By Gary Costa, L&J Photography
Watsonville, CA – (April 16, 2010) — Veteran driver Peter Murphy would debut his new Winged ride for the 2010 season at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, California. Murphy is scheduled to compete in all of the Ocean Sprint Car Series presented by Taco Bravo events that will be held at Ocean Speedway, Santa Maria Speedway and the Tulare Thunderbowl.
Qualifying would be the first event of the evening for the Buster & Ziggy Enterprise, Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Kiwi Transport, Tom Ingram Motorsports, Pro Signs No. 11. Murphy would be the 22nd car out to qualify out of a stout 31-car field that assembled in the Ocean Speedway pit area. Murphy drilled the dirt oval, timing-in with a 12.286 qualifying lap which would be good enough for eighth quick on the field. “The car feels really good. Not too bad for our first time out with this car. There are a lot of good cars here, so we’re going to have our work cut out for us,” Murphy said after his qualifying run.
Peter would glide the pristine No. 11 in to his fifth place starting spot for the fourth and final heat race of the evening. When the green flag flew, Murphy was up on the wheel and charging, but spun exiting turn two and came to a stop. He would rejoin the tail-end of the field. With laps running out, Murphy would chase Jason Statler to the checkered flag, just missing the transfer spot into the 30-lap feature event.
Murphy would be forced to run the ‘B’-Main event which he promptly won. He was able to get his time back and he would start eighth in the field next to young gasser, Justin Sanders. “We’re going to have a go and try to move forward as much as we can and see if we can’t bring this Buster & Ziggy Enterprise car home in one piece,” Murphy said as he was putting tear-offs on his visor.
With anticipation building throughout the Ocean Speedway grounds, Brad Furr and Bud Kaeding would be on the front row of the stout field of cars. Furr and Kaeding would bring the field down to the green flag, and when the field went green, the likable Australian immediately began to move forward and was already challenging for the fifth position early in the event. Contact would ensue on lap-3 with a hard-charging Evan Suggs and Murphy would pound the wall, with Suggs taking a nasty ride. Thankfully Suggs was able to walk away from the scary incident, and both drivers would be done for the night.
“I’m real pleased with how we performed tonight. Of course I wish our night didn’t end the way that it did, but all-in-all it was good. I don’t think Evan knew I was there – it was just a racing deal for sure and I’m glad that he’s okay. I need to thank everyone who has supported me this season,” Murphy said. “I can’t say enough about Buster & Ziggy. Obviously if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here tonight. I also need to thank the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Kiwi Transport, Tom Ingram and everyone who helps our team. I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of this car again.”
Murphy’s weekend didn’t end in Watsonville. He was scheduled to be at Santa Maria Speedway the next day in Tom Tarlton’s No. 21. Murphy drove to a third place finish there during West Coast 360 Non-Wing Sprint Car action.
The next race for Peter Murphy and the Buster & Ziggy No. 11 will be at Santa Maria Speedway Friday, April 30.
Be sure to check out the Peter Murphy Racing Facebook page where you can get up to date results and pictures from the races as they happen.