Top 100+ NASCAR Southwest Tour Drivers Of All-Time (60-51)

60. Danny Crafton - 102 starts, 9 top 5s, 38 top 10s, 14.1 average finish, best finish 2nd (twice)

Danny Crafton's 1989 Ford Thunderbird at Phoenix International Raceway

59. Danny Burson - 29 starts, 6 top 5s, 11 top 10s, 16.7 average finish, best finish 2nd (2003 Lucas Oil 150 @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

58. Mike Hood - 34 starts, 1 win (1988 Miller 100 @ Saugus Speedway [September]), 4 top 5s, 12 top 10s, 14.2 average finish

57. Roger Gannon - 29 starts, 4 top 5s, 13 top 10s, 13.5 average finish, best finish 2nd (1988 Pepsi Cola 100 @ Shasta Speedway)

Roger Gannon's 1989 Chevrolet Camaro at Shasta Speedway

56. Damon Lusk - 21 starts, 4 top 5s, 9 top 10s, 14.0 average finish, best finish 2nd (twice)

55. Greg Voigt - 52 starts, 6 top 5s, 23 top 10s, 14.6 average finish, best finish 2nd (2004 StarNursery.com 150 @ Tucson Raceway Park)

54. Randy Olson - 45 starts, 7 top 5s, 18 top 10s, 15.1 average finish, best finish 2nd (1990 Olympia 100 @ Redwood Acres Raceway)

Randy Olson practicing for the 1993 Budweiser 200 at Sonoma Raceway

53. Steve Belletto - 43 starts, 6 top 5s, 18 top 10s, 13.0 average finish, best finish 3rd (2003 Coors Light 125 @ Orange Show Speedway)

52. Chuck Pittenger - 30 starts, 4 top 5s, 17 top 10s, 11.6 average finish, best finish 2nd (1989 President's Cup 100 @ Orange Show Speedway)

51. Keith Spangler - 126 starts, 18 top 5s, 52 top 10s, 13.7 average finish, best finish 2nd (1999 Food 4 Less 100 @ Irwindale Speedway)

#81 Keith Spangler races #17 Randy Olson at Redwood
Acres Raceway during the 1993 Olympia 100

Redwood Acres Raceway announces schedule adjustment

By Matthew J. Sullivan

The 2015 season at Redwood Acres Raceway is winding down but there is still plenty of racing left on the pavement on the 3/8-mile oval. It’s been an exciting year of racing at the Acres and there will be even more thrills than expected as RAR officials have announced alterations to the remaining 2015 schedule.

The next race on August 22nd remains unchanged as it will be Driver Appreciation Night at the raceway with all five local classes in action. The major change is on Labor Day weekend on Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th. The Saturday event will feature the third and final Tri-Holiday Classic event for the late models. On Sunday, the North State Modified Series returns to the Acres for the second time in 2015. The local classes of roadrunners, bombers, mini stocks and Thunder Roadsters will race both nights while the late models will not partake in Sunday’s events. Front gates open at 4:30PM and racing starts at 6:00PM both nights. An open practice is scheduled on Friday September 4th from 2 to 7PM.

Saturday September 19th’s race will be Fan Appreciation Night as well as the final points event for all five local classes. The final event of the season on October 3rd will be the First Annual Big T Jackpot race for the roadrunners and the Bomber Bash. The second boat race of 2015 will follow the races and conclude the racing season at the Acres.

For more information regarding the rest of the 2015 schedule, please visit Redwood Acres Raceway’s official website www.racingtheacres.com .

Top 100+ NASCAR Southwest Tour Drivers Of All-Time (70-61)

We're at the halfway point of this countdown. Here are drivers ranked 70 through 61.

