SAN BERNARDINO, Calif — (May 11) – The Super Late Models are off to a super start in what is shaping up as a super competitive season at Orange Show Speedway.
In the first three races of its season at the ASA Member Track adjacent to the National Orange Show grounds, while the entry list has grown from 12 to 20, the class has produced a new track record-holder, two race winners, six different drivers with top three finishes and nine with top five showings.
Indications are there’ll be even more cars and more excitement on Saturday (May 15) when the Super Late Models reassemble for an Armed Forces Day racing program that includes the Pick-A-Part Outlaw Figure 8s, Budweiser Legends Cars, M.C. Erectors Bandoleros, Stock OHV Karts and a Trailer race.
Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., with an on-track autograph session from 5:50 to 6:30 p.m. and the first race at 7 p.m.
To honor those serving in our Armed Forces, all active, reserve and retired military personnel with valid identification will be admitted free. Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors (60 and older) and students 11 to 18. 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 $45.
Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.
David Ross of Colton (Ca.) won the first two Super Late Model main events and Mark Shackleford of Riverside (Ca.) took the checkered flag at the most recent event, a crash-filled 50-lap race run (you should pardon the expression) at a snail-like 13.161 miles per hour because of nine caution flags.
The sixth of those cautions, for a collision between Jake Engle and Brett Edwards with 10 laps to go, put reigning champion Shackleford in position to take the win and the early advantage in the point standings. But just six points separate the top five, with Ross second, Edwards third and Toni McCray and Barry Karr tied for fourth.
The early edge in consistency, however, goes to Brett Edwards, whose teammates in the class are older brother Tony and younger brother Jeremy. Brett, 25, of Yucaipa (Ca.), has two third and a fifth and set a track record in qualifying May 1 with a pole-winning lap of 12.891 seconds. One of those thirds came May 1, when he and Engle got together while battling for the lead.
This week, the Budweiser Legends Cars could challenge the Super Late Models for on-track incidents, though, because Saturday’s race is an INEX National Qualifier. That means that while the 35-lap main event will have just one winner, the top finisher in the Pro, Master, Semi-Pro and Young Lion categories will become eligible for a provisional starting spot in the INEX Asphalt National Championship Oct. 8-10 at Langley (Va.) Speedway.
Chad Schug (Pro) of Oak Hills (Ca.), Gary Scheuerell (Master) of Murrieta (Ca.), Missouri resident Kyle Weatherman (Young Lion) and Arizona driver Zak Price (Semi-Pro) were the top finishers in their divisions in the National Qualifier at Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway in Blythe (Ca.) March 13.
Schug is the reigning champion at Orange Show Speedway.
This will be the second outing for the Pick-A-Part Outlaw Figure 8s, which debuted April 24 with Rod Proctor beating “Barefoot Billy” Ziemann, and the fifth of the season for the M.C. Erectors Bandoleros, where Ryan Cansdale and Parker Malone have two wins each.
Best in the West Racing’s promotions at Orange Show Speedway are sponsored by Lucas Oil Products, Budweiser, San Bernardino Pick-A-Part, Team Too Termite and Pest Control, JAM Sportswear, Interstate Batteries, MC Erectors, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Rockstar Energy Drinks, Hoosier Tire West, KCAL 96.7 Rocks, Best Buy, Tri-City Towing, Pacific West Interiors (PWI), Luke’s Transmission, Print Depot, Riverside Mission Florist, Wayne’s Engine, Cal’s Towing, JP Striping, K1 Speed, Jerry’s Brake and Wheel, and Arrow Track GPS.com.
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.
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As an American Speed Association (ASA)-sanctioned track, Orange Show Speedway is part of the ASA Member Track National Championship.
The goal of the ASA Short Track National Championship is to activate a measuring system which takes into account many variables – such as field size, inversion, wins and number of races in a season – and create a level playing field to determine who is the ‘best-of-the-best’ of the ASA Member Track Champions nationwide.
The ASA Joe Gibbs Driven National Member Track Champion Award was designed to give the National Champion exposure with one of the top teams in racing – Joe Gibbs Racing. Joe Gibbs Driven Oil, a division of Joe Gibbs Racing, sells the actual oil products developed and used by Joe Gibbs Racing to racers at all levels. More information can be found at www.joegibbdriven.com.
The ASA Member Track program is comprised of a network of short tracks around the United States, as well as a variety of regional and national touring series. For news and information from all the racetracks and tours involved in the American Speed Association, visit www.ASA-Racing.com.
