VICTORVILLE, California -- - Saturday night marked the first of two consecutive racing weekends at Route 66 Raceway at the Fairgrounds. More significant, though, was the fact that it was Barstow driver John Krieger's 21st birthday, and the young driver celebrated with a big win in a Main Event race that may have lacked high style, but more than made up for it with its share of spills and thrills.
By unofficial count the race, which was scheduled for 20 laps or 20 minutes, actually ran a mere 5 laps under the green flag, and ended up as a 2-lap sprint to the finish line as time ticked down to mere seconds. Starter Dennis Houses kept the yellow flag handy throughout the race as drivers, perhaps a bit more aggressive than usual due to the full moon, turned the race into something that slightly resembled a demolition derby. Barstow regulars like Steve Rose and Rick Gilmore found themselves left with significant damage to their cars following their individual tangles. Gilmore mixed it up with Oak Hills' Ralph Adams and they found themselves along the rail at Turn 2.
Rose and Chino's Phil Feihler mixed it up at the other end of the track, and after being removed from his wounded vehicle Rose was checked out at the scene by the Blackhawk Safety crew and found to be just a little rattled but otherwise okay. Both Rose and Gilmore will surely be back to race another day. "Believe it or not, the track seemed to be in as good a condition as it has been all season. It's just the way things happen sometimes, it's just racing," Gilmore said in an interview following the race. Following Krieger to the finish line were Norco's Chris Tooley putting in a strong showing in second place and Trona's Melodie Smith, wife of Super Street contender Chris Smith, coming in third. Speaking of Super Street, Barstow's Mike Morris proved once again why he is the driver to beat in this class as he rolled on to yet another first place finish here in this hotly contested division. For the first time in recent memory both Morris and his main rival, Trona's Chris Smith, were placed in the same heat race earlier in the evening, with Morris and Smith finishing one-two.
At that point Smith tenaciously held on to a one-point lead in the standings. Morris led the Main right out of the chute and found his groove early. In fact, by Lap 5 both he and Smith were beginning to lap slower vehicles in what appeared to once again become a two-man race.
The only times things got close were during the few times when the yellow flag came out and the field tightened up. When the green came out, though, Morris seemed to effortlessly pull away from the pack. The end of the race found Morris holding the checkered flag, Smith in second position and Apple Valley's Jim Abright finishing in third place. "After the way things went last time out I felt that it was important to run a little extra hard and run a really clean race, and I know that Chris felt the same way. My car felt good and I just went for it. Fortunately I came out on top, but you can't count Chris out by any means," said Morris following the race. The competition between Morris and Smith has become quite a highlight here, and will continue again this coming weekend when the two hook up again.
The Mini Stock division saw the return of two familiar faces here at Route 66 Raceway and, although both finished back in the pack, it was good to see them back on the track and racing again. Barstow's Dick Fork brought his #09T Dodge pickup to the meet and Apple Valley's Jim Chandler was back on board with his #12 Pinto. Both drivers spent the time getting re-aquainted with the track and with a few more races under their belts both are sure to be right there in the thick of things. It was Dave Clark, though, who once again took the win in Mini Stock completing a sweep for the Riverside driver as he had previously won his heat race. Victorville's Andy Moreton was right there with Clark throughout the race and finished second. Moreton, too, had previously taken his heat race earlier. Despite a valiant effort by Clark's brother Don to finish in the top-three, it was Johnson Valley's Mark Nustad who took third place honors this week.
Although Monrovia's Diann Abright wasn't in a car this week, she, too, was present at the track and just itching to get back behind the wheel. When questioned about what she was thinking as she sat in her totaled car with her sister Joann following her accident here two weeks ago, Abright said, "I was sitting in the car with my foot to the floor on the gas pedal and wondering why it wouldn't go!"
Asked about her injuries, the sophomore driver noted that, for a time, she couldn't move the left side of her body but that soon dissipated and all that remained was a sore neck, which is currently in a neck-stabilizing collar. "My son, Jimmy, is just about done putting a new car together for me, and as soon as the doctors release me, I'll be back!" Perhaps we'll all be seeing Diann back as soon as this coming weekend, no doubt to thunderous applause from her many fans here.
Abright's class, the popular All Americans, provided a few thrills for the fans, especially for the crowd in the grandstand all dressed in orange in support of their favorite driver, Hesperia's Jason Andrews. He didn't disappoint them at all as he went on to yet another first-place finish in the All American Main Event.
Andrews held off challenges by Phelan's James Mila and Riverside's Frank Warnke to take the win and continue his dominance in the points race in this class. Hesperia's Johnnie Little and Victorville's Charlie Wenzel finished up in second and third place, respectively.
Just nine cars were here for the fun in the Dwarf Class, sometimes referred to as the "outlaw dwarfs," but, as always, they provided quite a show for the fans. It was Granada Hills' Chuck Lippert who emerged the winner, with Josh Tompson, traveling up from El Cajon capturing the second spot. Hesperia's Perry Highfill, a regular visitor to the winners' circle here, finished a respectable third.
Murietta's husband-and-wife team, Kevin and Julie Frantum unfortunately ran out of steam and failed to complete tonight's Main Event. Will Julie Frantum be the next driver to remove the rookie "bug" from her car? We'll just have to wait and see.
Rounding out the program were the youngsters in the Hornet Junior class and it was Apple Valley's Nick Searles coming out the winner this week. Hesperia's Tony Vanillo, the winner last time out, finishing second and whoever was driving the #16 car, probably one of the George kids, finishing third. Apple Valley sent yet another youngster to the races this week in the person of Heather Vogel. Vogel could someday be a rising star in the sport, as could any one of the young chargers competing here in the Hornet Juniors.
Saturday was also "Bob Night" at the Raceway with everyone named Bob or a derivative of Bob being admitted to the grandstand free of charge. Rumor has it that there was even a "Bobbie," female-type, in the stands. As previously mentioned, racing will continue here this coming Saturday night, August 7 with the return of the IMCA Modifieds and the winged 250 Sprint cars. Also, the Powder Puff race originally cut from the last program will be on the card this coming weekend.
Want to learn more about the Victor Valley's only place to "play in the dirt"? Visit the track's website, www.rt66racetrack.com. For more information or directions to the track call the Fairgrounds at 760-951-2200.
1. Mike Morris 37 Barstow
2. Chris Smith 15 Trona
3. Jim Abright 5 Apple Valley
4. Mike Prather 9 Devore
5. Leonard Wahlquist 66 Fontana
2. Chris Tooley 88T Norco
3. Melodie Smith 60 Trona
4. John Abright 56 Apple Valley
5. Billy Lyons 21 Hesperia
2. Andy Moreton 07 Victorville
3. Mark Nustad 17 Johnson Valley
4. Kenny Lehman 3 Joshua Tree
5. Vince Porter 7 Apple Valley
2. Johnnie Little 00X Hesperia
3. Charlie Wenzel 23 Victorville
4. Frank Warnke 18 Riverside
5. JR Steele 30 Hesperia
2. Julie Tower 9 Murietta
3. Perry Highfill 12 Hesperia
4. Mike AtteberryJr., 8 Lucerne Valley
5. Jack Wilson 11 Desert Hot Springs
2. Tony Vanillo 30 Hesperia
3. Danielle George 16 Apple Valley
4. Heather Vogel 24 Apple Valley
*only cars entered
