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Supermodified Racing Association gains Western Speed & Fuel, and Eibach Springs Sponsorship
“In a constantly changing environment where we have to control costs associated with racing, these awards will do that for our teams on a nightly basis,” Belveal also added. “Our involvement with the SMRA in nightly awards to the teams builds their contingency program and postures Eibach, Western Speed & Fuel and the SMRA for seasons to come.” stated Gary Olson, VP of Western Speed & Fuel.
About Western Speed & Fuel: Western Speed & Fuel carries more than 60 name products in their showroom of high performance items, including merchandise from Autolite, Hoosier Racing Tires, Moroso, Mr. Gasket, Sunoco Racing Fuels, Wilwood, Pro Shocks, Eibach Springs and Mechanix Wear. They are located at 2202 S. Van Ness Avenue in Fresno, Calif. For information, call toll-free to (800) 964-2753. By Rhonda Costa-Landers SMRA Staff Writer |
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SMRA and Meridian Speedway Announce 2008 Date Gerald Laurie, SMRA Staff Writer Boise, Idaho (February 8, 2008) Officials for the Supermodified Racing Association (SMRA), and Meridian Speedway have announced a major event scheduled for Saturday, September 6, 2008, at the famed quarter mile oval in Meridian, Idaho. The SMRA sanctioned Supermodifieds will be the premier division for the First Annual “Tater Cup” 50 lap race at Meridian Speedway. The radically offset roadsters of the SMRA will compete in a complete racing program including time trials, heat races, and a 50 lap Main Event. The winner of the event will receive a special “perpetual trophy” which will move from winner to winner each year. The Supermodified Racing Association is running its inaugural season in 2008. There are now eleven races on the SMRA schedule with possibly two additional dates still in negotiation. The Tater Cup will be the second Idaho date for the Supermodifieds in 2008. Brad Belveal, Executive Director for the SMRA, stated that the racers and Meridian Promoter, John Wood, are all very enthusiastic about bringing the Supermodifieds back to Meridian Speedway and hope this event will become a major annual program for the Supermodified Racing Association Schedule. Idaho drivers expected to compete in the SMRA Tater Cup event include veteran Jeff Russell who has scored multiple Supermodified wins. Pat Whittet, veteran sprint car pilot who moved into Supermodifieds in 2005, and sophomore sensation Brian Warf, who had a phenomenal open wheel rookie season in 2007, piloting both Supermodifieds and Sprint Cars. Other racers expected to compete include “Iron Champion” Troy Regier of Dinuba California, perennial challenger and multi-time winner Jim Birges of Fresno, California. Former Meridian winner Dale Lamborn of Carson City, Nevada, and young guns like 2007 Supermodified Champion, Martin McKeefery, and Bobby Dalton, both from the Bay area. The “Super Duo” of Eric Silsby and Amy Barnes of Minden, NV, and 2007 East-West Supermodified Shootout Champion A.J. Russell of California are all expected to participate. In addition, there could be as many as 20 entries from California, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado for the Inaugural Tater Cup. Supermodified Racing Association (SMRA) is the leading sanctioning body of Supermodified racing on the West Coast. The SMRA will sanction races at the following premiere speedways in the region: Madera Speedway, Magic Valley Speedway, Rocky Mountain Raceway, Bakersfield, and Meridian Speedway. |
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Something Old, Something New By Gerald Laurie The Supermodified Racing Association kicks off its 2008 season at Madera Speedway on April 5. Most of the 2007 teams are returning, although some will have new or different drivers. Teams from the 2005 and earlier seasons are returning as well. In addition, there are several teams coming into the Western States Supermodified Competition for the first time in 2008. Not everyone will be ready for the inaugural race, but some will join the tour for Vukovich Memorial in May and all of the teams should be active by the time June’s events roll around. Teams returning from the foreshortened 2007 season include the following: 8X George Greenway, Tollhouse CA. George will not make the April 5 show in his X-car as he is still awaiting some engine parts. But George should be at the remaining Madera Shows and possibly Kern River Raceway if that project gets completed in time for the August scheduled date. 12 Jim Pasquin, Salt Lake City, UT. Jim has sent his car to chassis wizard Jim Belfiore for repairs from his incident in Concord, NC. When his car will be ready, I don’t know, but Jim likes the longer tracks like Salt Lake and Bakersfield. 27 Martin McKeefery, Milpitas, CA. Martin won the WSSRL Championship in 2007 and is hunting for more wins and an additional championship. This team plans to run the entire schedule. 