammer, Tanner, and Birges. Tanner Swanson and Birges disposed of Northammer on lap two and passed Kyle Vanderpool on lap three. Adamson was up to fifth. Adamson and Jeff Russell moved past Vanderpool on lap four and Kinchen took over the top 360 position in sixth place on lap five. Things spread out a bit as K. Swanson stretched out a lead over T. Swanson and Birges. With Adamson and Russell having a battle royal for fourth, Kinchen pulled out a little from the other 360’s, but both Vanderpools and Northammer were in a massive donnybrook for positions seven through nine. Order after ten laps was K. Swanson, T. Swanson, Birges, Adamson, Russell, Kinchen, K. Vanderpool, D. Vanderpool, Northammer and Greenway.
Kody caught the back of the pack on lap eleven and just sliced through traffic. By lap thirteen, he had put Collins, Greenway, and Northammer down a lap. The Vanderpools fell to the flying 72 car a lap later. By lap 17, the top five had cleared all of the lapped traffic and were trying to reel in Kody. Tanner was holding his own with big brother, but Birges was reeling in Tanner very slowly. Adamson had damaged a front wing in contact with Birges as they fought through traffic. Russell was all over Adamson trying to take advantage of the push from the damaged wing. Kinchen was holding on to the lead lap, but losing ground to Swanson. After twenty laps, it was Swanson the elder over Swanson the younger, Birges who was closing fast, Adamson, Russell, and Kinchen, all on the lead lap. One down were Vandrpool the younger, Vanderpool, the elder, Northammer, and Greenway.
Swanson started a second round of lapping traffic on lap twenty one and then dropped Kinchen off the lead lap on the twenty second circuit. Russell finally took fourth from Adamson on lap twenty five. The top five had all passed Kinchen by twenty six while Northammer , D. Vandrpool and Greenway dropped a second lap by number twenty seven. The order in the top five at lap thirty was Kody over Tanner, Birges, Russell and Adamson. Then the high speed freight train slowed for a yellow on lap thirty one when Birges coasted to a stop in turn three with steam spewing from the pink car. In the rush to repair the car, the Radiator cap had not been seated properly and had come adrift. With a hasty track side repair, Birges rejoined the field at the back of the pack in fifth place, last car on the lead lap. However, he had all of the lapped cars between him and the fleeing top four.
With the green flag flying Birges took Kinchen on lap 31, got around the rest of the lapped cars on thirty two and set sail for the back of the open field. Meanwhile up front, Russell had passed Tanner Swanson for second on the restart, but Swanson was back to second on lap thirty three and brought Adamson with him up to third. Birges was a straightaway behind and going like the Hammers of Hell. Lapping started again in earnest on lap thirty nine as Kody went three wide low on the front stretch to blow by the Northammer and Dan Vanderpool. Tanner repeated the move at the conclusion of lap forty. There was contact between Swanson and Vanderpool and both cars were eliminated with Tanner taking a hard ride into the turn one wall. The red flag flew immediately. Crews rushed out to check on the cars and several adjustments were made. The 98 crew managed to remove the damaged front wing and the restart order was Kody Swanson over Jeff Russell, Adamson, Birges, Kinchen, K. Vanderpool, Northammer, Collins and Greenway. On the completion of lap forty one, the yellow and then red flew again as Kody Swanson broke the rear axle tube and the left rear tire and wheel assembly bounced wildly down the front stretch with cars darting and weaving all over the place the avoid bouncing parts. Kyle Vanderpool got caught up somehow and knocked the left front corner off his car.
With Swanson and Vanderpool eliminated, Jeff Russell lead the restart with Adamson, Birges, Kinchen, Northammer, Greenway , and Collins rounding out the remaining field. With a top wing adjustment to counter the push from the missing front wing, Adamson sailed around Russell on the restart and Birges followed a lap later. However, Adamson seemed to have the best tires at the end and the rest of the show was anticlimactic . Adamson won over Birges and Russell, all on the lead lap. Kinchen and Northammer were the only 360’s to survive until the end. Greenway and Collins also managed to finish.
The Supermodified Race was interlaced with several on going story lines. This was only Kody Swanson’s fourth Supermodified Race and was Tanner’s first time in one of the winged roadsters. Both performed very well and it looked like we would have a one-two Swanson Brothers finish, a scenario that has happened several times in sprint car and midget competition with both brothers having a turn at the top of the heap. Kinchen had a major practice crash and the crew thrashed on the car fervently, borrowing parts and help from other crews only to miss qualifications by a couple of minutes. There has been an ongoing controversy for several races between the Vanderpools and Kinchen with both sides alluding to rough driving on the part of the other. With Kinchen and Kyle Vandrpool very close in year end points, much of the controversy involved blocking charges as well. Officials talked to both teams over the course of the season and Dan Vanderpool was penalized in this evening’s heat race. With Kinchen managing a clean finish in the feature and both Vanderpools eliminated at mid race, the points will be interesting.
In the open Supermodifieds, it was Jeff Russell’s first race of the year after having had back surgery in the spring and undergoing recovery throughout the summer.
And then there was Jim Birges. Pre-race race publicity involved Jim’s Pink Car, painted last year in a race for cure promotion and featuring the faces of breast cancer survivors, including Jim’s wife, on the hood of the car. This race was dedicated to a fund raiser for cancer, with Holly and Jim involved in promoting a fund raising concert, called the Pink Show, and featuring the pink car. And then Jim had the warm up crash in the dash and it looked like the whole promotion would fall through. However, Tom Silsby, one of the owner’s of Adamson’s car convinced Jim that they could repair car and there was another major thrash to repair the thirty two and make it to the feature event. And then with Jim running well, there was another twist of drama with the radiator cap incident.
So it was a very interesting evening with both on track and behind the scenes drama in spades. Madera promoter Kenny Shepherd could not have written a better script to keep the crowd involved and on their toes. All in all, it was a great night of racing. And although several cars were damaged during the night, no one was injured. The cars are always repairable. I’ll see ya at the races.
Madera Speedway Harvest Classic, September 18, 2010
BCRA Midgets
Qualifications: 1. 10 Tanner Swanson, 13.985; 2. 17 Chad Nichols, 14.165; 3. 1 Nick Foster, Jr., 14.255; 4. 28 Danny Parker, 14.555; 5. 0 Pete Davis, 14.693; 6. 18 Floyd Alvis, 14.968; 7. 12 Dillon Silverman, 15.836
Trophy Dash: 1. Nichols; 2. Swanson; 3. Parker; 4. Foster
Heat: 1. Foster; 2. Swanson; 3. Nichols; 4. Parker; 5. Davis; 6. Alvis; 7. Silverman
Feature: 1. Swanson; 2. Foster; 3. Davis; 4. Alvis; 5. Parker; 6. Nichols; 7. Silverman.
360 Supermodifieds
Qualifications: 1. 17 Dan Vanderpool, 13.342; 2. 1 Kyle Vanderpool, 13.599; 3. 29 Willie Northammer, 13.834; 4. 5 Fenny Kinchen, N/T
Trophy Dash: 1. K. Vanderpool; 2. D. Vanderpool; 3. Kinchen; 4. Northammer
Heat: 1. K. Vanderpool; 2. Kinchen; 3. Northammer; 4. D. Vanderpool
Supermodifieds
Qualifications: 1. 98 Lonnie Adamson, 12.169; 2. 85 Jeff Russell, 13.365; 3. 32 Jim Birges, 13.399; 4. 56 Tanner Swanson, 15.545; 5. 89 Jeff Collins, 12.555; 6. 72 Kody Swanson, 12.692; 7. 8 George Greenway, 13.146
Trophy Dash: 1. Adamson; 2. K Swanson; 3. T. Swanson; 4. Collins.
Heat: 1. Russell; 2. Adamson; 3. T. Swanson; 4. K. Swanson; 5. Collins
Combined Feature: 1. Adamson; 2. Birges; 3. Russell; 4. Kinchen*; 5. Northammer*; 6. Greenway;, 7. Collins; 8. K. Swanson; 9. T. Swanson; 10. K Vanderpool*; 11. D. Vanderpool*
* denotes 360 Supermodified.
Sept 13 2010
Pickard wins third ERA main in a row Sat at Colorado National
by Keith Shampine
DACONO, Colo. – Johnny Pickard drove to his third win in a row Saturday night in the Englewood Supermodified Ass’n feature at Colorado National Speedway. Pickard started fourth in the 25-lap main and took the lead on lap five. He opening up a large advantage until the caution waved on lap 16.
Rich Castor Jr. moved into second during the opening green-flag stint and the midrace caution put Castor’s potent No. 2 on the rear bumper of Pickard’s plain red No. 02. Some fans expected a Pickard, Castor duel throughout the final nine laps, however Pickard’s mount was too strong and the Pueblo, Colo., shoe drove away from the pack to earn his third victory in the last three races.
“It feels good,” Pickard said. “The reason we missed the races earlier in the season was because of a divorce I was going through. Last December we hit rock bottom and to come out here and run like we’ve been makes us feel really good. We went from rock bottom to the top of the pile, and it feels pretty good.”
Pickard has had success in recent weeks while starting toward the front of the field due to ERA’s feature starting system, which starts the low-point driver on the pole. With Pickard missing much of the early part of the season, he’s low in the standings and has had the benefit of good starting positions.
“On lap 16 they threw a caution because we were lapping everyone,” Pickard said when asked if he felt he could still win if starting toward the back. “It was a competition caution, I guess. Castor was behind us and my brother came over the radio and told me to go because he would be right there. We got to the line and I took off. My brother said two (lengths back), four, six and then a full straightaway after only two laps. If he was gonna come that was his time. We’ve been pretty strong.
“I’ve got to thank my brother Mike Pickard, Jeff Ercul, Charlene Greigo and Jennifer Musso Pickard. That’s the core group of people who do all of it.”
Castor held on for second to close up the point race. Chris Moore started third and finished in the same spot. Harold Evans was fourth and point leader Harry Stone started last and finished fifth.
Speaking of the point battle, it’s a tight one heading into the final ERA race of the season on Oct. 2. Stone, who’s led the points since his opening day win May 29, now leads by less than 10 markers over Castor and Evans. Each of the top-three runners has a legitimate shot at the championship; in fact, positions within the top eight can all change hands at the season closer.
Eleven cars started Saturday’s feature. Chris Sheil and Castor won the heat races.
As stated, the ERA will close what’s been a successful 2010 season on Oct. 2 at Colorado National.
The finish: PICKARD, Castor, Moore, Evans, Stone, Joe Priselac, Joe Gallegos, Kevin Day, Brian Pacheco, Sheil, Matt Gilbert.
Correction: In the last release we stated Rich Castor had not yet won a feature this season. In fact, Castor has won an ERA main and it came on July 3 at CNS. Our apologies.
Aug 31 2010
Pickard is on a ERA streak in Colorado
by Keith Shampine
DACONO, Colo. – Johnny Pickard won his second Englewood Supermodified Ass’n feature in a row Saturday at Colorado Nat’l Speedway. Pickard’s win made him the first repeat ERA winner of the season.
The Pueblo, Colo., shoe started on the pole and was never challenged in the 25-lap main, which went green to checkered and was completed in less than 10 minutes. The race marked the second-consecutive ERA feature that went off without a caution.
