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Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
| June's Southwest Report by June Lowitz |
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Manzanita Speedway-ASCA Sprints |
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May 14, 2005...Today is
Saturday and I should be excited about tonight as there's a race
at Manzy. But I'm not really. For the past few weeks
there's been some controversy within the ASCA and it came to a
head this week. Normally, I try to stay away from this type
of stuff but this time it's gotten to me and I feel like I should
address it.
The subject is rough driving. We all know it happens on the track and has happened for years. I've also seen guys who aren't really meaning to rough drive but due to an ill handling car, it looks like they are. There has been a lot of name calling and finger pointing but this week when the ASCA handed down their decision and suspended one of their most popular drivers, Jeremy Sherman for rough driving I have to wonder why. I've been watching Jeremy for a few years now. I've watched him race at Perris and at Manzanita. I've heard a lot of fans, drivers and car owners talk a lot about him. Never once have I ever heard anyone say Jeremy is a rough driver. Drivers will tell you he will race you hard, but that they can trust him when they are side by side into the corners. Jeremy is a very hard and fast racer. Jeremy's good, especially at Manzy. I just don't understand why he's suspended when I've seen other drivers do a lot worse out on the track and they aren't being fined or suspended. Jeremy Sherman is one of those drivers that always seems to have a smile on his face no matter how he finishes. When I am in the pits, I can always count on seeing Jeremy smile and hearing him talk about how great the racing is. I can't recall ever hearing Jeremy say he was upset with someone or how someone got into him or any negativity come out of his mouth. Some people might think I'm favoring Jeremy. I want everyone to know, I calls it as I sees it. This column is just my opinion and I'm writing MY OPINION. I know the ASCA Board of Directors had to get this rough driving under control. The ASCA board is attempting to get the rough driving under control. I applaud them for that and sincerely thank them. However, in my opinion, this was just the wrong thing to do. According to the newspaper article I read, there seems to be some sincere discrepancy between what ASCA says they have done and what Jeremy seems to have received from them. Since I'm not on the board nor am I Jeremy, I can't honestly say what has happened, except that it seems that there's been a break in communication between Jeremy and the officials. In my opinion, I think they should have gotten the videos from Mark Meeks and sat down with all parties involved and watched the incident in question together. Personally, I think that putting Jeremy and ALL OTHER rough drivers on probation would have been a good start. It would have been a wake up call to all of them. Now, all eyes are going to be on Jeremy, and if he touches one car, someone is going to scream "rough driving," and this is going to start all over again. I have watched this happen before. It was with SCRA and Rip Williams. However, I do remember Rip got a warning, before he was suspended. There was a lot of controversy about that, however I remember what caused Rip to be suspended and I have to say now that I look back on it, the punishment fit the crime. In the newspaper article, it said that Jeremy cost Chuck Buckman the race. How can anyone say that? Who knows if Chuck would have ended up winning the race? There's so many variables in racing that can come up and bite you when you are leading you can't ever count on winning just because you are leading a race. As far as this incident, I was at Canyon that night. I was sitting right where the cars were coming out of turn 4 and I saw the entire incident. I saw Jeremy slide up; graze Buckman's tire and go on. Buckman didn't seem to back out of it and he was right on Jeremy's tail for the rest of the race. I don't honestly think Jeremy purposely slid up into Buckman. The track was pretty dried out and was slick and taking rubber. We all know in those types of track situations things happen. In MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION, this was one of those "racin" deals. It sucked for Buckman but that's racing. I'm not putting down Chuck Buckman or Lowell Carstens as I'm sure they honestly believe that Jeremy did them wrong. I'm just stating what I saw with my own 2 eyes. I'm kind of curious what the video showed and I'm sure I'm going to have to order it from Mark. One last thing about this rough driving stuff. This is from someone who sits in the stands week after week, cheering the drivers on. Getting the **** scared out of her when someone flips, no matter how easy or hard, being one of the first ones to start applauding and cheering when it is announced that the driver or drivers are ok. This is really for the drivers. Please, for your sake, your family's sake and the fans sake, use your head and think before you take action against someone on the track. I know it sounds cool to say "I'm going to take that (use your own adjective here)_________ out." But from watching from the stands, it's not cool. I would much rather watch 2 or 3 guys race side by side clean and sliding sideways through the corners than I would want to watch someone take out someone else. I do realize that sometimes something can break or the car can push and send you right into the wall or another car. I'm not stupid. Accidents will happen and that's a part of racing. It's the intentional hitting of another car that I'm talking about. I'm not going to name names and start a war. The ones who do it and have done it know who they are. I'm just asking that they watch what they do and try to think about it. Last weeks race at Manzy was awesome. Mike Martin, who makes the long tow from Yuma up to Phoenix to compete was just plain AWESOME!!! Martin, who the week before at Canyon, flipped in the first heat race only to come back and win the semi and end up finishing great in the main, seems to really be on fire. I remember Bob Ream, Jr. telling me that he was going to help out Mike and it seems