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Traditional Sprint Car FanSite |
See You At The Races!!! |
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INDEPENDENCE
CELEBRATION by Norm Bogan |
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After several outings during the first half of
the season, the sprint cars have a growing field and lots of new
fans. On July 7th,
several usual sprint car venues were dark, making it the perfect
opportunity to draw additional cars and provide a fireworks show of
sorts for many fans used to following other classes performing at
Victorville Auto Raceway on a regular basis.
The plan worked, as twenty-six sprint cars signed in and by
race time, there was a substantial gathering of fans to witness open
wheel racing at its best. The heat had been stifling the previous week
with temperatures reaching well into triple digits at this high
desert venue. Preparation
started at midweek to develop a track surface, which could hold up
under the punishing onslaught of anticipated hot, dry temperatures
that would siphon the moisture from deep within the clay blanket. Welcome relief arrived on Friday, with an
updated prediction of Fahrenheit readings nearer to the century
mark. As the big orange orb descended into the West, gentle breezes
wafted across the fairgrounds, providing a welcome respite and
comfortable atmosphere for spectator viewing.
It became a great summer’s eve for racers and fans alike. The menu offered Dwarf Cars, Mini-Stocks, Sport
Compacts Sr. & Jr., 4 Cylinder Figure Eights and the featured
Sprint Cars. Racing was
intense during the evening, with fans screaming support for their
favorites throughout the preliminary events.
As the program moved into the features for each, the
temperature became quite comfortable and the action heated up.
Each class of racers had their diehard fans, family members,
school friends and others rooting for their selected driver.
It is amazing the number of young racers that are part of
these classes, learning the racing at an early age for both males
and females. There are
very promising and competitive pilots of both genders on display
weekly at this “down home” facility. One of the significant observations by the fans, is that most of the regular classes are turning laps in the 50 MPH speeds, when suddenly the much more powerful sprinters push off, ignite and turn the track at twice the speed. These cars roar away, pitching the car sideways into the corners, turning right to go left, leaving a trail of flame from the alcohol fuel, then sending a rooster tail of dirt off their big donut tires with the grooves cut into them to achieve the best grip on the clay surface. There were some notable visitors among the
sprint racers, including the eventual feature winner, Blake Miller,
who has captured three features this season on the tough USAC/CRA
series running out of Perris Auto Speedway.
Other regular USAC/CRA drivers were Nadine Gardner, Seth
Wilson, winner of the last Victorville Sprint show, Ryan Devitt,
Todd Hunsaker, Michael Trimble, Nate Ziegler, Larry Lloyd, Ludwig
Solberg IV and Eric Severson. Joining
the fray were six cars from the Cory Kruseman Sprint Car Driving
School and regular competitors at Ventura.
Cory himself was in the pits overseeing operations of his
cars, before leaving town to do a racing tour in the Midwest for the
next several weeks. Other
Ventura regulars in attendance were Dennis Rodriguez, Brandon
Thomson and Hobie Conway. Several local drivers were on hand including
John Aden, who operates the Wheel-to-Wheel Raceway and two products
of that venue, Kenny Perkins and Heidi Tresler.
Another familiar entry was Cody Williams aboard the familiar
black racer with the silver #3, made popular by his Dad, Rip
Williams. This was
Cody’s maiden voyage and hopefully he can enjoy a career like his
famous father, who has been wrestling these beasts for the past
three decades. Today,
Rip was turning the wrenches and doing a lot of coaching. Heidi Tresler, a local seventeen-year-old high
school student, showed that she was one tough racer after flipping
in her heat, got towed to the pits, made repairs and returned in the
Semi to make the transfer to the feature.
In the feature, she got collected once again, went to the
pits and was able to make repairs and return to complete the race.
Kenny Perkins from nearby Phelan continues to impress with
his outings and top-ten finishes.
At sixteen, he has taken a liking to the new clay oval. Two others worth mentioning were Todd Hunsaker,
a former USAC TQ and Ford Focus Champion has adjusted to the more
powerful 410-sprint car and scored a fourth place feature finish.
Hobie Conway, who served as the track EMT at Ventura, is now
the Mother Hen for the Kruseman School Cars.
She is a competent racer and devotes much time helping
Cory’s students, causing her absence from racing.
She finished seventh in the feature doing a credible job. Promoter, Mike Gibson and his track staff are working hard to upgrade the facility, making it more attractive to the sprint cars, while still offer advantages to the lower classes, which are the heart and soul of grass roots racing. The fans have been provided with a facility, which allows not only good race viewing, but also areas where the kids can play safely in a shady grassy area between the entrance and the grandstands. There are neat, clean restrooms and adequate concessions providing a substantial menu of cuisine. Gibson and his group are working to set up an “end of year” event for enlarged purses to close out the racing season. Give Victorville a try and you will witness first hand what short track racing is all about. |
