I went and got my coworker Sandra, who is now a die hard race fan and my friend Brian and we headed out for the track.  We arrived as the gates were opening and went inside.  I can't thank Sandra and Brian enough for all of the moral support they give me and for running and getting me food or soda so I don't have to test my back out in climbing stairs.  They are both terrific friends and without them, I wouldn't have gone to the track tonight.  Special thanks have to be sent out to them both.

 

ASCA Sprints were running with the Modifieds tonight.  I wasn't really looking forward to the modifieds because last time they ran with the Sprints they seemed to take forever and seemed to be so much louder than the Sprints.  Tonight I was pleasantly surprised as they really kept the show moving and there weren't a lot of yellows for the Modifieds.

 

I was really impressed with the car count for ASCA.  29 cars!  Watching hot laps, I knew Bob Ream, Jr., driving the #8 Lubrication Equipment Co. - The Parker Store, B&R Automotive, www.imagineinjection.com , Gordon Beeding, Coyote Express Inc., Westside Crane, Hypercoils, Team Simpson, Auto Meter, KSE, Sander Engineering, Adirondack Chimney Sweep, Astro Body Center sponsored car was going to be fast tonight.  He really seemed to be locked and loaded.  I did notice that RJ Johnson had a new paint scheme on his car that looked really sharp.  I saw Bruce St. James run in hot laps for a couple of laps but he never made the call for the heat race.  I didn't get to see him in the pits after the races so I don't know what happened.  Someone in the pits guessed that he had motor problems, but I'm not 100% sure.  I just hope he can make it out for the USAC/CRA race next week here @ Manzy.

 

The trophy dash tonight was a good one and was won by JT Imperial.  He said in his interview with Ladd Hall that this was the first thing he had ever won.  He did it with style too.  He really looked good and you could tell the excitement in his voice.  Way to go JT.  Congrats to you; you deserved the win.

 

In the heat races tonight the races were won by whoever started on the front row.  Heat 1 was won by pole sitter, Paul Norbury.  Heat two was won by Bob Ream, Jr., who sat on the outside front row to start.  The third heat was won by outside polesitter, Bugs Norbury and heat 4 was won by polesitter M. Gregg. 

 

The semi-main or "B" main was won by Nathan High.  The other three that transferred were Chris Bonneau, Jeff Henry and JT Imperial.

 

Now we settled in for the main event.  When you sit where I sit, you can't help but be a Bob Ream, Jr., fan.  With his wife Evonne and Bob's normal cheering section sitting across from you, you tend to just want to cheer for Bob.  Tonight, I was wondering if Bob could do it since every other race winner had come from the front row and he was starting eighth.  The green flag dropped and Paul Norbury took the lead and took off.  He was a good straightaway ahead of the rest of the field when the first red came out.  I don't know why they through the red for Ricky Johnson and Sean McDonald as Ricky did a couple of pirouettes and landed on all four wheels and Sean just stopped but they did.  When they restarted the race look out.  Bob got around Eric Wilkins and set his sights on Norbury.  A few laps later, Bob got a good run on Paul, took the low groove and drove around Paul who was using the high groove and cushion.  Bob never looked back.  Now there was another red flag for Nathan High and Sean McDonald.  I didn't see what happened to start the incident, but I did see both cars doing some serious flipping in the air and landing very hard.  Nathan was taken to the hospital from the scene.  Nathan was conscious but they wanted to check him out as he was going in and out of consciousness for a few mins.  Sean McDonald was OK and walked away from the scene of the crash but after the races were over and when I was walking around in the pit area, the Phoenix Fire Department was called to transport Mr. McDonald to the hospital.  As of the writing of this column I do not have an update on either driver, but if I get one, I will post it on the message board.  Back to racing.  The green flag was dropped and Bob took off again.  It was awesome to see The Bullet take the checkered flag.  Behind him was Eric Wilkins and Paul Norbury. 

 

I wandered into the pits after the races and stopped by to see my buds Jeff Henry, JD and Robbie Allen of the #12 ABC Body Shop sponsored sprint car.  I can't believe Jeff's having such a rough year.  I know things will begin to turn around for them soon.  They just seem to be having a bit of bad luck right now.  It's hard to keep your chin up, but leave it to these guys to do it.  They always have smiles on their faces and seem to look at the glass half full instead of half empty.  They are a great group to hang around with and have some fun.  Look for Robbie in the straw hat and tell him I said to come by and say hi.  The entire team is really friendly and nice and I can't say enough good about them.

 

I was bummed out because I couldn't find my scrafan.com chat room buddy Bruce St. James in the pits after the races.  I really wanted to find out what happened to his car, but I guess I'm going to have to wait like everyone else for Bruce's email.  He keeps what I would call a racing journal and emails it to his friends, fans and family.  I love his emails.  He tends to be a bit hard on himself, which of course I call him on and tell him to cut himself some slack, but they are informative and fun to read.

 

Jeff and Cindy Henry, and their sons Devon and Chase, introduced me to Brian Hacker.  I had never met Brian before and he's a really nice person.  It was nice to have met Brian and I hope I can spend some more time getting to know him and about his car and sponsors.  Poor Brian didn't have a good night either.  He said that he pulled it in right after the start of the main because he was being out pulled.  You'll get 'em next time Brian.  It was a pleasure meeting you too.

 

By this time, my back was starting to bother me and as much as I wanted to go say hi to the Bern Dog, Bernie Smith and a few others, I thought it best that I go before I got in any major pain.  I figure there's always the next race that I can go say hi to Bernie and the others.

 

ASCA is off next week as USAC/CRA comes roaring into town.  It was announced by Windy McDonald that Eric Wilkins and Bob Ream, Jr., possibly a few more of our Arizona boys will try and deal the California boys fits.  The Bullet says his Mopar motor is ready to do its job.  Time will tell.  I can't wait to see the California boys come on over.  I just hope they are ready for the heat.

 

Feel free to email me anytime.  Thanks to Keith and Ladd Hall for putting on such a great race tonight.  Keep on smiling everyone, it makes people wonder what you've been up to; and if they ask.... Tell them you've just been to a sprint car race at Manzanita Speedway.

 

Until next time,
June
ASCAJune@aol.com