The MSRA Pro-4 is one of those divisions you just have to love. And one of the drivers adding to the fun and excitement at last nights event was racing veteran, Kenny Smith. It has been less than two weeks since Smith, took a hard hit in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway wall for the Gold Coast 150, a NASCAR Winston West event. It was not the birthday present he wanted, but after seeing the damage to the car, it was a gift, because although Smith was hurt, he was standing, talking, being Kenny and able to move on to race the MSRA.
Last night Smith competed in the MSRA Pro-4 driving the No. 43 Quick Pick Motorsports entry. He was quick from the start, taking another pole at the Irwindale Speedway. He had hoped to drive on to victory lane, but a hard battle between him and points leader Jim Warden during the main event sent both drivers to a spin coming out of turn one as they caught up with lap traffic.
Sent to the back of the pack at the restart, Smith was undaunted and he set his focus on the front. Picking his way through traffic gaining positions with every lap, by the time the race was nearing the end he was right back up where he started, well almost, he was one position shy running second. Had the race gone just a couple more laps he may have had something for the No. 23 car of Mike Wright, but we will never know. Mike Wright was fast and driving one heck of a good race. He was driving the car hard through the corners and he hung on for a well-deserved win with Smith a mere .138 seconds behind him. The two drivers gave the fans what they came to see, an exciting race. No matter where the MSRA Pro4 competes, excitement follows.
In the Late Model race Ben Walker took the pole and the win for the Firstworld 100 and Robbie Brand did the same in the American Race Truck event, taking pole and win honors.
A note of interest the attendance at local short tracks seems to be on the rise. Irwindale Speedway is to have had about 6000 in attendance and last weekend Cajon Speedway in El Cajon (Calif.) had the biggest attendance they have had in 6 years. Word is out, there is racing outside the Winston Cup, let's face it the bullring adventures of short track racing can't be beat!
FIRSTWORLD 100 - 100 LAPS
1. 35 Ben Walker North Hills Chevrolet 100 Fast Time 18.270
2. 89 Greg Voigt Goleta Chevrolet
3. 60 Craig Rayburn Simi Valley Ford
4. 74 Rod Johnson Canyon City Chevrolet
5. 190 Brandon Loverock S.F. Springs Chevrolet
6. 73 Donnie Davis Valencia Dodge
7. 12 Mike Mendenhall Santee Chevrolet
9. 61 David Beat Santee Chevrolet
10. 170 Ray Hooper Jr. Las Vegas NV
11. 44 Boyd Magdall Las Vegas Chevrolet
12. 116 Richard Hooper Palmdale CA Chevrolet
13. 10 Shawn Brink Lancaster Pontiac
14. 65 Shawn Calderwood Bakersfield Chevrolet
15. 77 Brian Kelley Arleta Chevrolet
16. 34 Dennis Arena Duarte Chevrolet
17. 127 Doug Renno Canoga Park Chevrolet
18. 109 Gary Jenkins El Cajon Chevrolet
19. 67 Eric Ferguson El Cajon
20. 88 Mark Meech La Mesa Chevrolet
21. 99 Claude Bell El Cajon Chevrolet
22. 38 Jimmy Insolo Santa Clarita Chevrolet
23. 70 Chuck Trickle Las Vegas NV
24. 63 Brandon Miller Rancho Santa Fe Chevrolet
25. x03 Jimmy White Covina
26. 91 Scott Davidson Riverside Chevrolet
27. 96 Brian Barron Corona Chevrolet
28. 160 James Roland Jamul Pontiac
29. 1 AJ DiMarzo Saugus Chevrolet
30. 13 Dean Kuhn Oceanside CA Chevrolet
MSRA Pro4 20 LAPS
1. 23 Mike Wright, Joshua Tree 18.711
2. 43 Kenny Smith, El Monte Fast Time
3. 84 Eddie Secord, Lakeside
4. 75 Bob Fulmer, Glendora
5. 57 Rob Miller, Cathedral City
6. 33 Loren Pratt, Hesperia
7. 38 Phil Pratt, Riverside
8. 86 John Soares, San Bernardino, CA
9. x01 Tim Gardner, Sunland
10. 10 Mal Borders, Tujunga
11. 6 Mike Adams, Tustin
12. 34 Anthony Blevins, Monterey Park
13. 36 Gregg Symonds, Agoura Hills
14. 69 James Watson, Glendora
15. x02 Jim Warden, Anaheim
16. 98 Gary Ebeling, Monrovia
AMERICAN RACE TRUCKS - 25 LAPS
1. 37 Robbie Brand Barstow Ford 17:26.522
2. 42 Steve Dyer Signal Hill Chevrolet
3. 9 Michael Thomas San Marcos Dodge
4. 11 Deyon Young Las Vegas Chevrolet
5. 16 Mike Mocaby Bell Gardens
6. x05 Dave Rowe Vista Chevrolet
7. 57 Rick Harhaugh Santa Fe Springs Ford
8. x01 Dale Cromwell Ridgecrest Chevrolet
9. x08 Nathan Mirth Fullerton Chevrolet
10. 4 Terry Young Las Vegas Chevrolet
11. x0 Steve Shaw Newport Beach Chevrolet
12. 21 David Lyon Ontario Chevrolet
13. 26 Dennis Bennett Crestline Chevrolet
14. 99 Arie Luyendyk Jr. Scottsdale, AZ
15. 97 Kirk Knostman La Verne, CA Ford
16. 8 Doug DaCosta Scottsdale, AZ
17. 22 Greg Schneider Mesa AZ Chevrolet
18. 24 Josh Hulsebosch Ontario Dodge
19. 6 Lynn Mocaby Bell Gardens Chevrolet
20. 82 Monty Madison Scottsdale, AZ Chevrolet
21. 2 Bret Carlson Quartz Hill Chevrolet
