Bob Burbach
Marysville- Point race #2 of the 2010 racing season will be brought to us by Marysville’s Ace Hardware-Union Lumber store. The mighty Winged Outlaw 360 Sprinters will headline the program with their new “Race for it” dual heat race program. Last week’s feature event winner and 3-time champion Colby Wiesz told this observer that he would return this week to try for two in a row. 4-time champion and championship point leader Korey Lovell will also be there in his familiar #71. The alcohol burning winged rockets will get their 2nd test of the new season.
Following last week’s events Sacramento’s Matt Sherman popped up 2nd in points (or will be as Justyn Cox is headed for Texas this week) just 8 markers behind Lovell. Sherman is a graduate of BCRA Midget Lite racing. While he has taken some rides in sprinters before, his performance in last week’s star-studded field got everyone’s attention.
Also expected is the brother act of Jeremy Phillips and Jamie Phillips. Both local drivers have been away from serious MRP point racing competition for a number of years. Jeremy is one of the most spectacular drivers ever to pound a pedal at MRP. Jeremy is a multi-time feature event winner with a fan-friendly “win it or wear it” attitude. Jeremy did not have a very good opening night finish. That should change this Saturday. Jamie, like Jeremy is a graduate of MRP Super Stock and Modified racing. Jamie has been a factor on several occasions but hasn’t quite found victory lane.
The winged Pro 4 Sprint Cars will open their season with the “Colusa Comet” Tim Maclaughlin looking for another title. The Pro 4 field this year will include last years Mini Stock champion Misty Castleberry. In addition, former MRP Mini Stock champion Joel Giusti will also strap into a Pro 4 sprinter. This observer talked to Richard Sinnott (Castleberry’s father) and confirmed that she will not only race a Pro 4 Sprinter, but also she will try to take the “Rookie of the Year” title and the series championship…AND she will compete for her 2nd MRP Mini Stock title at the same time! It is this observer’s understanding that Giusti will try the same thing. Giusti was the first of the Mini Stock stars to try his hand at Pro 4 racing and did very well last year. Wingless Sprint Car star Jeremy Hawes will saddle up on his ketchup and mustard colored 01 for this event.
Speaking of Mini Stocks, a full field of cars and stars in that class will be offered on Ace Hardware-Union Lumber Night. We’ll see if anyone has anything for 1st night winner Howard Law. Look for Jimmy Ford, Alan Furuta and Jason Clayton to make some noise in this one. How about Clayton’s great drive to the front last week!!! Giusti’s motor melt down last week was as tough to take, as it was spectacular. He’ll be in there swinging on Saturday.
The MRP Super Stocks will return after a thrilling finish on opening night. It looks like Jeff Olschowka, Ray Trimble, Cory Hall and Ryan McDaniel are going to be the driver’s to beat. This observer is hopeful that Josh Miller gets his cool new hot rod back on the track this week after that vicious hit last week in turn 2. Sometimes bad things happen to good people.
The pit gate will open at 3PM. The grandstands will open at 5PM. Hot Lap sessions start at 6 with the first race scheduled to hit the track after hot laps at about 6:30.
The Contingency Connection weekly bonus amounting to some $1250 in contingency awards to sprint car feature winners is back for 2010. The way it works is that Contingency Connection has signed up over 200 sponsors nationwide (including Exxon/Mobil 1) who contribute products or merchandise each race to the winner. The only catch is that drivers must be sporting the decal of that sponsor to earn the bonus. If a driver who wins the MRP Winged or Wingless feature race has every decal on his car, he could receive some $1250 in products or merchandise. The bonus is a healthy addition to the weekly purses promoter Hawes already pays to the winner of MRP sprint car main events. You must be a member of the association to be eligible, but you can become a member at any event throughout the year for this bonus opportunity.