SAN BERNARDINO, California – Frankie Gould has to gain 17 points on Rick Chavez to win the Hype Manufacturing Super Late Model championship and he has five races in which to do so.
What that means in the simplest terms is that Gould must finish at least two positions in front of Chavez in each of those five contests. That’s a gain of four points a night. If Gould can do that, he’ll win the title by three points – unless 2005 champion John Manke gets on a hot streak and leapfrogs both of them.
Round 10 of the 14-race series is scheduled for Saturday night (Aug. 18) and the title fight has come down to those three protagonists – Chavez, 46, a trucking company owner from Santee; Gould, 57, a classic car and recreational vehicle dealer from Woodland Hills; and Manke, 43, a landscaper from Ramona.
Chavez, the class leader or co-leader since winning the second race of the year March 31, has 400 points. Gould, who has six top five finishes but no wins, has 384 points. And Manke, who has won two of the past three races, has 372 points.
Fourth-place Mark Shackleford, a former champion, is 50 points behind Manke and defending champion Glen Cummings is two points behind Shackleford, so neither man is a threat for the title. Both, however, could play roles in determining who does win.
Obviously, there are a lot of questions. And the answers will start coming Saturday, when the Super Late Models headline a program that includes the ASA Pro 4s, Aflac Factory Fours and both the adult and junior divisions of the Mini StocKars.
Spectator gates open at 5 p.m. and racing gets under way at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62 and over), handicapped and juniors (13-16) and $2 for children (6-12). Active military personnel and veterans with valid military identification are admitted free of charge. Parking is $4 per car with entry through Gate 3 off Mill Street.
There’s no question Chavez is in control of the Super Late Model title race, especially with just a two-point differential between finishing positions (50-48-46 and so forth). That means that for one driver to make a substantial gain on another, the driver being pursued has to have a bad night and his pursuer a good one.
That’s how the standings got as close as they are today.
On June 2, after his second win of the season, Chavez had a comfortable 34-point lead over Gould, with Manke 42 points back. On June 16, Chavez lost six points to Manke, who won the race, and four points to Gould, who was second, but still led by 30 points.
Then on July 21, while Gould was running second to Linny White, Chavez and Manke briefly renewed their Cajon Speedway rivalry by getting together in Turn 2 late in the race. Both were sent to the end of the lead lap, which resulted in Manke finishing 11th and Chavez 12th, and Gould suddenly was just 10 points behind.
Two weeks ago it was Manke’s turn to charge. He won the race and picked up six points on Chavez, who was fourth, and 12 on Gould, who finished seventh.
Who’s going to make the biggest move this weekend?
The championship battles in the ASA Pro 4 and Aflac Factory Fours classes are pretty well decided, barring a disaster striking either of the leaders. Rex Lockwood is 36 points ahead of seven-race winner Eddie Secord after nine of the 14 Pro 4 events and 17-year-old Spencer Samaro is 54 points in front in the Factory Fours.
There is a great fight for second in the Factory Fours, however, with Tony Dumont, Martin Huizenga and Gerrit Hodge in a three-way tie for the position.
Racing at Orange Show Speedway is sponsored by Lucas Oil, Blackhawk Protection, Hype Manufacturing, Del Taco, Aflac Insurance, KTTD radio (AM 1350), Leno’s Rico Taco, Soboba Casino, Budweiser, Hoosier Racing Tires, Frank’s Radio Service, Torco Racing Fuels, Parker Pumper/BSR West, Eibach Springs, JP Striping, Center Chevrolet, Pepsi, Matich Coporation, L. Curti Truck and Equipment, One Stop Landscape Supply, Extreme Exhibits & Logistics, Little Green Onions and the San Bernardino County Sun.