32 Jim Birges, Fresno, CA. Jim will be back in his familiar Silsby with a Ken Coventry 410 Chevy. The initial numbers on the dyno were a bit disappointing, but an additional rework after the April 5 event will get Jim in the hunt. Birges is running the entire schedule and gunning for wins. 36. Bobby Dalton, San Martin, CA. Bobby and family have got their Hyder in first class shape with a freshened 410 Chevy and looking for that first big win and hopefully more after that. This is another full time team. 48. Dale Lamborn, Carson City, NV. Dale picked up his engine in Fresno a couple of weeks ago and is looking to add to his win total by running the whole season. 66. Eric Silsby, Minden, NV. The Barnes team is looking for numbers in the win column for both drivers. Word is that this team will miss the Madera inaugural but will be loaded for bear the rest of the season. 67. Amy Barnes, Minden, NV. The second Barnes car should also be ready for the second show. After some very strong runs in 2007, Amy is another driver seeking her first win. 83 Jim Tartaglia, Reedley, CA. After buying the Tom Joyce owned Hyder, this family team has got a little behind in preparing two cars. The Hyder will run in SMRA and the Master Hawk is running the 360 class at Madera. Jim will miss the inaugural but should make the rest of the Madera shows and Kern River. 85 Jeff Russell, Boise, ID. The Out Front Team is ready and running for the Championship. Look for Jeff to come out of the gate fast and get faster each race. 91. Brian Warf, Boise, ID. With the retirement of Rick “Rocketman” Veenstra, Brian moves from the 19 into Pat Russell’s Hot Rod. With some wicked fast runs in 2007, Brian is looking for wins this year. The team is behind on prep work for April 5, but should make the “Vuky Race”. 96 Ernie Coppo, Clovis, CA. Ernie moves from Rick Cameron’s number 8 Hyder into Courtney Lewis’s Silsby for the new season. The former Late Model shoe has got a good year of experience under his belt and is gunning for his first win. After Courtney’s illness last year cut their season short, The C&S Team is shooting for the Championship this year. 98 Troy Regier, Dinuba, CA. What can I say about this team that hasn’t been said before? Troy has 70 plus Supermodified victories with over a third of them since moving to the S&S Silsby. Troy’s stated goal for 2008 is “I want to win all the races”. With this group, that is in the realm of possibilities. If you want to win an SMRA Race, this is the first and most formidable team that you have to beat at every show. Now for the returnees. These are cars that competed before and during the 2005 season: 1. Pat Whittet, Boise, ID. After running into sponsorship difficulties at the end of 2005, this team is back on the road and looking for results in the win column. With an ex-Hamilton Hyder and power by Scott Lozorwith, they definitely have the tools to be competitive. 7. A.J. Russell, Charlotte, NC. After spending last year pursuing an Indy Pro Series Ride, A.J. returned to his KPC Chevy for a convincing win in the North-South Shootout at Concord, NC. Russell recently relocated to the Charlotte area and is working for Petty Enterprises while pursuing a NASCAR ride. The plan is to commute to the West to run most of the SMRA shows. 14. Mike McCann, Creswell, OR. This veteran is still negotiating the sale of his ex-Lonnie Adamson piloted Shefchik, but plans to run Madera and some other shows if no sale occurs. I look for Mike to be at the April 5 show. 21. David Prickett, Fresno, CA. The young midget competitor is stepping into Don West’s venerable West – Donovan for at least the Madera shows as a Supermodified Rookie. 41 Doug Gould, CA. Doug bought the Rob Carlotto’s Shefchik Chevy last year and had trouble at the final Madera show last year. He also purchased Whitey Janssen’s Belfiore according to my sources and plans to run that car as a 360 at Madera. After at least a half season of seat time in the 360 class, this rookie may run the Shefchik in SMRA for the last half of the season. 50 Whitey Janssen, Dayton, NV. The Norcal Body Shop Owner has sold his venerable Belfiore – Big Block and is now piloting a Hyder with a 410 Chevy. This is one of the two Hyders originally built with Independent Front Suspension but was converted to a straight axle car several years ago. Whitey is in for the long run. 89 Various Drivers. Jim Birges is prepping Ron Burger’s X-car and it should be ready by May. Burger will run a limited schedule in the car. Others rumored to be sharing time in this seat include Kirk Wartman and Late Model Hotshoe Brian Herzog. This is the last car built by the Eckberg Brothers and most will remember this thing as very fast with Mark at the wheel. Now for the newcomers, rumors, and all other comers. Some of the following may happen, some may be just rumor: 3W Oregonian Craig Deaver has purchased Rudy Peterson’s car out of Washington. The NSRA veteran is having the chassis modified (the cage is being extended to fit Craig’s stature) and will likely join the tour in June. 6W Al Lytle has purchased Ken Pike’s Malloy and the chassis is being updated with the latest goodies. Tony Thomas will be the driver and this team should also be ready in May or June, I don’t know how much of the schedule they will run, but they will run at least a partial tour out of their Washington Shop. 11D There is a rumor that Tom Adler’s Hyder 430 Ford has been sold and will be at Madera. I have no further details on this situation. However, SMRA has grandfathered in the older Ford and Chevy 430’s at the same weight as the 410’s. There are some cylinder head limitations on these engines. However, this car, the number 21 listed above, and the number 72 Tatro car is all covered under this rule. Several Colorado cars are also in this category. 