Harold Evans started sixth and finished second for the second-consecutive race. Richie Castor passed point leader Harry Stone late in the race to take third. Castor ran almost the entire race with a slightly damaged front end. On lap two, Kevin Day bobbled off turn two and Castor made contact with Day’s super. The contact resulted in damage to Castor’s fiberglass nose and bent nose wings on the No. 2. The defending ERA champion is still yet to win a feature this season.
Stone finished fourth and Brian Pacheco rounded out the top five. Day was sixth; Matt Gilbert made his first appearance of the season in a newly purchased car and finished seventh. Ira Castor was eighth.
Joe Prisalec and Joe Gallegos were in attendance, but both drivers had problems in warm-ups and did not start the feature.
The ERA is back at Colorado Nat’l in two weeks for a Sept. 11 show at the three-eighths-mile oval. The season closes at CNS on Oct. 2.
For more information on the Englewood Racing Association, visit http://erasupermodifieds.tripod.com.
Aug 24 2010
Game Over, High Score, Otto Sitterly at Oswego Speedway
Jim Feeney photo
by Keith Shampine.
OSWEGO, N.Y. – With his seventh-place finish in Saturday’s shortened 30-lap feature, Otto Sitterly joined Greg Furlong as the only supermodified drivers to win four track championships at Oswego Speedway. In an equally astounding accomplishment, Sitterly joined Doug Didero, Mike Muldoon and the late Jim Shampine as the only drivers to win the title three years in succession. Didero and Muldoon did it during their dominant years in the 1990s, while Shampine accomplished the feat from 1972 to ’74.
Sitterly built a formidable point lead with four straight feature wins to start the season. With Oswego’s tight point system and Sitterly’s ability to finish races, and usually in the top three, a serious challenge to Otto’s title was doubtful as the season hit mid-June.
Although the G&I Homes-sponsored Hawk Jr. No. 7 has not visited victory lane since Otto’s fourth win June 5, no driver got much closer than 100 points down to the Canajoharie driver throughout the second half of the season. “The Jersey Jet” Joey Payne ended up second to Sitterly for the second straight year. Payne finished the season 91 points down. Pat Lavery, Ray Graham and Dave McKnight rounded out the top five, each over 100 markers back of the champion.
“It feels pretty good,” Otto said, speaking of his 2010 title. “I’ve got to thank John Nicotra, all the guys on the crew, and my wife and kids, of course. Now we’re looking ahead two weeks to the Classic. I know we have two good cars for that. I’m very much looking forward to time trialing, and starting up where we belong.”
Sitterly has been forced to start Oswego features in 10th to 12th position each week since late May. It was clear in his post-race interview Saturday night that some drivers are beginning to test Otto’s patience.
“We had a real good car tonight. You get into a nice groove, the car feels good and you just try to pick off one at a time. But it was a rough night. (There was) caution after caution, and there are a few guys that are border-line out of control. I try not to drive off my bumper, and I had a few guys around me doing that tonight, almost racing in desperation. I hate to talk that way, but I’m very disappointed with some of what I see going on out there,” Sitterly admitted.
In the week leading up to Saturday’s race, the Nicotra Racing team was a focal part of the annual pre-Classic silly season. About one week ago, Nicotra sold the Xtreme Chassis super that Davey Hamilton campaigned in last year’s Classic and in several Oswego races this season. Nicotra sold the mount to Ohio’s Craig Reed and its original driver, Dave Shullick Jr., after struggles with the car plagued the latter part of Hamilton’s Oswego season.
Hamilton will move to the G&I Homes No. 6 Hawk Jr., a car that’s been used for Otto’s ISMA winged super ventures this season. Bobby Santos III, who drove the No. 6 Nicotra Hawk Jr. in last year’s Classic and had the seat lined up for this year, is now planned to drive a brand-new Mike Muldoon super, which has yet to see the track.
Press Quotes courtesy of www.LakesideRacingNews.com.
Aug 17 2010
Pickard picks up first ERA Victory of the year Saturday at CNS
by "Keith Shampine"
DACONO, Colo. – Johnny Pickard became the fifth different winner in five Englewood Supermodified Association features this year with his win Saturday night at Colorado Nat’l Speedway.
The Pueblo, Colo., driver started on the pole for the 25-lap main and out-raced Craig Moore into turn one. Pickard proceeded to open up a sizeable advantage over the rest of the nine-car field, and by the halfway point of the race he had caught the tail of the field.
As the race continued green, Pickard relied on his 32 years of racing experience while negotiating lap traffic. His ability proved worthy; the caution never came and Pickard raced to a comfortable green-to-checkered win over Harold Evans. The fast-paced race took only nine minutes to run off.
“The car ran good,” Pickard said. “I didn’t have to work too hard for it – starting on the front row and all. I’d rather start from the back and race my way through the field, but they lined us up by points and I haven’t run much this year so I got the pole. We were strong and I think with a little bit of time, we could have made our way to the front if we started toward the back.”
Pickard dedicated his win to Roger Nelson, a Colorado car builder and local motorsports hero who passed away last winter.
“It was special to get the win and dedicate it to Roger. He got me and my brother into racing and we view him as a southern Colorado racing legend. He did a lot of big things in his career and I owe him a lot. I also want to thank my brother Mike (Pickard), who owns the car, and Jeff Ercul for all his help on the crew,” Pickard said.
Opening night winner Harry Stone, who entered the race as the ERA point leader, had an eventful day. Stone blew the engine in his No. 40 Masterman in warm ups. He then loaded his car and left the speedway to return to his shop, where he changed engines before heading back to the track.
Stone’s hard work paid off. He started shotgun on the field and was in fifth place by the end of lap two. Stone picked up two more spots to finish third. July 17 ERA winner Chris Sheil ran fourth, while Joe Prisalec rounded out the top five.
Defending ERA champion Richie Castor entered the night 20 points behind Stone in the standings, but he couldn’t get his No. 2 super to the front in Saturday’s main. Castor started eighth and finished sixth. Craig Moore, Ira Castor and Kevin Day completed the field.
The ERA will take this weekend off before returning to action at CNS on Saturday, Aug. 28. Races at CNS on Sept. 11 and Oct. 2 will complete the nine-race season.
Aug 9 2010
Gremlins Abound in Super Saturday Five at Madera
by
Gerald Laurie
California
Contributor to OWR3
There was no full moon aloft over Madera Speedway Saturday Night, but the happenings in the Supermodified Feature Event had everyone scanning the skies for a bright lunar orb. More on that later. Madera’s fifth big Open Wheel Event of the season featured the the Open Supermodifieds and the 360 Supermodifieds as usual. In addition, the Sprint Cars of the USAC Western States Series were added as a bonus to the fans. All of the open wheel groups ran a full program of time trials, dashes, heat races, and features.
The Sprints qualified first among the open wheelers with Tony Hunt fastest on the 1/3 mile oval at 13.628 seconds. Luis Ramos III at 13.674 and Scott Pierovich at 13.734 rounded out the top three.
The 360 Supermodifieds were paced by Kenny Kinchen with a lap of 13.359 seconds followed by Kyle Vanderpool at 13.649, and Willie Northammer at 14.066.
The Open Supermodifieds were the final challengers to the clock with Lonnie Adamson in control at 12.504, followed by Jim Birges at 12.572, and Kody Swanson at 12.710.
The Sprint Car Trophy Dash lined up with Tanner Swanson and Scott Pierovich on the front row and Luis Ramos and Tony Hunt in the back. Swanson got the jump at the green for an inside pass with Ramos following him through on the backstretch. Pierovich and Hunt rounded out the field after one lap. And the start was the gist of the race with the lap four checkers falling over the same order.
The 360 Supermodifed Dash line-up consisted of Willie Northammer, Kyle Vanderpool, Kenny Kinchen, and Larry Hinz replacing Lance Jackson who had loaded up to head for the shop for emergency repairs to a collapsed shock mount. Vanderpool led lap one over Northammer, Kinchen, and Hinz. Laps two and three looked the same. However, Northammer rolled to a stop in turn two after the white flag making the final order Vanderpool, Kinchen, Hinz, and Northammer.
The Open Supermodified Dash was paced by Jeff Collins followed by Kody Swanson, Jim Birges, and Lonnie Adamson. The outside line roared around Collins in the South turn complex to make the lap one order Swanson, Adamson, Birges, and Collins. Adamson made two major attempts to pass Swanson in the short four lapper but was never able to get completely alongside. Swanson held sway over Adamson, Birges, and Collins.
Heat Races were the next order of business. The first Sprint Car eight lapper featured Gordon Rogers, Jo Jo Helberg, Scott Pierovich, and Tony Hunt. Helberg took the point over Hunt Pierovich and Rogers as Gordon faltered on the start. Hunt was then all over the Helberg’s tail tank for the entire eight laps as tried numerous times to pass. All was to no avail as the eighth lap was scored the same as the first.
The second Sprint heat race included Justin Kawahata, Tim Skoglund, Tanner Swanson, Luis Ramos, and late arrival Marvin Mitchell(68). At the green, the second row leap-frogged the front row with Swanson leading over Ramos, Skoglund, and Kawahata as Mitchell headed for the pits with a stuck throttle. And once again, the race was settled on the first circuit with Swanson leading every lap.
The 360 Supermodified Heat lined up with Kenny Kinchen pacing Kyle Vanderpool, Willie Northammer, Dan Vanderpool, and Larry Hinz. Kenchin blasted off from the inside with Kyle claiming second followed by Dan, Northammer and Hinz. And sounding like a broken record, that was the extent of the passing. Kinchen won over the Vanderpool Clan (son, then father) Northammer, and Hinz.
The Open Supers lined up with Jim Birges inside Lonnie Adamson on the front row with Kody Swanson, Jeff Collins, and Ray Stebbins rounding out the field. With Birges holding a very tight line, he and Adamson ran three laps side by side before Birges finally cleared his adversary and pulled in front. At the end of eight laps, the finish was the same as the line-up with Birges besting Adamson, Swanson, Collins and Stebbins.
The United States Auto Club Sprint Cars were next up for their fifty lap feature event. Tim Skoglund held down the pole flanked by Jo Jo Helberg. Tanner Swanson, Scott Pierovich, Luis Ramos III ,and Tony Hunt rounded out the six car invert. Gordon Rogers, Justin Kawahata, and Marvin Mitchell completed the line-up. Swanason swept around the front row to lead Helberg, Pierovich, Ramos, and Hunt after one lap. Pierovich passed Helberg on lap four and Mitchell was lapped on the sixth go around. First Ramos on lap eight and then both Hunt and Skoglund on lap ten passed Helberg who had slowed dramatically. After ten laps, the order was Swanson, Pierovich, Ramos, Hunt, and Skoglund.
Helberg repassed Skoglund on lap twelve and then Pierovich stalled on the front stretch to bring out the yellow on lap thirteen. An inspection of the 3 car during the yellow sent Helberg(leaking oil) to join Pierovich in the infield . The restart order was Swanson, Ramos, Hunt, Skoglund, and Rogers. Hunt jumped around Ramos at the resumption of green flag racing and set out after Swanson. For the next 36 laps the distance between Swanson and Hunt waxed and waned as Hunt would push very hard and then cool the tires to try again several times. However, he was never able to move a head of Swanson who moved to the low line to protect his position. Both Skoglund and Rogers eventually were lapped, held on to top five positions. At the end Swanson was victorious over Hunt, Ramos, Skoglund, and Rogers.
