Unexpected Bumps in the Road Getting Tiresome for Kanke

When it comes to discussing luck, M.K. Kanke usually ends up outside the conversation.

The Granada Hills racer has been on the Southwest Tour for 10 years but has run a full season only three times.

Some heartbreaking finishes, an accident here and there, and mechanical troubles at inopportune times and it’s easy to see what Kanke has been up against.

So when he blistered the competition in the Southwest Tour’s feature race at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield last weekend for his fourth career victory, one would think Kanke was on the right path.

Sounds like a reason to celebrate, right?

Not exactly.

Several drivers complained that the tires Kanke and fellow driver Craig Raudman used to qualify were of a softer compound than is recommended for the tour.

After the results in qualifying heats, it appeared the concerns were well-founded.

Kanke set a track record in the half-mile at 17.89 seconds and Raudman finished second in qualifying.

Jim Inglebright, the second-place finisher overall, filed a protest with NASCAR that was denied earlier this week.

Kanke scoffs at the idea his tires gave him an advantage.

“During practice the week before, we ran a lap a tenth of a second quicker than we did in qualifying,” Kanke said.

“But there was some confusion about a ruling from NASCAR,” Kanke said. “At first they said for us to take off the tires then they changed their mind and let us race with them.

“I would have been angry, too, if I thought a driver ignored a ruling from NASCAR officials.”

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Having to fend off angry drivers isn’t the only undesirable task Kanke has had to face.

Earlier this season he missed two tour races when his sponsor pulled the plug on a deal.

The sponsor’s wife had become ill and the sponsorship money instead went toward mounting medical bills.

“I have a conscience,” Kanke said. “I have to go to bed and wake up in the morning. I could have held the guy to the contract a little longer but I didn’t want to do that.”

Instead, Kanke used the time to fine-tune his car and prepare for the Bakersfield race.

“We just fixed up the car and got everything running real smooth,” Kanke said. “After missing Altamont and El Cajon I’m pretty much out of the points race.”

Because of financial constraints, Kanke won’t be in Stockton for tonight’s tour race.

“I need to pick and choose races, which is why I’m going to run at Sears Point,” Kanke said. “That’s a televised race and it could help [me get] a sponsor.”

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Street Stock driver T.K. Karvasek of Reseda, on the other hand, recently had the luxury of turning away a sponsor.

Karvasek, who developed a reputation as a tough guy at Saugus Speedway, races with a skeleton in the passenger seat.

One day while driving in the Valley he noticed a slogan at a local restaurant that said it offered “Food to Die For.”

“That fit me,” Karvasek said.

But now the restaurant owner has relocated and operates under a new name, Chef Jeff’s Fine Food.

“He wanted to sponsor me again, but I have a reputation to uphold,” Karvasek said. “Unfortunately, I had to tell the guy no.”

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Numerous Street Stock drivers from Saugus Speedway ran last Saturday at Mesa Marin Raceway and it appears the division could become a regular event.

Jeff Drummen of Northridge won the feature, which had nine former Saugus racers entered.

“We just want to find a place for the Street Stock division to run,” driver Kirk Miller said.

Miller, who has become a spokesman for most of the Street Stock drivers, is hopeful the car counts will improve.

“When we raced at Saugus our division had the highest car counts there. But when it closed there was nowhere for us to go.

“To have a shot at running here in Bakersfield, that’s pretty exciting,” Miller said. “Once the word gets out, we should do well.”

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Billy Boat will be looking for his third consecutive feature victory at Ventura Raceway when the Western States Midget Series continues Wednesday night.

The 30-lap main event will be televised live by ESPN, and Boat has won all three TV races this season.

A tight points race will also add to the significance of the race.

Simi Valley driver Rick Hendrix is the points leader with 193, but Boat, who is second with 184, has been steadily gaining ground since a slow start.

In the Three-Quarter main, Alex Harris of Simi Valley is looking to regain his early season form.

He won the season opener but has struggled since.

Harris is sixth in the points standings.