The Havasu 95 Speedway will open their gates this Saturday for another evening of ASA sanctioned racing and, by the looks of the scheduled racing divisions, the local quarter mile paved oval is going to literally heat up a winter evening in Lake Havasu City-Arizona.
Providing the racing action this Saturday night will be the Gene Price Motorsports Late Model River Series, the Gene Price Motorsports I Love Legends Series, the ASA Street Stocks, the SNE Bandolero Series along with the Factory Stock and Powder Puff divisions.
Sponsored by the well known Parker-Arizona based race car fabrication shop and high performance parts distributor, the Gene Price Motorsports Late Model River Series is a special points championship that races at both the Havasu 95 Speedway and the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway located in nearby Blythe-California.
The series will be making their sixth appearance of the winter racing season this Saturday night. A very consistent Mike Sutterfield leads the current standings with 264 points. Although he's still seeking his first feature win of the season, the Blythe driver has compiled four top five finishes, along with five top tens, and goes into Saturday night with a 24 point advantage over local driver Bobby Keirns. While Keirns, himself a former late model champion, will be looking to eradicate that deficit, he will also have to look in his rear view mirror for the presence of Rob Munoz who is only four points behind him in the standings. Meanwhile Blythe driver Mark Schriner, the only driver at the top of the standings with a feature win, holds down fourth in the rankings at 230 points. Schriner's championship effort has been hampered by a missed race last month. He's expected to be a major factor Saturday night while making an effort to improve his points position.
Gene Price Motorsports will again play a major role in Saturday night's action at the Havasu 95 Speedway as the official sponsor of the special "I Love Legends" championship series. With that comes a barn burner of battle for the $1,000 championship bonus between drivers Matt Hicks and Dustin Ash who are tied in the standings with 94 points each. Ash won the series' last race, on New Year's Day, following a wheel to wheel run with Hicks. Prior to that feature race Hicks set a new track qualifying record, 16.51 seconds, for the series. There's also a tight battle for third in the standings between drivers Robert D'Ambra and Zak Price who are separated by only two points.
The ASA Street Stocks are a major staple, and a fan favorite, at the Havasu 95 Speedway. This series is also eligible for ASA national championship points. Once again this exciting racing division is in the midst of a tight points battle heading into their eighth appearance of the season this Saturday night. Local driver Rick Zirges sits on top of the division's standings with 296 points. However it's only an eight point advantage over drivers Ricky Maddox Jr and Rick Benzansen who are tied for second. But this trio of championship contenders will have to be on the look out for Blythe driver Bryant Sutterfield who has pretty much dominated the action this season. A three time feature winner, Sutterfield is only two points away from second and just ten points from the top. The only reason he's still not the points leader is due to a missed race on January 22nd.
The young drivers in the SNE Bandolero division will be making their fifth appearance of the winter season at the Havasu 95 Speedway this Saturday night. Blake Rogers, a two time feature winner, leads the division standings with 196 points. However he only holds a slim four point lead over Jeremy Orozco who is also a two time race winner in the series. Matthew Davey holds down third in the standings with 178 points.
One of the major reasons racing fans purchase tickets at the Havasu 95 Speedway is the factory stock division. This rough and tumble, racing is rubbing, entry level to stock racing thrills the fans every time they pull out onto the speedway. The division will be making their eighth appearance of the season this Saturday night and they will be bringing a two way tie in the points standings with them. Local drivers O C "Bob" Berwick and two time feature winner Brent Delay shares the lead with 288 points each. Albert Remedios is only 14 points away from them in third. Still very much in this hunt is fan favorite "Jumbo" John Thorpe in fourth with 260 points.
The ladies in the factory stock powder puff division will be making their second appearance of the winter season this Saturday night. Their current points standings are based on the results of their first event won by Breanna Nelson. Melanie Jackson, Shelly Orozco, Sue Godnick and Shelly Nelson complete the top five in the standings.
The Havasu 95 Speedway weekend will kick off on Friday night with a test and tune session for all divisions from 6 to 9 pm. This practice session is free to spectators. On Saturday race day the spectator gates will open at 4 pm with the racing getting underway at 6 pm.
Saturday tickets are $12 general admission and $10 for seniors, military personnel and the handicapped. Kids tickets, age six to 16, are $6 while kids five and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paid adult. Lake Havasu High School students can receive a $1 discount on their tickets by presenting their school ID card. The speedway also offers a family package for $25 which admits two adults and two kids. Fans can also enjoy the special amenities of the speedway's VIP section, featuring the best seats in the house, for $25.
For out of town race teams and fans, the Days Inn is the official motel of the Havasu 95 Speedway. They offer beautiful and spacious rooms at affordable prices. For reservations call toll free at 1 800 835 2410. You may also make reservations on line at www.thehavasuinn.com.
For more information regarding the speedway's winter racing program dial up their official website at www.havasu95speedway.com or contact speedway promoter Bill Rozhon at 928 716 6300.