With the 360 Supers and Open Supers combined for the fifty-lap Main Event, the gremlins suddenly launched Lunarly happenings into the inner workings of the planned sequence of events. Larry Hinz and Lance Jackson (after fabricating an entire right front shock tower and welding same to his venerable Beach Buggy) filled row one. Just behind were Willie Northammer, Kyle Vanderpoool, Kenny Kinchen, and Dan Vanderpool. The open cars completed the field with Jeff Collins and Kody Swanson in row four followed by Jim Birges, Lonnie Adamson, and Ray Stebbins rounding out the field.
When the green flew for the first time, the inside row backed up a bit sending Willie Northammer into no man’s land between the inside and outside rows. The ensuing wheel banging sent Willie into the left front corner of Adamson’s mount sending Adamson to the wall. Both were done for the evening. A red flag clean up ensued.
With a complete restart sans the victims, Hinz was still on pole flanked by Jackson. K. Vanderpool, Kinchen, D. Vanderpool, and Collins made up rows two and three. Birges and Stebbins made up the rest of the field. Before the green, Collins headed for the infield with a u-bolt failure in a driveline joint. On the second green flag, the inside line again backed up with Kinchen dropping very low to come alongside Hinz at the line. There was contact between the two sending Hinz into the front stretch wall and Kinchen grinding to halt as well. The second red hanky of the evening was blowing in the breeze. Hinz was the main victim in this one as Kinchen was able to continue. The third starting line-up for this event got shorter and single file still with Jackson pacing over K. Vanderpool, Kinchen, D. Vanderpool, Swanson, Birges, and Stebbins.
The third time was a charm and Jackson led lap one over Kinchen, Kyle, Swanson, and Birges. On lap two Swanson went outside and Birges went inside to make 360 sandwiches with Kody leading lap two over Jackson, Birges, Kinchen, and Vanderpool the younger. Birges and Kinchen both got Jackson on lap three and the race settled down as it began to string out. Stebbins headed for the pits after eight laps with thirty car appearing to be steam powered rather than methanol powered. The yellow flew on lap ten when Swanson rolled to a stop on the back straightaway. When the engine refused to fire (suspected magneto problem), Swanson was pushed to infield and the race restarted with Birges leading lap ten over Kinchen, K. Vanderpool, Jackson, and D. Vandrpool.
With but five cars remaining and Open Supermodified of Birges in the lead, the race went into long term cruise mode. Birges left the local area code and sprinted away. And the remaining characters stayed in their roles .Birges lapped D. Vanderpool on lap 22, Jackson on lap 23, and Kyle Vanderpool on lap twenty five while building nearly 2/3 of a lap lead over Kinchen. By lap thirty, Birges had Kinchen’s second place car in sight and planning his lapping policy when the water temp went to 250 degrees. Birges slowed a bit and the temp stabilized. He then put the pink 32 on cruise control and kept the second place car in sight but decided better of pushing the pursuit. When the fifty lapper was complete, the winner was Birges with Kinchen second (the top 360 and the only other car on the lead lap), follwed Kyle Vanderpool, Dan Vandrpool, and Lance Jackson. Everyone else already had a party (more like a wake) going in the infield.
After running a non stop green white checkers fifty lapper in July in just over twelve minutes, the supers could not seem to get this feature event started. Between a slow acceleration away from the green flag and the racer’s never ending quest to win, there were some silly moves on lap one that eliminated some very competitive cars early on. I don’t know where the gremlims were hiding all night, but they became abundantly evident during the Super Feature.
The car count concern continues in Western Pavement Open Wheel ranks. Fans are starting to get angry and the racers are getting angry at their counterparts who are saying, We parked for economical or political reasons. Anyway, my next event coverage is planned for Roseville. CA in two weeks.
Madera Speedway Super Saturday No. 5, Aug. 7, 2010
USAC Western states Sprint Cars.
Qualifications: 1. 56 Tony Hunt, 13.628; 2. 21 Luis Ramos III, 13.674; 3. 14 Scott Pierovich, 13.734; 4. 15 Tanner Swanson, 13.772; 5. 3F Jo Jo Helberg, 14.018; 6.50 Tim Skoglund, 14.295; 7. 94 Gordon Rogers, 14.589; 8. 15X Justin Kawahata. 15.196;
Trophy Dash: 1. Swanson; 2. Ramos; 3. Pierovich; 4. Hunt.
Heat 1: 1. Helberg; 2. Hunt; 3. Pierovich; 4. Rogers.
Heat 2: 1. Swanson; 2. Ramos; 3.0 Skoglund; 4. Kawahata; 5. Mitchell.
Feature: 1. Swanson; 2. Hunt; 3. Ramos; 4. Skoglund; 5. Rogers; 6. Mitchell; 7. Helberg; 8. Pierovich; 9. Kawahata.
360 Supermodifieds.
Qualifications: 1. 5 Kenny Kinchen, 13.359; 2. 1 Kyle Vanderpool, 13.649; 3. 29 Willie Northammer, 14.066; 4. 18 Lance Jackson, 14.188; 5. 4 Larry Hinz, 14.416; 6. 17 Dan Vanderpool, N/T.
Trophy Dash: 1. K. Vanderpool; 2. Kinchen; 3. Hinz; 4. Northammer.
Heat: 1. Kinchen; 2. K. Vanderpool; 3. D. Vanderpool; 4. Northammer; 5. Hinz.
Supermodifieds
Qualifications: 1. 98 Lonnie Adamson, 12.504; 2. 32 Jim Birges, 12.572; 3. 72 Kody Swanson, 12.710; 4. 89 Jeff Collins; 13.691; 5 30 Ray Stebbins, 14.168.
Trophy Dash: 1. Swanson; 2. Adamson; 3. Birges; 4. Collins
Heat: 1. Birges; 2. Adamson; 3. Swanson; 4. Collins; 5. Stebbins.
Combined Feature: 1. Birges; 2. Kinchen*; 3. K. Vanderpool*; 4. D. Vanderpool*; 5. Jackson*; 6. Swanson; 7. Stebbins; 8. Hinz*; 9. Nothammer*; 10. Collin; 11. Adamson.
July 19 2010
Sheil posts first ERA win
on record-breaking hot night in Denver
DACONO, Colo. – Chris Sheil started third and held off veteran Joe Priselac to record his first-ever Englewood Supermodified Association feature win Saturday night at Colorado Nat’l Speedway. Sheil’s triumph made him the fourth different winner in as many races on the 2010 ERA tour.
Sheil recorded the triumph after a record-breaking day for temperatures in the Denver area. The official high was 102 degrees, breaking a record from 1971. Track temperatures were said to be about 140 degrees when Sheil and 11 other winged ERA supermodifieds lapped CNS’s three-eighths-mile oval during practice.
After Sheil and defending ERA champion Rich Castor Jr. won the eight-lap heat races, Sheil jumped out to the lead on lap two of the originally-scheduled 25-lap feature.
Castor, who continues to flex his muscle as the man to beat in ERA competition, made contact with Brian Pacheco in turn one on the opening lap to bring out a lengthy caution. Both Castor’s and Pacheco’s mounts had enough damage to retire them from the race.
When the green flag flew for the second time, Sheil made quick work of front-row starters Bryan Gossel and Josh Lewis. Sheil’s silver No. 33 was pacing the field by the end of lap two, and on lap five the race was slowed again for Lewis, who blew the engine on his No. 15 and spun in turn two. Another long cleanup ensued, leading to officials to cut the race from 25 to 20 laps.
When the race restarted, Sheil and Priselac drove away from the rest of the field. ERA opening night winner Harry Stone settled into third, but couldn’t stay with the lead duo. Priselac pressured Sheil throughout the final 15 laps, but couldn’t find a way by. Sheil crossed the stripe a couple car-lengths ahead of Priselac to give car owner Skip Mikula his first win in several years. Priselac’s second-place run marked his best result in over a year.
“I’m sure (Sheil) knew I was there,” Priselac said after his runner-up finish. “I had fun. It was loose on one end, tight on the other. We were pitted next to the 33, so with all the smiles in both pits, it was a good night. Both of our cars are silver; I just would have preferred the other one won! We’ll get them next time.”
Stone held on for third. Harold Evans and Ira Castor filled the top five.
Two of the 12 supers were first-time entrants for the 2010 season. Johnny Pickard and Joe Gallegos, both seasoned veterans of ERA wars, made their season debuts. Both had nights they’d rather forget; Pickard didn’t start the feature due to brake issues while Gallegos wasn’t a factor on his way to an eighth-place finish.
Castor’s DNF closes up the ERA point chase. Castor now holds only a one-point advantage over Stone. Both drivers have one win on the season. June 19 I-25 Speedway winner Evans is 30 markers out of the lead in third. Ira Castor and Nick Haygood are fourth and fifth in the standings.
The July 31 ERA race at CNS has been cancelled. Early season rainouts have necessitated a schedule realignment to allow the NASCAR Late Models to receive the required number of events for regional and national points considerations.
The next race for the ERA is now Saturday, Aug. 14 at CNS.
Saturday’s finish:
1) Chris Sheil, 2) Joe Priselac, 3) Harry Stone, 4) Harold Evans, 5) Ira Castor, 6) Kevin Day, 7) Bryan Gossel, 8) Joe Gallegos, 9) Josh Lewis, 10) Rich Castor Jr., 11) Brian Pacheco, Johnny Pickard (DNS)
Swanson and Adamson Dominate Madera Features
by
Gerald Laurie
California
Contributor to OWR3
The annual Al Pombo Classic at Madera Speedway on Saturday featured Supermodifieds and BCRA Midgets. The show was comprised of qualifications, trophy dashes, heat races and feature events for both classes.
The event started with Time Trials for the BCRA Midgets on the 1/3 mile banked asphalt oval. Tanner Swanson (10) set fast time with a lap of 14.235 seconds. He was closely followed by older brother Kody Swanson (15) at 14.341, and Nick Foster, Jr. (1) at 14.573.
Next to challenge the clocks were the 360 Supermodifieds. Fastest was Kenny Kinchen (5) at 13.555, followed by Kyle Vanderpool (1) at 13.726, and Lance Jackson (18) at 13.882.
The Open Supermodifieds were the final qualifiers and were led by Kody Swanson(72) at 12.776 over Jim Birges (32) at 12.858, and Lonnie Adamson (98) at 13.037.
The next order of business was the trophy dash sequence. The Bay Cities Racing Association Midgets lined up with Floyd Alvis on the pole flanked by Nick Foster, Jr. The back row included Kody and Tanner Swanson. At the drop of the green, Foster charged to the lead on the outside followed by Tanner and Kody Swanson, Alvis had trouble accelerating at the start and dropped to the back. Tanner Swanson made several attempts to pass down low and although he was able to pull even, he could not complete the pass. Foster took the hardware over the Swansons and Alvis.
The 360 Supermodified Dash featured Dan Vanderpool, Lance Jackson, Kyle Vanderpool, and Kenny Kinchen. Again, the outside line proved faster as Jackson led lap one over Kinchen, Dan Vanderpool and Kyle Vanderpool . Lap two saw Kyle pass his father for third and that was the extent of the passing. Finish or was Jackson, Kinchen, Kyle and Dan Vanderpool.
