SAN BERNARDINO, California -- John Manke and Ron Overman spent all of last season at Orange Show Speedway trading the lead in the Leno’s Rico Taco ASA Super Late Model class before Manke emerged with the championship.
Saturday night they’ll start a new title fight in the first of the dozen races on this year’s schedule for the speedway’s premier division.
There were more than 80 cars on hand for last Saturday’s opening night program and director of racing Steve Larsen is anticipating a similar entry this week when the ASA Super Late Models are joined by the CEC Embroidery ASA Street Stocks, ASA Stock Ponys, Golden West Tire Sport Trucks, Legend Cars and Bandoleros.
Also on the schedule are the Pure Stocks, which this year are racing under the name Stock Cars USA and will add events at Irwindale, Blythe and Las Vegas to a half-dozen races on the Orange Show Speedway quarter-mile.
Spectator gates will open at 5 p.m. and racing will get under way at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62 and over), military personell 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.
Manke, of Ramona, and Overman, of Lakeside, led a large group of ASA Super Late Model drivers who became speedway regulars following the closing of Cajon Speedway, and during the 11-race season they waged one of their best battles in a decade of competing against each other.
They were never separated by more than four points and shared the lead three times before Manke won the championship by two points when he finished sixth and Overman seventh in the year’s final race. Rick Chavez of Lakeside scored his third straight win in that race to mark himself a contender this year as well.
“I love the Orange Show. It’s very demanding,” said Overman, an insulation contractor. “The bigger the track, the more finesse involved, and it’s easier to pass because you can rely on horsepower and stuff. But get to a quarter-mile and your job is cut out for you. You have to work your tail off to get anywhere.”
Overman, who in the past five seasons has broken his back and his neck in racing accidents, said he and Manke are good friends who frequently pit next to each other.
“But we get on the race track and things heat up, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. We owe it to the people who come out and watch us do it,” he said.
Overman won’t be the only member of his family in action Saturday. Son Rob and son-in-law Mike Weimann will be in the Stock Pony field and grandson Garrett Weimann will be making his debut in a Bandolero.
Jim Edmiston of Highland in Pony Stock, Tom Gilstrap of Riverside in Street Stock and Spencer Samara, 17, of San Bernardino in Sport Trucks also are defending champions.
Racing at Orange Show Speedway is sponsored by Leno’s Rico Taco, CEC Embroidery, Golden West Tire, Lucas Oil, Soboba Casino, Center Chevrolet, Sunoco Racing Fuel, Hoosier Racing Tires, Pick A Part Auto Recyclers, Nitro2Go Energy Drink, Downs Oil Co., J&M Trophy, Matich Corp., Lazer Radio, La Salle Medical Group, California Highway Patrol and the San Bernardino County Sun newspaper.
For further information, call 909-888-6788, X512, or visit the speedway web site at www.nationalorangeshow.com/speedway.htm.
