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ONLY FOUR EVENTS, WITH EIGHT NIGHTS OF RACING LEFT AT MANZANITA
The Economy Auto Parts 150 lap Bomber Enduro on the one third mile track is next up. The enduro usually attracts about 70-80 cars with the survivor that finishes the most laps in the fifty mile grind will pocket $1000. The cars that run in the race costs about $400 so the first place check is very, large.
Toby Webito scored his first Enduro win in February and will try to make it two in a row as he takes on the field. Other recent winners expected for the bash include Josh Crabtree, Terry Mumaugh and Lyle Askren, Jr.
The biggest sprint car event of the year runs November 6-8 with USAC and USAC/CRA cars and drivers racing on Manzanita’s famed half mile track Friday and Saturday night. 360 sprint cars, sanctioned by the Discount Tire American Sprint Cars series, run their qualifying races, including main events, Thursday and Friday nights on the one third mile track, and their championship races Saturday night.
The USAC National Champion and the ASCS Canyon Region Champion and possibly the USAC/CRA driving champ will be crowned following the Saturday night races. Jerry Coons, Jr., winner of last year’s Western hold a slim two point lead over the defending USAC champion Levi Jones and local fans will be cheering him on. Jeremy Sherman will most likely win his fourth straight Arizona sprint car championship as he will carry a near insurmountable lead into the Western. Mike Sweeney holds a comfortable lead in the USAC/CRA standings and if he runs well in the Perris, CA Open he could wrap up his first driving title.
A week later the Sands Chevrolet Late Model Stock Car Western and the Dirt Modified Nationals, along with AMA Modlites take to the track. The race for the late models stage their first Western since 1991. A field that will include several Midwest drivers to challenge West Coast drivers and local hotshoes including Lonnie Parker, Jr.
The Dirt Modifieds are expecting about 50 cars for their part of the event. They will be racing on the one third mile track while the late models race on the half mile.
Manzy will put the wraps on its season November 21-22 with the running of the Dwarf Car & Mini Sprint Nationals. The Dwarf Cars usually draw a number of out of state entries, primarily from Texas. The most prominent driver, and only out of state driver, to win the Nationals was Tom Busch( 1992), father of the Busch brothers who run in NASCAR.
Kiley Fellers has dominated the mini sprint circuit and will enter the race as the favorite but the competition will be tough. Former state champions Kyle Shipley, Brandon George, Dennis Parks and Jeff Greszler along with Josh Shipley, Josh Castro and Kurt Stults finished strong in the regular season.
Tickets for both the Sprint Car Western and the Late Model Western/Dirt Modified Nationals are on sale at the Manzanita ticket off. Order by phone at (602) 276-7575.
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