2001 Mesa Marin Raceway Track Champions
NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model Stock Cars
NASCAR ShorTrack Series Limited Late Models
Mesa Marin Street Stocks
Dan Holtz – 2001 Mesa Marin Track Champion
NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model Stock Cars
Dan Holtz won the Mesa Marin championship in the Late Model Stock Car Division. Holtz will represent Mesa Marin at the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Awards Banquet next month in Orlando, Florida. Holtz captured the championship with three (3) wins, fifteen-(15) top 5s, and sixteen-(16) top 10s. He also received the KUZZ Radio AM/FM Fast Time Award winning ten (10) poles for the season.
"I race to win," says Holtz. "It’s how I do everything. I see a target and go after it until I get the job done. I learned last year you really needed to have good people with the same goal in mind. We found the right people this year and got good support from Thompson Motorsports and Cal Spas.
"Our goal was to put a competitive car on the track each week. We did that consistently most weeks winning fast time. And although, we didn’t always get to the winner’s circle, we finished up front. I can honestly say I wouldn’t change a thing about this year’s season. I made Mesa Marin my home track a few year’s ago and I’m really proud to represent Mesa Marin Raceway as their track champion in 2001."
Holtz won the Ultra Wheel Spec Truck Series Championships at Mesa Marin, El Cajon, Irwindale and Las Vegas in 1999. He was able to take home the winner’s trophy in both the 1999 and 2000 Mesa Marin Raceway Late Model Stock Car Race of Champions during the October Classic. In the 2000 NASCAR Weekly Racing Series, he drove Super Late Models and Late Models at Mesa Marin, finishing 2nd in the series.
Holtz hails from Pacific Palisades, but also has a condo in Bakersfield, where he operates the Dan Holtz Complete Auto Racing School at Mesa Marin Raceway.
Ken Thompson, Inc., Cal Spas, Valley Decals, and Dan Holtz CARS, Complete Auto Racing School, the official racecar driving school of Mesa Marin Raceway sponsor Holtz.
Brandon Miller – 2nd Place NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Models
Mesa Marin Raceway – 2001
In his first full year racing Late Models at Mesa Marin Raceway, Brandon Miller came out with four main event wins – a tie with Jason Small for the most wins of the season. He captured one pole, 12 top 5s and 15 top 10s.
"It was a learning year," said the youthful Miller. "Our goal was to run the whole season and learn the track before we move onto the next division. What did I learn most? Patience and running my best line. We got better and better as the season progressed. A few more races and I think we could have passed Holtz for the championship, but he was an awesome competitor."
Miller moved to Bakersfield and set up shop at Mesa Marin to get as much practice time as he could fit into his busy schedule. He also ran the NASCAR Southwest Series with his best finish an 11th place at Las Vegas.
He started Cal State University Bakersfield as a freshman this fall and plans to run a limited Late Model schedule at Mesa Marin Raceway in 2002 and begin to concentrate on the NASCAR Southwest Series full time next year.
Their sponsors include Oakley Sunglasses.
Kevin Thompson – 3rd Place NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Models
2001 Rookie of the Year – Mesa Marin Raceway
Kevin Thompson started racing in the Ultra Wheels Super Truck Series, but as a big man, he quickly learned he felt more comfortable with a "big" car surrounding him. He had a Port City Late Model built for him by Gary Collins, picked up some pointers from his friend and teammate Dan Holtz and won Rookie of the Year for the 2001 season.
Thompson even picked up a first career win in 2001. "That really gave me confidence," said Thompson about his win. "Before that I was making little mistakes and didn’t finish a couple of races. The win just put it all in perspective and showed me I could do it. We came back and got 10 Top 5s for the season."
Thompson is married to Paige and has a little girl, Jessica Rae. He works in the family-owned business, Thompson Construction. Next year he plans to run his Late Model when he isn’t crewing for Dan Holtz on the NASCAR Southwest Series circuit. Thompson Construction is the owner of his and Holtz’s race cars.
His team’s sponsors include Rialto Concrete Products and Pipeline Carrier & Inc.
Gene Fife – Mesa Marin Raceway 2001 Limited Late Model Champion
ShorTrack Division for the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series
Gene Fife collected his 4th Mesa Marin Raceway Championship. The newly developed Limited Late Model Series, formerly the Modified Stock Division, was selected as the NASCAR ShorTrack Division for 2001. Fife also placed second overall in the Pacific Coast Region. His team collected seven (7) wins, fourteen (14) top fives and sixteen (16) top tens and was on the pole eight (8) out of fourteens events.