The Open Supermodified Dash had Lonnie Adamson and Jim Birges on the front row and Kody Swanson and Supermod Rookie Jeff Collins in the back. Once again, the high side provided the momentum as Birges beat Adamson back to the line with Swanson and Collins close behind. Adamson was all over the back of Birges’s car and then made a bonsai move down low on lap four to snag the lead at the checkers. Birges, Swanson, and Collins rounded out the field.
The first midget heat was paced by Lonny Alton, followed by Danny Parker, Mike Donaldson, Bill Lindsey, and Dillon Silverman. Silverman was a DNS with mechanical difficulties. The outside line surged forward at the green and Parker led lap one over Lindsey, Alton, and Donaldson. Donaldson pulled off on the backstretch on lap two. On the third go-around, Alton took second as Lindsey headed for the pits. And that was the race. Parker won over Alton with Lindsey and Donaldson in the infield.
The second eight lapper for the midgets lined up with Kody Swanson and Nick Foster, Jr. up front and Floyd Alvis and Tanner Swanson in the rear. Alvis elected to start at the back as he was still experiencing mechanical gremlins. Kody Swanson managed to break the string to take the lead from the inside. Nick Foster dropped in to second followed by Tanner Swanson and Alvis. Tanner made numerous attempts to get ahead of Foster, but Nick held the preferred racing line and was able to hold him at bay. They finished as they started with Kody leading Foster, Tanner, and Alvis.
The 360 Supermodified heat used a straight up start with Kenny Kinchen on the pole followed by Kyle Vanderpool, Lance Jackson, Dan Vanderpool, and Jeremiah Bearden. At the green, Kyle Vanderpool eked out an advantage to lead the first lap over Kinchen and Dan Vanderpool. Jackson held fourth with Beardon chasing the herd. Kinchen made numerous challenges but was unable to pass. On the seventh circuit, Kinchen went into turn three very hard and spun to a stop in turn four. Jackson, whose vision was affected by the setting sun, locked down the number 18 and stopped just shy of Kinchen’s stalled racer. The restart order was Vanderpool the younger over Vanderpool the elder, Jackson, Beardon, and Kinchen. When green flag racing resumed, Kinchen managed to move back to third by white flag time, but was able to advance no further. Winner was Kyle Vanderpool over Dan Vanderpool, Kinchen, Jackson, and Bearden
The Open Supermodified Heat was also started straight up with Kody Swanson and Jim Birges on the front. Lonnie Adamson and Jeff Collins occupied row two. George Greenway was scheduled to start fifth but scratched with some heat related issues. Birges took the lead on lap one with Swanson, Adamson, and Collins following. Adamson jumped around Swanson on lap three as the 72 started getting very loose. Birges extended his lead over Adamson until lap five when Adamson started eating some of the intervening territory. However, Lonnie was never able catch the pink 32 and Birges won over Adamson, Swanson, and Collins.
It was now Main Event time. The BCRA Midgets Lineup was
row one Mike Donaldson Bill Lindsey,
row two Floyd Alvis Nick Foster, Jr.
row three Kody Swanson Tanner Swanson,
row four Danny Parker Lonnie Alton
row six Dillon Silverman
Donaldson led lap one over Foster, Alvis, K. Swanson and T. Swanson. Silverman beat feet for the pits and the end of the opening lap. By lap two, Foster led over Kody, Donaldson, Alvis, and Tanner. Tanner moved to third on lap three at the expense of Donaldson and Alvis. Kody took the lead from Foster on lap four and started building his lead. Tanner was third by the fifth circuit. Meanwhile, Lindsey was having problems and dropping back. On lap nine, the leaders caught him on the backstretch. Tanner Swanson and Donaldson made contact with Lindsey as he tried to exit to the infield. All three cars were eliminated and the red flag flew while the Ambulance Crew checked out those involved. On the restart, Kody Swanson led over Foster, Alvis, Parker, and Alton .
With the exception of Alton getting lapped on the eighteenth lap, that was the race. Swanson won over Foster, Alvis, Parker, and Alton.
Madera Speedway combines the 360 and Open Supermodifieds for the fifty-lap feature on these Super Saturday programs. With the rookies (Bearden and Collins) electing to start in the rear,
the inverted line-up looked this.
row one Dan Vanderpool Lance Jackson
row two Kyle Vanderpool Kenny Kinchen
row three George Greenway Lonnie Adamson
row four Jim Birges Kody Swanson
row five Jeff Collins Jeremiah Beardon
After the warm-ups, Greenway opted to start near the back and swapped places with Birges.
On lap one, Vanderpool led Jackson, Kinchen, Birges and Adamson. Birges split the 5 and 18 cars to move to second on lap two. Birges blew by Vanderpool for the lead a lap latter and Kinchen followed him through. Order at three was Birges, Kinchen, D. Vanderpool, Adamson, and Kyle Vanderpool with Greenway headed for the pits. Kody Swanson entered the top five at the younger Vanderpool’s expense on lap four. Meanwhile, Birges was headed out of the local time zone. Beardon went down a lap on the sixth circuit. Adamson finally passed Kinchen using the lapped car as a pick and the order was Birges, Adamson, Kinchen, Swanson, and Dan Vanderpool. Beardon headed for the pits on the leader’s ninth lap with the engine going off song.
Collins fell victim to the flying pink cloud of Birges on lap eleven with Jackson being lapped three laps later. Order at lap fifteen was Birges over Adamson, Kinchen, Swanson, and both Vanderpools (Dad over son). Birges lapped the Vanderpool family on the eighteenth go-around as Adamson started to slowly make up a portion of the 1/3 lap distance between himself and Birges. Lap nineteen saw Swanson finally overcome Kinchen’s blazing hot 360 and Collins headed for the pits with a failed tie rod causing the left front to point south with the rest of the car headed west.
Birges began slowing noticeably as the water temp headed upwards of 260 degrees and he tried to cool the engine. When he realized Adamson was putting down some very fast laps, he took off again only to see the temp spike and he headed for the pits on lap twenty-seven to keep from burning down the power plant. At this point, the order became Adamson over Swanson and Kinchen, all on the same lap, with Dan and Kyle Vanderpool filling the top five, albeit a lap down. Kyle finally passed the old man on lap twenty-nine to move into fourth.
Adamson continued to lap cars at will, finally making Kinchen his victim on lap thirty-one. The next ten laps were more of the same with Adamson on cruise control and Swanson desperately picking through the lapped traffic to keep from being lapped himself. And then it was over. The Supermods completed the fifty laps in 11 minutes, 1.862 seconds with what has to be a new track record. I think this was the first non-stop, no yellow fifty lapper ever at the Central California Speed Plant There is forty-lap non-stop record held by Mike Swanson (Kody and Tanner’s father), that dates back to the late 80’s or early 90’s.
Lonnie Adamson and Kody Swanson completed the fifty laps with Kinchen in third two laps back, and Kyle and Dan Vanderpool and Lance Jackson fourth through sixth, three laps in arrears. The race was very fast, very clean, and very exciting for the fans and participants alike. Lonnie Adamson has stepped into the number 98 S&S Motorsports Silsby and immediately returned to his championship style of the 2000 and 2001 seasons.. Three wins in the first three outings is very impressive. Kody Swanson has bagged two second place finishes in his first rides in Lance Tatro’s Thornton Chassied Supermodified. He has won in virtually everything he has driven and a Super win cannot be far away. Kenny Kinchen set a blistering pace in his 360 and stayed with the open cars for thirty laps. His top 360 position by over a lap shows the strength of his team and Kenny’s driving skill. Jim Birges just got faster and faster as the afternoon and evening went on, only to be done in by the 106 degree temps. He says there is a major revamp of the cooling system coming for the number 32.
All in all, the evening had some great racing, a little excitement, and a safe ending. Super Saturday number five is on August 7th.
July 6 2010
Sitterly is 4th and 9th in Saturday Oswego twin bill
OSWEGO, N.Y. – Otto Sitterly drove his Nicotra Racing No. 7 to a fourth-place finish in Saturday night’s first of two 45-lap features at Oswego Speedway. The top-five finish did little to negate Sitterly’s commanding point lead over the Oswego supermodified field, but it did end an impressive four-race winning streak that Otto had laid down to open the 2010 season.
Sitterly finished a disappointing ninth in the second 45-lapper and admitted the night never developed into what he had hoped. The Canajoharie, N.Y., shoe spoke of tire issues that he felt clearly hindered his chances at a fifth victory on the 2010 season.
“I thought I was going to wreck twice per lap, the whole race,” Sitterly quipped after the second 45-lap go. “But I was lucky to stay on top of it and fortunate that we didn’t wreck a good race car. We ended up with an inch and a half more stagger than usual. We had a tricky set of tires that I talked to (tire man) Tom about, and he said in 12 years that may have happened two or three times, ever.”
Sitterly noted that while a quarter-inch off in rear stagger is drivable, an inch or more off takes away any chances of coming to the front. With the last-three-week-money-won handicap, Sitterly was forced to start from the sixth row in both features since he had won the first four races of the season.
“If we miss by a quarter (inch of stagger), I can feel it. If we miss by an inch and a quarter, it’s really tough. But, we win as a team and we lose as a team. This is a team deal and I don’t blame anything on anyone. It’s just part of it,” Otto said.
Otto will still hold a comfortable lead in the Oswego point standings despite his first Oswego finish outside the top five in nearly a year.
Now, Sitterly will put the non-wing setup to the side for a couple weeks. As of Saturday night, Otto plans to lead the G&I Homes-sponsored Nicotra team to Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway for the special 7th Annual CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday. Sitterly finished seventh in the 2009 Stafford ISMA show. “At this point I think we’re going (to Stafford),” Otto told LakesideRacingNews.com reporter Chris Porter Saturday night at Oswego.
Following Stafford’s Tuesday show, Sitterly will return to Oswego for the special King of Wings Friday, Saturday night doubleheader. A 40-lap Friday night feature precedes the big 50-lapper Saturday night. Otto finished a strong sixth in last year’s inaugural version of the special winged Oswego main.
“We’re not coming just for the points,” Otto replied to Porter when asked about his chances in this Saturday’s Oswego showdown. “We come here to win,” he added.
Davey Hamilton returned to Oswego Saturday night for the first time since last Labor Day’s International Classic 200. Hamilton drove the potent Nicotra-owned Xtreme Chassis super, and ran competitive until getting caught up in an incident around the halfway point of the 45-lap nightcap. Hamilton returned to the track after the accident with some front-end damage and drove to an 11th-place result.
June 23 2010
Harold Evans wins ERA main at I-25
Pueblo, Colo. – Colorado supermodified veteran Harold Evans took the lead at the halfway point of the Englewood Racing Association’s main event Saturday night at I-25 Speedway and proceeded to pull away for his first win of the 2010 season.
After 12 cars made the May 29 ERA opener at Colorado National Speedway, eight winged supermodifieds made the trek to I-25, a tight quarter-mile oval located about two hours south of Denver. The supermodified event was a part of I-25’s Open Wheel Clash, a special event that featured Grand American modifieds, legends cars and supers.
Rich Castor Jr. set an ERA track record with a qualifying time of 11.048. The feature field was cut short when Joe Priselac and Nick Haygood made contact with the wall in separate incidents in the first heat race. Neither car was able to start the feature, wiping out two potential front-runners and past ERA feature winners.
