The DCRR Racing Media Books
Just A Kid From The Grandstands: My Time In Auto Racing
Stories of my time in auto racing from the beginning to 2003
Available on Lulu in Paperback And Hard Cover
Available on Lulu in Paperback And Hard Cover
And
Don's California Racing Recollections: Best Of The Blog And Beyond
Racing History, Stories, Statistics And Pictures
Available via print on demand at Lulu in Hard Cover or Paperback
Available via print on demand at Lulu in Hard Cover or Paperback
A cool article about Wingless Spec Sprint Co-Founder Don O'Keefe Jr's newest racing endeavor HERE
If You Like Reading Our Articles
Support Us Via The Go Fund Me The Tip Jar HERE
Also...
DCRR Racing Media And PR Consulting HERE
The DCRR Racing Radio Show
Spec Sprints Return, Bounty On DeCarlo At Antioch Speedway
Antioch, CA...The All Star Series racing program is just getting into full swing at Antioch Speedway. Rain has claimed two of the four scheduled events, but the forecast calls for racing this Saturday night. On the schedule this weekend will be the Wingless Spec Sprints, A Modifieds, B Modifieds, Limited Late Models and Hobby Stocks.
Since coming back last season, 2004 Wingless Spec Sprint Champion Bob Newberry has had the fastest car in the field. Newberry won five Main Events and finished second twice last year. If not for a late start, he likely would have been the champion. This season, Bob has hit the ground running and looked very impressive in winning the season opener. Could this be the year that he wins his second Antioch championship?
Winning isn't easy, just ask Alan Miranda and Shannon Newton. Over the past three seasons, both drivers have had several second place finishes, but they're looking for their first feature victory. Miranda led for several laps last week before surrendering the lead to Newberry and falling back to third behind Newton. If somebody is going to beat Newberry, it could be one of these two hard chargers. Other drivers you shouldn't count out this week are Spec Sprint division mainstay Rick Panfili, Roy Fisher, Brandon Burd and 2015 champion Kyle Bakkie.
Since nearly winning the Antioch Speedway championship back in 2010, Nick DeCarlo has gone on to test his skills against some of the best drivers in the state. He has two Petaluma championships and one Watsonville title to show for it. After winning the first two point races of the season, a bounty has been put on DeCarlo. Anybody who can beat him will receive an extra $100.
Word is that past Antioch Speedway champion, Kellen Chadwick, is planning to come to town. Chadwick won multiple Main Events last season. These days, Kellen likes to travel up and down the state for the big races and won the prestigious IMCA Modified Wild West Speedweek Tour championship in Oregon in 2016. Kellen may be DeCarlo's biggest contender, but five time champion Scott Busby is in pursuit of his historic 73rd career Antioch win. Other drivers to watch for include reigning champion Bobby Motts Jr, Sean O'Gara, Gary Hetrick and Buddy Kniss.
Mark Garner entered the 2018 season with a goal. He wants to win the Limited Late Model championship, a title he was hoping to win while his father Jerry was still alive. To that end, Mark has sold his B Modified to focus on the Limited Late Model. To show everybody that he was serious, Garner won his second straight Larry Damitz Memorial Race after a good battle with 2013 division champion Jim Freethy.
It's a long season, and there's much racing left to do. Reigning champion Kimo Oreta is still out there in the Sundrop Racing #15 car, made famous by Larry Damitz. Lori Brown ran strong last week as well. An intriguing entrant in the Larry Damitz Race last week was 2017 Marysville point runner up Mike Walko. Wako scored a third place finish. Antioch is where he started his career, and if he's back, you would have to consider him a contender. Other drivers to watch for include Ryan's Cherezian, Chad Hammer and John Evans.
Trevor Clymens is having fun continuing a family tradition of racing at Antioch Speedway, much like his mother and father before him. Though Trevor likes to test his talent at the occasional race outside of town, the 2016 division champion enjoys racing with his friends close to home. Nowhere was that more evident than last week when Trevor won a late race duel with Guy Ahlwardt for the victory. During the last two seasons, nobody has won more Main Events in this division at Antioch than Trevor, making him the driver to beat in the battle so far.
Ahlwardt was disappointed, but he should be encouraged. In his second season in this division after winning the 2016 Hobby Stock championship, Guy has improved noticeably, and that win may be just around the corner. Other drivers to watch for this week include past A Modified champions Aaron Crowell & Kenny Neu, Randy Brown, Kevin Brown, Ryan DeForest, Todd Gomez and reigning champion KC Keller.
It appears as if the three drivers making the strongest bid in the Hobby Stock division so far are Chris Sorensen, Michael Cooper and reigning champion Cameron Swank. Sorensen scored the feature victory last week in his new car from the shops of Fred Baker. Cooper won the season opener. Swank, who has a new car as well, has a second and third place finish after two races. Will the battle be between these three drivers in this year's championship hunt?