"This series has been so much fun to run because Mesa Marin worked with us – the drivers – to develop the series so it would be competitive from the get-go, but stay affordable through the years. That brought the guys and gals a lot closer. I’m sure it was a key factor when we wrecked the #7 car mid-way through the season and Dave Howell loaned us his car while we were building a new one. Dave knew we had a chance to win the series and the region. I really owe this championship to him and, of course, my crew.
"I’m told its every racing-man’s dream to have his wife so involved in his team. We make it a family sport. Lori has been my right arm since the beginning and works on the crew. Now my sons are both involved. Since the boys were interested, we’ve made this our sport 100%. It’s been a great teaching tool for the kids.
"What’s next? I have a couple more years before the kids are ready to take over so I’d like to win the Pacific Coast Regional if not the national championship. Then I’ll crew for my boys."
Fife’s Championships at Mesa Marin were in 1992, 1996 and 2000 in the Modified Stock Division. The Fife Family is from Tehachapi, CA about 50 miles east of Mesa Marin Raceway. Along with crewing for their dad, his sons are involved in the Tehachapi Youth Motorsports and field a car in the Chevron High School Series at Mesa Marin Raceway.
Gene Fife’s sponsors include Mountain Paint Supply, Victory Circle Chassis, Southern Auto Supply, Benz, Inc., Valley Decal and Auto Sounds.
Brian Richardson – NASCAR ShorTrack Series 2nd Place
Limited Late Model Series – Mesa Marin Raceway 2001
At the beginning of the season Brian Richardson was chasing Gene Fife and then things changed and Richardson’s team pulled it all together and started stacking up the wins. One week after another until he got six. Fife would be strong in qualifying, but Richardson had learned his line and could get his #4 Rich-Pak Limited Late Model out front and stay there. But by the end of the season the tables turned again and Fife came back. Richardson had to settle for 2nd place for the season.
"I’m going to give it one more shot next year," said Richardson regarding his plans for 2002. "If I lose the championship to Gene Fife again I’m going to do something else."
The Richardson Family farms peaches in Wheeler Ridge, CA. He and wife Tina have a daughter named Sydney. He’s been racing for four years at Mesa Marin and started in Street Stocks and in 2000 won the Limited Late Model Rookie of the Year.
Richardson’s sponsors include Rich-Pak Marketing, D’Angelos-Valspar Paint, and Bakersfield Indoor Media.
Tom Devitt – NASCAR ShorTrack Series – 3rd Place
Limited Late Models – Mesa Marin Raceway – 2001
Tom Devitt’s favorite night of racing in 2001 was the night he won and raced into the pits to pick up his wife, Sharene, to share his victory lap. Sharene is his crew chief. The Devitt team picked up 3rd place for the season 10 top 5s. The #42 was consistently in the hunt for a good finish.
Tom is an engine builder by profession and built his teammate’s engine – Brian Richardson, who finished 2nd in the same division. He’s been racing for 15 years. Tom and Sharene have three children, Christine, Robert and Trisha.
His sponsors include Supply Sergeant, Devitt Racing Engines and Rich-Pak.
Josh Horn, Street Stock 2001 Champion
Mesa Marin Raceway
Josh Horn had a goal in 2001. He wanted to win the Street Stock championship at Mesa Marin Raceway. In his second year of racing at Mesa Marin, he would be the first one to give his team credit for making his dream come true.
"At the beginning of the season we just couldn’t keep up with Tony Alvarez. And then we crashed pretty good and had to put the car back together again. We changed more than the car. We changed how our team did things. With a better attitude and a good car, we started winning races or we’d finish close up front. Our whole team is really excited about winning this championship."
The team was led by Josh’s dad Clarence, who used to race regularly at Mesa Marin, and acted as crew chief for the season. They gave him a good car to race and Josh brought home the trophies. He won four poles and four main events for the season, but his consistency finishing in the top five in each of the fourteen scheduled races won him the championship.
Josh is a refrigeration mechanic by profession. He and his wife Jen have three children – Jaydon, Kaitlyn, and Brant.
Their sponsors include Comfort Maker Air Conditioning & Heating, Cochran Mechanical and Mark’s Auto Parts.