The six-car feature saw Brian Pacheco start on the pole. Ira Castor quickly gained the lead from Pacheco, and paced the field throughout the first part of the race. Evans followed Ira Castor to the front and dogged Ira’s No. 22 before taking the lead around the halfway point.
May 29 feature winner Harry Stone spun on lap 17 to bring out the caution. When the green came back out, Evans put the hammer down and led the remaining laps to drive to the win. Rich Castor Jr. found his way by Ira Castor to take second. Ira Castor held on for third while Stone recovered to finish fourth. Pacheco rounded out the top five; Kevin Day finished sixth.
Stone and Ira Castor won the two heat races.
Before the heats, the supers were a part of an on-track display and autograph session which gave hundreds of fans the opportunity to speak with the ERA drivers while checking out the exotic supermodifieds.
Saturday’s main at I-25 marked the ERA series’ only race away from Colorado Nat’l in 2010. The ERA will return to their home base on July 3 for the third of nine 2010 events.
The second race of the season was originally scheduled for June 12 at Colorado Nat’l, but it was cancelled due to stormy weather in the Denver area.
For more information on the ERA, visit http://erasupermodifieds.tripod.com/website1/no43/home.html.
Press written by Keith Shampine. Contact Keith at 315-657-2207 or e-mail theracerwriter@gmail.com for more information.
June 12 2010
Birges and Vanderpool are Super Winners at Madera
Gerald Laurie
California
Contributor to OWR3
June 12 was Super Saturday Number Three at Madera Speedway. The Premier events involved the 360 and Open Supermodified Classes.
First up were time trials. Kenny Kinchen was the fastest of the 360’s at 13.472 seconds followed by Dan Vanderpool at 13.616, and Kyle Vanderpool at 13.793.
The open Supers were paced by Jim Birges at 12.694. He was pursued by Troy Regier at 12.967 and George Greenway at 13.296.
The 360 Trophy Dash featured Lance Jackson, Kyle Vanderpool, Dan Vanderpool, and Kenny Kinchen. At the green, Kyle took the lead from the outside followed by pole sitter Jackson, Kinchen, and Dan Vanderpool. And that was really the race. Although Jackson made some attempts and Kinchen hounded Jackson, no one could make a pass stick after the first lap.
The open Supermodifieds lined up for their trophy dash with A.J. Russell on the pole followed by George Greenway, Troy Regier, and Jim Birges. The inside row surged forward with A.J. leading Regier, Greenway, and Birges. Birges took third on lap two and Regier snagged the lead on lap three. Birges put Russell behind him after the white flag, but could not get up to Regier. Finish was Regier, Birges, Russell, and Greenway.
The 360’s lined up for their eight lap heat race with Kenny Kinchen and Dan Vanderpool in the front row. Kyle Vanderpool and Lance Jackson occupied the second row. Carl Johnson and Larry Hinz rounded the field. Lap one had the entire field side by side through one and two, but Dan Vanderpool led at the line over Kinchen, Jackson, Vanderpool the younger and Johnson. With much slicing and dicing in the eight lapper, the finish was still Vanderpool the elder, Kinchen, Jackson, K. Vanderpool, and Johnson.
The open cars lined up straight up for their heat with Birges and Regier up front followed by Greenway and Russell. Predictably in a short race with a straight up start, they finished as they started except Greenway headed to the pits after two laps with a vision problem from the setting sun.
The combined 360 and open Supermodifed fifty lap feature lined up with a full invert. Carl Johnson, Lance Jackson, Kyle Vanderpool, Dan Vanderpool, and Kenny Kinchen made up the front half of the field. The back half was comprised of A.J. Russell, George Greenway, Troy Regier, Jim Birges, and Willie Northammer (substituting for Larry Hinz).During Warm ups, Johnson broke the driveline and smacked the turn one wall head on, bringing out the red flag and ending the night for Carl. The entire inside line moved forward for the second start putting Kyle Vanderpool on the pole.
When the green flew for real, Jackson led over Dan, Kinchen, Kyle and Russell. Lap two was Dan over Kinchen, Jackson, Russell and Kyle. Lap three had Birges up to fourth with Jackson in fifth. Russell brought out the only yellow of the race on lap four when he spun off turn two. Restart order was Vanderpool, Kinchen, Birges, Jackson, Regier, Vanderpool, Greenway, Northammer, and Russell. Regier took fourth on the restart, and Birges took second on lap five. Birges snagged the lead on lap six with Regier advancing to third. Lap seven saw Birges leading over Regier, D. Vanderpool, Kinchen, and Jackson. Birges and Regier took off for the hinterlands while Vanderpool and Kinchen battled it out for third. Russell was up to sixth but could not get around Jackson. Birges lapped his first car on lap fifteen Russell finally passed Jackson when they encountered lapped traffic on lap eighteen. Jackson immediately headed for the pits to join Northammer who had hit the infield two laps earlier. Order after twenty laps was Birges over Regier, Dan Vanderpool (all on the lead lap), Russell and Kyle Vanderpool, now both a lap in arrears.
The interval between Birges and Regier waxed and waned as they encountered lapped cars, but Regier was never able to mount a serious charge on the pink 32. Russell pulled out on lap twenty seven with a flat tire and Birges finally lapped Dan Vanderpool on lap twenty-eight. Birges and Regier continued to circulate running laps in the 12.8 and 12.9 second bracket consistently. They continued to lap traffic with both gaining and losing the advantage as differing passing situations presented themselves. However, after fifty laps, Jim Birges took the checkers by two seconds over Regier, Vandrpool, Vanderpool, and Greenway. Top three 360’s were Vanderpools, father and son, and Kenny Kinchen.
Although the car counts were light in both classes, the racing was fast and furious. Several walking wounded Open and 360 Supers will return for the Pombo classic in July and the racing should be even better.
An added treat for the Madera fans was an exhibition race featuring vintage Supermodifieds from the 1960’s through the early 1980’s. The feature was won by the ageless Leroy van Connett who was being pursued by legend Everett Edlund. There are about fifteen of these cars in Northern California that have been restored and there are several more under construction. It was a wonderful sight for us old timers to see the cars and some of the stars we grew up with on the 1/3 mile banking. And let me tell you, some of these guys still have fire and can’t stand to see another car in front them. It also introduced some younger Supermodifed fans to the heritage of the division. It was fun to see the vintage cars lined up side by side the today’s winged sidewinders.
Madera Speedway, June 12, 2010.
360 Supermodifieds
Qualifications: 1. 5 Kenny Kinchen, 13.472; 2. 17 Dan Vanderpool, 13.616; 3. 1 Kyle Vanderpool, 13.793; 4. 18 Lance Jackson, 13.863; 5. 07 Carl Johnson, 14.168; 6. 4 Larry Hinz, 14.618.
Dash: 1. K. Vanderpool,; 2. Jackson; 3. Kinchen; 4. D. Vanderpool.
Heat: 1. D. Vanderpool; 2. Kinchen; 3. Jackson; 4. K. Vanderpool; 5. Johnson; 6. Hinz.
Open Supermodifieds
Qualifications: 1. 32 Jim Birges, 12.694; 2. 98 Troy Regier, 12.967; 3. 8 George Greenway, 13.296; 4. 7 A.J. Russell, 13.485.
Heat: 1. Regier; 2. Birges; 3. Russell; 4. Greenway.
Heat: 1 Birges; 2. Regier; 3. Russell; 4. Greenway.
Combined Feature: 1.Birges; 2. Regier; 3. *D. Vanderpool; 4. *K. Vanderpool; 5. Greenway; 6. Russell; 7. * Kinchen; 8. * Jackson; 9. * Northammer; 10. * Johnson.
From the agribusiness capital of the world, I’ll see you at the next Super Saturday Event.
June 8 2010
Sitterly is on fire at Oswego
by Keith Shampine. 315-657-2207 or e-mail TheRacerWriter@gmail.com.
Oswego, N.Y. – Otto Sitterly drove his blue G&I Homes No. 7 to his fourth win in as many weeks Saturday night with another win at Oswego Speedway.
But Sitterly didn’t dominate this supermodified feature. In fact, at one point a fourth win to start the season was very much in doubt.
Sitterly ran in the bottom half of the top five for most of 45-lap affair. A strong-running Dan Connors Jr. paced the field until the closing stages of the race, and pulled away from former Classic winners Joe Gosek and Tim Snyder in the process.
Otto sat behind Gosek, Snyder and Dave McKnight while the trio battled for the third and fourth positions. Around lap 30, Gosek began to fade with a slowing No. 00. After overtaking Snyder, Otto easily passed Gosek and McKnight, who also fell off the pace with a problem, before setting his sights on the half-straightaway-ahead teenage Connors.
After only a handful of laps, Sitterly closed onto Connors’ rear bumper and began going to work on the Oswego driver with less than 10 to go. Whether or not an eventual hard-fought technique Sitterly pass would have occurred is up for debate, but Otto didn’t have to work on Connors for long. The young driver slipped off turn four with a half-dozen laps remaining. Otto took the opportunity to charge to the bottom of Connors in turn one, where the Canajoharie, N.Y., shoe completed the pass and ran away to another win.
Otto talked about the end of the race. “A couple of guys broke at the end and it gave me a shot to get to Danny. We were catching him and I’m not sure if we would’ve been able to pass him. He bobbled off of four and it gave me a chance to get wheel to wheel with him. I bonsai’d him into one and I saw him come back underneath me, but we were able to stick the pass,” Sitterly said.
Sitterly’s string of top results is forcing him to start the Nicotra Racing mount in the sixth row each week, and he admits it’s not necessarily something he looks forward to.
“We have a fast car, but I’m sort of leery about starting 11th each week and being able to get to the front if everybody’s just on the track at the end. It seems like – it’s half being given to me. I don’t want to take anything away from us; we’re doing our homework and the car is fast, but there are a lot of fast race cars here.”
Otto’s early-season success has him in elite Oswego company. Only Jim Shampine with seven consecutive victories in 1974 has won more features in a row to start a season. At three each, only Kenny Andrews, Bentley Warren and Doug Heveron have won more than a pair races at the start of an Oswego season.
Sitterly now has 20 Oswego super wins to his credit, which puts him tied for 17th all time with the aforementioned late ’60s-, early ’70s-era ace Kenny Andrews.
Otto and the Nicotra team will continue work in the shop but will take this weekend off with an open date at the Big O. The non-wing supermodified season will resume with a regular 45-lapper
June 1 2010
Stone delivers in caution-free ERA supermodified opener
by Keith Shampine. Contact Keith at 315-657-2207 or e-mail theracerwriter@gmail.com
Dacono, Colo. – Sixty-one-year-old Harry Stone proved experience pays Saturday night when he drove his 1985 Masterman chassis to victory in the Englewood Supermodified Association opener at Colorado National Speedway.
All Photos by Joe Starr www.bigwestracing.com
Stone won his first since ’08 Saturday at CNS
Stone started sixth in the 25-lapper and caught pole-sitter Chris Sheil by lap seven. Stone worked the bottom on Sheil’s No. 33 for a handful of laps before sticking the inside groove on lap 10. The Denver driver pulled his black No. 40 out to a full straightaway advantage, and was never headed on his way to the triumph.
Stone’s Masterman at speed
Nick Haygood started 10th and moved into fifth by the second circuit. Haygood passed Sheil just past halfway to move into second, but needed a caution to catch Stone. The yellow never came, and Stone maneuvered through lap traffic like an old pro to garner his first feature win since 2008.