The Hobby Stock division has a fresh new look to it. A lineup of rookies in this class includes Erik Pitschner and John Wacht, who both had Top 5 finishes last week. Second generation racer Haley Gomez, Travis Tabucchi, Anthony Wilborn and Brianna Troen are also rookies. It still goes well for the division that continues to produce some of the strongest numbers at the track. Other drivers to watch for this week include Chris Bennett, Chris Long, Frank Furtado, Billy Garner, Lindsey Buirch and Ricky Foster. Though the big three might be the favorites to win again this week, you know somebody else will get a shot at the Winner's Circle. It will likely be a first-time winner. The question is, who will that be?
To find out, you need to be at Antioch Speedway this Saturday night for an exciting five division All Star Series program. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.
Open Wheel Themed Night At Merced Speedway
Merced, CA...On the heels of what may have been the biggest car count in the history of Merced Speedway last week, it will be an open wheel themed night of racing this Saturday night. The racing community is still abuzz over what an exciting program it was as they remembered the late Bill Egleston. This Saturday night, the Bay Cities Racing Association will be headlining a program along with the Hobby Stocks, USAC Speed 2 Midgets and the Valley Sportsman class. The Hobby Stocks were added to the program on Tuesday.
The oldest California-based auto racing sanctioning body is the BCRA. It was born back in the 1930s. At its height, the BCRA Midgets raced every night of the week, and there was also a BCRA Hardtop class. Bob Barkerhimer, who brought a group of tracks into NASCAR when he joined in the 1950s, got his start racing with the BCRA. There is a lot of pride that goes with being a member of this association.
When the BCRA came to Merced last season, everybody knew they were in for a show, but they didn't even know how good it was going to be. Roughly 20 competitors showed up and put on a race that left the crowd on the edge of their seats. When the checkered flag flew, it was Cory Elliott making a big move on Robert Dalby to score of the victory. Past BCRA champion Frankie Guerrini grabbed second as Dalby settled for third ahead of Danny Carroll and Michael Faccinto.
BCRA keeps championship points for dirt, pavement and combined, and this is their first dirt race of the season. After one race, Chad Nichols holds a two-point lead over Mark Malipaard as Scott Pierovich is 3 points out of the lead in third. Maria Cofer is one of the drivers anticipated for this race. Last season, she won the Overall championship and finished second to Elliott in the Dirt Series, beating Alex Schutte by just four points for second.
Wanting to add one more touch to this program, promoter Ed Parker decided to include Hobby Stocks on Tuesday. The division ran for $1,200 to win last week with three time Watsonville champion Billy Nelson claiming the victory. Perhaps as big a story was Shannon Nelson's impressive drive from 16th starting to second. She made a late pass on FND Motorsports teammate and 2016 champion Michael Shearer. Shearer settled for third.
Past Ted Stofle Classic winner Syd Finn made a rare appearance last week and finished fourth ahead of reigning champion Kodie Dean. One of Chowchilla Speedway's original local Hobby Stock stars, Craig Tatum, lost a Top 5 finish in post race tech. 2015 champion Kevin Joaquin will be hoping to rebound from his bad luck of last week, and other drivers to watch for include Kristie Shearer, Robbie Loquaci, Dexter Long, Mike Germait and Austin Van Hoff.
USAC introduced the Speed 2 Midgets to their roster as a means to get younger drivers involved in the sport. It's working. Two drivers making waves in the racing world now from the Speed2 effort are champion Jesse Love IV and Toni Breidinger. Breidinger is running six USAC Silver Crown races this season, while Love has made the most of his Late Model, Sprint Car and Midget opportunities. Love won the Overall title again last year and also beat Tom Patterson and Adam Lemke by just four points to win the Dirt title.
Last year, Patterson won both of the visits to Merced ahead of Lemke. Lemke won the Madera opener a few weeks ago, almost a straightaway ahead of Joey Iest and Blake Brannon. USAC has been rebuilding this group after some rules adjustments, and it seemed to be gathering momentum last season.
The Sportsman division is in the 20th season of the revival started by the promoter at the time, Chuck Griffin and Luis Miranda. Being a competitor in this division when it was dropped from the schedule back in 1980, Griffin always loved the class and wanted to see it come back. It has held races every year since, and only 2015 saw the division not have a championship point race.
