Point battles taking shape at Orange Show
Speedway
SAN BERNARDINO – The point battles in
several classes will begin to come into focus as stock car racing at
Orange Show Speedway continues Saturday night (April 7).
This weekend’s activity will include the third
of 15 races for the ASA Outlaw Figure 8, Late Model and Stock Pony classes,
and by the time the final checkered flag waves about 10 p.m. the contenders
for the various titles should be clearly identified. Most of those contenders
will be familiar faces, too.
The
first two Late Model main events have been won by Brian Malone, of Grand
Terrace, and Jim Conklin, of Big Bear, and both were high in the standings
in 2006. Conklin, 53, who owns Conklin Hot Rods, is the defending class
champion. Malone, 39, who works in the construction industry, matched
Conklin’s two wins for the season and was sixth.
Conklin finished second on opening night and is four
points ahead of Malone, who was fourth in the most recent race, on March
17. But right behind those two are Dave Arce, of Santee , and teammates
Anthony Mainella, of Palmdale, and Richard Hooper, of Rosamond. Those
three topped the standings in 2005, with Hooper first, Arce second and
Mainella third as the class rookie of the year.
Mainella, 41, who works for Hooper’s Rear End
Exchange, is third in the standings, eight points behind Conklin, after
finishes of fourth and third. Engine builder Arce, 47, and Hooper, 51,
are tied for fourth, 10 points behind Mainella and 18 behind Conklin.
In the format used by Orange Show Speedway, points
are awarded for the main events only, with 50 points for a win, 48 for
second, 46 for third and so on.
The scenario in the Stock Pony division is similar
to that in Late Model, with the past two class champions on top and
one of the speedway’s promising young drivers close behind.
Jim Edmiston, of Highland , the 2005 champion, won
the season opener and defending champion Jim Mardis got the victory
March 17. But Mardis, 21, a beer truck driver from Riverside, has a
four-point lead because he was the runner-up in the opener while Edmiston,
45, a pipeline foreman from Highland, was fourth three weeks ago.
Matt
Goodwin, 17, of Wildomar, a two-time winner during the recent Winter
Series, is third in the standings, 10 points behind Mardis after finishes
of fifth and third. Jim Belter, 54, of Corona , an Orange County probation
officer, is fourth and Adrianne Murlin, 35, of Corona , is fifth. Murlin,
a teacher’s aide, was third in 2005 and second last season and
Goodwin was fourth in 2005 and third last season.
Tom Smith, of Long Beach , has won both races for
the Outlaw Figure 8 class, which still is taking shape with several
new cars being built.
The second race of the year for the Legends Cars
and the season debut of the Bandoleros rounds out Saturday’s schedule.
Spectator gates will open and qualifying will begin
at 5 p.m. with the first race at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults,
$8 for seniors (62 and over) and juniors (13-16), and $2 for children
(6-12). Active military personnel and veterans with military identification
are admitted free of charge. Parking is $4, with entry through Gate
3 off Mill Street .
The weekly “Orange Show Speedway Live”
radio broadcast will air from 8 to 9 p.m. on KTDD (1350 AM) and be simulcast
on the Internet at www.nixacountry.com.
Racing at Orange Show Speedway is sponsored by Lucas
Oil, Blackhawk Protection, Hype Manufacturing, Del Taco, AFLAC, KTDD
AM radio 1350, Leno’s Rico Taco, Soboba Casino, Budweiser, Hoosier
Racing Tires, Frank’s Radio Service, Parker Pumper/BSR West, Eibach
Springs, JP Striping, Center Chevrolet, Pepsi, Matich Corporation, La
Salle Medical Associates, L. Curti Truck and Equipment; One Stop Landscape
Supply, Extreme Exhibits & Logistics and the San Bernardino County
Sun newspaper.
For further information, contact Jim Short at 951-203-2649
or jimshort65@sbcglobal.net, call 909-888-6788, X438, or visit the web
site at www.nosevents.com.
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