JR Garcia - 2nd Place Street Stocks – 2001
Mesa Marin Raceway
JR Garcia was still looking for his first main event win by the end of the season. He had a pole and won some Trophy Dashes, but he couldn’t quite get to the front and stay there for the end of the main event. But for 11 races he finished in the top 5 and that was enough to finish 2nd in the final points for the 2001 season.
If extra points were given out for the prettiest Street Stock, Garcia would have earned them. The #24 was always waxed a clear, red gloss and each week any dents from the previous events were gone. JR has been racing in the Street Stock Series for approximately five years and plans to move up to the NASCAR Limited Late Models in 2002 – if he can sell #24, he says.
JR’s sponsors include Oak Street Car Wash, Pizzaville USA, Southern Auto Machine Shop, Oak Lane Automotive, and Manual’s Casa De Mariscos.
David Hutchins - 3rd Place Street Stocks – 2001
Mesa Marin Raceway
David Hutchins wanted to win the points championship and the rookie of the year in 2001. He picked up one of the titles – Rookie of the Year and 3rd place in the point’s championship. Going into the final race he was in 5th place, but by the end of the evening he was able to work his way to finish 3rd for the season.
Hutchins is most proud of his children David III and Kayla and give credit to support for his racing program to his recently deceased wife Kathryn. Eric Toy was his crew chief. Hutchins finished 13 races with 7 in the top 5 to win the close battle for 3rd from Jeff Beard, Billy Tuck and Lloyd Wren Jr. He plans to be back in Street Stocks next season.
His sponsors include Valley Garbage Service, Hair Dimension, and Salinas Auto Body.
Photos Credits are for Photos by Spider or Farr Photography(Farr marked on back)
Mesa Marin Raceway – Front Gate Display
2001 – Celebrating 25th Year of ShorTrack Racing
Mesa Marin Raceway – ˝ mile asphalt with 17 degree banking in turns
Opened 1977 – Built & Promoted by Marion Collins Family
Dan Holtz – 2001 Mesa Marin Raceway Track Champion
NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model Stock Cars
#16 Late Model won 8 of 14 pole positions in 2001
Driven by Mesa Marin Raceway 2001 Track Champion Dan Holtz
Brandon Miller – Six Wins & 2nd in Series in 2001
NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Models – Mesa Marin Raceway
Brandon Miller, #68, challenges Leslie Lipscomb of Paso Robles
NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model Stock Cars – Mesa Marin Raceway
Kevin Thompson Wins Career First Main Event & Rookie of the Year
2001 NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model Stock Cars – Mesa Marin Raceway
Rookie Kevin Thompson Passes 4-time Mesa Marin Champion Kevin Vernon
NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Models – Mesa Marin Raceway 2001
Champion Gene Fife Wins Seven Main Events With Help from Lori & Rick Fife
2001 NASCAR ShorTrack Series – Limited Late Models - Mesa Marin Raceway
Champion Gene Fife Races Tom Devitt at Mesa Marin Raceway
NASCAR ShorTrack Series Limited Late Models – 2001 Mesa Marin Raceway
Brian Richardson Picks up Six Main Event Wins and 2nd Place in 2001
NASCAR ShorTrack Series Limited Late Models – Mesa Marin Raceway
Brian Richardson, 4, Challenges Gene Fife, 7, for 2001 Championship
NASCAR ShorTrack Series Limited Late Models – Mesa Marin Raceway
Tom Devitt and Crew Chief Sharene Devitt Enjoy 2001 Winners Circle
NASCAR ShorTrack Series Limited Late Models – Mesa Marin Raceway
Bakersfield’s Tom Devitt, 42, Races Kevin James, 31, of Yucaipa
NASCAR ShorTrack Series Limited Late Models – Mesa Marin Raceway
Josh Horn Celebrates Championship with Mesa Marin Announcers Sully & Steve
2001 Street Stocks – Mesa Marin Raceway
Josh Horn, 13, Wins Four Poles and Four Main Events for 2001 Championship
2001 Street Stocks – Mesa Marin Raceway
JR Garcia Picks Up Trophy Dash Win and 2nd Place for the Series
2001 Street Stocks – Mesa Marin Raceway
JR Garcia’s #24 Street Stock – Mesa Marin Raceway
David Hutchins, 0, Jumps to 3rd Place in the Series by Passing Josh Horn, 13
CARQUEST Season Finale – 2001 Street Stocks – Mesa Marin Raceway
