Figure 8’s, green flags part of St.
Patrick’s Day celebration at Orange Show Speedway
SAN BERNARDINO (March 15) –
Forget four-leaf clovers. Anyone can come up with a few of those for
St. Patrick’s Day. But those who run Orange Show Speedway believe
in going beyond the norm, so they’re celebrating the wearing o’
the green, and the waving of the green flag, with Figure 8’s.
The Lucas Oil Outlaw Figure 8’s will make their
second of 15 appearances on Saturday night (March 17), and for that
class “rubbin’ is racing” is almost too mild a term.
When speeding cars coming from different directions are aiming for the
same intersection, some contact is inevitable, and if a driver goes
home without a little body damage he’s been either very lucky
or very timid.
Tom Smith of Long Beach won the opening main event
of the season March 3 and he’ll try to take early control of the
point standings this weekend, when several more new cars are expected
to debut on the track at the National Orange Show Events Center.
The BSR West Late Model and ASA Stock Pony classes
are back for round two as well, the ASA Speed Truck Challenge will round
out the program.
That’s four distinctly different types of vehicles,
and they’ll provide a wealth of action. That much is evident in
the fact that two weeks after Brian Malone of Grand Terrrace won the
opening night Late Model main event, people still are discussing the
race on Internet message boards.
Malone won the final race of the 2006 season, so
he’ll be bidding for three in a row against defending champion
Jim Conklin of Big Bear, Palmdale’s Richard Hopper and Anthony
Mainella and a dozen or so others.
The Late Model drivers have some added incentive
this year, too, in the form of the BSR West “Hard Charger”
award. Throughout the season the company will be conducting the bonus
program in the Late Model and Super Late Model classes, with a $50 gift
certificate going to the driver gaining the most positions during the
night’s main event. Butch Bruhn of Fontana was the opening night
Late Model winner and Riverside’s Mark Shackleford took the prize
last week after starting 13th and finishing seventh in the Super Late
Model main.
The opening race in the Stock Pony class served notice
that this season may be a replay of the past two, with Highland ’s
Jim Edmiston and Riverside ’s Jim Mardis fighting for the championship.
Edmiston was the champion and Mardis the runner-up in 2005. Mardis won
the title last season, with Adrianne Murlin of Corona second, Matt Goodwin
of Wildomar third and Edmiston fourth while also capturing the Sport
Truck championship.
The Speed Truck Challenge, a series that tours the
Southwest during its 14-race season, will be making the first of two
stops at Orange Show Speedway. The second is scheduled for July 14.
The series opened two weeks ago in Blythe with Jim Putman winning the
100-lap main event from the pole.
Spectator gates will open and qualifying will begin
at 5 p.m. with the first race at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults,
$8 for seniors (62 and over) and juniors (13-16), and $2 for children
(6-12). Active military personnel and veterans with military identification
are admitted free of charge. Parking is $4, with entry through Gate
3 off Mill Street .
Those unable to make it to the track can follow the
action on “Orange Show Speedway Live,” the new radio program
that airs on KTDD (1350 AM) from 8 to 9 p.m. on each night of racing.
The program also is simulcast on the Internet at www.nixacountry.com.
Those who do come will find a few more entertainment
options as well. The Orange Show Speedway museum is open under the North
grandstand, with more items of memorabilia being added each week, the
gift shop is stocked with a full line of merchandise displaying the
speedway’s new logo and, if adult beverages are desired, the midway
patio area now is home to Havana Joe’s, a full-service cocktail
bar.
Racing at Orange Show Speedway is sponsored by Lucas
Oil, Blackhawk Protection, Hype Manufacturing, KTDD AM radio 1350, Leno’s
Rico Taco, Soboba Casino, Budweiser, Hoosier Racing Tires, Frank’s
Radio Service, Parker Pumper/BSR West, Eibach Springs, JP Striping,
Center Chevrolet, Pepsi, Matich Corporation, La Salle Medical Associates,
Extreme Exhibits & Logistics and the San Bernardino County Sun newspaper.
For further information, contact Jim Short at 951-203-2649
or jimshort65@sbcglobal.net, call 909-888-6788, X438, or visit the web
site at www.nosevents.com.
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