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RACING SCENE Column – (PAS July 4 Sprints) – By Tim Kennedy
Los Angeles, CA. - The annual Perris Auto Speedway (PAS) July 4 “Firecracker 40” occurred on a Friday this year. Therefore So Cal freeway traffic was lighter than usual with so many people leaving home Thursday night or Friday morning for the three-day weekend. Travel time was a lot less for most people getting to Perris for the Friday night event. USAC-CRA 410s, PAS Senior Sprint 360s, PAS Young Gun 360s, and California Lightning Sprints (winged cars with motorcycle engines) made it another busy four series race night. It was still hot and 99 degrees when I arrived at 4 pm.
About 7 pm grandstands were almost filled with people as good neighbor PAS management let Perris residents with proof of residence in at no charge for their city-backed July 4 fireworks show and of course for all races. Hopefully, many of the Perris residents liked the racing and will return for regular Saturday night PAS races. The fireworks show ran from 9:00-9:15 pm. Speedway lights were turned off to accentuate aerial fireworks launched from beyond the second turn usual pit parking area. Many people in the stands captured the colorful pyrotechnics show with their smart phones.
Car counts were: 29 USAC-CRA 410s (including three teams from Arizona), ten senior sprints, six young guns and 18 CLS cars. The 4:30 pit meeting, run by Kevin Montgomery (a former Arizona sprint car owner/driver and Tucson track promoter), had some interesting items. There is a 60-second rule in the work area during races. Formerly teams had two minutes to get back on the track. Teams did not voice objections. Senior sprint owner/driver Steve Brown (No. 27) came forward at the drivers meeting and peeled off $500 in five $100 bills as his donation to the PAS anti-cancer collection.
“Big” (6'5&rdquo Mike Grosswendt, of 20-year old All-Coast Construction in Westlake Village, has agreed to again add money for the 19th annual Budweiser Oval Nationals from November 6-8. He has done so for big races at tracks in Ventura and Perris over the years. Mike told me he will meet for lunch with PAS promoter Don Kazarian soon to determine the specifics. Mike clearly deserves to be nominated in the racing sponsor category for election to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame.
At the pit meeting I spoke to Jace (No. 88) VanderWeerd , one of the 23-year old racing identical twins from Visalia. I asked him which twin is older and he said Richard (No. 10) beat him into the world by a few minutes. In PAS July 4 time trials Richard was tenth fastest qualifier and Jace 21st FQ. Both made the feature, where Richard (a 2013 PAS feature winner) finished second and Jace tenth. The twins will race for their father Ron in the July 11-19 USAC National Sprint Series “Indiana Sprint Week” as they did last year. Richard won the July 5 USAC Western Midgets 30-lap feature at Santa Maria driving the Mike Sala No. 19. Cody Williams won his first USAC-CRA feature July 5 at Santa Maria a week after his brother Austin won in Petaluma.
Don and Kim Kazarian kicked in $1,000 towards the PAS goal of raising $100,000 for the American Cancer Society. PAS was about $12,000 short of that goal. Drivers again went through the grandstands with the helmets and collected donations from spectators towards meeting the 100K goal. June 14 PAS feature winner Matt Mitchell collected from grandstands C and D and talked to friends. Unfortunately, he used his helmet for its intended purpose during his wild flip in the first turn while running second on lap 3 of the feature. He was unhurt and raced the next night in Santa Maria.
PUSH TRUCKS: I had a chance to talk to push truck drivers before they got busy pushing off cars for warmups and hot laps. No practice or race can start without them. Long-time PAS push truck leader Skip Creith was a pusher back in the Ascot Park days that ended in 1990. He said all push trucks do their vital job on their own dime. They receive no reimbursement from anyone and do not get an allowance for maintenance on their trucks or Jeeps. They do receive free pit passes for themselves and a guest. Long-time PAS pushers in addition to Creith include: Mark Heidenreich (the ex-No. 22 SCRA sprint car driver at PAS); Jim Rook, Rick Brady and Bakersfield's Bill Little, in a Jeep. Terry Wyrembek has pushed at PAS nine years and is an ex-PAS stock car racer. He is the son of 1960s-70s No 97 CRA sprint car driver Walt “Duke” Wyrembek, a UCLA graduate. Terry, who had his daughter as his ride-along guest, said his dad died in 1990. Terry, 59, still runs a fabrication shop in Riverside that he and his dad opened in 1974.