70. John Dillon - 23 starts, 3 top 5s, 9 top 10s, 19.5 average finish, best finish 2nd (1999 Snap-On 125 @ Rocky Mountain Raceways)

John Dillon at Phoenix International Raceway, 1990

69. Tom Hubert - 23 starts, 3 top 5s, 9 top 10s, 18.6 average finish, best finish 4th (twice)

#9 Kenny Hendrick races #30 Tom Hubert at
Sonoma Raceway during the 1993 Budweiser 200

68. Jason Fensler - 27 starts, 3 top 5s, 10 top 10s, 15.5 average finish, best finish 2nd (1996 Plummer Pontiac 100 @ Stockton 99 Speedway)

67. Mark Meech - 50 starts, 2 wins, 5 top 5s, 11 top 10s, 17.8 average finish

Win #1: 1989 Coors 100 @ Orange Show Speedway

Win #2: 2003 Coors Light 125 @ Cajon Speedway

66. Frank Maronski, Jr. - 123 starts, 1 win (1999 Irwindale 100 @ Irwindale Speedway), 9 top 5s, 32 top 10s, 16.4 average finish

65. Randy Becker - 18 starts, 3 top 5s, 7 top 10s, 15.9 average finish, best finish 3rd (1987 Vons 200 @ Riverside International Raceway)

64. David Mayhew - 14 starts, 2 top 5s, 6 top 10s, 13.7 average finish, best finish 5th (2006 Southwest Series 150 @ Altamont Motorsports Park [September])

63. Tom Caturgeli - 19 starts, 2 top 5s, 9 top 10s, 12.9 average finish, best finish 2nd (1986 Diet Pepsi 100 @ Shasta Speedway)

62. Kenny Shepherd - 96 starts, 11 top 5s, 31 top 10s, 16.4 average finish, best finish 2nd (1998 Yahoo Sports 200 @ Sonoma Raceway)

61. Darrell LaMoure - 142 starts, 1 win (2001 Big O Tires 150 @ Mesa Marin Raceway), 10 top 5s, 45 top 10s, 16.4 average finish

Top 100+ NASCAR Southwest Tour Drivers Of All-Time (80-71)

The list continues with rankings 80-71.

80. Frank Adamo - 20 starts, 3 top 5s, 5 top 10s, 19.7 average finish, best finish 2nd (1996 Bakersfield Classic 300k @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

79. Scott Brandt - 18 starts, 2 top 5s, 6 top 10s, 16.4 average finish, best finish 3rd (2001 Big O Tires 150 @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

78. Roy Testa - 99 starts, 6 top 5s, 23 top 10s, 16.3 average finish, best finish 2nd (twice)

77. Zach Niessner - 21 starts, 4 top 5s, 5 top 10s, 19.9 average finish, best finish 2nd (2000 Food 4 Less 150 @ Irwindale Speedway [July])

76. Nick Joanides - 59 starts, 4 top 5s, 18 top 10s, 16.1 average finish, best finish 3rd (2001 Coors Light 125 @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

75. Todd Souza - 64 starts, 5 top 5s, 17 top 10s, 16.0 average finish, best finish 2nd (three times)

74. Randy Laskowsky - 33 starts, 3 top 5s, 11 top 10s, 14.9 average finish, best finish 5th (three times)

73. Kevin Riniker - 25 starts, 1 win (1987 Vons 200 @ Riverside International Raceway), 2 top 5s, 8 top 10s, 15.5 average finish

72. Dave Byrd - 31 starts, 2 top 5s, 13 top 10s, 15.9 average finish, best finish 4th (1992 California Republic Bank 200 @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

Dave Byrd starts the B-main event of the 1991
Olympia 100 from pole at Redwood Acres Raceway

71. Scott Lynch - 54 starts, 8 top 5s, 13 top 10s, 18.8 average finish, best finish 2nd (2001 Advantage Ford 150 @ Irwindale Speedway)

Pettit holds off late charge to win

Jim Pettit, II and his team celebrate after winning the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series 125
Presented By Bear River Hotel And Casino at Redwood Acres Raceway

By Matthew J. Sullivan

One of the most anticipated events on the 2015 schedule at Redwood Acres Raceway took place this past Saturday night. The Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series raced on the 3/8-mile paved oval for a 125-lap event presented by Bear River Hotel And Casino. The SRL tour cars joined the local classes of roadrunners, bombers, mini stocks and Thunder Roadsters in what proved to be an exciting and memorable night of action.

