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Richard Griffin wins Non Wing World Championship!!

Troy Cline wins $20,000 bonus!

What can you say about Richard Griffin's year, that hasn't already been said. The three time SCRA champion added one more important addition to his long list of accomplishments. He is now the 2000 Non-Wing World Champion! At Manzanita this past weekend, he put a brand new Bruce Bromme built car on the track Friday and overcame a slow, for him, qualifying time, and eventually got up to 8th place in the main. Cory Kruseman, his closest NWWC challenger, won the small track battle royale ahead of old nemesis, Troy Cline. Saturday night, with a mere 30 point lead over Cory for the NWWC marbles, Richard came back with 3rd quick, but the fast track forced him to run the Semi, after missing a transfer in his heat. The Gasman started 10th and merely roared by the field to overtake Kevin Doty with a monstrous "Gasman like" slide job that proved to be the clincher! He won the 40 lap feature going away.

Look for Terry's pics from Manzy here and Irwindale here !

Richard looked excited and proud to have earned this one when he climbed out of the "Little Red Sucker" in the winner's circle, showing more emotion than is normal for this West Coast Winner from SCRA. The only thing he didn't get was the $20,000 bonus for the best finish between the two nights of racing. Cory and Troy Cline were the front runners for this big prize, and up until Kruseman had what visiting announcer Jim Naylor called a "$20,000 flat tire", he was sitting on the edge of the big payday. Cline ran 2nd to Cory on Friday and then 4th on Saturday, to Cory's 9th, to put the big check in his pocket in a rare sprint car appearance during his rookie stock car year. Troy noted he hopes to get to Busch, with NASCAR next. Great job by the versatile Haas sponsored driver.

For Cory, it was a heartbreaking stroke of bad luck. He and Cline raced up thru the pack putting on a $20,000 show worth watching on a fast track that made passing for only the brave in Saturday's Auto Trader Charity Challenge. The points were so close that the one ahead at the end would get the pot of gold. Only a better finish for Griffin on Friday kept him from sweeping the weekend, as he was just a touch behind in the final tally for the $20,000 bankroll. Kruseman was quick to congratulate the winner in sort of a passing of the crown in front of the crowd.

Friday saw Tony Elliott set a new small track" record at 14.422 that should last a while. Tony, the current USAC sprint car champion, then proceeded to run strong on the small oval and finished a close third, looking as if he had run there often. His car sputtered on Saturday, costing him an opportunity to shine on the big track. Tony Jones made a mad dash from 20th to 6th for the hard charger award Friday. It was impressive, as he moved thru the pack on the small oval. Jay Drake only managed a fifth, but came from far back to get that. The track was so fast, it was almost a penalty for the quicker qualifying cars, when they couldn't get by some of the inverted leaders. J J Yeley made the main, but pulled out early and then decided not to run on Saturday at all. His new "do" is very similar to Casey Shuman's recent hair highlights. J J's grandma, Zola Hermandez, showed up Saturday with a very similar colored hair style. Hmmmm, it must run in the family.

With 50 cars timing in on the small track on Friday, it was a real barnburner. The local 360 "home boys" really made the SCRA & USAC hot dogs work for every spot on the track. Bob Ream Jr held his own with his 12th place finish, and led 5 laps of Saturday's big race before pulling off with a problem. He then announced he would be running with the SCRA full time next season. Charles Davis Jr ran 9th and 3rd in the two nights, the best of the local drivers. The 40 lap race was Kruseman's after he chased down Cline and Rose to get the lead. It looked like he was on the Ventura clay, the way he ran the small track, he was that at home pulling away at the end.

John Scott set fast time on Saturday and then finished 10th, after a disappointing 21st on Friday. There, he was swept up in an incident, after a yellow flag came out, and was part of a donnybrook that sent him and Troy Rutherford to the trailer early when the car was not repairable quick enough. Troy suffered a hole in the pan, and the team had to have that repaired on Saturday morning, since another one couldn't be found to fit their motor.

