Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
Moderators: StuDeedooo

Sprint driver Meyers shifts back into focus

By Nick Giannandrea / The Fresno Bee
After a year of juggling many responsibilities, Jason Meyers has a singular focus -- winning sprint car races.
The Clovis driver will chase those victories once again as a member of the World of Outlaws -- which stops at Tulare's Thunderbowl Raceway tonight and Saturday. Racing begins at 7 p.m. both nights.
"I'm looking forward to getting back to concentrating on racing this year," Meyers said. "We've got some really neat things happening with the team this year, things we put together last year that didn't pay off because of all the things going on."
Last year, Meyers was one of several standout sprint car drivers who bolted from the Outlaws to the upstart National Sprint Tour. In addition to chasing the points championship of the first-year series, Meyers also promoted two races and ended up helping his car owner, Guy Stockbridge, run the NST after series founder Fred Brownfield died.
During the offseason, the NST folded with most of its star drivers returning to the Outlaws, which will make a return visit to the Thunderbowl on Oct. 13.
"I'm pretty excited about going back to the Outlaws," Meyers said. "They've made changes in their staff and their business plan for the better. They are moving forward."
The Outlaws will be making their first appearance in Tulare since October 2005, when Sammy Swindell won the main event.
Current series points leader and defending Outlaws champion Donny Schatz heads a list of drivers chasing the $10,000 winner's check each night, including 20-time series champion Steve Kinser and last year's NST champion Danny Lasoski.
Car owner dies
World of Outlaws car owner David Helm of Selma died Fed. 16. Helm got his start running in California before sending his No. 11H team out on the road nationally with the Outlaws.
Helm's last victory as a car owner came Feb. 9, when Kerry Madsen drove the Selma Shell Maxim to the checkered flag at Volusia (Fla.) Speedway Park.
"I talked to Dave that morning and you could tell he was really struggling," Madsen said in a news release issued by the World of Outlaws. "He called me after the win and he was like a kid in a candy store, talking 100 miles an hour. Sonny told me what that win meant to both of them."
Immediately following qualifying for tonight's Outlaws race in Tulare, all Outlaws will come out to the front straightaway to observe a moment of silence. Before the start of the main event, Madsen will carry the checkered flag and lead the drivers on a slow lap in remembrance of Helm.
Funeral services are scheduled for 9 a.m. today at First Baptist Church in Selma. it will be followed by a reception at the Selma Portuguese Hall. There will be a graveside service with military honors at 1 p.m.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

Visalian tools into new year
Stillwell plays vital Mr. Fix-It role for Outlaws' Hannagan.
By Nick Giannandrea / The Bee
Chris Stillwell happily works nights and weekends, all with a smile on his dirty and sometimes grease-smeared face.
On race nights, the Visalia native's head typically doesn't hit the pillow -- rarely his own pillow -- until 2 a.m., long after the last well-wisher or autograph seeker has left the track.
But certainly not before all the tires and tools have been packed away, and the No. 1X sprint car of Randy Hannagan has been meticulously washed and stored in its trailer.
For Stillwell, in his fourth year as a mechanic on Hannagan's World of Outlaws team, the thrill of race night makes the 12-hour days worthwhile. And the cross-country travel bearable.
"It's a lot of driving, you see a lot of truck stops and hotels," Stillwell said. "It's a different way of life. You've got to love what you do to do this. It's not for everybody, that's for sure."
Stillwell will be back in the area where he got his start tonight and Saturday when the World of Outlaws stop at Tulare's Thunderbowl Raceway.
The 31-year-old was introduced to sprint car racing by his grandparents, who were regular visitors to Visalia's Plaza Park Raceway.
And it didn't take Stillwell long to go from the grandstands to the pit area, where a passion for working on sprint cars blossomed.
"I had a little bit of interest in driving," Stillwell said. "But I like the fact that when the car goes on the race track, I can say I built that. I take pride in that."
Stillwell got his start working on micro sprints at 16. He graduated to 410 sprint cars, working locally on driver Brian Coelho's crew until hooking up with Hannagan.
"I really didn't know him that well before he started working for me," said Hannagan, who finished 11th in the Outlaws' points standings last season. "But I wish I would have had him years ago.
"Chris goes up and beyond what any employee would do for a person. He's a good asset for my race team."
Stillwell is a tire man and a mechanic on race nights. He makes sure the car is set up properly for the conditions of the track.
On off nights, he does whatever it takes to get the car ready for the next race, from ordering parts to rebuilding the car if necessary.
"The best feeling in the world is when you win the race," Stillwell said. "The driver drove his butt off, but without us building the car, it wouldn't be possible."
As a single man, Stillwell is able to live his dream of being a full-time mechanic for a race team. And just like up-and-coming drivers, he hopes to put his skills on display on the sport's grandest stage someday.
"In the future, I would like to move up the ladder," Stillwell said. "Who in their right mind would say I don't want to go to NASCAR. That's the ultimate goal. But right now, I love the people I work with. I could do this for another couple of years."

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com