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Streaking Murphy leads Bandits to Santa Maria on Independence Day Week-End by Peter Curto

To Begin the Second Half of the Bandit Season, an on fire and streaking Peter Murphy shows no signs of cooling down as the Bandit leader heads to the cool coast on Independence Day week-end. The forestry department and local fire agencies have been alerted to the fact that with present dry conditions that the mere exposure to the black 21 may start a major blaze. Murph is fresh off of a sizziling Bakersfield Grand Slam win where he over came challenges burn the competition.

With the Grand Slam victory, the Clovis hired gun is doing what he was employed to do. Win! In winning both Grand Slam events this season he has swept the entire Bakersfield sprint car events, won seven of eleven races and the last three in a row which incidentally happen to be at three different tracks. By any measure that is the definition of domination. We have now reached our seasons mid-point which means the glass is half full. There is still a long season and a great deal of racing left to fill the remaining half.

This is one of the rare seasons by a driver who has nary a thing gone awry. It seems as though there is a perfect storm out there. In spite of the great efforts of others, near perfection is such an improbability when we all know there is only one event winner and in the case of this past week-end, forty others left to wait until next time. We all know, or should know, what it takes to win. Each element can be broken down but in its essentials it takes a great deal of preparation, there has to be great deal of talent, and there has to be an amount of luck! As my late friend who won 10 championships used to tell me "you make our luck with preparation." More simply put by another championship sprint car crew chief told me, "you have to have your [stuff] together. When your [stuff] is together it looks easy." So simply put, Murphy and the whole team have their stuff together. They all have been at this for a while and are on the same page.

The difficult thing is that may to some imply that the other great teams don't have their stuff together. But that isn't necessarily so either. There are always teams searching and struggling. But there are too many teams capable of winning. Too many teams determined to knock the king off the hill. But what is preventing that? That is where racing luck and circumstance come into play. We can debate how much luck is right place and time verses creating ones own luck. But it appears that for right now along with being very good, the sun seems to be shining a bit more on the black 21. The result though is for the king to get knocked off the hill the others need to find what ever it is and also find favor with the racing gods.

So heading to the next two races at Santa Maria before a visit to Kings, who is going to knock down the blazing Murphy? Can the new team of Iturriria/Pombo or the McCowan/Bragg combination rain on the Tarlton/Murphy parade? Will the Kittle/Sheridan come into town and be the only consistent threat to the black 21. I think there is a fair chance that the second half is going to be a might bit tougher than the first half.

There is an argument to be made that while Murphy has dominated in wins, he hasn't ran away with any races really and been challenged at every event. The VanderWeerd twins, Jace and Richard (Richard already has won) are capable of winning, while Justyne Hamblin, Fast Albert Pombo, and Wes Gutierrez victory lane moments are on the near horizon. Part-time racer and full time good guy Hollywood Dan Faria is a racer who can come in and win at any time. Firefighter and twice Bandit Champ Greg Porte in two races back has shown that he can put out the Tarlton fire. In one event it took a Tarlton car to beat a Tarlton car as young Mike Faccinto stole a show demonstrating his Bandito prowess. Who knows where the other challenges can come from?

Murphy is on top of the world. All four championships have Peters name on the top of the list including Kings Speedway and the Grand Slam Series. He has a commanding 118 point lead with the Bandits over Fast Albert Pombo. Young Pombo is within striking distance at Santa Maria where he is a scant 28 points behind Murphy. The duo have a significant lead the rest of the pack at Santa maria.

This week-end with the VRA on vacation and USAC/CRA off Saturday night, who knows who might blow into town and tries to take on the fastest draw in the latest Bandito showdown? Don't miss this race at Santa Maria Speedway; take in the great weather and the famous Pismo Beach Car Show to round out a great coastal week-end. Bring your family, friends, neighbors along with your friend's neighbors and your neighbors friends to "the West's Best Short Track" and enjoy the great full program of IMCA Modifieds, Factory and Mini Stocks. For ticket and general information call 805-202-14929-4 PM Monday through Thursday. The Santa Maria Speedway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange, on Hutton Rd in Nipomo California.

Bandit Sprint Cars at SMS as of 6/21/2008 Points Bandit Series TOP 20

1* 21 Peter Murphy, Clovis 238*
2* 35 Albert Pombo, Easton* 210*
3* 10 Richard VanderWeerd, Visalia 186*
4* 8 Justyne Hamblin, Hanford* 181*
5* 32 Jonathan Logan, Hanford* 176*

6* 27X John Iturriria, Bakersfield 167*

7* 51 Rusty Carlile, Bakersfield* 166*

8* 88V Jace VanderWeerd, Visalia* 156*

9* 36B Kevin Barnes, Fresno 149*
10* 8M Jason May, Taft** 135*
11* 007 Wes Gutierrez, Gilroy 113*
12* 35D Steve DeMott, Santa Maria 103*

13* 18 Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria 102*
13* 4 Rick Eberhardt, Livermore 102*

15* 28 Davey Knott, Fresno 101*
16* 16J Bill Jones, Santa Maria* 100*

17* 11 Greg Brag, Visalia* 85*
18* 88W Ron Wade, Bellflower 76*
19* 25 Jared Little, Hanford*** 71*
20* 71M Jesse Mack, Pismo Beach 65*

You bet Sheridan and the entire Kittle team will be there, so Murphy beware, it's SHOWTIME! Those two great drivers and good friends will no doubt put on a terrific show once again. Add in both Davey and Albert Pombo, Carlile and Porte, if he should show up and there you have your top 6....I think! Should be great racing for everyone. We will be racing at Chico or we'd be there.

Linda, you likely did call the top 6. Great Luck in Chico, Evan is having a great year. We miss you guys racing while you were here, but you're on to bigger and better things.

As much as the Bandit racers are after Peter, Peter is after Showtime. Danny beat Peter twice already at Santa Maria. Infact, Peter has won only one of four there. Richard VanderWeerd won the opener. Santa Maria is his most vulnerable track.

Pete