“I don’t even call it experience; it’s more like old age,” a colorful Stone laughed after the win. “It’s a challenge for me to even get in and out of these cars anymore. The fans must get quite a laugh when all these young guys run these cars and some gray-haired old man gets out of the car in victory lane. But we didn’t win by default. This is a really nice car and it works very well.”
The win avenged a defeat Stone suffered last season when Haygood passed him on the final lap to relegate Stone to a runner-up finish.
“We seem to be good for about one win a year, and last year the young kid (Haygood) got us by about two inches at the line. Haygood is the most talented super driver I’ve ever seen. Any time I can put a number on him, I’m elated. We’re focused on the ERA this year and running for a championship. This is a great way to start the season,” Stone said.
Stone’s 410 small block-powered super, which was originally built for Davey Hamilton’s dad, Kenny, lapped all but five cars and finished comfortably ahead of Haygood. Defending ERA champion Rich Castor Jr. started shotgun on the field and sliced his way to third. Castor made a last-lap pass on Ira Castor to take the final step on the podium. Ira was fourth, while Sheil faded to fifth.
Twelve cars started the main after a three-hour rain delay. The event ended close to 1 a.m.
Stone admitted he was surprised more cars weren’t in attendance, but says he’s confident more will come.
“I know of four race-ready supers that weren’t here for one reason or another. I’m sure we’ll get up to 15 or 16 cars, and I’m surprised we didn’t have that count Saturday. There are other cars in the area that just need the funding to get out. Supermodified racing is popular here in Denver, and compared to late models and pro trucks, I think it’s one of the most economical forms of racing around,” Stone said.
The ERA is back in action Saturday, June 12 at Colorado National before straying from the three-eighths-mile oval for a June 19 show at Pueblo, Colorado’s I-25 Speedway. The event at I-25 marks the only time this season the ERA races away from Colorado National.
The Main event finish:
Harry Stone, Nick Haygood, Rich Castor Jr., Ira Castor, Chris Sheil, Harold Evans, Joe Priselac, Josh Lewis, Kevin Day, Craig Moore, Brian Pacheco, Brian Gossel
May 26 2010
Sitterly is on a streak, wins 3rd in a row Saturday at Oswego
Oswego, N.Y. – The blue G&I Homes Nicotra No. 7 is fast becoming a fixture at the front of the supermodified pack at Oswego Speedway.
Otto Sitterly drove to another convincing win Saturday at the fast five-eighths-mile speedway, this time starting from seventh and taking the lead from Canadian Dave McKnight Jr. on lap 36 of the Speedway Press / 2 Xtreme Towing 45-lap main. After the pass, Sitterly wheeled his quick Hawk Jr. chassis to a 3.6-second lead in just nine laps to win his second feature in as many weeks. McKnight finished second and Joey Payne third.
Including last season’s International Classic triumph, Sitterly has won three super mains in a row at Oswego.
“I just tried to go easy at the beginning and not burn it up too much” Otto said. “But at the same time, you can’t wait around. They all seemed to be eager and hungry tonight – everybody.”
The winner spoke of an early-race restart when the inside lane, which included Otto, got bottled up and a few cars went past on the outside before a quick yellow waved in the mostly caution-free feature.
“We had a couple of bad restarts. Tim (Snyder) didn’t fire the one restart, we got jammed up and the whole outside lane went and I was like, ‘oh boy, if this stays green we could be in trouble.’ But then the yellow came out because a couple guys got caught up because of that (backup) I’m sure. After that restart, everything seemed to go quite a bit better,” Otto said.
Sitterly’s sweep of the first two weeks at Oswego puts him 32 points ahead of Payne in the standings, which is considered to be fairly wide margin based on the track’s rather tight point structure.
The Nicotra team now sets its sights on the only 75-lapper of the Oswego season, the Jim Shampine Memorial this Saturday night.
Otto will continue to start further back in the feature field based on Oswego’s last-three-week handicap system, albeit starting position hasn’t seemed to bother his results over the past year. Sitterly has finished outside the top five only twice in the last 13 non-wing super features at the lakeside oval.
Press written by Keith Shampine. Contact Keith at 315-657-2207 or e-mail TheRacerWriter@gmail.com to promote your racing the “write” way.
Mike (Pinner) Johnson photos
Sitterly at speed
Otto, Nicotra Racing team after May 15 win
May 17 2010
Otto leads Shampine (Mike “Pinner” Johnson photo)
Sitterly starts season off right with a big win at Oswego
written by Keith Shampine
Oswego, N.Y. – Otto Sitterly continued his reign over the non-winged supermodified division at Oswego Speedway Saturday night with a convincing victory in the Burritt Motors / Syracuse Post-Standard 60th season opener on a cold night in Central New York.
Sitterly and his G&I Homes John Nicotra-owned No. 7 started the 60-lapper in fifth position and made an inside pass of Keith Shampine on lap 23 to take the lead. Sitterly pulled away from there and drove unchallenged to his 13th career supermodified victory at the lakeside oval.
Otto leads Shampine (Mike “Pinner” Johnson photo)
“The car was good,” Otto said after his first victory of the new season. “The track, it’s still early and there’s not a ton of grip off the bottom groove. So pretty much anything you could get, you had to try and get it on the bottom. A couple of times I saw guys try on the top in the heat race and a couple of times I just tried rolling around out there. There just wasn’t really a lot of grip there, so you had to get right down on the bottom.”
Sitterly worked the bottom groove to perfection all night, making inside passes in his heat and the feature to win both affairs. He did it behind the wheel of his trusty Hawk Jr. chassis, the car he drove to last year’s Oswego track championship and International Classic 200 triumph.
A popular off-season story was whether Otto would decide to campaign the Hawk Jr. car or switch to the newest member of the potent Nicotra Racing stable, a No. 60 Xtreme Chassis mount.
Two weeks ago at the ISMA opener at Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Sitterly still wasn’t sure which car he’d field at the Oswego opener. While preparing the two supers over the past couple weeks, Otto decided to stick with the car he’s had so much success with.
The opening night of the 2010 season went much like many race nights in 2009, at least at the top of the supermodified time charts. Doug Didero’s No. 3 Xtreme Chassis paced the field in practice with blazing laps under the 16.5-second mark. Didero was just as fast on his way to a dominating heat-race victory, leaving many fans and competitors believing the black No. 3 would run away to a big opening-night win.
But when the feature began, Otto methodically worked his way to the front, taking the lead before halfway while Didero was still hard at work in the bottom half of the top five.
A potential Sitterly, Didero duel for the win never materialized. Didero made contact with the wall while trying to pass Shampine for second, forcing the North Carolina resident to pull his Xtreme pitside.
“There’s no specific plan at all,” Otto said when asked if he has a game plan heading into an Oswego main. “We basically just try to finish the race and not get crashed. My car in open air is very good. There’s something to be said for that because in open air it really works good.
“I’d like to thank everybody who helps, and of course John Nicotra. I want to thank all of our sponsors, G&I Homes and Kenny Ketcham have done a lot for us and all those Florida farmers down there. There are a lot of people who help out.”
Nicotra Racing team driver Davey Hamilton was slated to drive the No. 60 Xtreme chassis in the opener, but was not at Oswego Saturday. The opener was originally scheduled for May 15, which Hamilton would have made, but due to winter-like conditions last weekend in the Oswego area, the race was postponed till Saturday, when Hamilton was already busy in Indianapolis preparing to attempt to qualify for his 10th Indianapolis 500.
Otto and the Nicotra Racing team will be looking to go two-for-two this Saturday when the non-winged supers commence for a regular 45-lapper at Oswego.
Hamilton should be ready to return to supermodified action at Oswego on July 3.
May 13 2010
SMRA supermodifieds to display, turn laps at All American this Saturday
Roseville, Calif. – The Supermodified Racing Association will participate in a special exhibition this Saturday at All American Speedway in Roseville, California. The exhibition will be a part of All American’s Open Wheel Challenge, which includes USAC sprint cars headlining a number of other open-wheel divisions.
The exhibition will include a group of SMRA supermodifieds on display in the concession area before the supers hit the track for a couple rounds of practice. The display, which opens around 2 p.m., will gain the SMRA exposure to All American’s fan base and open-wheel fans from all over the state.
But the more important part of the day will be the track time the supers gain because of some strict enforcements at the Roseville facility.
All American director of competition Frank Vincent spoke about the event.
“The supers being (at Roseville) this Saturday serves a couple purposes. First, it’s a great chance to promote the speed and excitement of supermodified racing to the fans. This is a chance to try to relight the fire for the supers at this track.
“But we also have to meet some stringent sound requirements. We need to see if the supers clear the sound issues to gauge whether or not we could possibly have a supermodified race here in the future,” Vincent said.
So far, Jim Birges’ No. 32 is committed to be in attendance. SMRA officials are awaiting word from other teams.
Birges says he’s excited to turn some fast laps around Roseville’s three-eighths-mile oval.
“It’ll be interesting to see what kind of lap times we run. I think there is potential for a really good supermodified show at Roseville. It’s more of a central location because the track is closer to the cars located further north, the Carson City group and the Idaho cars. If a race date could be established, I think it would draw a stronger car count. Not to mention, (Roseville) is a beautiful facility and they always have a strong front gate,” Birges said.
All American is welcoming the SMRA with open arms. Officials are offering supermodified teams complimentary passes for themselves as well as friends and family.
The 410 supermodifieds raced regularly at All American in the late 1970s, although the class hasn’t competed at the Roseville track since.
April 19 2010
ERA supermodifieds anticipating best year in recent memory
LITTLETON, Colo. – The supermodifieds of the Englewood Racing Association will roar into action May 29 with their 2010 opener at Colorado National Speedway. The CNS opener begins a 10-race schedule for the Denver-based series. The ERA will visit CNS eight more times between June and Oct. 2. A June 19 date at Pueblo, Colorado’s I-25 Speedway is ERA’s lone date away from CNS.
The ERA is riding the momentum of one of its best seasons ever in 2009. Averaging 16 cars a race, the group continued its recent re-emergence as a respectable and competitive series with CNS as its home track. ERA racers and officials agree that 2010 marks the series’ best schedule and expected car count in recent history.
“This absolutely looks to be a terrific year for us,” ERA racer Joe Priselac said. “The schedule is solid and the field, both in strength and in numbers, is one of the best I can remember, and clearly the best in several years. The top 10 from last year’s points are all returning. There are at least a half-dozen teams that have the chance to win races, and the championship.”
Notable drivers who will likely be knocking on the door for race wins in 2010 include back-to-back ERA champion Rich Castor Jr., 2009 feature winners Nick Haygood and Johnny Pickard, and top contenders Harold Evans, Larry LaPoint and Priselac.
ERA runs 25- and 30-lap features at the three-eighths-mile CNS and quarter-mile I-25. The field is mostly made up of west coast-style, 410 small-block-powered supermodifieds; a handful of asphalt sprint cars also compete.
Most ERA teams are located in the Denver area. The series has been intact since the 1960s, when supermodifieds and other open-wheel cars began racing at the now closed Englewood (Colo.) Speedway.
To learn more about the ERA, visit http://erasupermodifieds.tripod.com/home.html.
