SAN BERNARDINO, Calif — July 15) – There are no Homecoming celebrations in short track auto racing, but if there were Saturday night’s (July 18) event at Orange Show Speedway would be one of them.
The Super Late Models will return to the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval for the first time in five weeks and the Legends Cars will make their first appearance since May 23. They’ll be joined by two classes that last raced on June 27, the JAM Sportswear Pony Stock and Factory Fours, and the Bandoleros, who have been away since May 30.
Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.
Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. Children 10 and under are admitted free. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $40. Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.
This week, however, anyone 55 and older will be admitted free by printing out the coupon available at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com web site and presenting it at the speedway box office.
John Manke is 10 years too young to take advantage of that free admission offer, but he’ll still be at the track to seek his second straight win in the Super Late Model class. Manke, a two-time class champion, got his first win of the season June 13 when he led Linny White and Glen Cummings across the finish line.
It was the 10th win in four-plus seasons for Manke, a Ramona resident who began racing at Orange Show Speedway in 2005 following the closure of Cajon Speedway.
Manke’s win corresponded with a troubled ninth-place finish by two-time race winner and class leader Barry Karr, who is 8 points ahead of Mark Shackleford and 10 upon Cummings after five of 13 races.
In the competitive and contentious Factory Fours class, San Bernardino High School teacher and coach Kim Marzullo will try to repeat her winning effort of June 27, when she held off points leaders Ben Mahan and Dwayne Blay. Mahan has a 6-point lead over Blay and Marzullo is 16 points farther back in what has become a three-driver fight for the title after eight of 13 races.
Highland’s Jim Edmiston appears well on the way to his third straight and fifth overall JAM Sportswear Pony Stock title. He has won three of the four races, including the most recent on June 27, and has a 22-point advantage over Sean Spencer of Riverside with five events remaining.
Reigning champion Darren Amidon, of Santee, has won two of the past three races in the Legends Cars division, but missed the first two events in the 12-race season and probably won’t be a factor in the point standings currently led by Chad Schug of Oak Hills.
Ryan Cansdale, 10, of Laguna Beach, won the Bandoleros race on May 30 after running second to Lancaster’s Aaron Anderson in the three previous races.
For information on sponsorship and promotional opportunities, please contact Best in the West Racing by telephone at 909-885-9000 or visit the new web site at www.BestInTheWestRacing.com.
For all other information, please contact Jim Short by telephone at 951-203-2649 or by e-mail at jimshort65@sbcglobal.net.
