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Great turnout of cars caps 2ND Annual New Year’s Playday at MRP
Sprint car type top wings OK’d for stock cars for ‘09
By Bob Burbach
Marysville CA - January 1, 2009 --- The 2nd Annual New Year’s Day Playday at Marysville Raceway Park drew a great number of participants and a surprisingly full grandstand to ring in the raceway’s 41st consecutive season. Cars from every dirt track division took advantage of six hours of practice time on the newly configured clay. Promoter Paul Hawes flipped on the green lights at 10AM and the facility roared to life. It was a cold day as the overcast stayed socked in during the entire event. But, a hearty brand of racers fired up their mounts and 2009 got off to a roaring start.
The thrills of the sprint car season were ushered in by former MRP track champion Mike Monahan of Sparks Nevada. He might have set an early season wheelie record during one of the many sprint car practice sessions. Monahan carried the front end of his spotless #49 the length of the front stretch, much to the delight of the throng on hand. The re-manicured entry to turn 1 and the much greater width of the turns at both ends of the raceway had everybody talking. The increased speed created by the entry/exit in turns 1 & 2 allowed the participants to be on the hammer for a measurably longer time on the back chute. The speed visual, especially from the grandstands, was impressive. The cars seemed to be flying down the straights.
Some of the stock cars that will participate in the new open “Super” stock class were really hustling around the raceway. With regard to the stock cars, promoter Hawes announced he would make one change in the rules for the MRP stock cars. Sprint car type top wings WILL be allowed in the scheduled weekly shows. Body side panels that were associated with “posse” type cars will NOT be allowed. A number of stock car drivers have lobbied for the use of top wings in the weekly shows. Former track champion Bill Knoop of Hallwood was all in favor of it when this observer asked him about it.
“Why not!!” Knoop replied. Why not, indeed. One of the biggest hits for the crowd at the last stock car open show at MRP was when the black Arbogast 88 showed up with one of Andy Forsberg’s sprint car wings mounted on top. A tip of the hat from this observer to promoter Hawes on innovative thinking that may help rejuvenate this class of car.
A nice compliment of Modifieds clawed their way around the raceway in an eye-popping display. The Modifieds always look as if they are on the edge of disaster with their left front wheels high in the air. The modified races scheduled for 2009 should be thrillers on the improved raceway.
Early in the day MRP veterans Jerry Bartlett (in his new late model) and Jeff Olschowka had a couple of impressive drives, whipping around the hooked-up oval.
The 100-plus loads of clay heaped on the track since October had its bumps early on. Promoter Hawes fired up the grader during a break and helped things along and things got faster right away. The final checkered flag flew a little after 4 PM. A great time was had by all and 2009 is likely to be the best season ever in the long and storied history of this venerable facility.
Watch the website for the schedule of events for 2009. Promoter Hawes still has an adjustment or two to make before its publication.
Note: Please make this observer aware of any names that are misspelled or incorrect. The text is based on information we have at the time of its release.
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