In a bit of a surprise, the night in the Humboldt Hydroponics roadrunner division belonged to Daniel Buell. Buell took the win in the trophy dash and heat races. The 20-lap feature proved to be another highly competitive race as it seemed the lead changed every lap. The race was slowed once when Bethany Rapp was turned off turn four and hit the wall, damaging her radiator. The race came down to a duel between Buell and Dylan Ford. Ford got shuffled in the final two laps which gave Buell the advantage he needed to win his first ever feature event. Buell’s win also broke Ford’s six-race stranglehold on main event wins in the division.

Tony Ramizzotti made his first trip to the Acres count in the bomber division with a trophy dash win. The heat race and main event proved to be another showcase for Dustin Walters as he was able to take the win in the heat and got the lead right off the jump of the 25-lap main. Walters dominated the event, pulling out to an insurmountable lead and taking the race win. Ramizzotti placed second followed by Rick Jelton and James Moore.

The mini stock division was down on cars for the night but still provided excellent racing. The trophy dash and heat races featured a father/son battle between Brian Murrell, Sr. and Junior. Murrell, Jr. was the victor in the trophy dash while Murrell, Sr. took heat race honors. The 25-lap main saw the two battle yet again in a thrilling four-car race that also included Eugene Palmer and Chris Champagne. The tight racing up front led to eventual contact between Champagne and Murrell, Sr. that sent Murrell spinning into Palmer and knocking his front nose off. Champagne restarted at the rear while Palmer continued and Murrell was forced to the pits for the rest of the night.

After the restart, Murrell, Jr. and Palmer raced hard for the top spot. On lap 17, Palmer and Murrell, Jr. made contact going into the first turn. Murrell was able to make the save but the incident broke both he and Palmer’s momentum which allowed Champagne to maneuver to the lead. Champagne was able to withstand a late race restart to take the win followed by Murrell, Jr., Eugene Palmer, Ted Henry and Kevin Palmer who was making his first ever start driving Rick Estes’ mini truck.

The Bear River Hotel And Casino Thunder Roadster division saw an influx of cars on the night with 10 partaking in the action. In spite of the increase in competition, Paul Peeples, Jr. proved once again to be the dominant factor. Peeples won both the trophy dash and heat races. Chris Lawrence took the lead at the start of the 35-lap main before giving way to Thomas Payne. By lap five, Peeples was in second and got by Payne for the lead. The race was slowed near the halfway point when Donnie Brown had trouble and drove into the wall in turn one. Fortunately he was okay. After the restart, the best race on the track was for second between Payne, Robbie Nelson and Chris Sarvinski. At the front, it was all Peeples as he was able to win another main event. Nelson was able to get by Payne and hold him off for the second spot. Sarvinski placed fourth.

15 cars took time for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series 125 Presented By Bear River Hotel And Casino. One driver who did not partake in Saturday night’s action was Jim Walker who appeared at the Friday afternoon practice session but did not show on race day. Local favorite, Brandon White set quick time with a 15.574. The invert for the race was six which gave pole position to veteran driver, Craig Raudman.

Raudman used his starting position to his advantage as he took the lead over Jim Pettit, III at the start. The only incident of the race occurred on lap nine when White and Tracy Bolin got together coming off turn two. Bolin got sideways and tried to save his car down the back stretch to no avail. Bolin’s car clipped White’s as he was trying to get by on the high side sending White in the wall. Behind them the top two in points, Greg Voigt and Ryan Cansdale were collected. White’s car stopped in turn four and caught fire. White climbed out of his car and rolled on the track as safety officials were on the scene immediately to tend to him. Thankfully none of the drivers were injured and though White was taken to the local hospital due to inhaling smoke and fumes from his in-car fire extinguisher.

Pettit used the restart to his advantage as he was able to take the lead from Raudman. Pettit slowly pulled away from Raudman while two NTS Motorsports drivers, Blaine Rocha and Parker Stephens were making moves to the front. Raudman appeared to be struggling with his car’s handling and was forced to give way to Bobby Hodges, Rocha and Stephens. It looked as though Hodges might have a chance of closing in on Pettit as the leader hit slower traffic but his gain proved to be minimal.

