Top Ten Left Coast Racing Stories from 2007

by Dave Grayson

So it’s that time of the year again. The final few days of 2007 has me pondering the stories for my annual top ten list. Other than the aspect of tradition I honestly don’t know why I put myself through this process every year.

The decision of picking ten stores from 12 months of possibilities is often angst ridden and probably not that good for my overall state of health. At this point of the writing process I’m already on my third pot of writing juice, aka coffee.

So for what it’s worth here’s my top ten list of left coast racing stories that raised my excitment level or somehow gave me a warm feeling in my heart.

10. RACE FEST 2007

For those of you who attended this event I’m going to pause here a moment so you can scream WHAT???? This particular evening was filled with rain, wind and near freezing temperatures. How could it possibly make a top ten list? That’s exactly why Race Fest 2007, presented by the California Speedway last February, made this year’s list.

It was a true representation of the spirit of a racing fan. They braved some harsh elements just to meet and greet their favorite drivers. The NASCAR personalities, in turn, were truly amazed by the turn out and fan’s willingness to stand in line in the rain just to say hello and get an autograph.

Later in the evening Fontana rocker Sammy Hagar hit the concert stage and yelled “we’re not going to let some rain ruin this party.” The crowd agreed with him and rocked out with him for nearly 90 minutes. To these devoted fans who braved the winter elements to attend Race Fest 2007 I hope you had as much fun as I did.

9. CAMPING WORLD.

In the latter part of the 2006, and all through the 2007, racing season we started seeing a lot of the blue and yellow logo that represented Camping World which is a large chain of retail stores that caters to everything involving the enjoyment of the great outdoors.

There entry into racing was particularily evident on the cars and trucks fielded by Kevin Harvick Inc. Apparently Camping World quickly noticed the return on their racing endorsements because in December they agreed to become the official title sponsor of NASCAR’s Grand National Divisions. It’s that outstanding support of NASCAR’s future teams that places them on this year’s top ten list.

8. WINTER RACING SERIES.

This particular category is especially aimed at Greg Scheidecker, from the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway, along with Dennis Rudin and Bill Rozhon, from the Havasu 95 Speedway, for their outstanding efrorts in presenting fans with racing during the off season as well as the contributions they have made to their respective communities.

Approximately seven years ago Schiedecker, a well know driver,promoter and Lucas Oil executive, salvaged a quarter mile paved oval, in Blythe-California, from being destroyed and turned into a highly respected and successful operation with the creation of the Winter Blast Series. 2007 was no exception as Scheidecker pulled out all of the stops to entertain his fans with a winter’s worth of special events including the always magnificent Thanksgiving 200 weekend.

The same story applies to Rudin and Rozhon who took over the reins of the Havasu 95 Speedway, in Lake Havasu City-Arizona, which was yet another quarter mile paved oval that was facing extinction. Through their efforts the speedway quickly returned to its former glory and their 2007 Winter Series has received a lot of critical acclaim.

Adding to the racing excitment was the fan interactive fun created by the speedway staff which included special contests such as the biggest beer belly, a mashed potato eating contest and turkey bowling. Both of these speedways has displayed innovative thinking, combined with some hard work, and their respective winter racing series are well worth a visit.

7. THE ASA SPEED TRUCK CHALLENGE SERIES. (ASA-STC)

I simply can’t remember when I had this much fun during a racing season and travelling with the ASA-STC series turned out to be one of the smartest racing decisions that I made all year long. This very fine regional touring series for trucks had a banner year in 2007 that was filled with exciting racing that included a very dramatic championship finale between two time series champ Darren Young and eventual champion Victor Pfluger that concluded during the final laps of the final race of the year.

If I had to choose just one favorite event from their 2007 season then I would likely have to go with the road course race last summer at the California Speedway which was won by Darren Young. This event was staged on the California Speedway’s mammoth 1.8 mile road course and presented a very daunting challenge to the teams especially those drivers lacking in road racing experience.

The other unique aspect to this race was the fact that there were no predetermined ammount of laps. This race was on 35 minute time limit and that meant it was go time from the initial green flag because the drivers had no way of knowing how many minutes of the race would be consumed by yellow caution flag laps. Actually all of the drivers did a great job and there were very few caution minutes. There was hard racing from the front runners all the way back to the two drivers fighting it out in the rear of the field. It still remains one of my all time favorite road course races.

6. THE TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX.

First off, the fact that my loved ones actually allowed me to skip the traditional holiday family gathering to go to the Irwindale Speedway still amazes me. I really enjoyed trading in the turkey dinner for the Louisiana sausages I purchased from a speedway vendor that evening. I also enjoyed the USAC Turkey Night Grand Prix and felt a deep respect for the historical tradition behind this annual event.

This event was created many years ago by the legendary J C Agajanian who was one of the most honored race promoters and team owners in the country. The USAC Sprint feature was shortened to 98 laps in honor of the car number Agajanian used for many years. USAC veteran Dave Darland won the 98 lapper and fended off a late race charge from NASCAR’s Kasey Kahne. There was also some great action from USAC’s National/Western Midgets and Ford Focus Midgets. Also noteworthy here was the blend of open wheel veterans balanced with new comers looking to establish their open wheel careers. You can bet that somewhere in the middle of next September I’m going to start petitioning the loved ones for permission to go to the Irwindale Speedway to take in Turkey Night Grand Prix 2008.

