Source: Ronald Montez
Date: 08/27/2006

Though Justin Westmoreland doesn’t race regularly at the Madera Speedway anymore, he did show the fans why he was the 2005 Late Model Sportsman track champion. For the second consecutive year, Westmoreland won the “Iron Man 100” Saturday night. The results were the same for Westmoreland but the manner of how he won it this year was different. Last season Westmoreland observed the race, stayed up with the leaders and timed his attack while saving his equipment for the long haul. It took him 68 laps to get into the lead. Early in this race, Westmoreland became the hunted after lap 15. “It kind of went differently than I planned, I didn’t expect to get to the front that early,” Westmoreland said. “I kind of figured to be stuck in traffic longer.” After 10 laps, Mark Uthein led while Westmoreland and Bryan Herzog were tied for fourth.

On the next lap, Westmoreland passed Herzog and Uthein to get into second behind the early leader, Joey Stearns. Westmoreland passed Stearns on lap 15 and it was up to him to figure out how to conserve his equipment without costing him the lead. “When I got out front that early, I just had to really save my stuff,” Westmoreland said. “Because these cars, as much tire as they’re on and as heavy as they are, you can’t overdrive them because you’ll have no tires left at the end. My dad kept telling me on the radio to save my stuff but with 30 laps left, my dad said it was time to go.”

Westmoreland couldn’t afford to let up on the race especially with Stearns constantly behind him. When Stearns caught up to him on lap 54, Westmoreland followed his dad’s instructions. “I kind of figured the same thing myself,” Westmoreland said. ”It’s kind of one of those deals if you don’t go soon enough, you stand the chance of losing the lead and not getting it back because it’s hard to pass on old tires.” Westmoreland ran into trouble when the yellow flag was waved. After a restart on lap 57, Stearns took the lead away from Westmoreland. After spinouts by Ernie Coppo and Dan Challgren caused a dust storm in the infield, another caution was issued. After the caution, Westmoreland regained the lead over Stearns, where he would lead for the final 40 laps. “Those restarts really left me vulnerable,” Westmoreland said. “It was touch and go. I knew we were good into one and I could outbrake him but it’s just one of those deals where you don’t want to drive it in there that deep if you can help it. So we were fortunate that Joey raced me clean and we had a pretty good battle there.” Westmoreland and Stearns were constantly trying to avoid the lapped cars that caused traffic. Westmoreland was driving on the top while Stearns occupied the bottom but at times had to watch out for cars in their lane. “If I caught a lapped car running the top it was real hard for me to get around them because I got used to running up there and it would break my rhythm,” Westmoreland said. “Luckily most of them were running in the bottom and I got through them fairly easily.” Westmoreland used his knowledge of years of racing at the Speedway to win another 100 lap race. In his two wins, he proved he could come back and win or get an early lead on hold off the field. “I think I knew what it took for me to win last year,” Westmoreland said. “Last year the race played out a lot different and I didn’t lead until after lap 68. This year I was surprised when I took the lead that soon, obviously, when you take the lead that soon you don’t want to get passed but at the same time you know you can’t run your stuff into the ground. If you knew it was going to stay green then you could build up your lead and then nurse it but when you have restarts you know you can¹t abuse your equipment.”

The win added to Westmoreland’s Speedway legacy proving the young racer could win even though he hasn’t raced in that class since winning the championship last September. “If I had to race it all over again, I wouldn’t have done it any different,” Westmoreland said. “All the restarts were agonizing, trust me, I was wondering if the race was ever going to end but I think I did a decent job.” It was a homecoming for Madera’s Westmoreland as he returned to the spot where he captured two track championships in three years.

