CONKLIN HOLDS OFF MALONE FOR LATE MODEL TITLE, SMITH STAYS PERFECT AT ORANGE SHOW SPEEDWAY

Source: OSS Media Relations/js
Date: 09/30/2007

SAN BERNARDINO – Jim Conklin did what was required to win a championship and Tom Smith stayed undefeated for the year Saturday night at Orange Show Speedway.

Conklin, 54, of Big Bear, went into the final points race of the season for the BSR West Late Models with a 10-point lead over Brian Malone and needing to finish within four spots of Malone to successfully defend his class title.

Malone, 40, of Grand Terrace, did all he could do by claiming his sixth win of the season in dominating fashion. But Conklin did what was necessary and finished fourth in the 30-lap main event, behind Malone, Gerald Lair and Steven Werner. That gave Conklin the championship by 4 points over Malone, with fifth-place finisher Dave Arce, of Santee, 20 points back in third.

Smith, of Lakewood, already had clinched the Lucas Oil Outlaw Figure 8 title. So the only question in that regard is whether or not the 32-year-old mechanic can complete a perfect season. That won’t be determined until the final race for the class, on Oct. 27. But after overcoming some pressure from Jay Henson in Saturday’s 25-lap main, Smith is 13 for 13 at the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval. And just for good measure he’s won his only two starts at Irwindale Speedway, giving him 15 wins in all.

While the Late Model title was decided and several other championships were virtually clinched, the Street Stock division continued to be a three-way battle with two races remaining, on Oct. 20 and Nov. 3.

Bobby Dezarov, of Palm Desert, went into the night with a 4-point lead over John Reiman and a 6-point advantage over Cliff Conklin. Kyle Meyer finished first in the 30-lap main event with Conklin second, Reiman third and Dezarov fifth, and that left the three men tied with 284 points apiece.

In the ASA Stock Pony class, leader Jim Edmiston virtually wrapped up his second title in three years by winning the 30-lap main over Adrianne Murlin and Matt Goodwin. Edmiston, the champion in 2005, will take a 24-point lead over Goodwin into the season finale Oct. 27.

Things are even more one-sided in the Aflac Factory Fours class following Tony Dumont’s fifth win in 12 starts. Leader Spencer Samaro, 18, of San Bernardino, finished third and now enjoys a 60-point advantage over Dumont with races left on Oct. 6 and Nov. 3.

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