Present in the PAS pits July 4: Sprint car driver Blake Miller, 27, returned from working in England and was in the No. 93 Gardner Racing pit. He wore a Ronnie Gardner t-shirt. Andy “Tamale Wagon” Morales also watched from the pits. He still has a paved track “Tamale Wagon” that raced with USAC 360s in Irwindale. Long-time racing photographer Jim Chini was in the pits again. Former USAC-CRA pit steward Mike Estopellan said he now works for a kart racing group and still dates Sharon Kennedy, youngest daughter of late CRA driver Walt Kennedy. Timer/scorer Dick Hindman is no longer with USAC-CRA as of earlier this season. Freddie Sachs is the timer/scorer at PAS. Hindman said he is now working for the CLS group and as timer/scorer at San Bernardino's Orange Show Speedway new promoter Rod Proctor, a champion Figure 8 driver.
SAD NEWS: Former CRA sprint car owner/driver Gary McKeon, 64, died June 25, reportedly after battling complications from Type-2 diabetes (heart attack). He earlier had lost a leg. Gary, a well-liked, personable friend to everyone, was a USAC pit steward for about 20-years after his driving days ended. He was chief steward for the USAC Western Ford Focus Midget Series for many years until his health problems arose. He had to relinquish his official duties for health reasons. The long-time Gardena resident helped 1960s-70s CRA car owner Lester Robertson, of Gardena, on Lester's sprinter.
Gary was a 1974 rookie driver in the No. 36 car and showed steady improvement over the years. In 1974 he owned and drove his own CAE-built No. 93 sprint car and made features. He raced as funding and sponsorship allowed and drove the No. 141 in 1983 and No. 51 in 1984. Eventually, Gary became a respected racing official. He will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him, his friendly smile and greetings. Survivors include his sister Yolanda McKeon, brothers Monte and Charles. Services were held Monday, July 7 at 1:00 pm at Green Hills Memorial Park on Western Ave., in Rancho Palos Verdes.
PIT NOTES: David Bezio flipped his 2013 Dave Ellis-built No. 37x sprint car on the backstretch during a multi-car incident June 14. He was having his best PAS feature showing that night. He started third and was still third on lap 17 of 30. A slower car got out of shape and approaching leaders took evasive action. David's car rode up a wheel and flipped several times. I checked with the team in the pits to learn if his July 4 ride was the same car he had flipped and how much the crash cost them. Yes, it was the same car. Bezio had to replace two front shocks, right and left radius rods, steering arms and the steering box. Total repair cost? “About $2,000.” was the reply. Bezio could use more sponsorship to help defray 2014 normal costs that include fuel, oil and tires. He would like to break even at least. Crash damage makes a good season go bad in a hurry.
Mike Spencer's No. 50 Ron Chaffin Maxim had a suspected fuel problem at the June 14 PAS event. Checking with crew chief and NSCHoF inductee Bruce Bromme, Jr. before July 4 hot laps, I learned that testing found the fuel was good. The engine was fine also. The problem? They replied, “It's a mystery.” Their June 14 car/engine combination was unloaded and sat in the infield near the turn four push-off area as a backup car July 4. “It will be our race car at Santa Maria tomorrow night,” Bruce told me. The July 4 No. 50 Maxim/Shaver Spencer drove to fast time, B-main green-to-checkers victory and P. 2 in the 40-lap feature. It was not used June 14 so it was fresh and ready to go in the “Firecracker 40” at PAS. Correction: Bruce, Jr. wanted to point out my reference to his recent purchase of 1,200 gallons of methanol fuel was incorrect. Bruce actually bought twelve 55-gallon drums for use by his team. He is not a fuel dealer for the Central California region.
Speed Sport Magazine, the monthly printed publication and successor to the NSSN weekly newspaper, had an interesting article in the May 2014 issue. Titled “Keeping Up With the Swansons”, brief driver biographies and head-shot photos of all four racing Californians named Swanson are located on page 24. Cody, 23, and Anaheim resident Jake, 21, race currently in USAC-CRA 410 sprint car ranks and also in USAC midgets. They are first cousins. Kody (with a K) is 26, and Tanner, 23, are brothers from Kingsburg (near Fresno). They are versatile USAC drivers in all national divisions and both have won 2014 USAC Silver Crown races. This season Kody won two of the four USAC S/C features run. His 228 points have him tied with Tracy Hines as co-S/C point leaders currently. When Tanner won his 2014 S/C main Kody finished second.
