By Scott Daloisio, surfnsprint photo
(Gardena, CA, June 8, 2011) The persistent rain that forced cancellation of the Ron Otto Memorial at Chris Kearn’s Santa Maria Speedway, sent Greg Alexander and the Chuck Tyler Motorsports #72 to the Ventura Raceway for the first time in 2011 last Saturday night.
Media, attached to this release is a photo of Greg Alexander. Please feel free to publish the photo. If published please give photo credit to surfnsprint.com.
As soon as the call was made to postpone the race by Santa Maria officials, the Tyler Motorsports team mounted some tires and prepped the car for the smaller oval located next to the beach in Ventura. Their effort produced some hard charging by Alexander that was continually plagued by small tangles on the tiny seaside oval.
In his heat race, the 22-year-old Gardena, California racer started dead last, but quickly charged his way up to third. However, a turn one bump with another car tore the front end out of the #72 and sent Alexander to the B main.
The B-main, which was the last chance for drivers to get into the A-main event, saw Alexander start ninth. The race would send the top eight finishers to the A main. Alexander quickly worked his way into a transfer spot, but a slowly deflating left rear tire plagued his run to the front in the 12-lap race. He fought to keep the car headed in the right direction and with a tire that was completely down by the end, he miraculously brought it home seventh and earned a ticket to drive in the 30-lap feature.
The good part of the B-main was getting that hard earned transfer spot. The bad part was the seventh place finish forced Alexander to start inside the last row (19th spot) in the A-main. Once the green flag dropped, Alexander was clearly the hardest charger in the main event. From the back, he consistently picked off car after car and was quickly into the top ten. With less than ten laps to go and battling for seventh, another car got into Alexander and sent him sliding into the infield. He slid far enough off the track that a yellow flag was not needed and he ended up with a frustrating 16th place finish.
Alexander has a few weeks off before his next outing with the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series at Perris Auto Speedway on July 2nd. He will return to action in the USAC West Coast 360 Series on July 16th at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford.
The Chuck Tyler owned #72 is sponsored by Trench Shoring, Barnes Systems, Sander Engineering, Amsoil, Tyler Pool Service, Tyler Family Farms and King Racing Products.
In addition to his Chuck Tyler Motorsports ride in the USAC Western 360 Series, Alexander also drives the John Bellegante owned #23 in the Amsoil USAC/CRA Series. That car is sponsored by Barnes Systems, Amsoil, Persall Masonry and Scott’s Headers and Mufflers.
If you would like to be a part of Greg Alexander’s racing efforts in 2011, please use the contact information at the top of this release.
Date Track Series Finish
3/12/11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 11h A Main
3/19 Thunderbowl Raceway West Coast 360 3rd A Main
4/2 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 10th A Main
4/9 Santa Maria Speedway West Coast 360 10th A Main
4/16 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC West 360 16th A Main
4/30 Thunderbowl Raceway UASC West 360 4th A Main
5/14 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC West 360 5th A Main
5/21 Giant Chevrolet Kings USAC West 360 21st A Main
5/28 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 19th A Main
6/4 Ventura Raceway VRA 16th A Main