April 4 2010
Supers Snakebit at Madera, Vanderpool Survives for Win
Gerald Laurie
California
Contributor to OWR3
It started out sunny and windy at Madera Speedway Saturday afternoon but then clouded over and the temperature began to drop. A cold track and cold tires would take their tolls. For the first of six Super Saturday events scheduled by Madera Speedway, the open wheel count was the lowest in recent memory. By the start of practice, there were four injected Supermodifieds and five carbureted 360 Supermodifieds in the pits. A.J. Russell was present with his number 7 SMRA car, George Greenway(8) also had his SMRA car ready. Jim Birges sent both his number 32 and the number 89 that he owns jointly with Ron Burger. Burger drove his car and Birges picked multi-time 360 Super Champion Dave Tuey to run the 32 in Birges’s absence. 360 Teams present included Kyle Vanderpool(1), Kenny Kinchen(5), Carl Johnson(07), Willie Northamer(15), and Dan Vanderpool(17).
During practice Greenway experienced a driveline failure and was done for the evening. Dave Tuey was fastest in practice with a lap at 12.847, followed by A.J. Russell at 13.186. The fastest 360’s were Dan Vanderpool at 13.486 and Kenny Kinchen at 13.501. Kyle Vanderpool was having some engine issues and never got up to speed in practice.
Qualifications started with the 360’s and Kenny Kinchen set fast time at 13.650, followed by Dan Vanderpool at 13.696, Kyle Vanderpool at 14.084, and Carl Johnson at 14.294. Northamer spun on his attempt when the drain plug fell out dumping copious amounts of oil through turns one and two.
Burger was first out to qualify in an open car but had the throttle cable fail before the green flag. He made a later attempt but the cable again did not work. Dave Tuey wound up with fast time at 12.767 seconds with A.J Russell next with a lap of 13.322 seconds.
The first racing event for the open wheelers was the 360 trophy dash. Carl Johnson lined up on the poll flanked by Kyle Vanderpool and followed by Dan Vanderpool and Kenny Kinchen. The outside row got the jump at the start and K. Vanderpool led over Kinchen, Johnson and D. Vanderpool. On lap three Dan was able to pass the 07 for third and that was the race. Kyle V won over Kinchen, Dan V, and Johnson.
The open Supermodified Dash was next up, but only Tuey and Russell answered the bell as Burger’s crew was still fitting a borrowed throttle cable. Tuey took the lead at the outset and never looked back in the four lapper. And in so doing he cut a lap at 12.546, two tenths faster than he qualified as he got used to the 300 extra horsepower and two hundred pounds less weight than his normal 360 ride.
The first eight lap heat race featured the 360 Supermods. All five reported to the race track with Kenny Kinchen and Dan Vanderpool on the front row followed by Kyle Vanderpool, Carl Johnson, and Willie Northamer. They lined out in order on lap one and then Kyle Vanderpool took second away from his father on lap two. By lap five Kinchen was leading over K. Vanderpool, D. Vanderpool, Johnson, and Northamer. The yellow flew on lap six as Vanderpool the elder spun on the frontstretch. On the restart, Kinchen led over Vanderpool the younger, Johnson, Northamer and Dan Vanderpool. Just before the checkers, Northamer put a turn three pass on Johnson making the finish Kinchen, K. Vanderpool, Northamer, Johnson, and D. Vanderpool.
With Burger having completed repairs, three open cars lined up for the other heat. The line-up was Tuey, Russell, and Burger. And that is the way they finished with Burger slowing dramatically at the end. Back in the pits, the Birges crew found a broken torque arm bracket on the 89 and Burger was finished for evening.
As the sun set in Central California, the temperature dropped rapidly from the low fifties into the low forties. This condition would play a big part in later events.
The scheduled fifty lap feature lined up the remaining seven cars in a combined open and 360 event. Carl Johnson and Kyle Vanderpool occupied the front row. Row two consisted of Dan Vanderpool and Kenny Kinchen. Row three held the open cars of A.J. Russell and Dave Tuey. Willie Northamer rounded out the field. During the warm-up laps, Tuey applied a bit too much throttle and the car turned into the front stretch wall ending the night for the second Birges entry. Cold tires and a lot of horsepower were the culprits.
At the start, Kyle Vanderpool blew around Johnson in turn two only to have Kinchen follow him and then dive low to take the lead in the backstretch. Johnson was third, Dan Vanderpool was fourth with Russell in fifth. Dan got around Johnson on lap two with Russell repeating the fete a lap later. A.J. then passed the 17 on lap seven and took off in search of the leaders. He passed Kyle on lap eight and went after Kinchen. The yellow hanky waved on lap ten when Johnson stalled and coasted into the infield. Another one bites the dust.
The restart had Kinchen leading over Russell, K. Vanderpool, D. Vanderpool, and Northamer. A.J. began attacking Kinchen with everything he had, but Kenny held the fast line and the two went side by side until Russell finally completed the pass on lap nineteen. Kinchen stayed in sight of Russell and saw what everyone saw, a fine mist and blue smoke spewing from the number 7. The yellow flew on lap twenty three and the leader was sent to the inspection area. An oil leak was found and Russell was relegated to the pits.
On the restart, Kinchen brushed the wall on the backstretch while leading and the yellow flew again with Kenny sitting in the pits. On the third attempt to complete the twenty third circuit, Kyle Vanderpool was setting the pace, Dan Vanderpool experienced a suspension failure to once again bring out the yellow. Finally the two remaining cars took the green again with Kyle Vanderpool leading Willie Northamer. Officials quickly decided to flag the event at thirty laps and Kyle Vanderpool was the first 360 Super Driver to win a combined open and 360 event since the advent of the Super Saturday format at Madera.
With the weather rather chilly on Easter Weekend and the Central California economy still sporting a 20% unemployment rate, the conditions were evidently not conducive to a high horsepower open wheel show. There should be three or four more 360 Supers ready for the next Super Saturday event in May and hopefully several more open cars will show up as well. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Madera Speedway
360 Supermodifieds
Qualifications: 1. Kenny Kinchen(5) 13.650; 2. Dan Vanderpool(17) 13.696; 3. Kyle Vanderpool(1) 14.084; 4. Carl Johnson(07) 14.294; 5. Willie Northamer(15) N/T
Trophy Dash: 1. K. Vanerpool,; 2. Kinchen; 3. D. Vanderpool; 4. Johnson
Heat: 1. Kinchen; 2. K. Vanderpool; 3. Northamer; 4. Johnson; 5. D. Vanderpool
Open Supermodifieds
Qualifications: 1. David Tuey(32) 12.767; 2. A.J. Russell(7) 13.322; 3. Ron Burger(89) N/T; 4.0 George Greenway(8) N/T
Trophy Dash: 1. Tuey; 2. Russell
Heat: 1. Tuey; 2. Russell; 3. Burger
Combined Feature: 1. K. Vanderpool; 2. Northammer; 3. Russell(-8 laps); 4. Kinchen(-8 laps); 5. D. Vanderpool(-8 laps); 6. Johnson
Mar 21 2010
Supermodified Racing in the West
Gerald Laurie
California
Contributor to OWR3
In January, OWR3 published the first part of mid off season article I wrote on the ongoing soap opera that is Supermodified Racing West of the Rockies. In reality, that article became more of an editorial basically expressing my personal opinions on the subjects addressed. There have been some developments recently that need to be addressed as well and I am in the process of composing my comments on them. However, I wrote a piece in August of 2009 that I did not publish widely because I was afraid of the reaction I would get from my friends in and out of racing. However, this piece does reflect my passion regarding the Supermodified Division. I am, always have been, and always will be a dedicated fan of these mighty sidewinders. Reluctantly, I’m going to publish the piece and then follow it in a couple of days with the second part of my editorial. Believe me when I say the one thing I really want is for Supermodified Racing to continue and to thrive in the Western States. In the context of the current situation as outlined in my January editorial, attached is a piece titled “The Year the Music Died”. Please remember that this was written in August of 2009.
The Year the Music Died
By A Very Concerned Fan
I am a racing fan. I have been a racing fan for fifty seven of my sixty three years on this planet. I have attended races in virtually every year since my sixth birthday. I didn’t inherit this love of racing engines at full song from anyone in my family. I was introduced to the music by the father of a neighborhood playmate. In the early years, I begged family friends and my playmate’s father to take me to anywhere from one to ten races per year. By the age of fifteen, I was attending as many as sixty races a year by driving myself (illegally of course) in the family sedan or my motorcycle to two races a weekend. I would sit high in the grandstand near the start-finish line and stare in awe at the beauty and awesome power of the works of art circling the track and at the skill and bravado of the drivers. I grew up on names like Vukovich, Boyd, Reece, Pombo, Sargent, Hutton, Secrist, Kaeding, Scott, Mims, Ward, and Prickett in places like Fresno, San Jose, Clovis, Merced, Atascadero, Bakersfield, Gardena, Vallejo, and Sacramento.
College and marriage limited my attendance to but a few shows a year in my late teens and early twenties, but jobs and business travel later took me to new venues in places like Hialeah, Orlando, Tampa, Daytona, New Smyrna Beach, Barberville, Atlanta, Daytona, Bristol, Jacksonville, Pensacola, Montgomery, Birmingham, Mobile, Las Vegas, Carson City, San Antonio, Houston, Phoenix, Tucson, Darlington, and Nashville. Over the years the cars first grew wings and then later fenders and full bodies. There were local modifieds, early supermodifieds, sprint cars, midgets, late models, street stocks, mini-stocks, Winston Cup Cars, Grand National cars, Indy cars, and all types of local classes in the reticule of my experience. But there was always the music. Whether it was the high pitched whine of a turbo charged Ford, the growl of an Offy, the angry buzz of a four banger midget, the strange rasp of an inline six, or the full blown howl of an eight hundred horsepower small block Chevy giving its all, it was the most beautiful melody to my ever aging ears.
In my later years, I have become more involved in racing by taking up a press card and covering racing in my home state of California with some forays into neighboring states. I have pretty well restricted myself to open wheel classes including Midgets, Sprints, and Supermodifieds. Oh, can I describe to you the music of the Supermodifieds? Huge methanol gulping V-8’s sans mufflers with so much power that a single car can rattle the grandstands and send a rumble streaming from your feet to the top of your head. Two or more running together can literally make the ground shake. The nomenclature of Ground Pounder fits the Supermodified superbly. These have been my favorite symphony orchestra since I first heard them come to life between my ears over forty five years ago. Not only do you hear the melody of the Supermodifed, you feel it throughout your being and into the depths of your spirit. For me there is no sound as beautiful.
Now for the sad news. The music is growing dim. The National Economy, nee the World Economy, has, since 2007, been on a rapid decline. Motorsports, being an expensive sport has begun to shrink. Monetary sponsorships, the very lifeblood of the sport have dried up. In 2009, I have attended only five races so far. My own economic situation is but a minute reflection of the overall situation. These have all been open wheel shows with midgets, sprint cars, and my beloved supermodifieds as the main attractions. The most midgets I have seen at any single venue have been fourteen. The most Sprint cars have been twelve, and the most Supermodifieds have numbered but fourteen. I have been to one race with only five Supermodifieds. And although the melody is as sweet as ever, the volume is rapidly diminishing. Race promoters are cutting purses because of poor car counts. Point fund monies have dwindled and indeed, disappeared. What is to become of the fabulous, fantastic ground pounders whose races resemble a ballet of jet fighters performing in a gymnasium? Is the symphony coming to an end? Will the oval shaped stages go silent? Will 2010 be the year that the music died
Jan 29 2010
Dino Oberto
Pennsylvania
Contributor to OWR3
No Waiting for Spring: Barry Callavini Modified Heading to Florida Speed Weeks
By Dino Oberto …. “Keeping Track”
Although the Northeast racing season is still a few months away, one local driver is not waiting that long and will be getting a jumpstart by heading down to Florida to compete in the annual Speed Weeks.
