VICTORVILLE, California -- It turned out to be a 'run for the Roses' on Saturday night as both Steve Rose and his daughter, Tabitha, who hail from Barstow, scored Main Event wins in their respective classes at Victorville's Route 66 Raceway. The senior Rose, running his #29 car in the Street Stock class, started the race in the #5 position and by mid-race had moved out in front, never to let go of that spot for the remainder of the race. At times, despite traffic and a number of yellow flags and even a red flag, during the race, Rose led by as much as half a track length.
The red flag condition was caused when last meet's winner, Apple Valley's Jimmy George, blew a hose which resulted in a fire in his engine compartment. Quick thinking by George doused the fire and he escaped from the mishap unscathed. Amazingly, he was able to drive the car off the track, which brought a roar of applause from the near-capacity crowd.
In the end, it was a sprint to the finish, which saw Rose holding off Barstow's John Krieger to take the win. Krieger, driving his #61 car, started the race in 15th position, managed to move through traffic to move into the second spot. Norco's Chris Tooley (#88) managed to capture third place in this wild and woolly race.
On the distaff side, it was Rose's daughter who gave her Dad an early Father's Day present by barreling her way to an impressive victory in the season's fifth Powder Puff Main Event feature. The younger Rose, who started out the night in fourth place in the points race in her class, appeared as if she was just taking the #29 out for a Saturday evening drive as she had her race in control for the whole time, despite deteriorating track conditions at this late time in the race program. Barstow's Liz Metzger, driving John Krieger's #61, held on for the second place finish, while Hesperia's Wendy Olson finished in the third spot. Olson currently leads the Powder Puff division in the season's points race.
In Super Street the battle between Trona's Chris Smith and Barstow's Mike Morris continued, with Smith and Morris finishing one-two in the Main Event race. After each had won their respective heat races, Morris and Smith were dead-even in at the top of the Super Street points battle and ended up the night with Smith holding an ever-so-slight one point edge in the standings. When asked about the win Smith replied, "I had promised my nephew, Tyler, a win last time around, but Mike took that race, so this win was for him!" Fontana's Len Wahlquist finished the race in third place. Look for the battle of the Super Streets to continue when Smith and Morris hook up again on July 3rd.
Mini Stock saw Riverside's Dave Clark continue his recent dominance of the class with a strong win. Clark, currently fourth in points, picked up a few on points leader Andy Moreton this week with his victories, both in his heat race and in the Main Event. Clark credits much of his success in this class to his wife, Donna, who almost single-handedly built his engine. "I did give her a hand with the heavy torqueing work, but she pretty much built it on her own. It was her first engine, and I am proud of the job she's done on it," said Clark. Mike Gibson, racing out of Victorville took second in this race, while Apple Valley's Rob McDonald finished third.
Barstow's Robbie Cockrell finished an impressive fourth after being positioned last at the restart following a mishap on the first lap involving Cockrell and Johnson Valley's Mark Nustad. Nustad and Cockrell literally locked vehicles side-by-side coming out of turn 4 and it required much effort by the track crew and the Blackhawk guys to get them unstuck. Unfortunately, Nustad and the aforementioned Moreton finished the race well back in the pack.
The All American feature was won by Victorville's Walt Reynolds. Reynolds, the current points leader, was followed by Hesperia's Bud Gray, while JR Steele, also out of Hesperia placed third. Have you ever been at the track and said to yourself, "I can DO that?" Well, there's more on how you can win, and race, your own All American class racecar at the end of this story.
Both the Hornets and Junior Hornets were racing at Route 66 as well this week. In the Hornet class it was San Bernardino's Stan Youngblood who took home first-place honors, followed by Apple Valley's Lance Hare in second place and Temecula's Bobby Joe Kimbrough rounding out the top three positions. In Junior Hornets the youngsters were once again at it, with Apple Valley's AJ George taking first-place (in his sister's car, no less), sister Danielle finishing second and Hesperia's Tony Vanillo placing third. Confusing, isn't it? The track is still actively looking for added participants in these two underpopulated classes, so if you've given a thought to trying this out, especially those youngsters 14-and-above, give the Raceway a call and get hooked up. It's a fun way to get into the sport and maybe even latch on to a career in motor sports.