Just after the halfway point, Stephens was able to get by Rocha for third and began showing some strength. On lap 105, Stephens moved by Hodges for second after the two dueled for several laps. Stephens closed quickly on Pettit in the final 10 laps of the event and with five to go, the winner of the event was heavily in doubt. Stephens was right on Pettit until two laps remaining when he got loose between turns one and two. That was all Pettit needed to take the victory, his second at the Acres having been the 2013 winner. Stephens took second with Rocha third and Hodges fourth the last car on the lead lap. Raudman rounded out the top five.

Racing at Redwood Acres Raceway takes three week break before returning August 22nd for Driver Appreciation Night. Roadrunners, bombers, mini stocks, Thunder Roadsters will be in action as well as the late models who had this past weekend’s event off. Grandstands open at 5:00PM while races begin at 6:30PM. For more information on the rest of the 2015 schedule please visit the track’s official website, www.racingtheacres.com .

Terry Phillips Wins $100,000 Dirt Modified Feature At Batesville

By Gary Jacob

Batesville, AR -- After earning the 9th starting spot with a third place finish on Friday night, dirt late model super star Terry Phillips drove his GRT dirt modified to a $100,000 win in the second annual big money special at Batesville Speedway on Saturday night. Phillips had tuned up for the summer’s big dirt modified shows by racing his car in several events at the annual Early Thaw action in Casa Grande AZ back in January. He only led the final 3 laps of the big 100 lapper after being Tucson AZ teenager Jeremy Payne to a yellow flag late in the action. Payne had won the pole for the 100 lapper with his Wednesday night feature win in his Shaw by Taylor mount. Payne moved to the Midwest this summer to chase the USMTS Series, but began racing the Batesville races and living with Jeff Taylor when the traveling series had so many early season rainouts. Payne was the 2004 Barnett Harley Davidson Dirt Modified Series champion when he raced in El Paso TX and Las Cruces NM. Payne had led from lap 12 to lap 97 with his Ford, but settled for the $20,000 runnerup prize. Friday night feature winner B J Robinson from Shreveport Louisiana led the first 11 laps on Saturday night from an outside front row start, but settled for 19th place in the 100 lapper. Defending race champion Scott Bloomquist, another dirt late model star, put his Taylor built car in the middle of the front row with his Thursday night feature win, but settled for the $10,000 third place money in the 100 lapper. Track regular Shawn Walsh from Ash Flat ARK was a $5000 fourth ahead of dirt late model racers Wendell Wallace and Jeff Taylor. Wallace won $2500 and J Taylor $2000 as a last place finish in the 31 car feature paid $1500. NEXTEL Cup racer Kasey Kahne joined the action on Saturday night and thrilled the crowd by racing from 31st starting to a 9th place finish. Bill Elliott also started at the rear of the grid, but only completed 58 laps and ran 26th.

