DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — When you watch the news and hear about the economic struggles in California, race fans wonder if the short tracks in the Golden State are taking a hit. But after talking to Rick McCray at Orange Show Speedway, an ASA Member Track in San Bernardino, CA, you will find out that things aren’t that bad but a lot better than expected.
“We are hanging in there, the crowds have been a little tough but according to many I have spoken to, we are doing a lot better than expected,” McCray, Orange Show Speedway General Manager said. “We can’t be disappointed with our season so far.”
Along with getting a good crowd, McCray is happy with another area, “Our car counts have been great, we have been averaging 16-18 cars a night in our super late model and late model divisions,” McCray said. “The competition on the track has been awesome, each week there we have about 12 cars that could win the feature.”
The competition has been close. After their racing program last Saturday, the top-five in the super late models are separated by 28 points with Mark Shakleford and Linny White tied with 302 points. Barry Karr is only two points behind the top-two in third with Rob Kiemele in fourth only 12 points back. Glenn Cummings rounds out the top-five.
To prove how the competition has been on the track, McCray noted that a couple of weeks ago, for the first time ever, every competitor in the fast dash qualified under 13 seconds. Back on July 18th, Kiemele broke White’s track record time of 13.006 seconds he set back on April 11th with a time of 12.915 seconds. The other three, White, Cummings, and Frankie Gould also qualified under White’s old track record time.
Their weekly Saturday night program varies week to week as they have 12 different divisions compete throughout the year. The track was redesigned, repaved and rebanked back in 2003, the same year it became an American Speed Association Member Track. “I have known Dennis (Huth, ASA President) for many years and as long as I am here, we will be an ASA Member Track,” McCray said. “The drivers seem to like it and so I don’t see things changing.”
Orange Show Speedway has some big events coming up later this year including a special event on Saturday, September 5th when legendary driver Bobby Allison will be on hand to sign autographs and be the grand marshal for the evening’s racing activities.
For more information on Orange Show Speedway, please visit their website at www.bestinthewestracing.com.
Speaking of changing, there was not much of a change at the top of the Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil ASA Member Track National Championship standings. Jeff Mathews picked up another feature win at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL this past Saturday night. He now has a point average of 2.8992.
Jeremy Miller from Madison International Speedway had a night off last week but is still in second with an average of 2.8441.
Clint Lafont finished second at Thunderhill Raceway in Kyle, TX and is in third overall with an average of 2.7573.
A complete list of standings is available at www.speednetdirect.com.
Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, sponsor of the American Speed Association National Short Track National Championship, is the same oil developed and used by Joe Gibbs Racing. The team sells the oil so racers across the country can have access to the latest technology in racing lubricants.
Joe Gibbs Racing is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR, currently fielding three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams, two NASCAR Nationwide Series teams and a driver development program. Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Joe Gibbs - a three-time Super Bowl winner as head coach of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame - JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, winning three Cup Series championships and more than 80 NASCAR races, including three Brickyard 400s and the 1993 Daytona 500.
The American Speed Association Short Track National Championship is another step by the industry leader in creating new and innovative programs. This follows the recent announcement about extending the insurance coverage for ASA members traveling to, from, and during an ASA-sanctioned event. For updated ASA National Points, just click on the "Points" link at www.asa-racing.com.
ASA members in good standing are eligible for a $500,000 Excess Medical Benefit as well as a $20,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefit. Coverage for the member begins while traveling to a location promoting an ASA-sanctioned event and continues until arrival home again. The American Speed Association, in conjunction with WSIB Motorsports Insurance, is the only sanctioning body to offer insurance coverage which extends beyond the boundary of the racetrack itself (complete details are available online at www.ASA-Racing.com).
The ASA Member Track program is comprised of more than 35 short tracks around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For more information, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the ASA, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.
