From Bob Gangwer
CARSON CITY, NV – The Supermodified Racing Association has confirmed it will conclude its 2010 season at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Oct. 30 during Speedfest 2010.
It will be all treats and no tricks for supermodified fans as several drivers east of the Mississippi are expected to make the trek to Sin City to take on the wicked-fast 3/8th-mile Bullring as well as the best drivers the West Coast has to offer.
In a recent agreement, nine-time supermodified champion Troy Regier of Dinuba, Calif., will be racing for Boise car owner Tom Joyce, in the No. 56 supermodified. Regier has won every feature event he has started at The Bullring. Regier’s former crew chief Louie Genusso will be leading the team, with regular 56-driver Kirk Wartman helping out as well as Regier’s longtime tire man John Stewart.
“I’m excited to get back out and race,” Regier said. “I understand the S&S Motorsports team is already committed to Lonnie (Adamson), so I’m fortunate Tom agreed to let me race his car. It’s nothing personal, but I am going out to win. The 56 car doesn’t quite have the motor the 98 does, but I’m going to give it my best shot.”
“I can’t tell you how pumped up we are to have a nine-time Supermodified Champion driving the 56 at the biggest race of the year,” said Tom Joyce, owner of the Boise-based No. 56. “This is only possible through the efforts of Jim Birges, Tom Silsby and their guys. Thanks to Kirk Wartman for giving up his seat so Troy can run.”
Gene Lee Gibson of Sandusky, Ohio will pilot the O’Reilly Auto Parts, Fresch Electric “Flyin’ 0.” Gibson is a 30-year veteran of the supermodified wars, a 3-time ARCA Midget champion and former UMARA midget champion. He has 36 supermodified wins, 38 midget wins, 5 USAC sprint car wins, is a former USAC Silver Crown Rookie of the Year and has competed and won on some of the most noted racetracks across the country.
“Other than racing in Phoenix and spending time with my father ,Todd, when he raced out there, I’ve never run a short-track race out there (West Coast),” said the 1987-88 ISMA Hy-Miler Supermodified Nationals Champion.
“I think I can go out there and run top five, but it’s going to be a lot different racing in someone else’s back yard. I’m hoping my advantage will be my experience on a lot of different styles of tracks across the country.”
Gibson will be joined by fellow “Buckeye” New London, Ohio’s Rich Reid, driver of the T-n-T Fabrication and Spray Solutions “Double Nickel 55.” While Reid hasn’t been at the game as long as Gibson, he still feels confident that the 2,000-mile drive across the country will be well worth the effort.
Ohio’s Reid is well aware of how competitive his left coast counterparts are. When asked to compare the differences in the West Coast 410s and the 468 ci big-block he used to lead all those laps in Concord, Reid said, “Really, that’s a tough question because down there, (Concord), and most of the tracks we run are a little bigger so to me it’s better for the big block. Once you get it wound up it’s better on a momentum track. Now going to a smaller track, the small block may have an advantage. Even though they have a lot of torque, it will probably still be easier for them not to spin the tires off of the corner, but all in all, and we showed it in 2007, I think both styles of cars are very close and I can’t wait to go out there and race against those guys again.”
Reid is one of many drivers who would like to see more races where cars from across the country can compete and hopes this will be the first of what will become an annual trip to The Bullring. “Financially, I know it’s going to be tough, but for the fans, the class and the track, I hope if we can get this deal going this year that we can go every year and help support our friends on the West Coast.”
Dan Bowes of Rowley, Mass., has confirmed his goal of making his big block supermodified debut at Speedfest 2010. Bowes has been a force to be reckoned with in the northeast at the famed Lee USA Speedway while racing a small block supermodified but is ready to step up to the next level of competition. “Jim Belfiore has built us a brand new supermodified in his Las Vegas shop and we plan on driving from Massachusetts to Vegas to pick it up, Bowes said.
“Jim told us about the SMRA race at The Bullring and we figured it would be a great time to shake the car down before taking it back home to compete with ISMA next year.”
Those three and Regier will certainly have their work cut out for them competing against SMRA standouts such as Jim Birges of Fresno, Calif., Lonnie Adamson of Salt Lake City, Utah, Bryan Warf of Meridian, Idaho and Jeff Russell of Boise, Idaho, as well as Eric and Amy Barnes of Minden, Nevada, the only husband/wife team in supermodified racing on the West Coast.
Adamson leads the SMRA points race with Warf right on his heels in the second position. Adamson took over the ride in the No. 98 S&S Motorsports of Carson City when Regier “retired” from racing in June. Warf drives for Pat Russell of Boise. It has been a long time since such highly respected drivers from so many different states have been assembled to compete against each other similar to the likes of the East-West Supermodified Shootout held in North Carolina in 2007. That race was won by young A.J. Russell of Clovis, California. the Bullring is well known for it’s multi-groove smooth racing surface that provides plenty of side by side and three wide action. This is sure to be a race any open-wheel fan will not want to miss, and should be the talk of the season for all supermodified race fans and teams alike.
For a full list of entered drivers fans should visit www.smrasupermods.com often where they can also view race videos, read race results, and stay up to date with all the latest SMRA news.
Tickets for Speedfest 2010 featuring the SMRA supermodifieds are available online at www.lvms.com, or at the main gate. Racing begins at 6 p.m. Oct. 30.