MANZANITA HOSTS SPRINT CARS AND DIRT MODIFIEDS IS SATURDAY NIGHTS SEASON OPENER
Manzanita Speedway is opening its regular 2007 season in style with its two most popular divisions racing and with both the one third mile track and the half mile track in use. The New ASCS sprints will be on the short track and the Barnett dirt modifieds will be using all their horsepower on the big ova.l
The first Canyon State American Sprint Car Series race which runs Saturday night at Manzanita Speedway will not be lacking for either cars nor talented drivers. Already registered for the race which has a $1500 payday for the winner of the 25 lap feature race on Manzy's 1/3rd mile track are the defending two time state champion Jeremy Sherman, the 1997 champion and runner up to Sherman the past two years, Josh Pelkey and the 1998 champion Bob Ream, Jr. Charles Davis, Jr. will be driving a new sprint car owned by Rex Foster. Davis won the championship in 1996 and again in 1999. His entry ensures that every active former champion will be in the field.
Other top ten drivers from last year include rookie of the year Mike Colegrove (third) Mike Leslie (fourth), Jeff Henry (sixth), Bernie Smith (seventh) and Andy Reinbold (ninth).
Seanin Hendricsen just missed the elite group and was eleventh in the final standings. Chad Boat, who turned 15 over the off season, finished 13th in 2005 after competiting only part time. This year he and Colegrove will have other youngsters in the field including Nick Aiuto and Derek Williams who are moving up from the mini sprints. Also moving up is Kevin Wolfe. Matt Lundy is jumping from the super stocks.
Shon Deskins has hooked up with Bob Bishop and is enthused about the new season. They, also with Bob Price, have a new Maxim, and Shon is hoping to get that elusive first main event win. Other's already registered include Chris Edwards, Jody Wirth, Adam Wirth, Chris McArthur and Bobby Taylor.
R.J. Johnson, currently ranked ninth in points with the USAC/CRA sprint cars will also be in the field. The youngster finished third in points in Arizona in 2004 before moving to the west coast group. He is scheduled to run a two day show in Las Vegas Thursday and Friday and then head home to be part of the season opener.
Maxum 2L Custom Trucks has added $1000 to the purse for the inaugural race and will also award $200 to each of the heat race winners. Season heat race sponsors who award a $50 gift certificate to each heat race winner are Racing Optics, Park Store, Kenz & Leslie /BG Chemicals and Sunoco Racing Fuels.
While much of the attention will be on the new ASCS sprints the Barnett dirt modifieds will be churning the clay on the half mile track in their season opener. They, too, will not be lacking for talent.
Jason Noll, the 2006 champion, Anthony Madrid, champion in 2004 and 2005, will be facing a formidable field with Pat Carney of El Paso, TX will be among those offering competition to the local drivers. Both the Las Cruces track and the El Paso track will be dark this week and several of their top drivers may follow Carney to Phoenix,
Terry Belcher, Jr. is expected to be in the field and he is a terror on the big track. However his dad is still out of commission due to an off track accident.
Up to 30 modifieds are expected for the season opener and with over 25 sprints on hand the pits will be crowded. The gate opens at 6:00 Saturday night. Competitive racing begins at 7:30.