Just under 130 cars entered this year’s action and time trials on Tuesday night guaranteed the two fastest qualifiers starting spots in the 100 lapper. Illinois car builder Bob Pierce was quick time at 16.266 and Oregon’s Jon DeBenedetti won a tie breaker with USMTS dominator Kelly Shryock for that second spot. Each ran a 16.445 best, but DeBenedetti’s slow lap was faster. Minnesota’s Tommy Myer ranked fourth ahead of track regular Jared Landers. Payne was 9th quick, California’s Dustin Jenks ranked 10th, El Paso TX charger Troy Godwin was 17th and Curt Barnett ranked 25th. Tony Leiker from Gillette WY was 64th, California’s Darin Hawks 80th and California car builder Joe Carr 83th. Also representing the west was Medford OR promoter John Skinner, California’s John Pierce, Bakersfield’s Robert Sanders and Arizona’s Joe Parmeley. The top 9 finishers from the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night cards earned the starting spots in the 100 lapper. The feature was lined up three abreast on the wide racing surface with the Wednesday night teams on the inside, the Thursday qualifiers in the middle and the Friday qualifiers on the outside. Payne won the pole with his Wednesday night feature win. He was originally disqualified for taking a cool down lap before driving to the scales, but the officials later restored him to the win. Landers ran second on Wednesday ahead of Myers, South Dakota’s Jon Tesch, GRT’s Jack Sullivan, Little Rock’s Michael Murphree, car builder and dirt late model star Jimmy Owens, California’s Kellen Chadwick in another Taylor mount and Canada’s Steve Arpin. Bloomquist broke a rear end in his Wednesday night heat. The draw that was used for Wednesday night’s heats was completely inverted for the Thursday night action. Bloomquist easily won his heat and the feature on Thursday night with Peyton Taylor, younger brother to J Taylor, in second ahead of J Taylor, Tennessee’s Mike Marlar, Wisconsin’s Mike Mashl, dirt late model star Bill Frye, Texas super star George White, Tennessee’s Kenny Holt and Louisiana’s Garrett Durrett. Friday night’s feature went to Robinson in front of Walsh, Phillips, Batesville’s own Kevin Salter and Greg Waugh, W Wallace, Andy Milliken, Minnesota’s Jason Krohn and Chad Mallett. Behind those 27 cars came Pierce and DeBenedetti from time trials and the two NEXTEL Cup racers.

The 100 lapper was slowed 13 times by yellow flags and the last proved to the decider as Payne didn’t race as hard to the flag as Phillips did and Phillips emerged as the race leader with just 2 laps left to race. The top 17 finishers were all on the lead lap with Payne settling for the rich second place payoff ahead of Bloomquist, Walsh, W Wallace, J Taylor, Salter, Krohn, Kahne, Murphree, White, Chadwick, Owens, Mashl, Arpin, DeBenedetti and Frye. Pierce only lasted 9 laps, Sullivan 33, Elliott 58 and P Taylor 90. Owens builds the Loose Gruff Chassis that DeBenedetti runs.

Other action on Saturday night included a race of states for the fastest qualifier from each state to not make the 100 lapper. Wayne Brooks from Arkansas won ahead of Minnesota’s Trent Follmer, Bart Richardson from Tennessee, Iowa’s Shryock and California’s Jenks. A manufacturers dash was won by the GRT of Jon Mitchell ahead of Brandon Smith’s Shaw, the Dirt Works of Texan Vince Ogle, Dustin Duncan in an IRP and Phil Dixon’s FastOne. Shryock had finished 10th on Friday night and all the 10th place qualifying night finishers were awarded $750.

Feature Finish-Terry Phillips, Jeremy Payne, Scott Bloomquist, Shawn Walsh, Wendell Wallace, Jeff Taylor, Kevin Salter, Jason Krohn, Kasey Kahne, Michael Murphree, George White, Kellen Chadwick, Jimmy Owens, Mike Mashl, Steve Arpin, Jon DeBenedetti, Bill Frye, Tommy Myers, B J Robinson, Jared Landers, Jon Tesch, Peyton Taylor, Chad Mallett, Mike Marlar, Greg Waugh, Jack Sullivan, Andy Milliken, Garrett Durrett, Kenny Holt, Bob Pierce.

Top 100+ NASCAR Southwest Tour Drivers Of All-Time (90-81)

The countdown continues with drivers ranked from 81 to 90.

90. Kevin Clark - 33 starts, 1 top 5, 12 top 10s, 17.6 average finish, best finish 4th (2004 United Power/Touchstone Energy 150 @ Colorado National Speedway)

89. Glen Cummings - 46 starts, 3 top 5s, 9 top 10s, 16.9 average finish, best finish 2nd (1990 Coors Light/Ormsby 100 @ Silver State Raceway)

88. Bryan Brown - 62 starts, 21 top 10s, 14.3 average finish, best finish 6th (twice)

87. Terry Henry - 46 starts, 3 top 5s, 11 top 10s, 17.5 average finish, best finish 3rd (1994 Wrangler Firecracker 100 @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