The No. 4x MP Environmental Services 2012 DRC chassis was the former No. 4 owned by the late Dave Calderwood, of Bakersfield. Tracy Hines drove the No. 4 car on the USAC National Sprint car circuit for Dave. The new owner/driver of No. 4 is Arizona racing veteran Shon Deskins, 46, of Waddell, AZ. (20 miles west of Phoenix near Luke AFB). Shon said he owns 40 farming acres in Waddell and these days is building homes on his property. He said he bought three DRC sprint cars from Dave's son Rex Calderwood, of Phoenix. He picked up his July 4 PAS sprint car on July 3 to race with USAC-CRA at PAS July 4 and at Santa Maria July 5. Former stock car driver Rex runs MP Environmental Phoenix operations. Shawn, a NASCAR SLM driver at Irwindale and Bakersfield, runs the MP Environmental Bakersfield operations. The brothers gave up racing to run the multi-state family business and Shon said they are great to deal with and good friends.
Shon said he recently hired retired Arizona sprint car winning driver Wayne Bennet, of Phoenix, as his crew chief. It was interesting touching bases in the pits with Wayne, a former ARA feature winning driver. He looks about the same as he did when racing decades ago. His wife Denise races midgets and sprint cars in Arizona until she succumbed from cancer a decade ago. Their son also raced for awhile. Shon set 22nd FQ time at PAS and just missed the main event (P. 5 in his heat and P. 7 in the B-main). He made the main event July 5 at Santa Maria.
Cory Kruseman wore a new red driving suit with MAV-TV on the front and Lucas Oil on the back. Austin Williams, 23, said his July 4 PAS John Jory No. 2 Spike was the same car in which he won the June 29 USAC-CRA main at Petaluma Speedway. He watched the dramatic video of his final lap, last turn inside pass to move from P. 4 to P. 1 and said, “The hole just opened up.” It had to be a thriller to see in person for spectators at the track. It was his second USAC-CRA career feature triumph.
Newlywed Cody Swanson drove John Springstead's black & white No. 36, a 777 chassis. He set his first USAC-CRA Fat time in it at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville Friday, June 27. Cody and his wife married last year and lived in an apartment on Grand Ave. and Arrow Hwy in Covina. He said they recently purchased a house in Corona and now lives there. He grew up in nearby Norco. Cody was the 15th FQ and made the July 4 feature with a nice pass on the outside at turn four for P. 4 on lap 7 of 10. He dropped Corey Ballard's No. 34 to the B-main. Cody's No. 36 started 15th and looked fast in the feature, but he said something broke in the right front end on lap 7 as he entered the first turn. His car flipped in several quick barrel-rolls to the wall and landed upright. Cody was okay but the car was not.
Following the race car owner Springstead said, “It's a cut up.” His older Eagle chassis is the only car left in his two-car stable. Cody hoped to drive Ronnie Gardner's No. 93 July 5 at Santa Maria. That ride did not materialize. Former SMS promoter Chris Kearns rented the SMS track for a USAC midget/sprint car doubleheader. Ronnie concentrated on his No. 68 Mitchell Johnson Team 68 midget ride and finished second in the 30-lap feature. The No. 93 sprint car did not travel north. Cody is dueling Rip Williams' number three son, Logan, 18, who is the leading 2014 rookie. The three Williams boys all seem to be poised for increasing success in 410 sprint car racing.
“Pyrotechnics Spectacular by Sousa”: The fireworks show was a collaboration by PAS, Budweiser “the King of Beers” and the City of Perris. The Perris mayor was present and spoke to the crowd; city council members also support PAS. The speedway provides a perfect site for Perris residents to watch fireworks and a free night of entertainment. Aerial fireworks were accompanied by patriotic vocal recordings, including the National Anthem. The show concluded as usual with “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood. The 15-minute fireworks show followed the 410 B-main and 20-lap senior sprint feature from 8:35-8:44 pm. As usual this season the featured 410 sprint main event followed as the second main event from 9:30-9:59 pm. An estimated 95% of the original crowd remained for the 40-lap lap feature.
The CLS 20-lap main event ran from 10:17-10:29 pm and attendance was about 45-50% of the original crowd. The young gun 15-lap main ran from 10:38-10:48 pm and about 20% of the original crowd remained to its conclusion. It was one of the most entertaining races of the night. At least people who departed earlier made the parking lot exiting in stages a quicker process. Everyone departing at the same time was a bottleneck that staggered departures eliminated.
