SAN BERNARDINO, California -- The ASA Speed Truck Challenge, the return of the popular ASA Late Model stock cars and the introduction of restrictor plate racing on Orange Show Speedway’s quarter-mile oval will be among the highlights when the track opens it 2006 season Saturday night.
Spectator gates will open at 5 p.m. and the first race of the year on the quarter-mile paved oval is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
The program, the first of 25 weekly shows on this year’s schedule, will include the Pro 4 stock cars, Sport Compacts and Mini-StocKars, and it is in the Pro 4 division that restrictor plates will be introduced.
The plates, which restrict airflow to the engine, are the central element in a new rules package designed to equalize competition in the popular but frequently contentious division. Director of racing Steve Larsen is hopeful that the revision will lead to a resurgence in the number of cars in the class and is expecting 12 or more to be on hand Saturday night.
A dozen or more Late Models also are expected, among them the entry of John Keller of Las Vegas. A regular at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Keller has indicated he and crew chief Ray Hooper will make several trips to the Inland Empire to take on defending class champion Richard Hooper of Palmdale, runner-up Dave Arce of Santee and others.
The class had six different winners in its 10 races a year ago, with Richard Hooper parlaying his win in the finale into the title after rookie Anthony Maniella of Palmdale, the leader going into the race, tangled with a lapped car. This year, the ASA Late Models will race a dozen times between opening night and the close of the season on Oct. 28.
The ASA Speed Truck Challenge, a touring series that will visit the Orange Show three times, also will be getting its season under way after having the scheduled opener March 25 rained out.
Saturday’s races will see the California Highway Patrol and La Salle Medical Group joining Lucas Oil, Anheuser-Busch, Pepsi, Leno’s Rico Taco, Soboba Casino, Center Chevrolet, Sunoco Racing Fuel, Hoosier Racing Tires, Golden West Tire, Pick A Part Auto Recyclers, CEC Embroidery, Nitro2Go Energy Drink, Downs Oil Co., J&M Trophy, Matich Corp., Lazer Radio and the San Bernardino County Sun newspaper on the speedway’s roster of sponsor partners.
Admission to Orange Show Speedway is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62 and over), military personnel and juniors (13-16), and $2 for children (6-12). Parking, available through Gate 3 of the Events Center off Mill Street, is $4 per car.