22C This is a first generation Hyder that resided in Birges’s shop for several years. The car has been delivered to an operator who wants to run it in SMRA. I have no further details on this car. 72. This Tatro owned car is rumored to be available to one of the Swanson Kids. Cody is very busy with Steve Lewis’s 9Racing midget team and unlikely to have much opportunity to run a Super. Tanner, however, may be available and is a very accomplished Sprint Car Competitor. Remember, Dad Mike Swanson still holds the forty lap record at Madera in one of the Top Shelf Cars. It would be great to see another generation of Swanson’s in a Supermodified. X I have heard from Tim Rimmer out of Washington. He is negotiating to purchase Axle Walker’s Hyder and has both a 410 Gaerte and an injected 360 available to put in the car. The plan is to run four to six SMRA shows in 2008 and possibly the entire season in 2009. I have no idea what number they will run. XX Tony Karis, an ex San Jose Speedway type who is involved in the Dave Coffin Motorsports Radio Program has also been in touch. In addition to promoting Supers on the Radio Show, he wants to get involved again and is actively pursuing the purchase of one of the inactive cars. Again, I have no idea as to numbers. XXX Jim Birges has an ex Troy Castor Hyder in his shop that has been modified with a Silsby type front clip (Similar to the 27 car). Birges says he is finally going to complete the car and will sell it, run it himself, or use it as a rent a racer. This is another possible entry before year’s end. And now for the Colorado Connection. Several ERA Teams are planning on running some SMRA events. There are no direct date conflicts this year with ERA and SMRA shows. Hopefully a couple of SMRA teams will attend some of the five ERA shows on a reciprocal basis. 2 Richie Castor. This two car team will surely be at Twin Falls and Salt Lake City. I would also expect this at one or two Madera events although current travel costs may intervene. If Kern River runs, I would also expect them in Bakersfield. 3 Harold Evans. The perennial ERA Champ is the second half of the Richard Castor Team and the same info as number 2 above applies. 5 Duncan Stone. This team has not traveled West in the past. However, the rumor is that they will try to make a couple of Madera shows this year as well as Salt Lake City with their much updated Malloy. 22 Ira Castor. I hear that Ira has abandoned the Ford and is now sporting a Chevy in his Hyder. Look for Ira at some of the same shows as brother Richard’s Team. 40 Harry Stone. Harry has always supported a limited schedule at the West Events. I expect to see Harry several times at Madera, Bakersfield, and Salt Lake. Meridian and Twin Falls may also be in his sites. 55 Gary Land has made several Western States Shows in the past. I have heard the car was for sale, so I have no idea if they will be traveling this year. 02 John Pickard. This team builds their own chassis and is often quite fast. They have a couple of ERA championships to their credit. I would expect this team at Twin Falls and Salt Lake City. There are several other cars that have been active in recent years that I haven’t heard plans for in 2008: 8 This is a Rick Cameron owned Hyder and is sitting in Richard Russell’s Shop as a roller Chassis. This car was driven last year by Ernie Coppo who has moved to the 96. 19 This is a Malloy driven last year by Brian Warf who has moved into the 91. This used to be the 28 and was run and owned by Ray Stebbins. There is a dispute as to who has rights to this car. I think it is in Davey Hamilton’s possession. Ray now has a motor ready for the car, so hopefully something can be worked out to get the Washington Troubadour back in the seat. If not, maybe someone else will take over the seat. Cody Veenstra comes to this scribe’s mind. 24 This is a Rick Cameron owned Hyder. This car is sitting in Richard Russell’s shop sans engine in the same state as the 8 above. Rick Cameron drove the car in 2007. However, I have no idea as to his plans for 2008. Okay, that’s what I have. If everyone rumored to be entering the SMRA this year actually comes forward, we are looking forward to some pretty impressive car counts. There are still other cars out there that I would like to see. If SMRA would grandfather in the existing independent front suspension cars, it would be great to see Brain Schafer’s Hyder and Pat Russell’s Sprinter back on the track. Would that be enough to lure the Rocketman out of retirement? We can always hope. |