A good sized crowd gathered on a hot August night to see some hot ASA sanctioned racing action, August 16th, at the Orange Show Speedway, OSS. The famed quarter mile paved oval, located at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino, presented its fans with a full night of stock car racing highlighted by twin 50 lap mains from the BSR Super Late Model Series.
During that first Super Late main Mark Shackleford roared into the lead at the initial green flag and did a good job of covering the field by leading all 50 laps while driving a well prepped race car that was clearly ready to go racing. His powerful driving performance more than earned him the right to park his Blackhawk Fireworks-Bud's Tire & Wheel-Cannon Heating and Air Conditioning-Frank's Radio Chevrolet Monte Carlo in victory lane. Las Vegas-Nevada's John Keller in a Dodge did everything he could to catch the race winner but had to settle for second while, at the same time fended off a challenge from Linny White's Chevrolet who finished third. The Chevrolets of Roger Brown and Ray Hooper Jr, another visitor from Las Vegas, rounded out the top five.
There was only one caution flag during the race but it involved a horrific accident that brought the fans to their feet completely speechless. On lap 30 the cars of Rob Kiemele and Eric Sweetman made contact coming off of turn four. Kiemele's right front tire rolled up the side of Sweetman's left front fender and that cause Kiemele's Toyota Camry to get airborne. The car landed on the driver's side and barrel rolled down the front stretch. Thankfully, the mandated safety equipment did its job and the crowd broke into loud applause at the sight of the drivers climbing out of their cars uninjured. Unfortunately, when the two drivers met face to face, a clearly frustrated Kiemele responded by assaulting Sweetman. OSS officials later confirmed that he was escorted from the speedway following the incident and declined any further comment pending a complete reivew of the situation.
Towards the end of the evening the BSR Super Late Models rolled out onto the speedway for their second 50 lap feature and the fans were both amazed and delighted to see Sweetman's Chevrolet leading the field. The battered car certainly looked like it had been in the middle of a major wreck. But it didn't run like it. Sweetman came off of the front row and led all 50 laps in a very dominant performance. Mark Shackleford backed up his earlier win with a runner up spot in this race while Linny White, Glenn Cummings and John Keller completed the top five.
After the consclusion of the racing evening Riverside driver Mark Shackleford said it felt good to put his car in victory lane and added "we've been struggling lately and then we had Black Jack Fireworks come on and help us out. That allowed us to get a little bit better of a car and it seems to be paying off. It's been a lot of hard work but it's definitely worth it now." When asked about the process of getting himself and his car ready to run 100 laps in two different features the race winner said "it's definitely a lot of work and you want to come in with your game face on. You don't want to show up and have to work on the car a lot while you're here. The track changes a little bit from race to race so you have those challenges but mainly you have to be ready when you get here."
After winning his first BSR Super Late Model race at the OSS Eric Sweetman, understandly, had little to say about the incident from the first feature. But the young driver from El Cajon-California had a lot to say about what went on between the two races. In observing the true spirit of a racer, members from other Super Late Model teams helped Sweetman get his car repaired so he could make the second feature. "I tried to play it conservative during that first race but that just didn't work out," he said adding "boy what an effort from all the other race teams who pulled together to get this hot rod back together. There was a lot of people who helped get this win tonight. It took a lot of hard work from a lot of good people to get me here. During the second race I never looked back, the green flag flew and I was gone." Sweetman described his Super Late Model operation as being self funded but did want to thank his sponsors which includes S&S Sand Cars, Hot Heads Salon and Inner Systems Long Haul Services.
The ASA Pro Four Series was also a big part of this evening at the OSS and, by the time the 25 lap feature was over, Cerritos-California's Bryan Glidewell was a big part of that action. When the green fell on the starting field Kendall Scheidecker roared into the lead and appeared to be on his way to victory lane. By lap 13 Glidewell worked his way into second and began the process of eliminating the asphalt real estate between himself and the race leader. On lap 22 the two drivers were racing door to door and that's when Glidewell was able to make his race winning move for his second feature win of the year. Scheidecker, Don Minut, Keith Blomgren,Kyle McGrady and Tommy Fowler followed the race winner under the checkers. After parking his Napa Auto Parts-Fast Track Engineering-RV Recycling-Anderson Race Engines Toyota into victory lane the happy winner said "I worked by butt off out there tonight. Kendall Scheidecker is one hell of a race driver and a really good friend. He's the one that helps me out with this car and we're kind of a team. He's one tough competitor. Unfortunately he had to finish second but as long as I finished first then I'm okay with that."
The always fun ASA Factory Four Division sent 15 vehicles out to run a 35 lap feature. At the initial green flag Art Ramirez appeared to be the man in charge but a lady, Kim Marzullo, had other ideas and began putting on the pressure to take command of the race. Unfortunatley that pressure resulted in a lap 22 racing deal that sent the race leader spinning around in turn two and both drivers were sent to the rear of the field. That put eventual race winner Jim Edmiston into the lead. However he had to be patient to get to the checkers due to restarts from a blown engine and two serarate spins that all occurred during the final five laps of the race. Dwayne Blay, Josh Evans, Benjamin Mahan and Drew Reid completed the top five. Jim Edmiston is a regular, and track champion, in the speedway's ASA Stock Pony Division who has been having some extra fun spending his free Saturdays with the Factory Fours. After parking the Kidd Racing Enterprises mini truck in victory lane he took the opportunity to let everyone know that the race truck was for sale at the turn key price of $2,500 which is not a bad deal because he's already proven that the truck is capable of winning races.
The Leno's Rico Taco Legend Car Series ran a 20 lap feature that was also a qualifer for the INEX national points rankings. Following a restart, due Jeff King's first lap spin, Chad Schug claimed the lead but, unfortunatley, mechanical woes killed that effort on lap seven. Brent Scheidemantle inherited the lead and paced the field to lap 13. That's when Jeremiah Wagner made a race winning move and passed the race leader on the low side of turn three. Eric Gunderson followed him to take over second. Scheidemantle, Bree Nrewer and Ryan Schug completed the top five. After parking his 1934 Chevrolet Sedan in victory lane the race winner, who was visiting the speedway from his native Las Vegas, said "it's nice to finally win one here at the Orange Show Speedway. We've had some failures here in the past and hopefully that's behind us now."
