by Scott Daloisio Sports
(Gardena, CA, July 22, 2011) If it could happen, it did happen to Southern California Sprint Car driver Greg Alexander in the USAC West Coast 360 Series race last Saturday night at Giant Chevrolet King’s Speedway in Hanford.
The night started out with the rained out main event from March 31st. The speedy Gardena, California racer started in fifth and stayed in that spot through the first 19 circuits around the 3/8 of a mile clay oval. The car seemed to have enough to move up to a podium position, but the engine began to overheat and broke a spark plug. Rather than risk damage to the power plant, the 22-year-old pulled off the track and ended up 17th.
Once he got back to the pit area, the crew jumped all over the Trench Shoring, Barnes Systems, Sander Engineering, Amsoil, Tyler Pool Service, Tyler Family Farms, King Racing Products #72 to find what was causing the heating issue. It turned out to be a bad radiator tap. The crew changed it along with all of the plugs and they also checked over the fuel system.
By the time they were done repairing and inspecting the car, they missed qualifying for the regular show. That was, depending on which viewpoint you choose, A; not good for the team or B; going to make a great show for the fans! It ended up being both! Missing qualifying forced Alexander to start in the back of the stacked, seven car fourth heat race. Starting in front of Alexander were three of the top five drivers in the points standings. He passed every single one of them and then pulled away from the field for an impressive, crowd pleasing victory.
Without a qualifying lap also meant the #72 had to start at the back of the 30-lap main event. Alexander quickly began his assault on the field and started passing cars. He was literally flying and got all the way up to 8th, but problems intervened once again. Coming from the back, he had to use a lot of tear offs and by lap 18 he had used his last one. Alexander did the best he could to clear his shield of the sticky clay, but he was forced to back off over the last 12 laps and slipped to tenth at the finish.
“It was not a great showing, but we passed a lot of cars and we moved forward all night long,” the exasperated racer stated after the show.
This Saturday night, Alexander will head to his favorite racetrack, Victorville Raceway Park, for the Summer Sprint Car Spectacular. For the show on the High Desert, Alexander will be wheeling the John Bellegante owned #23 car that is sponsored by Barnes Systems, Amsoil, Persall Masonry and Scott’s Headers and Mufflers. Spectator gates at VRP will open at 4:30 and the first race will be at 6:00. For more information, please visit the tracks web site at: http://www.victorville-auto-raceway.com/
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 publish the photo at the top of this press release. If published please give photo credit to surfnsprint.com.
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
7/16/11 Giant Chevrolet Kings USAC West 360 17th A Main
7/16/11 Giant Chevrolet Kings USAC West 360 10th A Main