VICTORVILLE, California -- Barstow area drivers had it well under control as almost perfect weather brought close to 1000 race fans to Route 66 Raceway to enjoy the opening day festivities of the 2004 racing season.
Capping off the meet was Barstow's Tabitha Rose's almost pole-to-pole win in the first Powder Puff event of the new season. The 22 year-old Tabitha, driving her dad Steve's #29 Street Stock Chevrolet, started in 7th position and quickly moved to the front of the pack, never letting go of the lead for the rest of the race.
Dad Steve finished a close second to Apple Valley's John Abright in the Street Stock Main Event after a fourth place finish in his heat event. Barstow's John Krieger placed third in his #61 Chevy, behind Rose and Abright in the Main after also placing third in his heat race.
Rick Gilmore, another Barstow resident, drove his #51 Chevy to a fifth-place finish. The Street Stock Division always draws the most cars and drivers of any division and opening day was no exception as no less than 27 cars were entered.
In the hotly contested Super Street Division both "Mikes", Morris and Miller, were bested as Trona's Chris Smith and Dave Tomkins provided a one-two punch in the Main Event. Phelan's Roger Funkhouser placed third. Miller drove his #44 Dodge to a second-place finish and Morris came out on top of his group in their respective heat races.
Both the Hornet and Hornet Junior classes were sparsely represented and because of this all the finishers in each of the heat races were transferred into their respective Main Events. In the Hornet class, Hesperia's Paul Geis took the Main Event, with Mira Loma's Tim Hover taking second place while Perris' John Denver placed third.
In the Hornet Junior Class, driven by the young up-and-comers, 17 year-old Nicholas Searls from Apple Valley took top honors, while Ontario's Brandon Rook and Hesperia's Tony Vanillo were second and third, respectively. By the way, these youngsters were experiencing their first taste of short-track dirt racing and had the crowd in the stands on their feet for most of the race.
The Blackhawk Safety Team, which provides safety and recovery services fir the track, was kept busy throughout the day and night, as there was a fair share of bumping going on and parts strewn over the track that could have provided dangerous conditions to the drivers. They were kept especially busy during the wild IMCA Modified contest, whe, out of and original field of fourteen cars, only five were left running on the track at the end of the Main Event. Mark Allison of Las Vegas was the eventual winner, with Dale Underwood of Riverside and Victorville's Brad Bennett finishing second and third.
In other events on Saturday's card, the 250 Sprint Main Event was taken by John Wilcox, who traveled up to the High Desert from El Cajon. Chris Gansen of Rialto took second honors while Las Vegas' Andy Field placed third. In the Dwarf class Chuck Lippert of Granada Hills came in first, with Corona's Tom Clodt placed second and Jeff Thompson of El Cajon placed third.
In Mini-Stock, another popular class which weekly draws many cars and drivers, Victorville's Andy Moreton took first place, and Vince Porter and Jimmy Helton, both of Apple Valley, were second and third.
Racing continues Saturday April 3rd with times reverting back to normal. That is, pits opening at 1pm, gates opening at 3pm and the first heat races starting at 5pm. For more information on Route 66 Raceway, please call the Fairgrounds at 760-951-2200.
