HammerDownUSA.com
Positivity – By Bobby Gerould – February 19, 2007.
The annual
Race for a Reason Tony Hunt Kart
Challenge was held Sunday (Feb 18, 2007) at Race Place Motorsports in Sacramento, CA. The event raised $23,000 for the
Make-a-Wish Foundation. …We learned some new stuff, and 90% of it we can share
with you. There is always that 10% of ‘keep this on the DL’. (The DL is short
for ‘down low’ – for those of you who didn’t know). Off the top – here are some
of the tastiest tidbits I recall that are ‘fair game’. Kody Swanson is going to race some Golden State Challenge sprint
car (winged dirt) races for Jason Roth
in the Todd ‘the Ace’ Ventura
wrenched #83 jr. Swanson is fresh from dirt midget start number one of his
young career. The Kingsburg, CA native and Fresno State student was the 2005 USAC Western
Sprint Car champion. He raced on dirt in Micro Midgets on his way up through
the ranks. …A very accomplished Southern California racer that will remain unnamed may
be racing quite a bit in the West after going National in recent years. There
is reason to believe that this gasser will be at the Bakersfield Speedway in USAC
Western Midget competition on March 25th. Any guesses? Only a wise man would
know. …Brad Sweet says half-joking,
half-serious, he will base his 2007 schedule as much as possible on the Racer’s Racing Series
schedule. “The Yam” wanted to know why the Tulare WoO race this coming week
wasn’t on the schedule. Good question. I tried to have the schedule done by
very early January and at that point the February Tulare date wasn’t concrete.
I don’t like making additions and subtractions to the schedule once it is
posted. That written, the more I thought about it, I had to add the Tulare race this weekend to the schedule. It’s my own goofy “series” – and I can do
whatever I want! : ))) The object when I started it (the ‘RRS’) was for fun and
to acknowledge the very best racers who shine in the biggest, toughest races. Tulare’s weekend event meets all the
criteria. We hear that 28 traveling teams are headed to central Cali to battle with the Western winged
heroes. I think it is great so many are trying to follow the whole tour but
reality says some will inevitably fall out. But in ‘week two’ of the 2007 World
of Outlaws season you are sure to have ‘tough sleddin’ at one of the most
high-speed, rim-riding, HammerDown! tracks in the world. Can you tell I’m
hyper-anxious for this one? …Okay - back to karting. I annually rave about Kyle
Larson skills this time of the year. Dude didn’t disappoint – breaking one
the RPM facility’s track records Sunday.
Larson (14) tested a winged sprint car recently at Marysville, CA’s quarter-mile. Larry Shelton tells us Larson was
impressive in the Vertullo #83. Kyle
is hoping to race some in 2007 at Petaluma, and Watsonville where he will battle with fellow young
phenom Shane Golobic (15). Jon’s boy
will be fitted with a Maxim (for winged), and two Bullets for 2007. Golobic
will hit the road in the summer – leaving the Golden State to run wherever he can. He’ll turn
16 in August and will finish up the 2007 season in California. …”The Burst” Kyle Hirst (19) said his days in the #99 car are done. Hirst said
that Kevin Pylant will be in the
Wright MotorSports #99 at selected events this year. Kyle hopes to run a second
GP Development car at Chico’s Mini Gold Cup. When the weather gets better in the
Midwest, Hirst will head to Indiana to live for the summer. He has Eric Barnhill’s sprinter lined up to
run on Indiana’s non-wing bullring scene. …James Sweeney, the 2006 Placerville Speedway Rookie of the Year, is
set for a Civil War assault with two cars. …Mike Murgoitio said “he had a blast” racing his first ever dirt
event last weekend at Manzanita Speedway. Murgoitio made his Silver Crown debut
with a 14th place finish on the famed half-mile. … Looking for a
nice way to get “junior” involved? Laura
Hayes is looking to sell her Ford Focus Midget. The pavement car was a
winner in 2006. (This is where I should include contact info – but I have none).
…Nick Green is ready to race
whatever whenever in 2007. Plans call for spec sprints at Chico, winged 360 sprints for Harley Van Dyke, and pavement sprint
cars too. Nick is a kid that I think has tons of potential to be a regular
winner in everything he drives. …We hear that Ronnie Day’s brother Keith will run a sprint car at Watsonville this season. Ronnie is back with
Elite Racing, and new teammate Rick
McCormick. …Jason Meyers and
wife Robyn are expecting their first
child. Congratulations! Due date is sometime around the WoO California swing in
September. …Had a chance to catch up with Jimmy
Patterson and I was floored to hear that Manuel Mello passed away. Manny was a friend to me that often
called the USAC Western Office to chat. He sent me a Christmas card that will
remain a cherished possession for the kind words he took the time to write. Manuel
was perhaps best known as Gary Patterson’s
number one fan. He had a huge heart and was among the kindest people I’ve ever
run across. I lost a friend but gained a guardian angel. …Joey Hand was on hand again at the karting event. Joey told us
about his harrowing crash
at Mid-Ohio last year that left him with a concussion, and vertigo – among other
injuries. Hand is back to business as usual in the American Le Mans Series for
`07. He says he would love to test a sprint car on pavement.
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