SAN BERNARDINO, California -- The excitement of short track auto racing returns to Orange Show Speedway this Sunday (Dec. 3) with the debut of the quarter-mile paved oval’s Winter Series.
The Stock Cars USA series will headline Sunday’s program with a pair of 25-lap races that will determine the series champion. Stock Ponys, Sport Compacts and Sport Trucks also will be in action.
Spectator gates will open at noon and a streamlined schedule consisting entirely of main events will get under way at 1 p.m. Regular admission prices are in effect – $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62 and over), military personnel and juniors (13-16) and $2 for children 6-12. However, parking at the National Orange Show Events Center facility will be free, with entry through Gate 3 off Mill Street.
Those four classes in action Sunday plus Legend Cars, Bandoleros and Mini-StocKars will be featured throughout the four-race Winter Series. There are no track championships at stake and no points will be awarded during the series, which director of racing Joe Ganino created to offer area drivers more opportunities to race their vehicles or test for the following season.
The remaining dates in the Winter Series are Dec. 17, 2006, and Jan. 6 and Jan. 28, 2007, and the same time schedule and admission fees will be in effect each race day. The Stock Cars USA series will be in action on all four weekends. The Stock Ponys, Sport Compacts and Sport Trucks will race again Jan. 6 and the Legend Cars, Bandoleros and Mini-StocKars are scheduled for Dec. 17 and Jan. 28.
The classes represented in the series are those whose drivers expressed the most interest in the series.
Stock Cars USA, an outgrowth of the Pure Stock class, is a touring series that has raced at Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway in Blythe and Irwindale Speedway as well as at the Orange Show.
Dave Foster, of Riverside, one of the series’ founders, said at least 20 cars are expected on Sunday, when 14-year-old Jimmy Rouse Jr., of San Bernardino, will make his debut in a full-sized race car in preparation for a full season in 2007. Rouse won the Bandoldero main event at Blythe on Thanksgiving weekend
Father Jimmy Rouse and his wife Michelle also will be competing, with Michelle making her return to competition after missing most of the season due to back surgery.
Harry Michaelian Jr., of Lawndale, is the Stock Cars USA champion-in-waiting. He will take a 70-point lead over Foster into Sunday’s races, where a maximum of 100 points will be available. Michaelian has 366 points to 296 for Foster, 290 for Jimmy Rouse, 264 for Ron Davis and 258 for Kevin Flores, of San Fernando.
Davis, of Norwalk, won the All American stock car main event on the dirt at Victorville Auto Raceway (formerly Route 66 Raceway) on Thanksgiving weekend.
Racing at Orange Show Speedway is sponsored by Leno’s Rico Taco, Blackhawk Protection, CEC Embroidery, Golden West Tire, Lucas Oil, Soboba Casino, Budweiser, Sunoco Racing Fuel, Hoosier Racing Tires, Center Chevrolet, Pick A Part, Neff Rental, Pepsi, Loma Linda University Medical Center, J&M Trophy, Matich Corp., Lazer Radio (101.7 and 105.7 FM), La Salle Medical Associates, California Highway Patrol, KCAL radio (96.7 FM) and the San Bernardino County Sun newspaper.
For further information, contact Jim Short at 951-203-2649 or jimshort65@sbcglobal.net, call 909-888-6788, X438, or visit the web site at www.nationalorangeshow.com/speedway.htm.