86. Will Harper - 45 starts, 1 top 5, 17 top 10s, 15.6 average finish, best finish 3rd (1993 Miller Genuine Draft 100 @ Las Vegas Bullring)

85. Steve Smith - 20 starts, 2 top 5s, 6 top 10s, 17.0 average finish, best finish 5th (twice)

84. Rocky Nash - 61 starts, 1 win (2000 Food 4 Less 150 @ Irwindale Speedway [July]), 3 top 5s, 14 top 10s, 18.3 average finish

83. Keith Van Houten - 42 starts, 1 top 5, 15 top 10s, 12.9 average finish, best finish 4th (1986 Spears Manufacturing 100 @ Stockton 99 Speedway)

82. Chris Shannon - 24 starts, 3 top 5s, 6 top 10s, 18.9 average finish, best finish 4th (twice)

81. Ben Walker - 38 starts, 3 top 5s, 8 top 10s, 17.1 average finish, best finish 2nd (2001 Food 4 Less 150 @ Irwindale Speedway [June])

Top 100+ NASCAR Southwest Tour Drivers Of All-Time (100-91)

The list continues with drivers ranked positions 91 through 100.

100. Joe Herold - 56 starts, 1 top 5, 13 top 10s, 16.0 average finish, best finish 2nd (2004 Coors Light 125 @ Cajon Speedway)

99. Brandon Whitt - 23 starts, 1 top 5, 6 top 10s, 16.0 average finish, best finish 5th (2002 Coors Light 125 @ Cajon Speedway)

98. Blair Aiken - 14 starts, 5 top 10s, 13.8 average finish, best finish 6th (1992 Emporium Western/Wrangler Firecracker 100 @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

97. J.R. Patton - 18 starts, 1 top 5, 5 top 10s, 17.3 average finish, best finish 3rd (2003 King Taco 150 @ Irwindale Speedway)

96. Tom Price - 24 starts, 1 top 5, 6 top 10s, 13.6 average finish, best finish 5th (1988 Coors Light 100 @ Silver State Raceway)

95. Greg Scheidecker - 47 starts, 2 top 5s, 11 top 10s, 16.4 average finish, best finish 4th (1987 Vons 200 @ Riverside International Raceway)

94. John Walsh - 38 starts, 2 top 5s, 9 top 10s, 17.4 average finish, best finish 2nd (1995 Coors 100 @ Orange Show Speedway)

93. Kevin Vernon - 32 starts, 1 win (2003 Lucas Oil 150 @ Mesa Marin Raceway), 2 top 5s, 4 top 10s, 19.3 average finish

92. John Krebs - 16 starts, 1 top 5, 4 top 10s, 14.8 average finish, best finish 5th (1986 Suncrest Motorhomes 100 @ Willow Springs Raceway)

91. Tony Toste - 46 starts, 16 top 10s, 15.2 average finish, 6th (four times)

Top 100+ NASCAR Southwest Tour Drivers Of All-Time (129-101)

For more information on this list, please refer to the preview that I posted several weeks ago. This will tell you how I made the rankings. To get a better sense of where each driver ranked, I weighted each category. It's too complicated to put down at this time but I think the final results help make the rankings more truthful to where each driver should be placed. Remember, these rankings are based solely on what these drivers accomplished in the NASCAR Southwest Tour Series.

With that, here are drivers 129 through 101.

#129: Scott Lee - 22 starts, 23.4 average finish, best finish 11th (1990 Coors 100 @ Cajon Speedway)

#128: Eddie Bryans - 39 starts, 20.8 average finish, best finish 12th (1987 Miller 100 @ Saugus Speedway [September])

#127: Richard Johnson - 30 starts, 1 top 10, 21.4 average finish, best finish 9th (2006 Southwest Series 150 @ Altamont Motorsports Park [July])

#126: Steve Teets - 26 starts, 18.1 average finish, best finish 14th (three times)

#125: Alan Brown - 22 starts, 1 top 10, 18.3 average finish, best finish 10th (1992 Coors 100 @ Orange Show Speedway)

