THE GASMAN COMES TO THE SHOOTOUT AT SANTA MARIA

Several unusual things happened this weekend in SCRA Racing at the shootout at Santa Maria. First, point leader and pole sitter Cory Kruseman did not win, then the Gasman did, even after Troy Rutherford led 27 laps, and there were two distinct tracks to race on, and the wind played tricks on the fans in the grandstands. Depending on which side of the fence you were on, it was one of the most exciting finishes, and most talked about action of the year. Check out Mrs Wags work from Santa Maria right here!

Richard Griffin was relentless in his run from his 7th starting spot on a track that had one end treacherously slick and the other very heavy as everyone had their work cut out to master this unusual playground. High winds in the area earlier and half the track in the shade later probably contributed to the conditions, but it made the racing more of driver's skill test than usual. Richard, driving the Arizona Race Mart, Circle C Marketing, Madera Produce # 50, began running "wherever they weren't" as he fought his way past those in front of him, and the ever present lap cars, to get in position to battle with Cory and Rutherford for the win. Richard hit the wall so hard one time that he got way out of shape forcing Jarrett Chaney to quickly play avoidance. Jarrett ended up on his head when he thought he was going to plow into the Gasman, but was fine afterwards.

Richard was very aggressive coming thru the pack and particularly when he made his move for the win. He got by Cory using lap traffic and then, after a little love tap on the leader, went by him with three laps to go. Troy came back with a vengeance a lap later, but only succeeded in meeting the red # 50 up close and personal, but couldn't dislodge him. They both recovered from that encounter without either spinning out, to go on and finish one/two with Cory right behind them.

Understandably, Troy was a little miffed after working traffic so well, and after a near disaster start where he and Kruseman came together hard under the flag stand, with him taking the lead. His recent success in the Gardner 4-bar Sled Chassis was again on display as he did a marvelous job getting near his first win of the year. Troy, driving the Sander Engineering, Barnes Oil Systems, Tucson Tool # 4, was up to the task as he held off Kruseman lap after lap, slicing precariously thru lap traffic on the tough track, until the Gasman arrived to join the fray. Great effort for Troy and his team as the "that's racing" lessons always hurt when you are on the "other side of them, but he will return!

Cory looked like he would continue his hot streak after winning the JE Pistons Passing Masters Dash and starting on the pole. When he and Troy banged on the start of the 30 lap main, it looked like it cost him some momentum early, but he chased the leader hard looking for an opening till the very end. Cory, driving the WorldGate Networks, TCR, Del Mar Wire # 45, made his 8th out of the last 10 podium appearances as he works towards his first championship in his career.

Several had great nights at the neat little track, including the two wing visitors from up North. Peter Murphy returned for a second run with the SCRA, and after getting 8th last week, he stepped it up a notch. He was 7th quick, ran 2nd in the Semi to start 10th in the main and cut that in half before the end. His 5th place finish was very good and he looked like he was at home on the small track. A crewmember told me they will be running Mopars next year! Jason Statler arrived for his first visit with us without a wing in a long time. He qualified 17th, won his heat and started 17th in the main. He cruised up to 9th before the end and earned the hard charger award for the night. Other good jobs turned in this week included a 9th to 4th run by Super Rickie Gaunt in the only Statewide car appearing. His teammate, Mike Kirby, was off running a F8 (figure eight) race at The PAS! One note here as a get well shout goes out to Brad Geurin, Mike's long time car owner and Father-in Law, who had a heart attack on Friday. He had three blocked arteries and went under the angioplasty experience, and should be just fine soon. The very friendly and fun loving guy was missed this week. Get well Brad!

Greg DeCaries, who is looking for a full time ride for next season, had a great run as he was 4th in qualifying, ran 3rd in his heat and 6th in the main event for his 2nd best finish in SCRA. Only a 5th was better as he continues to run hard and drive a long way from his home near Sacramento. He can do the job and is committed to running without the wing! His car owner of the Hanford Radiator # 17 car, Mike Hasebe, is near selling his business to be able to relax a little more with his family. He doesn't intend to give up racing, just maybe stay a little closer to home, run wings again, and not have to work the business.

Although Steve Ostling wasn't very happy with his 7th place finish, it was still a great job on this difficult track as he and the Fischer Motorsports gang continue to hustle to win another race before the year ends. Steve is battling pretty hard in his fairly new ride and hopes for more, like all drivers! Mike English usually sets a fast time here, or close to it, but was only 9th this trip. The significance of that statement is realized when one crewmember noted he was always fast here and it made it more difficult to score well, a thing he hasn't had much luck in here this year. The 8th place finish was probably was a step in the right direction, because everybody had their elbows up and gave nary an inch this week.

Mike Spencer had the best rookie run this week in his ever-improving rookie season. He was 4th in his heat and 10th in the main, doing very well for himself with all the veterans out there. The other two drivers working for rookie honors this season were in the ballpark! Ronnie Clark was 14th and Michael Hinrichsen earned his car number, 16th, as that battle wages on with the later driver still leading.

