LOCAL DRIVER, JEREMY SHERMAN, IS RUNNER-UP AFTER CHASE

For the third time on four weeks, Mike Kirby won a Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprint Car race. Kirby said on Friday before the trip, “I am going to win Saturday night, guaranteed!” After the win, he said “watch out for us at Perris in two weeks, I’ll do it again!” It was Kirby’s sixth win this season with the club and 9th overall, in the Glenn and Carol Crossno TCR, while also running with two other associations. With 34 cars signed in, it was a fast paced night on a racy track. There were no crashes all night and all four heat races plus the semi got a time, so they ran non-stop to the checkers, each one. The feature would have been non-stop if not for a couple of tires that gave out.

Mrs Wags pics are up. Click here to see!

Mike was extremely focused this week, driving like he had a bee in his bonnet. He won his heat from the back row before chasing down early leader, Charles Davis Jr, in the 30 lap feature. He didn’t give anyone a chance to catch him as he roared thru traffic, like "King Kong” taking New York, until the checkered flag fell with his straightaway lead at the end. Still driving the Snap on Tools, Sander, ITI Performance, # 38 car like it was on a slot car track, King Kong Kirby never let up until he crossed the finish line. He plans to run VRA this weekend in Buzz Shoemaker’s car.

Jeremy Sherman drove the wheels off Fred Bryan’s # 77 this week. Of course he always does that at Manzanita and you have to go thru him to win on his home track. Jeremy had fast time at 18.944 and then stormed his heat to transfer to the main and start 8th. There he jumped from eighth to second, but couldn’t catch “King Kong Kirby” this night.

Damion Gardner brought his favorite Eagle chassis to Manzy for the first time and got faster as the night went on. He was third quick in qualifying, ran fourth in his heat to transfer to the Main Event and started seventh on the grid. The Demon was relentless as he chased the fast duo, Sherman and Kirby, and put the Temecula Valley Pipe & Supply, Arizona Race Mart, Shaver, # 50 on the podium for the 10th time this season.

Super Rickie Gaunt tied his best race finish with USAC/CRA this year getting 4th on a good charge and putting pressure on the Demon the last third of the race. His teammate, Charles Davis Jr, ran strong early when he led the first ten laps and then took back the lead from Kirby for two more before fading with a tire that came apart. Point leader Rip Williams had his usual flat tire at Manzy, but it was on lap 16 and he was able to reshod and get back to 7th before the end. His lead over Kirby in the championship run dropped a little to 71 points with Gardner just 8 behind Kirby. The championship race is shaping up with only six events left to chase points in. It will come down to the last race and give the fans something to cheer about every week until it’s over.

Several reported motor ails this week as the beat goes on in the cost of sprint car racing. Steve Ostling came to town the hired gun in the Black Widow Racing # 5 Sled car. He was 2nd quick, running an 18.971, as the black beauty was flying. In his heat he reported the car wanted to tip over, when he got on the gas, not good, so he pulled in for adjustments. He won the semi and started 9th in the feature. He was moving great until the motor did an oops and will require some “minor” but still expensive repairs this week.

Bobby "Calamity" Cody is this close to something big in his # 41 sprinter. In his heat he made some “Griffin like” speed runs down the back stretch that took my breath away with worry for the youngster. The son of “Wild Bill Cody” a famous former Speedway rider, has that look of success in his eyes when he hits the track. He continues to improve, making moves often more senior than his experience, but he’s making it work this year without the unwanted airtime of last year. He was mixing it up from his front row starting spot early, until …… his motor took a downturn. He said he should have pulled off, but hoped to hang in there. It didn’t work well as he posted 15th at the end.

Rick Ziehl looked strong in his heat when he won going away, but they reported a loss of power in the Ben Lancaster car motor. Still, they started the feature and he finished 12th, but they said they would find the problem and get back soon to do better.

I don’t know anything about Natan High, but he impressed me with his action on the track this weekend. He qualified 15th, then ran 2nd in his heat to get to the main. He scored 10th as he held off Brian Venard at the end. Young RJ Johnson looks great in his sprinter action. The young son of Arizona Champ Rickie Johnson looks younger than his 16 years, yet he can drive. He had a chance this trip with a 410 instead of his trusty 360, but just missed transferring to the main in both his heat and the semi. Look for him to put on a big show in the future.

Bob Ream Jr showed up unexpectedly this week after a major crash a few weeks ago that threatened to end his season. The brand new piece was special orange in color and fast as usual. Bob was 9th quick, second in his heat and 8th in the Main Event.

Very sad news for fans and racers this week as Mike McCreary passed away of pancreatic cancer. The well known racer/innovator made Oval Chassis Research a popular place and will be missed by all of the racing community. Rest in peace Mike.

From a happier note comes word of the latest sprint car driver born. Grady Neil Jones was born on Friday, weighing 7 lbs - 12 oz and was 20 inches long. Tammy and Tony are doing fine and Tony will be back on the track at Ventura we think. How fast can he learn to change a diaper? He has another son named Kyle, back in Indiana, so he might not be a novice after all.

Dennis Wood seems to have things going well at the track as he took over recently after an ownership issued was handled by the courts. Dennis is a happy promoter and talked after the races of the new Copper World move back to the last week in January just like the old days, but said he would be surprised if it wasn't like the “old days”. Still under NASCAR sanction, the open wheelers have been taking the back seat to the fender benders for several years and it remains to be seen what this new format will show for the open wheel loving fans.

