MOTOR RACING / VINCE KOWALICK : Spin in Husband’s Car a Joy for Grizzaffi
Dean and Debra Grizzaffi of Granada Hills promised to love, honor and cherish each other--and each other’s stock car.
For Debra, a three-year Mini Stock division veteran at Saugus Speedway, that meant driving her husband’s Hobby Stock entry last weekend when Dean, a Marine Corps reserve, was called to active duty in Texas.
“He has to do his two weeks of duty once a year,” Debra said. “He’s very unselfish. He bought me my race car first. So, when he had to go away, he asked me to drive his.”
Debra repaid her husband’s generosity by driving his vehicle to a surprising second-place finish in the 15-lap main event--the best finish by either Grizzaffi this season. In addition, it was the best finish in Debra’s career.
Dean, 24, was ninth last week in the Hobby Stock points standings and had finished no better than fourth in a main event. Debra, 23, currently 23rd among Mini Stock drivers, has never won a main event.
“I think my best finish was sixth, and that was when there were only six cars out there,” Debra said.
Debra learned firsthand the difference between the divisions during a heat race when her vehicle--her husband’s Oldsmobile--collided with another car.
“It was nothing like getting hit in a Mini Stock,” she said. “It knocked the wind out of me.”
Debra again was gasping for breath when she was placed in the pole position for the main event.
“I was absolutely terrified,” she said. “I was so scared those guys behind me were going to mow me down. I said, ‘I have to calm down.’ I just took a deep breath.”
Grizzaffi almost blew away the competition, leading for the first 11 laps before being passed by Chuck Berry of Canoga Park, the eventual winner. The strong run has made Grizzaffi consider joining her husband in the Hobby Stock division next season.
“Before the race, a large majority of the guys came up and said, ‘Just keep it on the track and be safe,’ ” Grizzaffi said. “And then after I beat them all, no one came up and said, ‘Nice race.’ ”
Didn’t matter. Her husband did.
Let’s drive two: The most important night of the season for Saugus Sportsman entries could prove more important than ever as drivers gear up for tonight’s running of the annual Winston Twin 50s. Instead of the regular 40-lap main event, Sportsman drivers will compete in two 50-lap main events. Both races will be of equal value for points.
Gary Sigman of Carson, with 207 points, is atop the division’s standings. Craig Rayburn of Santa Clarita (182), Doug Renno of Canoga Park (176) and defending champion Lance Hooper of Palmdale (168) follow.
“We’re running pretty good,” Sigman said. “But a lot could still happen.”
Indeed. For instance, should a driver slam into the wall 10 laps into the first main event, not only will he come away with almost no points, but he will not have the luxury of a one-week break to repair his vehicle in time for the next main event.
Moreover, three main events already have been canceled this season--two because of rain and one because of the riots in Los Angeles in May. None have been rescheduled.
Coming away without points in two consecutive main events could end to a driver’s shot at a track title. Conversely, circumstances could elevate an also-drove to among the points leaders.
Said Sigman: “I’ve been in the points lead entering these things before and I’ve gotten killed.”
Dubious honor: It’s official. Bob Lyon of Newhall is the most frustrated driver in the history of the NASCAR Southwest Tour.
Lyon, 30, in his fifth year on the tour, set a tour record July 25 at Redwood Acres Raceway in Eureka by coming away winless for his 71st consecutive race.
Of course, many drivers in the tour’s seven-year history have endured slumps. But all eventually struck pay dirt or simply parked their cars and quit. No one has continued for as long as Lyon without taking at least one checkered flag.
Lyon, ninth in the tour’s points standings after a strong start in March, finished third at Eureka behind Rick Carelli of Denver and Ron Hornaday Jr. of Palmdale. It was his best running since he finished second at El Cajon Speedway near San Diego in March, 1991. But it was the first race he finished since April.
“I think we’ve finally got the finishing (problem) whipped,” Lyon said. “Now we can get to the winning part.”
Lyon’s breakthrough could come tonight when the tour resumes with a 100-lap race at Stockton 99 Speedway. Not in the past six tour races at Stockton has there been a repeat winner.
“We ran good there in May,” said Lyon, who finished ninth. “I think we’ll be right there and be one of the cars to beat.”
One-two punch: Not only did Carelli and Hornaday finish first and second in the most recent Southwest Tour race, they did the same in the most recent NASCAR Winston West race.
At Eureka, Carelli’s margin of victory over Hornaday, a former Saugus Speedway Modified division champion, was only a quarter-second.
In last weekend’s 200-lap Winston West main event at South Sound Speedway in Tenino, Wash., Carelli beat Hornaday by 6.5 seconds. The race marked the first time in the series history that two rookies finished 1-2. Carelli’s victory tied the record of three wins by a rookie set by Bill Sedgwick of Granada Hills in 1989.
Carelli, who led both series simultaneously at one point this season, is second in the Winston West points standings, while Hornaday is sixth. Conversely, Hornaday (second) leads Carelli (third) in the Southwest Tour standings.
“Our hat’s off to Ronnie because he’s running really well,” Carelli said. “There’s no telling what the rest of the year’s going to bring.”
Add Winston West: The points standings are tighter than a lug nut after seven of 11 races. Sedgwick (1,163) leads Carelli (1,161) by two points. Bill Schmitt of Redding, Calif., is third with 1,156 points. Hornaday (sixth) has 1,057 points.
The series resumes Aug. 15 with a 200-lap race at El Cajon, the first series visit to El Cajon since 1974.
Motocross: About 400 motorcycle riders will stir up the dirt tonight at Ventura Raceway in the final tune-up race before the Ventura County Fair Motocross Stadium Off-Road Race scheduled for Aug. 23.
The top 20 drivers in each of 21 classes will advance to the annual race held during the fair. Classes range from 80cc to 500cc. Each class is subdivided into beginner, junior, intermediate and professional, except for 80cc, which has no professional class.
Also featured will be off-road buggies, including Class-10, Baja bugs and Super Odysseys.