#124: Dan O'Donnell - 24 starts, 2 top 10s, 19.6 average finish, best finish 10th (two times)

#123: Darrel Krentz - 51 starts, 4 top 10s, 21.1 average finish, best finish 8th (1994 Coors 100 @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

#122: Al Sadler - 48 starts, 1 top 10, 17.3 average finish, best finish 10th (1989 Coors 100 @ Orange Show Speedway)

#121: Steve Petty - 29 starts, 3 top 10s, 22.3 average finish, best finish 6th (1999 Snap-On 200 @ Sonoma Raceway)

#120: Ray Neveau - 48 starts, 4 top 10s, 20.0 average finish, best finish 7th (1989 Budwesier 100 @ Cajon Speedway)

#119: Jeff Hill - 22 starts, 3 top 10s, 22.3 average finish, best finish 7th (2000 Snap-On Tools/AAA 200 @ Sonoma Raceway)

#118: Don Campbell - 20 starts, 3 top 10s, 19.2 average finish, best finish 8th (2006 Southwest Series 150 @ Altamont Motorsports Park [July])

#117: Greg Fowler - 49 starts, 5 top 10s, 18.5 average finish, best finish 8th (two times)

#116: Harry Brady - 73 starts, 8 top 10s, 18.7 average finish, best finish 6th (1989 President's Cup 100 @ Orange Show Speedway)

#3 Harry Brady leads #17 Randy Olson in the heat race
for the Hamm's 100 at Redwood Acres Raceway in 1995

#115: Mark Wilson - 20 starts, 1 top 5, 1 top 10, best finish 5th (1996 Bakersfield Classic 300k @ Mesa Marin Raceway)

#114: Dan Bishop - 19 starts, 3 top 10s, 16.4 average finish, best finish 10th (twice)

#113: Mike Ledbetter - 53 starts, 8 top 10s, 18.9 average finish, best finish 6th (2003 John Baker 150 @ Tucson Raceway Park)

#112: Davy Lee Liniger - 20 starts, 1 top 5, 2 top 10s, 19.6 average finish, best finish 4th (1998 NAPA 125 @ Colorado National Speedway)

#111: Roy Pruett - 18 starts, 3 top 10s, 15.0 average finish, best finish 8th (1986 Motorcraft/Carquest 300 @ Riverside International Raceway)

#110: Ray Lawson, Jr. - 29 starts, 5 top 10s, 15.8 average finish, best finish 7th (three times)

#109: Doug Renno - 37 starts, 7 top 10s, 16.6 average finish, best finish 7th (1996 Colorado's Best Chevrolet/Geo Dealers 125 @ Colorado National Speedway)

#108: Bruce Bechtel - 22 starts, 1 top 5, 3 top 10s, 17.6 average finish, best finish 5th (1999 Phoenix 125 @ Phoenix International Raceway)

#107: Gary Tamborelli - 29 starts, 1 top 5, 5 top 10s, 17.7 average finish, best finish 5th (1990 Coors 100 @ Orange Show Speedway [September])

#106: Stephen Sadler - 22 starts, 1 top 5, 5 top 10s, 19.2 average finish, best finish 5th (2005 AutoZone 125 @ Stockton 99 Speedway)

#105: Dean Huss, Jr. - 13 starts, 4 top 10s, 14.6 average finish, best finish 6th (1986 Miller 100 @ Saugus Speedway)

#104: Mark Perry - 86 starts, 2 top 5s, 13 top 10s, 17.3 average finish, best finish 3rd (1988 Budwesier 100 @ Cajon Speedway)

#103: Thomas Martin - 54 starts, 3 top 5s, 7 top 10s, 19.0 average finish, best finish 4th (2006 Stock Building Supply 100 @ Irwindale Speedway)

#102: John Baker - 42 starts, 2 top 5s, 8 top 10s, 18.2 average finish, best finish 4th (2001 StarNursery.com 250 @ The Las Vegas Bullring)

#101: Scott Busby - 73 starts, 2 top 5s, 13 top 10s, 18.5 average finish, best finish 5th (two times)

