Competitive Lyon Aims for Increased Exposure

Bobby Lyon has taken his share of left turns at race tracks throughout the western United States.

The Agua Dulce-based stock car driver has been on the Southwest Tour for 10 years and has established a reputation as a fierce competitor.

During his decade-long run, he has consistently finished in the top 10 in the point standings.

But now the 34-year old is ready to move on and he has laid out bold plans for his future.

Lyon recently took advantage of a one-month break in the Southwest Tour schedule to compete in higher-profile races in Kansas and Washington.

He hopes the added exposure will lead to a spot in the Busch Grand National series or the upstart SuperTruck series.

“Either I’m going to be a hero or a zero,” Lyon said. “I want to give this a solid effort and make it a full-time career.

“The only way to progress is through exposure and the races we have entered offer those opportunities.”

Lyon finished sixth in the Coca-Cola Shootout in Topeka, Kan., against a field that included Winston Cup veteran Ken Schrader.

The Topeka race was held in conjunction with the SuperTruck event and offered prime time exposure, something the Southwest Tour does not.

Lyon raced in Portland at the Northwest Rebco last weekend, one day prior to the G.I. Joe Indy Car event. He finished 29th in Portland and was black-flagged because his muffler failed to meet an acceptable decibel level.

Despite his disappointing finish, Lyon said the experience served its purpose.

“As a team we’re getting used to making travel plans and working in different environments,” he said. “If we have a bad day, hey, that’s part of racing. Things happen.”

Lyon will compete Saturday in the Southwest Tour race at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, a track he has raced on many times.

The Southwest Tour series points leader, Craig Raudman of Canyon Country, said Lyon always presents a formidable challenge.

“Bobby has a lot of experience and is a very level-headed driver,” Raudman said. “He is a smooth driver and he knows the tracks better then anyone else.”

*

Lyon was among several drivers to migrate to the Northwest Tour race at Portland International Raceway last weekend. Raudman finished fourth and Lance Hooper of Palmdale was the winner.

*

Sprint Cars return to Ventura Raceway on Saturday night and the main event features J.J. Yeley--who has four feature victories this season--and several other top drivers from Arizona.

Ventura’s Corey Kruseman, who finished third last weekend in Phoenix, also is entered.

*

Motorcycle racer Chuck Graves hit a trifecta last weekend by winning three different levels at Willow Springs International Raceway.

Graves won the Formula One feature and set a track record for the fastest lap in 1:22.74.

The Van Nuys rider also won the 750 Superstock and Open Superbike classes.

*

Kern County Raceway has revised its summer racing schedule and will be closed the next two weeks. All classes of racing will resume July 13 and continue every other Saturday until the season ends in September.