As always, the bad luck guys were here as usual. Rip Williams was the first to drop out of the main after banging the wall and getting a flat tire very early in the night. John Scott and Charles Davis Jr were really unlucky when Charlie spun in front of John and took him out. Charlie returned, but could only manage 15th. Rodney Argo appeared to be fast, but was another innocent victim of Charles spinning, and was done early as well. I already mentioned Jarrett Chaney's wall shuffle, so there were four good cars gone before we could get going.

You know sometimes when you don't know if you are coming or going? Have you ever not known if you were hot or cold? If I didn't know better, it felt like a midsummer tornado alert in Oklahoma most of the night. The normal cool seas breezes that made sweatshirts appear were alternated by hot flashes of warm winds out of nowhere. I mean it! I spent a lot of time asking others if they felt the hot air blowing off and on during the night. Imagine some of the responses I received back, but seriously folks, it felt like a heater was blowing long bursts of hot air over the crowd. It was unreal and you could feel it at both ends of the grandstands. I guess it was my imagination?

Wagsdash XI is looming closer, and in less than three weeks, it will rush in like a lion. The weekends starts out on Friday night at Shakey's in downtown Ventura where fans and racers alike will gather to have a bite, a beer and share the good times before the annual festivities begin on Saturday morning. Picture this: Mrs Wags chili begins serving at noon for all fans and racers in the Ventura midway. Everybody is welcome! The WRA will have over a dozen of their beautiful antique race cars lined up for your perusal and they will sign autographs all day. The Legends of Ascot will be featured again with many of your all time greats that include Bubby Jones, Dean Thompson, Rick Goudy (the reigning legend pony stock champion) Tony Simon, Jeff Haywood, Eddie Wirth, Jimmy Oskie, Ron Shuman, plus many more, and featuring the Wagsdash Grand Marshall, Buster Venard, signing his special poster made by Jim Naylor for all the fans. All will be featured in autograph sessions, so bring your favorite picture of them and get it signed.

The 2nd annual pit stop contest and sexiest driver event will be going on during the chili feed. The annual Wagtimes silent auction featuring die cast cars, many autographed pictures, two racing paintings, a first issue of Open Wheel magazine, and much more will commence at noon and run until 10 minutes after the Semi completes. Get your name on the new event t-shirt and buy one that night. Add to the best passing job by putting your saved change in the Lafond Jar of Change, which is over $300 as of now. Buy a Raffle ticket to the 2001 SCRA racers T-shirt quilt, a rear-end clock and a Kawasaki 4 wheel ATV. Bid on the 2001 helmet autographed by all the drivers. And then watch 20 of your favorite driver's race for the Wagsdash purse that all of these fundraisers will create before the nights over. Get involved, and more importantly, be there to enjoy this annual fun event that just gets bigger every year!

The bottom line is a full night of racing with hot laps, four heats, a consi, a semi and two 30 lap main events! Come cheer on your favorite car and help cheer on the shiny tire contestants. You won't believe what these racers go thru to win this prize money and bragging rights from this event. Come share in the polka dot world for one night, after all - it's your race!

This week will be the two day USAC midget and SCRA sprint double header at the PAS! Last year over 100 open wheel cars battled it out for the big bucks and it was awesome. Then there is a week off for SCRA, so look for me at Ventura to cheer on the VRA racers. That night, the feature winner and the driver with the best passing job transfers into the next weeks Wagsdash. This should spice up that race a bit. All the VRA cars are eligible, so check that night, October 13th, out. The Wagsdash signals the start of three weekends of better purses with the $61,000 Manzy NWWC three day event starting on October 25th, then the three day $25,000 to win Oval Nationals at the PAS, starting on November 1st. An open night for SCRA then the finale, the Jack Kindoll Classic at the PAS, with more on how you can get involved with that coming soon. Lets get out of the house and see history being made, as the racing is hot!

SCRA points as of 9/29/01: (1) Cory Kruseman - 2280, (2) Richard Griffin 1978, (3) Troy Rutherford 1936, (4) Mike Kirby at 1727, (5) John Scott 1687, (6) Rickie Gaunt 1537, (7) Rip Williams 1487, (8) Steve Ostling 1410, (9) Mike English 1372, (10) Charles Davis Jr 1242, (11) Danny Sheridan 1137, (12) Tony Jones 1055, (13) Troy Cline 870, (14) Rodney Argo 839, (15) Lance Gremett 673 (16) Adam Mitchell 650, (17) Michael Hinrichsen 623, (18) Jarrett Chaney 526, (19) Bobby Graham 510, (20) Greg DeCaries 507, (21) Mike Spencer 433, (22) Ronnie Clark 430, (23) George Gervais 426, (24) Jeremy Sherman 421, (25) Bob Ream Jr 419, (26) Casey Shuman 419, (27) Brain Venard 406, (28) Hank Winter 360, (29) Jordan Hermansader 331, (30) Verne Sweeney 322.