SAN BERNARDINO, California — Two, four, six, eight, better win before it’s too late.
The battle for the Super Late Model championship at Orange Show Speedway has become a two-driver contest with four races to go and just six points separating leader David Ross and reigning champion Mark Shackleford after eight events at the ASA Member Track.
They’ll continue their rivalry Saturday (Aug. 14) night in a 50-lap main event that will close a program featuring the Team Too Pony Stocks, Dwarf Cars and USAC Ford Focus Midgets and Jr. Focus Midgets.
Competitors will enter the pits through Gate 11 for the balance of the season. That gate will open at 1 p.m. and practice will get under way at approximately 2:30 p.m. this week, but beginning Aug. 21 the gate will open at 2 p.m. with practice at 3:30.
Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m., as usual, with the first race at 7 p.m. However, there will not be any on-track autograph session.
Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission, but those presenting the coupon available at www.bestinthewestracing.com will receive one free general admission ticket for each one purchased.
Admission is $8 for seniors (60 and older), students 11 to 18 and military personnel with valid identification. A Family Pack, which includes admission for four plus a hot dog and small soft drink for each person, is priced at $45. Children 10 and under are admitted free.
Parking is $5, with entry through Gate 4 off Mill Street.
Ross, a 21-year-old plumber, established himself as the driver to beat with his win on opening night, March 20, and he’s led the standings for all but one race while winning six of the eight.
In a sense, however, it’s been feast or famine for the Colton (Ca.) resident. On May 1, when Shackleford won, Ross finished eighth. And when Brett Edwards won the most recent race July 31 Ross was sixth. Those two finishes have kept Ross from perhaps making a runaway of the points chase.
Shackleford, a two-time class champion, has kept the pressure on with consistency. The 41-year-old auto insurance appraiser from Riverside (Ca.) had his worst finish of the season, a sixth, on opening night. Since then he has three seconds, two thirds and a fourth in addition to the May 1 win that gave him a brief 2-point lead in the class.
Shacklford’s most recent runner-up effort came July 31 and enabled him to trim 8 points off Ross’s advantage (a win is worth 50 points, second 48 points, third 46 and so on). Edwards is third, but he’s 40 points behind Shackleford, so barring something totally unexpected the likelihood is that the two-man battle for the title won’t be decided until the season finale Oct. 9.
There’s not much suspense in the other divisions in action Saturday.
Robby Hornsby Jr. has won seven of eight races, leads the Team Too Pony Stocks by 70 points over Kevin Meador with three races to go, and will win the title by finishing 14th or better in those events.
The Dwarf Cars title race is close on paper, with Kyle Cline leading David Quigley by 14 points and two of the seven races remaining. But Cline has won all five races in dominant fashion.
USAC’s Ford Focus Midgets and Jr. Focus Midgets will be making their third appearance of the year at the quart-mile oval. Eli Schrock won the Focus Midget main June 12 and Cody Gerhardt won on July 3 and is the series points leader. Austin Farley (June 12) and Brandon White (July 3) were the Jr. Focus winners and White is atop the standings in that division.
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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