SRL stars return to the Acres

NTS Motorsports teammates, Parker Stephens (28) and Blaine Rocha (21)
test at Redwood Acres Raceway for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour event

By Matthew J. Sullivan

One of the most anticipated events of the 2015 season at Redwood Acres Raceway is on the horizon as the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will race this Saturday August 1st. The top super late model drivers on the west coast will go head-to-head on the 3/8-mile paved oval for the second time in series history, the first since 2013. The SRL series will be joining the Acres’ local divisions of roadrunners, bombers, mini stocks and Thunder Roadsters while the local late models will have the evening off.

Dylan Ford is coming off his sixth main event win in a row in the Humboldt Hydroponics roadrunner division and will look to take his seventh feature this weekend. Ford has a stranglehold on the championship standings as he leads Daniel Buell by 78 points. R.C. Brown has been impressive in his rookie season in the division and sits third, only four points behind Buell. Steve Paiment is fourth, a point behind Brown. Paiment was the winner of the main event on April 25th. Another rookie, Shawn Malloy holds down fifth in the standings.

Dustin Walters has been the favorite throughout the season in the bomber division and the point standings reflect it. Walters has four main event wins, two of them in a row and leads James Moore by 14 points. Moore has won two main events this season. The rest of the top five consists of Michael Knight, the team of Lance Martins and Joseph Phares and Ryan Walters however those drivers are more than 80 points in arrears to the point leader.

The Maxwell’s Custom Automobiles mini stocks have put on some of the best racing at the Acres this year. Chris Champagne leads the standings with three main event wins, one of those coming in the first race when his car was driven by Leonard Ward. Second in points is division rookie, Eugene Palmer who won the June 20th race. Palmer is only 12 points behind Champagne. Rick Estes has a main event win and is third, 24 points behind Champagne. Defending mini stock track champion, Brian Murrell, Jr. has had rough luck in 2015 but still sits fourth, 38 behind the leader. Another division rookie, Tim Abeyta is fifth, 68 in arrears to Champagne.

It has been another season of dominance for Paul Peeples, Jr. in the Bear River Casino Hotel Thunder Roadster division. Peeples has won the past four main events in a row and five in total in 2015 and leads Robbie Nelson by 31 points. Nelson is the only other driver to win a main event in the division this year which came in the May 9th race. Thomas Payne is third, 50 points behind Peeples. Chris Lawrence sits fourth and is 61 markers behind Peeples while Belinda Ward is fifth and nine points behind Lawrence.

The fight for the Mid City Motor World late model track championship could very well come down to the last lap of the season. Ryun Leazer and Jedd Ambrosini sit atop the standings tied with 205 points apiece. Marty Walsh missed the first two races of the season but has won two features including the most recent race on July 18th. Walsh is only 29 points behind Leazer and Ambrosini, well within striking distance. Richard Knight is fourth, 32 behind the leaders and David Henderson is fifth, four points behind Knight. Henderson won the May 9th main event. Other main event winners in the division this season are David Miller who won on opening night, April 25th, Mic Moulton who won on May 24th and June 6th and Brandon White who won the Firecracker 100 race on July 4th.

As mentioned earlier, the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will be returning to Redwood Acres Raceway this weekend for the first time since 2013. Jacob Gomes holds the SRL track record at the Acres with a 15.478. Veteran super late model racer, Jim Pettit, II won the inaugural SRL event which was held on June 1st of 2013. In the 2015 point standings, Greg Voig
t leads Ryan Cansdale by 30 points. Eureka native, Brandon White is third, 49 points behind Voight. Tracy Bolin is fourth, only three points behind White while Jeff Bishofberger is fifth a single point behind Bolin. White will certainly be one of the favorites for local fans. Another fan favorite, Jim Walker will also be in action.

The Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will have a practice date on Friday July 30th from 4:30PM to 7:30PM. On Saturday, gates open at 4:30PM while racing will begin at 6:00PM. More information on this weekend’s big event can be found on Redwood Acres Raceway’s official website, www.racingtheacres.com .