Barry Callavini of Harwood, a headline driver at Sundance Vacations Speedway in St. Johns, where he has won 30 features and owns a track title during a 15-year span, will be hauling his Modified racecar to New Smyrna Speedway as he is entered in the 44th Annual World Series of Stock Car Racing.
As the name implies this event has been an ongoing season kickoff for pavement racers. Likewise a host of dirt tracks in the same area run similar events that are centered around the action at Daytona.
“We went there back in 2008 and ran with the SK (Sport) Modifieds. We feel that our program now is to the point that we can make a return and maybe have a good run down there,” said 41-year old Callavini who runs both Sport and Tour type Mods back home.
“We have a newer car and did a complete rebuild on it and we’ve done been working at getting more organized to be prepared to compete on their level down there.”
Callavini will be engrossed in eight straight nights of racing beginning Friday, February 5 and concluding on February 12th with the prestigious Richie Evans Memorial 100.
Running eight consecutive nights is a grind for most of those racers which in some cases it’s the equivalent of a half season crammed into one week.
“You have to be equipped with a lot of extra parts. You try to think of anything you may need and be prepared to make sure everything is right. On a trip like this you can’t take any chances. You have to go everything and make sure it’s right. You have to avoid any foreseeable gremlins that could pop up,” explained Callavini
Callavini will have area sponsors Sundance Vacations and D & B Towing embossed in his #41 Modified car and will have the aide of Jason James, Mark Strenchak, Mike Odwazny and his father, Joe Callavini as the crew
For the World Series points are tallied after every race and an overall champion crowned. For Callavini he has a twofold plan. Try and maintain consistency and look for a respectable point finish. If that doesn’t pan out then simply aim for wins.
“Our plan is to be fairly conservative early on in the week and kind of see how the chips fall. If we have a couple of bad nights that will change our outlook on it and we’ll then not be looking for points for the whole week we’ll just look to win races instead.”
In the Modified class which he will be in most of the drivers are regulars on the NASCAR Whelan Modified Tour and in the world of pavement short track racing they are the best in the business.
“It’s a level of competition that we’re not use to competing against. If we can go down there and run top-10 to top-5 we’ll be thrilled. Not that we’re going to go there and not try for a win but just to be able to compete amongst the talent that’s going to be there we’d be thriller to be able to stay competitive with them,” said Callavini.
Every week at his home track at Sundance Callavini runs against a tough group of racers. However, by taking his talents on the road and squaring off against drivers from the NASCAR Modified Tour it will enable him to enhance his ability when the weekly action starts here in April.
“It puts a little more strain on our program as far as being prepared because we have to start a little earlier than normal. I feel though that the more tracks you run the more seat time you have and the more that helps,” he added.
“In that regard I see that as an advantage for when we’re running local. I feel any racing we do elsewhere is going to help me back home. We want to prove to ourselves that we can go out and compete with other drivers at other tracks and be successful.”
When the 2010 season at Sundance Vacations Speedway gets under way in mid April, Callavini plans to do double duty, running in both the Tour Type Mods and Sport Mods. Last year he was a top four point finisher in both classes.
“I’m looking right now at trying to run the full season at Sundance Vacations Speedway with both the tour Mod and the Sport Mod. We’re also planning to hit a few of the Race of Champions Tour races that fit into our schedule and any other races that don’t conflict with our weekly shows.
Jan 9 2010
Ready To Get your autographs ?
at the Motorsports 2010 presented by StreetBlaze 100
Northeast, will be appearing at Motorsports 2010 presented by
StreetBlaze 100 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa.,
which is scheduled from January 22-24, 2010.
overall in the Northeast, will headline a list of top-division winners
on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Shaffer (open cockpit), Matt Sheppard (dirt big-block Modified), Ryan
Smith (Micro Sprint Car) and Kenny Tremont (dirt 358-Modified)
Shinnston, W. Va., will meet with racing fans and sign autographs on
Friday, Jan. 22, from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Area Auto Racing News booth.
unveiled to race fans during Richards’ 90-minute visit and then be
available during Saturday's session as well.
ARCA Series race at Daytona International Speedway in February, is
scheduled to visit on Friday only.
stay in King of Prussia, Pa., if they attend the event. The six
drivers taking part in the Jan. 23 autograph signing will be honored
on stage during the evening Ms. Motorsports competition.
the most feature events.
Motorsports 2010:
feature victories this season in six different states. Christopher won
racing events indoors and outdoors, aboard Modified stock cars and
Three-Quarter Midgets. In a span of five days in Modified action at
New Smyrna Speedway, Christopher won four feature races.
asphalt Late Model features including the track title at
Adirondack (N.Y.) International Raceway. He was named the Joe Gibbs
Driven Racing Oil ASA Member track champion.
Late Model features in 2009, which was highlighted with his
first career WoO LM Series title. Richards opened the season by
claiming five feature races with three different series in Florida.
from Aliquippa, Pa., captured 13 Sprint Car feature events. In
addition to the nine series wins, he won major events at Knoxville
Raceway and a World of Outlaws-sanctioned main at Rolling Wheels
Raceway.
Super DIRTcar Series champion Brett Hearn all season as he claimed 20
won an indoor Modiifed Midget main at the Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Expo
Center, which added to his already 25-win total in Micro Sprint Car
action. Smith won main events at nine different venues in 2010.
11 of his 14 victories this past season in 358-Modified action. He won
358-Modified events at Albany-Saratoga Speedway and Devil’s Bowl
Speedway.
Radisson Valley Forge Hotel for special show room rates.
The hotel offers free parking. Telephone 610-337-2000 or 800-333-3333.
Mention the reservation code “Motorsports” to get the special reduced
rate while they last. The hotel is located less than 5 miles from the
Expo Center.
Hogue at 609-888-3618.
. Exhibitor and ticket information can be had at 609-888-3618.
2010 Starts here
Nov 8 2009
CONCORD, N.C. - In 2008 Burt Myers proved that Southern Modified drivers had what it took to beat out their Northern brethren.
Last year Myers became the first Southern driver in the six years of the North-South Shootout at Concord Speedway to win the Tour Type Modified feature.
Saturday Myers showed that his 2008 Southern rising was no fluke. Myers, of Walnut Cove, N.C., held off Whelen Modified Tour regulars Rowan Pennink and Doug Coby over the late stages to win the North-South Shootout 125 at Concord Speedway.
"We are in the South, this is Concord, this is our place," Myers said. "I love racing against those Northern guys. I was so proud to be the first Southern guy to win it and I'm even prouder to be the first Southern guy to win it twice."
Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., was second and Coby, of Milford, third.
Myers, who started fourth, had the dominant car all race, leading from the eighth lap on.
"We really thought about changing this car when we unloaded Thursday," Myers said. "We contemplated and we put it on the truck. We thought it about changing it on Friday and then we put it on the truck. It was a struggle with these guys to convince them to leave it alone. We got it just right like we did last year."
Myers was leading the race when the seventh caution of the day flew on lap 71 after Coby spun from second place. The yellow sent all the lead lap cars down pit road. Pennink came to the pits in sixth but a quick stop had him rolling before anybody.
But it was some strategy and a quick pedal foot that allowed Myers to stave of Pennink's attempt at a pit road overtaking.
When Myers came into the pits he realized if he came in the box straight he would get pinned into the stall when Ryan Preece, pitting in front of him, came in at angle. So Myers got proactive, setting his front end at an angle pointing out in the box to avoid getting blockaded.
"I really felt [my crew was] going to have to back me up to get out so I dumped the clutch and whipped that thing around there like I did," Myers said. "It worked."
Pennink look ready to roll by Myers' pit stall, but at the last moment Myers gunned it out of the box and just in front of Pennink to lead the race off of pit road.
"I thought I had him beat there," Pennink said. "I didn't want to go too fast down pit lane and get yelled at. I was thinking 'Just keep it on the outside of him' but then he just did a burnout and pulled right in front of me. I figured I'd back off and not wreck the racecar on pit lane."
Said Myers: "That was very pivotal. Our car was probably better than his but you know track position was very critical. If he had beat me out of the pits I don't know if we'd be in victory lane right now. Hats off to my guys, they got me out front and made my job a lot easier."
Coby rallied quickly from his spin, working his way back to third by lap 87.
"Something was going on with the front of the car," Coby said. "It started vibrating the more I ran. Everything got so bound up. Something happened [when I spun], I was paying more attention to the front, I think when I tried to correct it the car just slid around. It was weird. Coming back through, it was good for 25-30 laps and then the same thing came back."
From lap 90 to 110 Pennink and Coby each looked like they might have something for Myers, but over the final 15 laps the defending champion was able to pull away.
"When I first got out behind him I was just letting him go to see if he would burn out his tires and I was saving," Pennink said. "Then with about 30 to go I went for it and I just didn't quite have enough."
The early stages of the race proved tedious with six cautions and two red flag periods over the first 20 laps. Pole-sitter Chuck Hossfeld wrecked while battling for the lead with Matt Hirschman on lap five, collecting a number of the event's top contenders, including Ted Christopher and Preece.
Pennink sustained front end damage in the lap five wreck.
"For the car in that condition I thought we gave him a pretty good run for his money there in the end," Pennink said.
Hirschman then wrecked on lap eight just after Myers passed him for the lead.
125-lap North-South Shootout Tour Type Modified finish
1. Burt Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C.
2. Rowan Pennink, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.
3. Doug Coby, Milford
4. Matt Hirschman, Northampton, Pa.
5. Jamie Tomaino, Howell, N.J.
6. George Brunnhoelzl III, Mooresville, N.C.
7. Eric Goodale, Riverhead, N.Y.
8. Jimmy Zacharias, Candor, N.Y.
9. Pete Brittain, Oakhurst, N.J.
10. Anthony Sesely, Matawan, N.J.
11. Zane Zeiner, Bath, Pa.
12. Keith Rocco, Wallingford
13. Woody Pitkat, Stafford
14. Daren Scherer, Binghamton, N.Y.
15. Danny Bohn, Huntersville, N.C.
16. Dave Pecko, Vandling, Pa.
17. Gene Pack, North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
18. George Kent, Elmira, N.Y.
19. Rick Kluth, Brockport, N.Y.
20. Ryan Preece, Berlin
21. Eric Beers, Northampton, Pa.
22. Jeff Malave, Manchester
23. Jason Myers, Walnut Cove, N.C.
24. Josh Nichols, Cleveland, N.C.
25. Ted Christopher, Plainville
26. Andy Seuss, Hampstead, N.H.
27. J.R. Bertuccio, Statesville, N.C.
28. Frank Fleming, Mount Airy, N.C.
29. Earl Paules, Palmerton, Pa.
30. Chuck Hossfeld, Lockport, N.Y.
31. Les Hinckley III, Windsor Locks
32. Bobby Grigas III, Marshfield, Mass.
33. James Civali, Meriden
