At the Track, Families Come First on the Fourth

By DARIN ESPER

June 28, 2000 12 AM PT

Despite stereotypes to the contrary, racing is a family sport and the best evidence of this occurs every Fourth of July.

Bakersfield Speedway, which is celebrating its 55th anniversary, has presented fireworks shows as part of its Independence Day racing program since its inception.

These types of shows are a long-standing tradition at short tracks around the nation, although many tracks have opted not to compete directly with the scores of fireworks shows taking place July 4.

“We tried [fireworks] one time in midweek and it just about killed us [at the gate],” said Sandy Bainton, who helps with promotions for Bakersfield Speedway. “We’re up against the Stockdale Estates show and the Memorial Field show, so the only way we do it July 4 is if it happens to fall on a Saturday.

“We draw between 7,500 and 8,000 here [for the Independence Day program], which is standing room only.”

Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield has included fireworks in its Independence Day program for 14 years, which has traditionally featured the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest series.

“We usually do 500 rockets before the main event, but this year we are doing 1,000,” said Judy Salamancha, vice president of Mesa Marin Raceway.

“We introduce the drivers at dusk, then start shooting the fireworks while they are getting in their cars, and they fire up those engines as soon as the fireworks end.”

The logistics that go along with having a fireworks display have discouraged some tracks from celebrating the holiday in the time-honored tradition.

According to Cliff Morgan, Ventura Raceway general manager, two government agencies would have to grant permission for the facility to have a fireworks display because the one-quarter-mile clay oval is located on the Ventura Fairgrounds, which are across the street from a state beach.

“To do a decent show would take between $10,000 and $15,000 and we would require approval from the fairgrounds and the Coastal Commission,” said Morgan, who claims that the lack of fireworks has no effect on attendance.

“It doesn’t hurt car counts and we will still draw the same 1,800 people we get on other weekends. I think if we did have fireworks the attendance would be higher, but it wouldn’t necessarily be just racing fans. We would get people who were just looking for a fireworks show.”

Marion Collins, owner at Mesa Marin, hires a company to handle the pyrotechnics.

“Marion tells [the pyrotechnists] the time frame and the number of rockets he wants and they build the show from there,” Salamancha said. “Because we are in the middle of nowhere, we are responsible for clearing the area around the track of any brush and we have a city fireman on hand as well.”

Salamancha said the track’s 911 Race For Youth series has helped foster the type of relationship with local fire officials that makes the holiday show possible.

Mechanical problems again plagued Bryan Herta of Valencia as he substituted for injured Tony Kanaan in the Freightliner/G.I. Joe’s 200 CART series race Sunday at Portland International Raceway.

Herta finished 16th, one lap behind winner Gil de Ferran, after falling three laps down in the early stages of the race.

Herta started 20th and quickly moved up to 15th after getting through a multicar pileup on the first turn of the first lap.

He lost two laps during the opening round of pit stops when the buckeye flap on the fuel filler got stuck, necessitating a lengthy second stop one lap later to free the device and fill the fuel tank. He lost the third lap after being assessed a drive-through penalty for a pit lane entry violation during the second round of pit stops.

“Coming into the race, I thought we had a car that I could run hard, stay out of trouble with, and score some points,” Herta said. “Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, for among other reasons, because we didn’t have very good luck. We had opportunities where I thought we could have made some gains on the racetrack, but they went away before we knew it.”

Car owner Mo Nunn was pleased with Herta’s performance.

“The silver lining is that we were running very competitively as the race went along,” Nunn said.

“Bryan did a very good job. He had one of the fastest laps in the race before all was said and done, so that’s definitely something to build upon as we head to Cleveland. As for all the bad breaks we’ve had, lately, we’ll just leave that here on the West Coast.”

Ron Hornaday Jr., a native of Palmdale, dropped from fourth to sixth place in the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division points standings after finishing 36th in the Lysol 200 on Sunday at Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Hornaday led laps 48 to 58 of the 82-lap race, but dropped out on lap 73 because of a blown engine.

Kevin Harvick of Bakersfield moved into fourth place in the overall points standings by finishing third.

Brian Kelley of Arleta has had a disappointing super late model class season at Irwindale Speedway.

Kelley, who finished second to Rod Johnson of Canyon Country in the points standings last year, has only one top-five finish and is in ninth place after finishing 11th on Saturday night. The car has been handling poorly since Kelley was hit from behind in the third race, leaving him and mechanic Rip Michaels of Mission Hills scratching their heads.

“It’s kind of weird to get in a car and not know what it’s going to do,” Kelley said. “We’ve had weird luck all year, and last year we didn’t have that kind of luck.”

Said Michaels, who leads the Grand American Modified standings: “Every time we get to the point where we think we’ve progressed, something happens.”

Kelley said his failure to duplicate his success is a sign the class has become very competitive. Michaels and Kelley agree a driver can get spoiled by winning.

“If the Lakers don’t win next year, they will be real upset,” Kelley said.

Cory Kruseman of Ventura finished third and Troy Rutherford of Ojai was fifth Sunday night in the Sprint Car Racing Assn. feature at 81 Speedway in Wichita, Kan.

Jodie York of Ventura won two production-class motorcycle races at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond for the second consecutive month, capturing the 500cc Modified Production race and the 500cc Superstock race June 18.

York’s two victories in May made her the first woman to win a production-class race at the track.

Sean Woodside of Saugus was so pleased with the way his NASCAR Winston West series car ran Saturday at Irwindale Speedway he has revised his schedule to compete in more races.

Woodside, who lost his job to series points leader Brendan Gaughan of Las Vegas despite clinching the series championship, will compete in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Portland Speedway on July 4. He will bypass the Aug. 19 race at Irwindale to compete at Rocky Mountain Raceways in Salt Lake City on Sept. 4.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

HOLIDAY RACING SCHEDULES

JULY 1

BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY

What: Fireworks, Carquest Dirt Late Model Tour, Super Street, Hobby Stock.

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: 5001 N. Chester, Oildale.

Admission: $14.

IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY

What: Fireworks, NASCAR Late Model, Grand Am Modified, Super Stock, Legends, Figure 8.

When: 7 p.m.

Where: 13300 East Live Oak Ave., Irwindale.