Best In The West Racing, the promoters of ASA sanctioned racing at the Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino-California, rolled out the red carpet on the evening of September 5th for their gala grand opening. The direct beneficiaries of this special evening were the approximate 6,000 racing fans who showed up at the Orange Show Speedway that night.
Best In The West Racing Promoter Rick McCray presented the appreciative audience a night of racing action from five divisions. They also paid tribute to past west coast champions that included a special appearance by NASCAR legend Bobby Allison. Then they capped the evening off by lighting up the San Bernardino skyline with a fireworks show.
Highlighting the on track action was an appearance the SuperClean Modified Racing Series and the K&N Air Filters 75. The race, won by Andrew Phipps, had the makings of a crash festival during the early laps but soon settled down to some good wheel to wheel racing all throughout the 22 car field.
The SuperClean Modified teams really garnered a lot of attention during the pre race warm up laps. All 22 drivers drove around the track carrying American flags while the public address system played Lee Greenwood's "God Bless The USA." This patriotic moment was accompanied by the inspirational sight and sound of 6,000 Americans singing along with the music.
The speedway's ASA Late Model division also brought some inspirational moments on this night. Their 50 lap main event was in honor of long time Orange Show Speedway driver-car owner Chuck Morris who sadly passed away this past September 1st. All 17 late models displayed special decals with Morris' #133 on their cars. There were also many race fans wearing Morris commemorative T shirts.
But 2008 late model champion Steve Smith took that tribute a giant step further by changing his traditional car number, #00, to #133 in honor of Morris. Smith took a tribute to his friend to an even higher level by crossing under the checkers after leading all 50 laps.
The Orange Show Speedway's always fun Stock Car USA class turned up a first time winner after Riverside's Kevin Cook led all 25 laps of the feature in his Wicked Sand Toys Chevrolet Malibu.
The Factory Four Division saw 12 year old Benjamin Mahan win his second, consecutive, 35 lap feature. The Oak Hills driver, in his BMW, has now become a major player in the division's championship picture. Not so long ago this young man was driving in the Bandolero division. The ASA was so impressed with his progress they granted him a special waiver that allowed him to move up to a higher racing class at age 12 instead of making him wait until his 14th birthday.
The victory lane interview with young Mahan also turned up one of the better lines of the evening from Bruce Flanders, the speedway's very personable track announcer, who quipped "I bet Bobby Allison has shoes older than this kid."
In the Jam Sportswear Stock Pony division Yucaipa's Robby Hornsby's Ford Pinto took command of the 35 lap feature midway through the race and won his second consecutive feature. But it was series veteran Jim Edmiston who won the grand prize. Edmiston's second place finish was all he needed to clinch his third consecutive, and fifth overall, division championship.
The Orange Show Speedway's grand opening was also an opportunity to salute many of the west coast based racing champions who paved the way for many of the drivers that are enjoying success today.Old school race fans were delighted over the opportunity to meet and reminisce with west coast champions such as George and Ron Esau, Jimmy Insolo, Charles Saied, Ray Johnstone and former NASCAR Winston Cup team owner Warner Hodgdon.
Fans of all ages were delighted to meet the evening's Grand Marshall: NASCAR legend and champion Bobby Allison. Allison and his lovely wife Judy really enjoyed the time they spent at the special autograph table meeting the fans. Of particular interest were the youngsters in driving suits who stared at the racing legend in awe stuck wonder. Allison made them feel special by talking racing with them and treating them like a colleague. He was only too happy to sign autographs and pose for photos with the fans. Later in the evening he said "I've always thought of being asked for an autograph as a compliment and you never pass up a compliment."
This special evening was truly a cause to celebrate when you consider the fact that it was less than a year ago when many southern California racing fans were wondering if there was going to be racing at the Orange Show Speedway at all. Back then it appeared that six plus decades of competition, loaded with racing history, at the quarter mile oval was in the process of coming to a grinding halt.
Enter Rick McCray and family who signed a lease to operate the Orange Show Speedway that says we can enjoy racing there for at least the next five years. From the very beginning Rick McCray brought two very important aspects to the Orange Show Speedway. The first was his long time tenure as a NASCAR race driver both in local speedway and regional touring venues. That meant the drivers and teams were dealing with someone who could relate to their mindset. From the very onset Best In The West Racing encouraged their various racing divisions to select a representative to act as a liaison with the track management. That was a major plus for the drivers and team owners because it was clear to them that they were dealing with someone who truly wanted their input.
The second important aspect here is the McCray family's well known reputation for being successful business owners. This is a group of people who fully understand the business bottom line and what it takes to maintain it. When they signed the lease with the National Orange Show Fairgrounds Board of Directors to operate the speedway the McCrays had a long way to go and a short time to get there in terms of launching their first ever racing season. They pulled it off with polished organization and a willingness to embrace hard work.
During the course of their gala grand opening night, Best In The West Racing clearly established that the Orange Show Speedway is going to be in very good hands for many years to come.
