Where were all the race fans Saturday night?
Well, a lot of fans were sitting in the easy chair watching the popular NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge on their TV and a whole lot of them were likely holding their heads as Kurt Busch's bonsai move crumpled cars, enraged emotions and had fans frustrated. The fans that stayed at home could have set their TiVo or VCR to record the NASCAR All Star Challenge and would have seen a better race by trading in their sofa seat for a bleacher seat at their local short-track.
One of those short tracks the fans could have visited was Mesa Marin Raceway in Southern California's central valley. It offered a choice of four forms of racing last night; one of those was the NASCAR Street Stocks. Fans never seeing a Street Stock race be it at Mesa Marin Raceway or a track close by, are missing out on some of the most gripping grass roots racing to be found.
The men and women that race these cars are following their dreams. For some it is the hope to move up, for others going out on a Saturday and going door-to-door in a battle for position is the dream.
We thought we would take a closer look and find out a little more about the drivers racing in the Mesa Marin Street Stocks.
MESA MARIN STREET STOCK DRIVERS
Name: David Hutchins, Jr.
Car Number: 0
How Long Have You Been Racing:Fourth year in Street Stocks
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: I finally got a good job and was able to afford it. It was something I always wanted to do. I love the fun of being side-by-side.
Name: Paul Ebersbacher
Car Number: 02
How Long Have You Been Racing: Five Years
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: There was a gentleman by the name of Gene Fife that was at by high school. Racing was something I always wanted to do and he gave me enough encouragement to try.
Name: Ron Rogers
Car Number: 05
How Long Have You Been Racing:Five years
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: Took a drive in a Drive Tech car and that started it all
Name: Anthony Gillespie
Car Number: 1
How Long Have You Been Racing:Five Years, including the one year spent in the High School Series
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: Racing is something I always wanted to do. My dad used to race at Merced.
Name: Randy Tucker
Car Number: 5
How Long Have You Been Racing:Second year
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: The track enjoyment and the adrenalin rush
Name: Mike Brilhante
Car Number: 7
How Long Have You Been Racing:Have been racing 35 years and began racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks when they opened in 1993.
Name: Mark Kuhar
Car Number: 13
How Long Have You Been Racing:I began racing here the middle of last year.
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: I watched it and was interested in it. Decided it was something I would like to try.
Name: Jeremy Ellis
Car Number: 19
How Long Have You Been Racing:I raced in 2002 in the Powder Puff series and then this season I am in the Street Stocks
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: It is very competitive. I like to speed (smiling) and this is a lot of fun.
Name: "Shooter" Shane Thomas
Car Number: 21
How Long Have You Been Racing:Two years at this track. I have been racing for 12 years. Started racing in go carts and in 2002 moved up to the Mesa Marin Street Stocks.
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: Affordable and being able to move up to a car.
Name: Howie Smith
Car Number: 22
How Long Have You Been Racing:I have been racing since 1995 starting out with quads and quads. My brother and I won the Street Stock championship in 1997.
Name: JR Garcia
Car Number: 24
How Long Have You Been Racing:Five Years
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: I helped someone build a car and when he was involved in an accident I began driving the car. I enjoy the competition. It is like a big family.
Name: Greg Puskarich
Car Number: 40
How Long Have You Been Racing:Second year (was the 2003 Rookie-of-the-Year)
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: Finally can afford it. I have crewed everything from Late Models at Saugus to NASCAR West Grand National cars.
Name: Wayne Park
Car Number: 44
We apologize we missed this driver. He was signing autographs for the fans.
Name: Jason Niederriter
Car Number: 46
How Long Have You Been Racing:I started racing here last year.
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: My friend is an engine builder for B and M machine and builds engines for the Street Stocks here.
Name: Matt Eldridge
Car Number: 64
How Long Have You Been Racing:First Year
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: I raced motocross before coming to the cars. The deciding factor was I broke my back last July at Pismo Beach (Calif.). We had already started building a car because we wanted to try something new. There are a great bunch of guys out here and we come out to just have some fun.
Name: Jason Devries
Car Number: 51
How Long Have You Been Racing:Two Months
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: I hired a guy for my plumbing business and he was involved as a crew chief on a car and that is how it got started. I really enjoy the competitiveness and the strategy.
Name: Jeff McCulty
Car Number: 81
How Long Have You Been Racing:Today is my first race.
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: I am giving a kidney to my mother-in-law on June 28th and just wanted to do something I really like. I found a car for a thousand dollars and put a motor in for another thousand and am now able to race. Also my daughters are 12 and 13 and they would like to race someday. I chose Mesa Marin for the guys and the talent.
Name: Jason Black
Car Number: 84
How Long Have You Been Racing: One Month (Third Race)
Why or what you like about racing the Mesa Marin Street Stocks: Family always raced. I worked on Gary Elmore's Late Model out here in Bakersfield and I plan to move up to the ASA Speed Truck Challenge or a Late Model.
The one question that all the drivers found difficult to answer was "What competitor do you feel races you the cleanest?" Oddly it was not because they couldn't think of a clean competitor, but because a number of the drivers said racing the Mesa Marin Raceway Street Stock division is like a family gathering where for the most part everyone does their best to race the other driver clean. One driver said, "There are a lot of cars I don't worry about racing with because 90% of the cars out here race you clean and give you room when you need it. The top guys all race clean."
Another driver said, "That is like a trick question. For the most part everyone is running pretty well this year. Everyone can get around fine as long as they hold their line. Besides, how do you pick just one?"
But we were able to get a few "votes" if you will from some of the drivers. Anthony Gillespie came out the winner as being the cleanest driver with 4 votes. Greg Puskarich and David Hutchins, Jr each received 2 votes, while Ron Rogers, Howie Smith, Randy Tucker and Mike Brilhante each received a vote of confidence from their fellow competitors.
So while NASCAR's top series drivers were quite literally tearing up cars and spouting off negative remarks at one another, the locals at Mesa Marin were acting like true professionals.
