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SCRA VISITS BAKERSFIELD RACEWAY
By Dan Fleisher
Hanford, CA --- After five events at Kings Speedway in Hanford (CA), the talented drivers from SCRA’s 360 c.i. wingless Sprint car group will test their skills at Bakersfield (CA) Speedway this Saturday night, May 12th. The action should be hot, heavy and competitive on the shorter, tighter 1/3-mile clay facility, compared to Kings’ 3/8-mile oval.
Resuming their friendly but fierce rivalry will be two of the finest drivers on the west coast, Davey Pombo and Peter Murphy, who between them have not only captured the last three SCRA main events, they’ve finished one-two and currently lead the point’s chase with 369 and 357 respectively.
The Bakersfield fans will be cheering for their local “hometown” boys, Rusty Carlile, Matt Day and John Iturriria, who get their chance to showoff before family and friends. Carlile is chomping at the bit to brush aside front-runners Pombo and Murphy and win a feature, after capturing the last three Trophy Dashes. “Although it fun winning the dashes, I’d trade the trophies for a main event win,” he stated during last week’s victory circle ceremonies. He currently sits fourth in the season point standings (272).
Day and Iturriria have been waiting for their chance to enjoy the home cooking and race on familiar territory.
Dean “Kiwi” Alexander, who sits third in points with 282, has improved each and every week and is primed for his first victory of the season. “It’s my turn and I’m looking forward to winning at Bakersfield,” the Visalia (CA) resident said.
Jeff Gardner, fifth in points (245), defending series champion Jonathan Logan and 25-year veteran Richard Harvey Jr., currently sixth and seventh (224-202), will be on-hand seeking to shake off their early season woes, improve their standings and cop the hardware. Kevin Barnes, last year’s Rookie of the Year, who was impressive during his heat race win last week against Carlile and Murphy, will be back as will Brian Schuler, and Jesse Mack, who loves the shorter tracks.
A host of talented teenage rookies, including John Niggli (tied with Harvey in points) and Justyne Hamblin, who sits in ninth (199), will face off against rivals Jace VanderWeerd and Adam Frith-Smith for top rookie honors. Hamblin has recorded one quick qualifying time, one heat win and three top-ten finishes while Niggli is coming off two consecutive weeks of top-six qualifying times and top-eight feature finishes.
This week’s visit to Bakersfield is the first of two for the “Wingless Warriors,” who return on August 4th.
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