Castro Riding a Straight Line

About the only thing you’ll see Eddie Castro tipping these days is his helmet to an adoring crowd at Speedway USA in Victorville.

After he swept the Handicap and Scratch races at the Speedway last weekend, nearly 4,000 fans gave Castro a standing ovation.

“He’s one of the only riders I’ve ever seen to get a standing ovation like that,” track owner Gene Woods said.

But it hasn’t always been that way for the 37-year-old motorcycle racer from Ojai.

There was a time Castro could be found tipping back a few beers with friends.

As a result, his life took a dramatic change in February 1994.

While returning to his home in Ojai, Castro was involved in a traffic accident in which a 6-year-old boy was killed.

Castro had been driving under the influence and was charged with vehicular manslaughter.

He served 1 1/2 years of a four-year sentence at Avanal State Prison in Northern California. Castro’s sentence was commuted because of his work in a prison job.

“My life turned around the day of that accident,” Castro said. “I am deeply sorry for it and live it every day of my life.”

Now, Castro is working to regain his place in the community through the strength of his friends, family and fans.

“I have not had a single drop of a drink since then,” Castro said.

Business owner Mike May, who sponsors Castro, believes the 5-foot-5 rider is on his way.

“Eddie was a productive person while he was incarcerated,” May said. “He has used this situation to show others what he is supposed to do.”

Castro returned to competitive racing in March and won the Handicap main event at Victorville.

Since then, he has competed regularly in events at Victorville, Perris and Costa Mesa.

But Castro claims his return to racing was not welcomed at Costa Mesa.

“A petition was signed by several of the drivers in an attempt to prevent me from racing there,” Castro said.

The petition eventually was dropped because of legalities.

Castro has improved in recent races and he attributes it to being drug and alcohol free.

“The turnaround in my life is showing in my racing,” Castro said. “I’m getting on the comeback trail.”

As part of his reform, Castro attends Alcoholic Anonymous meetings on a weekly basis, even though he no longer is required to do so.

Castro’s past is known within the motorcycle racing community, but he still has a strong contingent of supporters.

“He is probably the most popular rider we have here,” Woods said. “Which is attributed to his riding style.”

At a race in Victorville earlier this year, the engine on Castro’s bike blew out.

When Castro’s misfortune was announced the crowd took up a collection for him of more than $600.

Said announcer Larry Huffman: “I made a dare to the crowd to match an offer of $150, and we raised over $600. I’ve never seen a crowd reaction like that.”

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Palmdale driver Lance Hooper celebrated his 29th birthday by taking the checkered flag in the Winston West feature at Portland Speedway last weekend.

Hooper, the series points leader, held off Larry Gunselman late in the race to become the only driver with two tour victories this season.

“This is a great birthday present,” Hooper said. “I’m 29 and this is by far the best one.”

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Sean Woodside of Saugus is leading the NASCAR Pacific Coast Region with a ranking of .792.

Woodside, who races in the Late Model division at Mesa Marin in Bakersfield, has three victories and top-five finishes in all eight races.

“This started last year,” Woodside said. “We won three straight to close out the season.

“I’m a lot more comfortable with the track since I’ve been racing here the last two years.”

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Northridge’s Jeff Drummen leads the Super Street Stock division at Mesa Marin with 162 points.

Drummen has a nine-point lead over Reseda’s T.K. Karvasek.