The 100+ degrees noon time heat and light to brisk wind at times dried out the track more than usual. Dust flew high in the air during the feature. Additional water was added before the first 410 sprint heat race. The eight sprint cars worked in the track and had to refuel before starting the ten lap race once the track was suitable for racing. Ten lap heat race times were in the normal 2:50s area. Heat races allowed plentiful passing.
WINNERS SPEAK: Bill Badger led the first 19 laps of the senior sprint 20 lapper. Rick Hendrix took the lead on the final lap and appeared to be the winner at turn four when Jim Giardina's slower car almost spun. “I couldn't hit his car,” Rick said in victory lane. His pause gave Badger a chance to take the lead and he did. He told spectators, “The track was pretty slick. I almost lost it twice. That's two wins in a row.” P. 3 Bruce Douglass stated, “Bill never won one and now he's won two in a row. The track is really tough to drive. Lapped cars really make a difference.”
The top three finishers in the 410 main talked to fans. Winner Damion Gardner said. “I was a little off in qualifying. I knew we'd get it back. It was good in the heat race. Thanks to all those who came out for the fireworks. Come back more. He (Spencer) showed me his nose a couple of times. It was so dusty I missed the cushion one time.” He added that he plans to bring his Beast sprint car back to Bonneville Salt Flats (Utah) again this summer to exceed 200 mph. He topped 194 mph last year. ... P. 2 Spencer said, “We lapped some pretty good cars there—the 33 and 7 were running side by side and I couldn't get by them. We have a good car now and we'll have to get them at Santa Maria tomorrow.” P. 3 Nic Faas stated, “We had a fast car, but have to keep working.”
CLS winner Bobby Michnowicz, 50, won his fifth main of the season. “Alex (Grigoreas) and Jeff (Dyer) ran good and gave us a run. I've been doing this a long time. Wayne Bennet was here from Arizona. He taught me a lot when I was young. My sprint car days are done. These cars (CLS) are fun and inexpensive to run.” ... P. 2 Damon Arnett thanked spectators who stayed for their CLS race and added, “God bless the USA.” He added that CLS is a great group to run with and PAS is great. ... P. 3 Jeremy Queener said, “I'm shocked I got third. I thought Grigoreas was still up there. This (podium) is still a shock for me.”
Young Gun feature winner Parker Colston, 16, led all 15-laps for his first main event P. 1 trophy. “That was one of the longest races I've ever been in,” he said on the PA mic. He thanked his team.car. “I'm so happy. I thought I had to protect the bottom on that last lap restart no matter what.” ... P. 2 Trent Williams, who won the first three 2014 YG mains, took second place on the last lap with an inside pass in the final turn. He dropped June 14 feature winner George Morris to P.3. Williams, 17, said, “I ran out of laps. If we had two more laps I think I could've caught him.” We tried new stuff this week.” ... P. 3 Morris stated, “I knew within the first five laps I didn't have anything. I tried to hold on for a good finish. Trent made a good pass down there at the end.”
I spoke to Trent Williams, of Victorville, in his pit. He is not related to Rip and his sons. Trent, 17, started racing in John Aden's speedway sprints on the small speedway bike oval next to the fairgrounds dirt track. Then he got to race his dad Ron's Victory sprint car chassis. Ron Williams bought the jigs from Glenn Crossno when the former sprint car team owner sold out and moved from So Cal. Ron incorporated some of his own ideas. There are four Victory Race Cars now racing, including the No. 92 Moose Racing ride of Jake Swanson, the No. 0k and 0 Perkins team cars and Trent's No. 52 PAS YG 360 sprinter.
Ron Williams, who worked for in NHRA's John Force for 19 years, also builds nostalgia drag racing cars for use at Bakersfield's Famoso Drag-strip. The Williams team uses 52 on their sprint car because cousin Gavin Matlock used 25 on his USAC-CRA sprint car. Gavin sold out and the engine was sold to a buyer in the Dakotas. Bespectacled Trent, who attends high school in Phelan, said he plans to attend college at CSU Fullerton or UC Irvine to become an orthopedic surgeon.
Rookie young gun driver Malyssa Young, 22, looked more racy than she did on June 14. She attributed her improvement to her fiancee Kenny Perkins. The recent USAC-CRA driver moved to North Dakota in February to work in the booming oil production business. He hurt his back working in North Dakota and returned home to Victorville July 2. Kenny was in the PAS pits July 4 helping Malyssa as her No. 0k crew chief. “He really helped me a lot,” she told me after her main event.
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