Team Argo ran 5th and 7th with Dave Darland beating teammate Rodney Argo in the twin Ford powered cars. Dave was close to the lead early, but couldn't make the winning moves. Verne Sweeney made his first feature since his accident that sidelined him earlier in the year with a broken bone in his back. He looked strong running 11th, and was happy for the best night he enjoyed in a long while. Derek Davidson visited in Yeley's team ABC # 76 car, and finished 13th . He was running in the top five on Saturday when he pulled off early in the race. He looked fast and competitive, but we'll never know how he would have done. Rickie Gaunt had a 4th on Friday, but the motor went south, so they switched him to the team car Brad Noffsinger was driving for Saturday. He was running a strong podium slot when contact with the merging Gasman spun him to a stop. He pulled off after restarting the car, and was done. Rickey Hood, one of the senior members of sprint car drivers, ran 10th and 8th in his wingless two nights. He normally runs with SCOA, where he wins a lot of features.

Mike English was in Tom & Laurie Sertich's Moose Racing # 92 for the weekend. A fuel nozzle problem on Friday and a 14th in the Semi on Saturday didn't show his true skills. As I reported last week, he will not be returning to the # 10 Mark Priestley sprinter next season. Mark shared with us that Ricky Shelton will be driving for him in 2001. He noted Ricky brings major backing with him for a one year commitment to Mark's team. Mark and Mike are very close and the "business" deal sounds a lot like the IRL ride buying that it takes to run in that big leagues. Mike is looking for a ride for next year, so you owners looking for a guy that is a winner and nice guy, take a look.

George Gervais didn't have a good weekend. On Friday his drive shaft clanked him on the ankle, breaking a bone and sending him on a ride to the hospital in the ambulance. The car needed a lot of work before the next night, so he and his team were seen repairing it in the motel "pit" parking lot. He had his boots on and reported it was OK, but I am sure it hurt. George returned to put on a bright light show that some said was the biggest flaming sprinter explosion they ever saw in racing. The fireball got him out of his car quick and finished his night. He received the $162 of Wagsbucks collected over the two day event. Shiny Tire winners, to close out the year, were Bob Ream Jr on Friday and Keith Williamson on Saturday, with Jimmy May receiving the runner-up "mini-trophy". Bethany Thrasher presented the awards in the pits after the races both nights.

Terry Pletch, the nice "young" 50ish driver from Indiana came West to do more than race. Terry didn't have much luck on the track, but was a big hit off the track each race. A well spoken and warm individual, he provided a prayer before each event. Next year he plans to go race down under. He will always be remembered for the Semi he won at Terre Haute when he passed the whole star studded field after the TV announcer asked him if he could win, YES! He showed 'em!

On Saturday, the most surprising thing was that Jay Drake wasn't fighting for another win. The man who dominated USAC racing this year, and blistered the SCRA on the NWWC June tour races, and on his last trip to Manzanita a few weeks ago, missed the main, when he ran 8thin the semi. He wasn't alone, as several other strong contenders missed it also. Bud Kaeding, Tracy Hines, Michael Boat, Tony Elliott, Jeremy Sherman and Mike English all were missing, but remember who did make it. Some of the top non wing stars in the country were there, and it wasn't easy to get to the big dance. It was a great ending to the 2000 racing season, but don't blink, 2001 is just around the corner.

My thanks to Doug Stokes at Irwindale Raceway for encouraging me and Terry to come to the Turkey Night race. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the pits, talking to many of the competitors as they mostly had their game faces on for the prestigious 100 lap race. It was fun watching all the players get ready and then just being "enveloped" by one of the finest short tracks in the country. The massive grandstands, overlooking the black asphalt track, had a great view of the action. Having the speakers behind us, not only didn't block our view, but was nicely different. The loud music was the only thing I would change, as it made it hard to converse when the track was empty.

The former winners congregating at Irwindale was one of the main reasons I attended, to see and meet them and perhaps hear some of their stories. Unfortunately, they were too surrounded by their many fans to allow any time for us. The event was just that, a major event, that was staged and produced very well. The crowd was cold, but nobody left as the Home Depot # 19 Special turned out the winner of the Lewis team race.

The racing? Let us just admit that I prefer this race on dirt and look forward to the day it might return there. For the purists, it's just not the same race it was at Ascot, Ventura, Perris or Bakersfield that tradition calls for. However, we had a great day at the awesome facility and the impressive pageant will be etched in my memory for a long time to come.

The SCRA banquet showcases its stars in Las Vegas on December 16th. I hope all the racers make it, it's their night to shine. Early schedules will be out soon, but look for the SCRA opener to be at Perris in mid February and it will all start over again. I am already thinking about it, are you?

Remember, when it's RACETIME..........................It's WAGTIME!!!!!!

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