Gould, Manke hope to overtake Chavez in
Super Late Model standings at OSS
SAN BERNARDINO (Aug. 15, 2007) –
Frankie Gould has to gain 17 points on Rick Chavez to win the Hype Manufacturing
Super Late Model championship and he has five races in which to do so.
What that means in the simplest terms is that Gould
must finish at least two positions in front of Chavez in each of those
five contests. That’s a gain of four points a night. If Gould
can do that, he’ll win the title by three points – unless
2005 champion John Manke gets on a hot streak and leapfrogs both of
them.
Round 10 of the 14-race series is scheduled for Saturday
night (Aug. 18) and the title fight has come down to those three protagonists
– Chavez, 46, a trucking company owner from Santee; Gould, 57,
a classic car and recreational vehicle dealer from Woodland Hills; and
Manke, 43, a landscaper from Ramona.
Chavez, the class leader or co-leader since winning
the second race of the year March 31, has 400 points. Gould, who has
six top five finishes but no wins, has 384 points. And Manke, who has
won two of the past three races, has 372 points.
Fourth-place Mark Shackleford, a former champion,
is 50 points behind Manke and defending champion Glen Cummings is two
points behind Shackleford, so neither man is a threat for the title.
Both, however, could play roles in determining who does win.
Obviously, there are a lot of questions. And the
answers will start coming Saturday, when the Super Late Models headline
a program that includes the ASA Pro 4s, Aflac Factory Fours and both
the adult and junior divisions of the Mini StocKars.
Spectator gates open at 5 p.m. and racing gets under
way at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62 and
over), handicapped and juniors (13-16) and $2 for children (6-12). Active
military personnel and veterans with valid military identification are
admitted free of charge. Parking is $4 per car with entry through Gate
3 off Mill Street .
Those unable to make it to the speedway still can
follow the action with “Orange Show Speedway Live,” the
radio broadcast on KTTD (AM 1350) that begins at 8 p.m. and is simulcast
on the Internet at www.nixacountry.com.
There’s no question Chavez is in control of
the Super Late Model title race, especially with just a two-point differential
between finishing positions (50-48-46 and so forth). That means that
for one driver to make a substantial gain on another, the driver being
pursued has to have a bad night and his pursuer a good one.
That’s how the standings got as close as they
are today.
On June 2, after his second win of the season, Chavez
had a comfortable 34-point lead over Gould, with Manke 42 points back.
On June 16, Chavez lost six points to Manke, who won the race, and four
points to Gould, who was second, but still led by 30 points.
Then on July 21, while Gould was running second to
Linny White, Chavez and Manke briefly renewed their Cajon Speedway rivalry
by getting together in Turn 2 late in the race. Both were sent to the
end of the lead lap, which resulted in Manke finishing 11th and Chavez
12th, and Gould suddenly was just 10 points behind.
Two weeks ago it was Manke’s turn to charge.
He won the race and picked up six points on Chavez, who was fourth,
and 12 on Gould, who finished seventh.
Who’s going to make the biggest move this weekend?
The championship battles in the ASA Pro 4 and Aflac
Factory Fours classes are pretty well decided, barring a disaster striking
either of the leaders. Rex Lockwood is 36 points ahead of seven-race
winner Eddie Secord after nine of the 14 Pro 4 events and 17-year-old
Spencer Samaro is 54 points in front in the Factory Fours.
There is a great fight for second in the Factory
Fours, however, with Tony Dumont, Martin Huizenga and Gerrit Hodge in
a three-way tie for the position.
Racing at Orange Show Speedway is sponsored by Lucas
Oil, Blackhawk Protection, Hype Manufacturing, Del Taco, Aflac Insurance,
KTTD radio (AM 1350), Leno’s Rico Taco, Soboba Casino, Budweiser,
Hoosier Racing Tires, Frank’s Radio Service, Torco Racing Fuels,
Parker Pumper/BSR West, Eibach Springs, JP Striping, Center Chevrolet,
Pepsi, Matich Coporation, L. Curti Truck and Equipment, One Stop Landscape
Supply, Extreme Exhibits & Logistics, Little Green Onions and the
San Bernardino County Sun.
For further information, contact Jim Short at 951-203-2649
or jimshort65@sbcglobal.net, call Orange Show Speedway at 909-888-6788,
X438, or visit the web site at www.nosevents.com.
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