By Scott Daloisio
(Gardena, CA, July 6, 2011) The little gremlins that can pop up from time to time in racing reared their heads on a couple of occasions when Greg Alexander contested the Firecracker 30 for the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars last Saturday night at Perris Auto Speedway.
Before racing began, Alexander, who drives the John Belegante #23 Barnes Systems, Amsoil, Persall Masonry, Scott’s Headers and Mufflers Sprint Car, and the other stars from the Amsoil USAC/CRA Series signed hundreds of autographs and posed for photos with the fans. Soon thereafter, the Gardena, California based driver qualified 16th. That was right in the middle of the tough 32 cars field. It was the first time in 2011 that he qualified slower than eighth at the Riverside County half-mile clay oval.
The first problem on the night set in when Alexander took to the track for his 10-lap heat race. Hopes of transferring straight to the 30-lap main were dashed when a rock knocked off a nozzle line causing the engine to slow and Alexander to drop from the race. Actually that was a bit of good news as when the car originally slowed on the track, the 22-year-old racer thought the engine had dropped a cylinder, which would have put him out for the night.
A few minute later, with the nozzle line back on, Alexander found himself inside the second row for the start of the 12-lap B main event. It was his last chance to get into the night’s prestigious Firecracker 30 feature. The young driver took full advantage of the opportunity offered and raced to the front of the pack and the eventual win to earn his ticket into the A main event.
Before a massive holiday weekend crowd, Alexander started 14th in the 22 car A main field. He aimed the white #23 Sprint Car with the silver numbers towards the front of the pack. He quickly passed five cars and was ready for more when the right rear shock broke. Hopes of a top finish were dashed at that point and he ended up a disappointing 14th.
On July 16th, Alexander will be driving the Chuck Tyler owned Trench Shoring, Barnes Systems, Sander Engineering, Amsoil, Tyler Pool Service, Tyler Family Farms, King Racing Products #72 in the USAC West Coast 360 race at Giant Chevrolet Kings Speedway in Hanford. In addition to the regular main event on the 16th, Alexander will take part in the makeup for the March 31st rained out main event.
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.
Media, please feel free to use the photo at the top of this release. If used, please give photo credit to Doug Allen.
Date Track Series Finish
3/12/11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 11h A Main
3/19/11 Thunderbowl Raceway West Coast 360 3rd A Main
4/2/11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 10th A Main
4/9/11 Santa Maria Speedway West Coast 360 10th A Main
4/16/11 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC West 360 16th A Main
4/30/11 Thunderbowl Raceway UASC West 360 4th A Main
5/14/11 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC West 360 5th A Main
5/21/11 Giant Chevrolet Kings USAC West 360 21st A Main
5/28/11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 19th A Main
6/4/11 Ventura Raceway VRA 16th A Main
7/2/11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA 14th A Main
This release produced by Scott Daloisio Sports: (909) 226-7768, mailto:sdaloisiosports@aol.com, http://twitter.com/ – !/sprintcarpr. Please be sure to keep an eye out for news on our other racing clients. Perris Auto Speedway, David Cardey Racing, California Lightning Sprint Cars, Justin Marvel and the RB Motorsports #1 and Oil Twins Amsoil.