Stock Car Syndicate has announced plans to return night racing to their scheduled 2009 racing season. On June 20th the gates at Willow Springs Speedway will open at 1 pm and the first race is at 7 pm. The divisions currently running at the Speedway are Bandoleros, Legends, Mini Stocks, Classic Stocks, Street Stocks, and Late Models. Stock Car Syndicate likes to shake things up a bit with Factory 4’s, Figure 8’s, Celebrity Stunt Man Races, Powder Puff Races, Factory 4 Trucks, Demolition Derby, and Truck Series.
The April 25th race wrapped up the day races for 2009 leaving great anticipation for more action at night. Logan Mainella from Palmdale has been steadily rising in the Late Model points. Leader Jeff Grill of Rosamond was dominating the super stock field the last 3 races. He was hit by another driver, broke a weld; which made the next lap a loose one. He got loose onthe straight away; landing Jeff Grill and Rick Fife into turn 2. This allowed Tom Wilson “Problem Child” to climb back to a 1 st place finish. In only4 races rookie Erik Rapos of Rosamond has now landed the 2nd position in street stocks with just a 25point difference. Erik has been racing his pure stock with the “big boys” all season. Newcomers into the Mini Stock division were Bakersfield high school students Adam Bailey, Lauren Grenier, and Jason Skivey; made their debut run against Reverend Joe Bubbico who finished in the points lead. Art Neville defended his title in the Legends division with ease. Aaron Anderson challenged points leader Micheal Silvas who finished ahead by 66 points.
With the economy so low and so many in financial trouble the Speedway at Willow Springs offers all day family fun for less than it takes for the whole family to go to the movies; thanks to Willow Springs International Raceway and the Huth family who refuse to raise any prices for race fans this season. The Speedway is the ¼ mile paved oval track located at the northeast corner of the 650 acre motor sports complex where family’s can pack a lunch and park their vehicles up close and personal. No need to pay a babysitter and kids under 8years old are free.
Stock Car Syndicate promoters and long time racers Nick Jennings and Jon Christensen, who both have regular day jobs, went above and beyond the call of duty when asked to help get the Speedway back open by Charla Hooper, wife of the late, great racing champion Richard Hooper last fall. Richard, who had several championships at tracks which include Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino and I-10 Speedway in Blythe, was a Rosamond resident who could see Willow Springs from his kitchen window. He also met his wife Charla at the Speedway while testing with his brother and business partner Anthony Mainella in 2005. They were introduced by Charla’s son, Alex Anderson who had ridden his bicycle to the track to meet the great Richard Hooper to ask for help with his racecar.
The subsequent story is one that will go in the stockcar racing history books. Richard was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in January 2008 and with the following chemotherapy treatments and sickness that followed, Charla wanted to keep Richard closer to home. Racecar drivers need to drive as much as they need food and water; Nick and Jon rose to the challenge to keep Richard driving. Richard passed away in December2008 after a valiant battle and the opening race of the 2009season was dedicated to him. In fact, the entire 2009 season is dedicated to Richard Hooper.
There is still a long way to go and a tough row to hoe to keep the Speedway open for the entire 2009 season but everyone at Stock Car Syndicate has great faith and hope. Although they have many greats sponsors including Pit Stop in Lancaster who is helping to provide purses and offering discounts for fans with wristbands, Karl’s Hardware in Rosamond, Hertz Rentals and United Rentals in Lancaster who are providing equipment to help with the lighting upgrade, more financial sponsors are needed to provide “proper” purses to the drivers who do so much for the fans. Better purses will draw better car counts, better car counts draw more fans, more fans keep the track going, and boost the economy.