This is absolutely the last chance to get on the annual Wagsdash t-shirt, another wild idea winner you’ll love, so call me soon. There are more ways to help as many have already opted to get involved. Thanks to all of you and I am looking forward to a great day at the beach! We will be visiting Cronies in Ventura the night before, so start making plans to join us! I need a few more auction items, so anything would be welcome. This should be the best one yet, so get involved, it’s for the racers, after all! Don’t forget to bake something for the annual Wagtimes Bake Sale created by Julie Shiosaki. Just remember to bring your goodies on race day and the sweets will go nicely with Mrs Wags Chili. Brad Noffsinger will be the Grand Marshall at this year’s event and will sign autographs and visit with fans all afternoon!

I’ll be off in Las Vegas looking for Mrs Wags next castle the coming weekend, so will miss any good racing. Keep an eye on things for me. Ta Ta.

PHOENIX, Ariz. (September 25, 2004)
VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR SERIES RACE RESULTS: September 25, 2004 – Phoenix, Arizona – Manzanita Speedway

QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Jeremy Sherman, 77, Bryan-18.944; 2. Steve Ostling, 5, Keller-18.971; 3. Damion Gardner, 50, Chaffin-19.015; 4. Rickie Gaunt, 2A, Smiley-19.086; 5. Troy Rutherford, 7, Priestley-19.162; 6. Mike Spencer, 44, Engstrom-19.173; 7. Rip Williams, 3, Jory-19.178; 8. Mike Kirby, 38, Crossno-19.238; 9. Bob Ream, Jr., 8, BRAT-19.314; 10. Bobby Cody, 41, Cody-19.377; 11. Brian Venard, 37, Venard-19.532; 12. Matthew Rossi, 16, Rossi-19.549; 13. Charles Davis, Jr., 8A, Smiley-19.555; 14. Greg Bragg, 12, Pratt-19.613; 15. Nathan High,. 6A, Pritchett-19.618; 16. David Cardey, 59, Giardina-19.657; 17. Alex Pruett, 56az, Pruett/May-19.669; 18. Jeff Henry, 12A, Allen-19.843; 19. Jeff Slinkard, 61, Ratz-19.853; 20. Brandon Lane, 97H, Lane-19.855; 21. Justin Fisher, 95J, Fisher-19.880; 22. Darren Hagen, 11x, McMinn-19.906; 23. Rick Ziehl, 14, Lancaster-19.912; 24. Ronnie Clark, 33x, Clark-19.952; 25. Bugs Norbury, 61az, Carsten-19.986; 26. Kevin Urton, 51, Urton-20.119; 27. R.J. Johnson, 15, Johnson-20.283; 28. Keith Williamson, 95, Williamson-20.342; 29. Mike Leslie, 76, Montgomery-20.480; 30. Seth Wilson, 17, Wilson-20.807; 31. Bruce St. James, 7k, St. James-20.972; 32. Mike Rux, Jr., 22, Rux-21.128; 33. Paul Norbury, 91az, Carsten-21.522; 34. Nadine Keller, 6, Keller-22.294.

FIRST HEAT: (10 laps)
1. Davis, 2. Ream, 3. Sherman, 4. Leslie, 5. Rutherford, 6. Fisher, 7. Pruett, 8. B.Norbury, 9. Keller. 3:19.42

SECOND HEAT: (10 laps)
1. Urton, 2. Hagen, 3. Cody, 4. Bragg, 5. Spencer, 6. Wilson, 7. Henry, 8. Ostling. 3:24.00

THIRD HEAT: (10 laps)
1. Ziehl, 2. High, 3. Williams, 4. Gardner, 5. Venard, 6. Johnson, 7. St. James, 8. Slinkard. 3:21.52

FOURTH HEAT: (10 laps)
1. Kirby, 2. Williamson, 3. Gaunt, 4. Lane, 5. Cardey, 6. Clark, 7. P.Norbury, 8. Rossi. 3:23.51

SEMI: (12 laps)
1. Ostling, 2. Rutherford, 3. Venard, 4. English, 5. Clark, 6. Cardey, 7. Johnson, 8. Slinkard, 9. Fisher, 10. Wilson, 11. Henry, 12. P.Norbury, 13. St. James, 14. Keller, 15. B.Norbury. 4:13.61

FEATURE: (30 laps)
1. Mike Kirby (+3), 2. Jeremy Sherman (+6), 3. Damion Gardner (+4), 4. Rickie Gaunt (+2), 5. Troy Rutherford (+5), 6. Mike Spencer (+5), 7. Rip Williams (-2), 8. Bob Ream, Jr.(-5), 9. Charles Davis, Jr. (-8), 10. Nathan High (+4), 11. Brian Venard (+1), 12. Rick Ziehl (+5), 13. Greg Bragg ( - ), 14. Kevin Urton (+4), 15. Bobby Cody (-13), 16. Keith Williamson (+3), 17. Steve Ostling (-8), 18. Brandon Lane (-3), 19. Darren Hagen (-3), 20. Mike Leslie ( - ). NT

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Davis 1-10, Kirby 11, Davis 12-13, Kirby 14-30.

NEW VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR STANDINGS: 1-Williams-1,306; 2-Kirby-1,235; 3-Gardner-1,227; 4-Rutherford-933; 5-Bragg-744; 6-Tony Jones-726; 7-Ostling-706; 8-Cody-692; 9-Spencer-664; 10-Venard-633.

NEXT VALVOLINE USAC/CRA SPRINT CAR RACE: October 9 – Perris (CA) Auto Speedway