It was bang-em-up time for the IMCA Modifieds this week as "quick ones" just couldn't seem to get things together for one reason or another. This event saw no less than 4 restarts with pileups on the back straight as well as turns 3 and 4. By the end of the race, which wound up shortened due to time restrictions, it was Barstow's Rex McGuire who came out victorious, with Victorville's Brad Bennett and Larry Blake, out of Trona, rounding out the top three positions. Some race fans have said the these cars are much too fast for a small track like Route 66, but they do put on a spectacular show and are definite crowd pleasers. The high-powered IMCA cars are a regular feature here and appear at almost every meet throughout the racing season.
The night before Father's Day brought two special events to the Raceway first with the appearance of the members of the Western Racing Association and their Vintage Racecars, who performed in two non-points events at the track. These cars are for the most part no newer than 50-years old and some are even a bit older than that. The drivers of these cars range from around 50, like Lakewood's Curt Sibley to Santa Ana's Bill Gerrard, who is still out there competing at age 82. In fact, WRA rules state that drivers can be no younger than 50-years "young".,
They are powered by highly modified Model "A" or "B" engines and exotic Offenhauser power plants. You'll even find the occasional Flathead Mercury or 6-cylinder Chevy motor in these cars. These cars and drivers really impressed the fans in the stands, and are due for a return visit before the end of the season, so if you like the "old ones' and want to relive the 'good old days" of open-wheel motor racing, come on out to the Raceway and catch the Vintage cars when they come by again.
It was also "Harley Night" at Route 66 as guys and gals on their "Hogs" came to the track aboard their bikes and were rewarded with reduced admission to the grandstand and the opportunity to cruise around the track during intermission. It was a good turnout for the two-wheelers who in turn were treated to a great night of racing.
And speaking of racing, if you've always wanted to try your hand at making continuous left-hand turns, Route 66 Raceway is giving you your chance to make your dreams a reality. Each race night, fans are given the opportunity to purchase chances to win their own race-ready All American car. The car, which is based on a 1977 Chevy Nova, was built primarily by Track Manager Gary Lane, along with the assistance of such sponsors as Johnico Graphics of Apple Valley, Mama Carpino's Italian Deli and Apple Valley Trailer Parts and Scotty's Automotive in Hesperia, to name just a few. Wayne's Engine Rebuilders in Victorville is building the power plant for this red-and white beauty.
Tickets are available at the track on race nights only and are just a dollar apiece. There is do limit to the number of tickets you can buy. The winner will be announced on race night on October 30th, just in time for the open practice session on November 7th and for competition in the annual Turkey Classic in late November.
As for racing itself, it continues again on Saturday, July 3, with heat races beginning at 5pm. For more information or directions to the track, call the Fairgrounds at 760-951-2200.
1. Chris Smith 15 Trona
2. Mike Morris 37 Barstow
3. Len Wahlquist 66 Fontana
4. Chris Funkhouser 19 Phelan
5. Roger Funkhouser 18 Phelan
1. Steve Rose 29 Barstow
2. John Krieger 61 Barstow
3. Chris Tooley 88 Norco
4. Frank Hopkins 7 Ridgecrest
5. Keith Prischman 43 Apple Valley
1. Dave Clark 31 Riverside
2. Mike Gibson 2 Victorville
3. Rob MacDonald 0 Apple Valley
4. Robbie Cockrell 70 Barstow
5. Dan Sandt 77 Covina
1. Walt Reynolds 16 Victorville
2. Bud Gray 8 Hesperia
3. JR Steele 30 Hesperia
4. Jim Naranjo 17 Apple Valley
5. Frank Warnke 18 Riverside
1. AJ George 16 Apple Valley
2. Danielle George 9 Apple Valley
3. Tony Vanillo 30 Hesperia
*only cars racing
1. Stan Youngblood 04 San Bernardino
2. Lance Hare 9 Apple Valley
3. Bobby Kimbrough 40 Temecula
4. Gary Bennett 12 Victorville
5. Steve Davis 43 Upland
1. Rex McGuire 80 Barstow
2. Brad Bennett 20 Victorville
3. Larry Blake 6L Trona
4. Duane Rogers 89 Imperial
5. Dale Underwood 98 Riverside
1. Tabitha Rose 29 Barstow
2. Liz Metzger 61 Barstow
3. Wendy Olson 8 Hesperia
1. Glenn Necessary 55 Canyon Country
2. Tony Simon 2 Alta Loma
3. Delmer Arndt 78 Hesperia