5. UNITED NISSAN RACING

Another personal highlight from the 2007 season was the opportunity to work with this highly potent Las Vegas race team led by Don Foreman and Lee Keach. United Nissan Racing fielded two trucks in the ASA Speed Truck Challenge Series for drivers Darren Young and Bear Rzesnowiecky and watched both of them have a banner year. Young just barely missed his third series title by a handful of points and won four consecutive races during the quest for the championship.

Rzesnowiecky won his first ever series event, finished fifth in the points standings and won the Rookie Of The Year title. He also won the Las Vegas Bullring Legend Car title for United Racing. As agressive as he is on the racetrack, Darren Young is a one hundred percent class act outside of the race track and it was very easy to see how he became a two time series champion.

He also became a mentor to his 15 year old team mate. Rzesnowiecky just recently acquired enough high school credits to graduate early from high school and plans to enter college next spring. Everyone who has seen him drive agrees that he has a very bright future in the sport. 2008 will see United Nissan racing fielding a third truck for 17 year old Karl Foreman who did a very respectible job during his series debut last October .

Yet another highlight from this year with United Nissan Racing was the opportunity to work with team manager Lee Keach. During the course of the season there were occasional comments from the competition regarding having to compete against “the well funded team.”

It’s true that United Nissan Racing is well funded, well organized and highly competitive. But all of that is the work of rock solid management combined with personell who truly believe in what they’re doing. During the course of the year I learned a lot from Lee Keach regarding the ins and outs of running a race team. I’m looking forward to more of the same in 2008.

4. VICTOR PFLUGER

This young driver, from Morristown-Arizona, had a lot of people watching him in 2007 for a lot of good reasons. First off, he won the ASA Speed Truck Challenge Series championship following a very hard fought campaign. He also scored some impressive wins and top fives in his Late Model Series car and even made his NASCAR Grand National Division West Series debut on the road course at Infineon Raceway. All of this was accomplished via a family owned race team.

As impressive as he was to watch on the race track he was even more impressive off of the track. Once you meet him it’s clearly evident that Mr and Mrs Pfluger did a real fine job raising their son. He’s incredibly polite and articulate for a young man in today’s modern world.

He’s also incredibly focused. Last summer Pfluger graduated from high school early, at the age of 16, and has already enrolled in college with plans to major in automotive engineering. Keep a sharp eye on this young man next year, and in the years ahead. He’s one of those up and coming real deals.

3. THE ORANGE SHOW SPEEDWAY HALLOWEEN PARTY

The unique thing here is the fact that this Halloween party actually began as a special 100 lap ASA Late Model race that was to support the San Bernardino area Toys For Tots Christmas program.

However mother nature played a hand in this event and something very special came out of it. The first attempt to hold this race was rained out. The second attempt was postponed due to the tragic southern California wild fires. The National Orange Show Events Center, where the race track is located, was needed as an emergency center for displaced fire victims.

Meanwhile Halloween was approaching and speedway race director Joe Ganino felt that it was wrong for the kids at the NOS Events Center to miss trick or treating. With the help of his staff, along with many of the Orange Show race teams, a gala Halloween party was created that featured food, candy, toys, entertainment and race car displays.

The event, which was created in less than 48 hours, was a huge success that brought smiles to the faces of children at a time when there wasn’t a lot to smile about. That’s largely due to the compassion of the Orange Show Speedway racing community. By the way the Toys For Tots evening was eventually held and it too was a huge success.

2. KERN COUNTY’S NEW HOME TO NASCAR

Last January the members of the Collins and Destefani families met on a large parcel of undelveloped land on Highway 43 in Bakersfield to officially hold a ground breaking for Kern County’s New Home To NASCAR.

It was a long awaited event that signalled the start of construction of a new, state of the art, race track designed to replace the former Mesa Marin Raceway. The turn out was amazing. It appeared that quite a lot of race fans played hooky from work and school that morning. There was a loud cheer as the shovels scooped up the dirt.

It was now official: racing was returning to Bakersfield and Kern County. From the initial announcement of the new track to the actual ground breaking a period of 14 months went by. 14 months of design engineering, government procedures and satisfying the concerns of a few environmental groups. That January morning was the official race fan’s confirmation that the new track was now a reality. It’s going to be quite a party when this new mega motor sports showplace opens its gates in April.

1. THE ASA CHANGE OF COMMAND

In late December there was a surprising announcement that stated Dennis Huth had purchased the rights to the American Speed Association, ASA. A few years ago Huth, and his group known as Racing Speed Associates-RSA, had secured the rights to the ASA’s Member Track Program which they saved from extinction and turned into a highly successful entity that has brought significant benefits to ASA track members and their racing teams.

Huth masterminding everything ASA is most worthy of making my number one story this year because it’s so much bigger than just short track racing here in the western states. His experience, and proven track record, is going to have a huge impact on ASA sanctioned events, their regional touring series and their member tracks all over the nation. The ASA is in very good hands now and will only get better during the years to come.

Now it’s time to start the process all over again by visiting race tracks and compiling stories for next year’s list. Happy New Year racing fans and checkered flags to each and every one of you.