like Martin is really listening to what the Bullet says. I've never seen Mike look so good and I have to say it was great meeting him after the race. Don't be so hard on yourself Mike, you really did an awesome job. You got my attention let me tell you!!! I can't not mention my buddy Bruce St. James, now known as the Radio Flyer. I'm sure you know by now that Bruce does a radio talk show here in Phoenix on KTAR 620 radio from 1pm - 4pm, Monday through Friday. The show is called Bruce St. James Has Issues. Let me tell you, after Saturday nights race did he ever. Bruce is one of those guys who blames himself when he doesn't do well. Well, he finished the semi in 5th place, one spot out of a transfer to the main. The week prior when ASCA was at Canyon, Bruce did really well by finishing 2nd in his heat to Jeremy Sherman and making the main. He was doing well in the main, fighting for the lead when he went too low and ended up introducing himself to one of the tractor tires that marks off the infield. Needless to say the tractor tire wasn't too friendly and took out his front end. Now this past week at Manzy, it just didn't seem like Bruce was on or had the car right for him. He seemed to fight it a little and this is not what he said but what I observed from the stands. I tried to tell him that there's always next week, but Bruce isn't satisfied with that. He is a true racer who wants to win every race and I don't think he's going to be satisfied until he does that. It's ok Bruce, I'm still a fan no matter where you finish. Make sure you listen to Bruce's show either on the am dial or go to www.ktar620.com and download the software so you can listen to him online. It's a great show and Bruce not only can make you laugh but he can make you think as well. Another driver who seems to be doing a lot better this year is my bud, the BernDog, Bernie Smith. WOW. Bernie, driving his own car sponsored by Favorite Trucking Systems, Kary Cherry Inc., ABC Body Shop and Advance engines, led a lot of last weeks main event and I was so happy for him. He seems to be dialing in his car and really is improving as a driver. Bernie has one of the best looking cars out on the track, in my opinion and he's making the move to the front. Bernie had a pretty big smile on his face when I saw him last weekend in the pits. He said his car had a couple of bent parts but nothing that couldn't be fixed. Ok, last year was not the year for Jeff Henry in the #12, Robbie Allen owned, ABC Body Shop, Maxima Oils, Arizona Towman, B. Wasson; Larry's Artwork & Details and Lightning Wheels sponsored car. This year seemed to start off the same way, that is until they went to Canyon. Maybe Jeff was just jazzed because it was his birthday I don't know but since that weekend Jeff has been coming on strong. After finishing 3rd at Canyon, I know the team had high hopes for last weekend. That evil monkey as owner Robbie Allen calls it, reared it's ugly head and Jeff ended up snapping the u-joint in the car. Thankfully, Jeff was able to stop the car immediately and not seem to do a lot of damage to the car or himself. But still, all in all, the entire team had smiles on their faces. It was sure a pleasure to meet Robbie's wife Gaye after knowing and talking to Robbie for so long. I hope she comes back to Manzy soon. I still have to wonder though why a nice pretty woman such as Gaye puts up with Robbie. I'M JUST KIDDING!!!! Robbie Allen is one of the best car owners and he really helps promote this sport. Make sure you check out the ABC Motorsports website at www.abcmotorsports.com. Say hi to Robbie on his message board and be sure to go down in the pits and say hi to the entire team. The Bullet, Bob Ream, Jr., didn't go to Canyon to race. He was there helping out Mike Martin. It was funny seeing Bob walking through the grandstands in street clothes rather than in his driving suit. At Manzy last week, he wasn't driving his familiar orange #8 but was driving the #55 Chris McArthur owned, Agromin Soil Products car. Bob seemed to be struggling with the handling of the car all night. He was involved in a multi car wreck that took him out, but thankfully he was ok. When I spoke to Bullet after the race, he was all smiles and happy. I asked him what car he was going to be in tonight and he said it all depends on if the motor for his #8 got done or not. He might be in the #55 or some other car this evening. Knowing that the USAC/CRA boys are coming over to challenge the Manzanita 1/2 mile clay on 5/21/05, I asked Bullet if he was going to race his 410 MOPAR. He said he wanted to, if he got some brakes for the car. Hmmmm... why does he need brakes? Just stand on it and don't worry about the brakes. Ha Ha Ha. That was my attempt at humor, bad as it was. I sure appreciate all of the email I've been getting from people who either see my postings on different websites or from reading this column. I love to hear from everyone and hear what your opinions are on the different races. Feel free to email me at ASCAJune@aol.com. Remember my challenge to everyone. This includes drivers, car owners, pit crew members, officials and other fans. Make sure you bring someone new out to the races this year. Now that the weather is warming up and no one needs heavy jackets, it's the perfect time to bring them out. We have a great car count (30+ cars each week) and some of the best racing I've ever seen. We all need to do our part in getting a nice large fan base for our favorite form of racing. I've brought a total of 3 people this year and tonight (5/14/05) I'll be bringing another person who hasn't seen a sprint car race in years. Let's get some new people addicted the way we are! I am personally challenging everyone who reads this. Let me know if you do and if your friend is now a die hard fan. I have to remember to thank my good friend, co-worker and roommate Sandra for all of the support she gives to me in writing this column and making sure I get to the track. Thanks for all that you do Sandra, you are a great friend. Also a special hi to my other co worker who goes out to Manzy Joe. Thanks for everything and your help also. Don't forget. May 21, 2005 is when the USAC/CRA 410 sprints will be at the famed Manzanita Speedway racing on the 1/2 mile. Be sure to be there early as the good seats will go fast. See you at Manzy...... |
