Posted by Russ on September 6, 2009, 12:24 am
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Smith pays tribute to late racer with Late Model victory at Orange Show Speedway
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Sept. 5) – Steve Smith changed his car number to honor a recently-deceased driver before Saturday’s races at Orange Show Speedway, then paid him the ultimate tribute by winning the 50-lap ASA Late Model main event in wire-to-wire fashion to cap the “Grand Opening” program.
NASCAR legend Bobby Allison, Winston Cup car owner Warner Hodgdon and noted West Coast racers Jimmy Insolo, Ron Esau and Ray Johnstone were among those in a crowd of approximately 6,000 who watched Andrew Phipps of Simi Valley win the 75-lap race for the Lucas Oil SuperClean Modifieds and Smith hold off rookie Matt Goodwin and Brandon Loverock on the ASA-sanctioned quarter-mile oval.
Smith, the 2008 champion but an infrequent competitor this year, changed his car number from 00 to 133 to honor Chuck Morris, a long-time Orange Show racer who died earlier in the week, and all 17 Late Models bore decals in his memory.
He started on the pole in the 17-car field, beat Linny White into the first turn and settled into a lead he held firmly despite late pressure from Matt Goodwin, of Wildomar.
Phipps, who went into the race 2 points behind James Cole, pulled into a tie by winning for the second time in six races while Cole, who had won here July 11, finished second. Cole started on the outside of the front row and led the first caution-filled 22 laps before giving way to Phipps, who never was in danger of being overtaken.
Those two will continue their battle at Lake Havasu City Sept. 26, but Moreno Valley’s Jim Mardis, who was only 6 points behind in third going into the race, dropped out on the opening lap with driveline problems.
Robby Hornsby of Yucaipa posted his second straight JAM Sportswear Pony Stock win, but runner-up Jim Edmiston clinched his third straight title and fifth class championship overall.
Ben Mahan of Oak Hills got his second straight win in the 35-lap Factory Four main event to pull within four points of runner-up Dwayne Blay in a championship battle that has one race remaining, on Oct. 3.
Kevin Cook of Riverside got the evening’s main events under way by winning the 25-lapper for the Stock Cars USA class and Tom Whitson of Lake Elsinore finished second to extend his points lead to 34 over Dave Foster of Riverside with just an Oct. 3 race to go.
ORANGE SHOW SPEEDWAY
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009
RACE RESULTS
LUCAS OIL SUPERCLEAN MODIFIEDS (75 laps) – 1. Andrew Phipps, Simi Valley; 2. James Cole, San Antonio, Texas; 3. Tim Morse, Burbank; 4. Chris Gerchman, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; 5. Doug Carpenter, La Mesa; 6. David Ross, Colton; 7. Larry Gerchman, Lake Havasu City; 8. Spencer Sharp, Las Vegas; 9. Doug Hamm, Las Vegas; 10. Dave Arce, Santee; 11. Brian Collins, Oceanside; 12. Dave Phipps, Simi Valley; 13. Dennis Lovelady, Las vegas; 14. Gary Rodriquez, Bonita; 15. Scott Osborn, Las vegas; 16. Bryan Harrell, Riverside; 17. David Gerchman, Lake Havasu City; 18. Randy Ussery, Salome, Ariz.; 19. Austin Barnes, Escondido; 20. Craig Stewart, Las Vegas; 21. Chris Patton, Fallbrook; 22. Jim Mardis, Moreno Valley.
Margin of victory – 1.741 seconds. Average speed – 21.588 mph. Trophy Dash winner – Ross. Fast qualifier – Phipps, 13.612 seconds.