Though it was his only appearance of the season in the Late Model class. “This is kind of a one off deal,” Westmoreland said. “We’re trying to run an SRL Late Model now. We kind of felt like that we’ve proven everything there is to prove here in Madera with the championships and track records. But we wanted to come back tonight, I do miss racing here.” Though Westmoreland and Stearns had the top two finishes, neither driver is competing for track championships in the Madera series. Richard Herzog finished third while Rick Thomspon ended fourth. Herzog showed resiliency and battled back all the way to third place. He started near the back at the beginning of the race and on the final lap, he cut through Mike Copeland and Del McIntosh to pass up Thompson to finish third. Both drivers are competing for what Westmoreland won last season. “These guys are still tough,” Westmoreland said. “I’m not discounting any of the guys that race here on a weekly basis. But this was our goal to win tonight but I didn’t expect it. We set a fast time and won the race, you can’t ask for much more.” While Westmoreland reminded drivers who the reigning track champion was, another driver with a championship that had a major influence on drivers. The 2005 Toyota Sedans champion Randy Fleming has given his input to other drivers and close former teammates. Fleming, who’s still in the thick of a hunt for a repeat championship is behind current point’s leader Jason Kerns. Fleming beat out Kerns for second place for the second week in a row but also finished behind Steve Trusner, who won the 30-lap race. Despite the third place finish, Kerns is on pace to win his first track championship in only his second season. Though Fleming won’t concede the championship, if he can’t win it, Fleming wouldn’t mind if Kerns shared his title. “Jason learned from watching me last year,” Fleming said. “He got into racing because of my help. A lot of what he¹s done now is by himself but I told him to watch me last year and learn how to race. Once you learn how to race people and how to do it clean, the wins will come. He’s got the talent and he’s a good friend. It’s good to see him win.” At this pace, Fleming and Kerns are be heading for a showdown in the Toyota Sedans championship race. One driver who could also follow in the footsteps of Kerns is Fleming’s sister, Candee McIntosh. McIntosh is currently driving in the Toyota Sedans car that her husband, Del, raced in last year. McIntosh finished 10th in the race and likes her progress in the division but is open to advice from her brother. “He’s pretty good about asking me how things are,” McIntosh said. “You have to be to take criticism, too.” Just like when Kerns, the 2005 Toyota Sedans rookie of the year, said he wanted to be this season’s track champion at the end of last year, McIntosh hopes her success from her former division, the Hornets, will happen in the near future. “I feel pretty confident but I do still feel I have a lot too work on,” McIntosh said.

Just like how McIntosh, as a pit crew member watched Dave Landers and Del race for years in the Toyota Sedans division, she’s been taking in Fleming’s and Kerns’ racing tips. She also knows it will be tough to root for just one of them for the championship. “It’s too close too call,” McIntosh said. “I think it will come down to the end. I’d be happy to see either win. It’ll be exciting.” With McIntosh, the 2004 and 2005 track champion gone, the Hornets division is wide open for a championship. Miles Humphrey won the 15-lap race and beat out Andrew Aguirre, who finished second. Despite the win, Humphrey has no baring on the points standing. Rick Minor, Sue Hannah, Joe Garcia and Aguirre all have a legit shot at the title void left by McIntosh. The same could be said about the Street Stocks division. Though there is no sure champion for the class, Tony Schmitz has been stacking up wins as he won his second straight race. Schmitz won the 30-lap race and stayed ahead Charle Clawson, who finished second. In other racing action, Pro 4 racer Don Minut won the 35-lap race while Eddie Secord came in a close second.

The Madera Auto Center Special Edition Monte Carlo pace car will pace USAC and CASA Sprints, Midgets and Ford Focus Midgets to Madera Speedway on Memorial Day (Monday) for the annual “Triguero Classic” on September 4th. The excitement of the USAC/CASA Sprints, USAC Midgets and Ford Focus Midgets will be partnered with the Modified Super Toyotas, mighty 360 Supermodifieds and the “1st Annual Union Members Grudge Race Championship” presented by Budweiser and the Triguero Family. Holiday racing action will begin early with Pit Gates Opening at 9:00AM, Practice Beginning at 11:00AM, Grandstands Open & Qualifying at 1:00PM, Opening Ceremonies at 2:30PM, and Green Flag Racing at 3:00PM.

For further details, make www.MaderaSpeedway.net your pit stop or call (559) 673-RACE (7223).

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