SAN BERNARDINO, California -- Orange Show Speedway opened their 2003 racing season on Saturday April 12th with seven divisions on the racing card. An estimated crowd of over 3,500 people and a packed pit area with over 110 cars in attendance to take to the new and improved ¼ high-banked paved oval. The Orange Show Speedway recently took on a facelift under the direction of Steve Larsen, Director of Motorsports. The track has a new asphalt surface for the first time in 20 years among other improvements. Divisions competing included the Leno’s Rico Taco Late Model Sportsman, National Realty Group Pro-4’s, Stock Pony, Pure Stock, Lady Pure Stock, Golden West Tire Sport Compact, and Mini StocKars.
The Leno’s Rico Taco Late Model Sportsman field enjoyed a 15 car turnout for their opener. Gary Tamborelli of Escondido opened defense of his ’02 title by pacing qualifying with a 13:28 Lap. Heat race action saw smooth rookie and youngster Charles Price and Las Vegas’ own Darren Michaels take season opening heat race victories. The invert for the 50-lap main event found Frankie Gould and Michaels on the front row with Street Stock grad Lou Gamache and Veteran Kenny Sapper in row 2. Fast qualifier Tamborelli would line up in row 4 with the invert for the evening being 8. Michaels jumped out to an early lead with the field in tow. Following a yellow flag for a spin by Wade Riddering in turn two, Michaels would be replaced at the point by Sapper. Tamborelli now running second stalked Sapper for a few circuits before making the move that would deliver him the $800.00 opening night victory. Following Tamborelli across the stripe was Sapper and eleventh starting Glenn Cummings. The Leno’s Rico Taco Late Model Sportsman will now take a two week break and return to action on May 3rd.
The National Realty Group Pro 4’s signed in a 21 car field for the evening. Qualifying would be led by rising star and high school senior from Yucaipa 18 yr. old Brett Edwards with a 13.37 lap. The trophy dash would find Eddie Secord and Ed Reed on the front row and Tim Carruthers and Edwards on the back row. Reed would win the four lap sprint with Secord, Carruthers, and Edwards following. The heat races would be won by Dennis Andrews and John Soares. The feature would see Jim Snow and Rex Lockwood on row 1 and Rookies Mike O’Hara and Kyle Cline in row 2. Fast qualifier Edwards would start from the eighth spot. The main event would be plagued by both yellow and red flags throughout the 50 laps. Dash winner Reed’s night would end with a turn 4 crash heavily damaging his racer. The red flag would fly for Cal Vandervoort who developed a small fire while piloting Kendall Scheidecker’s car, Cal escaped without injury but was done for the night. Carruthers would lead the early laps of the event until being passed by Secord. Eighth starting Edwards had worked his way forward to chase Secord until an opening allowed him to slip under Secord for the lead. He would continue to lead the rest of the way to record the $800.00 victory. Following Edwards would be Secord and eighteenth starting Andrews in the Unlimited Motorsports machine.
The Pony Stocks would start ’03 with a 20 car turnout. Fast Qualifier Linny White would lead the division with a 14.81 lap. The two 6 lap heat races would find Cory Allen & Doug Olson victorious. The 50-lap feature would find Olson & Ryan Rawlings on the front row with Jim Mardis & Adrianne Murlin in row 2. After the dust settled Linny White would find himself in victory lane with a $400.00 payday. Following White across the finish line would be Mark Shackleford and Erik Spring.
The Pure Stocks opened ‘03 with a 20 car field. Paced in qualifying by Bill Bartleson with a 15.85 lap. Heat race winners would be Michelle Docks and John Mattie. Their main event lineup would feature Jimmy Rouse and Dave Foster in row 1 with Bob Bartleson and Blake Usilton in row 2. The scheduled 50-lap feature would see ninth starting Justin Good lead Usilton and Brian Malone across the line. The Pure Stock Main Event saw the checkered flag wave after 20 minutes due to time constraints.
The Golden West Tire Sport Compacts displayed a 16 car field for the evening. Last years champion Stan Youngblood would lead qualifying with a lap of 17.53. 6 lap heat races saw Bobby Hogerhuis and Clay Ginn pick up victories. Their feature would include Ronnie Everhart and Ginn on the front row. The 20 minute affair would see a daring last corner last lap pass by Youngblood for the win followed closely by David Braden Jr. and Hogerhuis.
Earlier contested events saw Kelly Bartleson best Kim Unruh and Michelle Docks in Lady Pure Stock action. The Mini-Stockar debut was won by youngster Nick Willhite with Zach Stout and Mike Brown rounding out the top three.
Orange Show Speedway will return to action this Saturday April 19th, with four divisions competing. Scheduled to compete are the National Realty Group Pro 4’s, Pro Stock Late Model, Street Stocks and Sport Trucks. Located on the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, gates open at 5:00PM with racing at 6:30PM. Admission is just $10.00 for adults with kids 12 and under free. Come and see great racing action on Southern California’s only high-banked ¼ mile paved racing facility. For additional information please call 909-888-6788, ext 438.