ASA LATE MODELS (50 laps) – 1. Steve Smith, San Bernardino, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 2. Matt Goodwin, Wildomar, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 3. Brandon Loverock, Highland, Toyota Camry/Chevrolet; 4. Ron Daniel, Mentone, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 5. Ryan Daniel, Mentone, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 6. Jim Conklin, Big Bear City, Pontiac Grand Prix/Chevrolet; 7. Logan Mainella, Palmdale, Dodge Intrepid/Chevrolet; 8. Mark Shackleford, Riverside, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 9. John Mattie, Highland, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 10. Kevin James, Yucaipa, Pontiac Grand Prix/Chevrolet; 11. Jeff Lawson, Big Bear City, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 12. Jacob Bishop, Las Vegas, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 13. Toni McCray, Highland, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 14. Sam Newcomer, Apple Valley, Dodge Charger/Chevrolet; 15. Mike Rinehart, Mentone, Toyota Camry/Chevrolet; 16. Linny White, Colton, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 17. Tony Edwards, Yucaipa, Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
Margin of victory – 0.262 seconds. Average speed – 44.323 mph. Trophy Dash winner – Loverock. Fast qualifier – McCray, 13.555 seconds.
PONY STOCKS (35 laps) – 1. Robby Hornsby, Yucaipa, Ford Pinto; 2. Jim Edmiston, Highland, Ford Pinto; 3. Matt Hicks, San Bernardino, Ford Pinto; 4. Roger Gates, San Bernardino, Ford Pinto; 5. Sean Spencer, Riverside, Ford Pinto; 6. Jeremy Perez, Chino, Ford Mustang; 7. Bud Smith, Orange, Ford Pinto; 8. Kevin Meador, San Bernardino, Ford Mustang; 9. Joe Bubbico, Perris, Ford Pinto; 10. Brandon James, Yucaipa, Ford Pinto; 11. Evan McCray, Riverside, Ford Pinto; 12. Adrianne Murlin, Corona, Ford Pinto; 13. Josh Hodges, Yucaipa, Ford Pinto; 14. Jeff Imbriani, San Bernardino, Ford Pinto.
Margin of victory—1.302 seconds. Average speed – 41.989 mph. Trophy Dash winner – Murlin. Fast qualifier – Hornsby, 14.527 seconds.
FACTORY FOURS (35 laps) – 1. Ben Mahan, Oak Hills, BMW 318i; 2. Dwayne Blay, Riverside, Toyota truck; 3. Cary Cecil, Corona, Toyota truck; 4. Kim Marzullo, San Bernardino, Toyota truck; 5. Jeff Imbriani, Izusu truck; 6. Stan Chatwood, Bloomington, Honda Prelude; 7. Andy Reed, Bloomington, Toyota truck; 8. Victor Garcia, San Bernardino, Toyota truck; 9. Greg Barnett, Hemet, Nissan 200SX; 10. Brad Barnett, Hemet, Toyota sedan; 11. Gary Mendoza, Bloomington, Mazda B2000; 12. Tony Forfa III, Redlands, Ford truck.
Margin of victory – 2.627 seconds. Average speed – 43.352 mph. Trophy Dash winner – Marzullo. Fast qualifier – Mahan, 16.217 seconds.
STOCK CARS USA (25 laps) – 1. Kevin Cook, Riverside, Chevrolet Malibu; 2. Tom Whitson, Lake Elsinore, Chevrolet Nova; 3. Mark Fletchall, Riverside, Chevrolet Chevelle; 4. Ken Michaelian, Lawndale, Plymouth Roadrunner; 5. Clint Knight, Whitewater, Chevrolet Nova; 6. Dave Foster, Riverside, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 7. Allen Hevy, Yucca Valley, Chevrolet Nova; 8. Don Rudd, Riverside, Chevrolet Nova; 9. Matt Lauer, Riverside, Ford Thunderbird; 10. Blake Usilton, Corona, Chevrolet Chevelle; 11. Joel Crawford, Oak Hills, Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 12. Randy Bylsma, San Bernardino, Cadillac Deville Brougham.
Margin of victory –unavailable. Trophy dash winner – Whitson. Fast qualifier – Hevy (drivers drew for positions; no qualifying)
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