Reigning champion Chris Birdsong won the season opener ahead of Sportsman division legend and Watsonville Speedway Hall Of Famer Jerry Cecil. Gary Hildebrand, a Chowchilla Speedway Sport Mod champion, made his return to the Sportsman class in third ahead of rookie Rick Elliott and three time Mini Stock champion Chris Corder. It is hoped that the class can maintain a car count in the 5-8 car area this year. Looking at this class will give fans a glimpse at what was the big thing back in the 1960s and 1970s at Merced Speedway. Two time champion Mike Friesen, past champion Mark Odgers, Tim Prothro and Eric Seely are among the other drivers at large with cars.
The open wheel themed night is presented by Blue Line Rentals. After the way the BCRA Midgets performed last year in their visit, the fans will be in for a treat on Saturday night. For further information, go to www.racemerced.com.
Central Valley Mini Stock Season Kicks Off
At Lemoore Raceway On Sunday
Lemoore, CA...The Central Valley Mini Stocks are just a few days away from beginning their second season. After completing an exciting first season, this Mini Stock effort appears to be growing and is set to have an even bigger season. The group is booked about once a month, and they will also make a visit to neighboring Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford this season. It was also announced that the Sportsman 600 Micro class will run in support of the Mini Stocks at Lemoore.
Last season, Dan Myrick and Danny Myrick had a good battle going for the championship, but mechanical issues in the B Main in the season finale ended Dan Myrick's championship hopes and forced him to settle for third. Danny Myrick enters the season as the reigning champion. Rod Baronian, who looked as fast as anybody in the pack, was a strong second in the standings.
A field of at least 14 to 16 competitors is anticipated, and several drivers have already committed to the show. Word is that the Integras are coming. The cars of Ben Davis, Chris Goldsmith, Scott Glenn and Dan Myrick are all ready to go. Darren Wilson, James Smith, Ryan Blank and Ryan Doglione have also said that they are ready to go racing this weekend.
CVMS officials have worked very hard to make an attractive purse for the group, and the Top 5 positions will be paid. It could be anywhere from $300 to $375 to win depending on car count, and even second place stands to do okay as they could get anywhere from $150 to $225, again depending on car count. At 25 cars, sixth place also gets paid, and the group will pay $50 to win the Trophy Dash. This could always go up as they are always looking for new sponsorship. You can contact them via the Central Valley Mini Stocks Facebook Page if interested.
If you haven't seen it, the Mini Stocks put on a very entertaining show on the one-fifth mile dirt oval at Lemoore Raceway. The track has been known for some exciting Micro Sprint racing through the years, but the Mini Stocks are proving just what a good show they can put on. As was the case last year, you can expect drivers to come in from the south and the north to test their ability against the Central Valley Mini Stock regulars. This is sure to be a good show, and it's only the beginning of a comfortable eight race season. For further information, go to www.centralvalleyministocks.com.
The Editor's Viewpoint
I sometimes feel like the sport of auto racing has passed me by. Sometimes I just don't recognize the sport anymore. Truthfully, I started seeing the signs of this change years ago. It's part of what led to my departure prior to the 2004 season. But it's more than just the sport, it's the world. And unfortunately, the world is affecting the sport. I don't think it's in a positive way either.
Witness what happened in Merced. Ed Parker booked the big Bill Egleston remembrance event last week. It was rained out when it was initially set to happen a few weeks ago. There were a lot of good sponsors who made this thing happen, and of course, Maria Egleston and family. Everybody wanted to be at this race, and they approached 140 cars for this event.
Now, I don't have all of the records of the track's history. I know in the modern era, they haven't had this many cars. I'm pretty darn sure if you go back to the 1970s and 1980s you won't find this type of car count. I want to say this was a track record car count. This is happening in a time in which the sport is in somewhat of a decline. Some might say that it's already bottomed out. Either way, the sport has seen its better days. Merced just had a record car count. Let that sink in.
It was special in the sense that they were remembering Bill. However, there was no special purse set for this race. The winners got a little more money, and there were slight adjustments in the positions immediately following. Not your traditional open type show that you expect to have these car counts. This was a point paying event with five divisions. Merced has had a couple other nights in the last two years that have hit the 100 car mark. This is 2018.
The night had everything you want in racing. It had a full pit area that overflowed into the parking lot. It had a much better attendance then a regular night. It had multiple B Mains. There could have even been one more B Main, but they ran everybody in the Main Event in that class. It had big money stakes to the winners. It was a show. Slight nit pick. They got done much later than curfew, but this happens sometimes. I don't think the fans were unhappy given the quality and quantity of the racers there.
I think as a promoter or somebody involved in putting that show on, the immediate days that followed should have been a time to celebrate and look back on this event with pride. Unfortunately, this isn't what happened. Ed looked at his schedule for this week's race and realized he needed something else there. He made the decision to add Hobby Stocks.
Immediately, he got hit with grief from people who were not happy. How could he do something like this? People had plans. Ed needed to put something on his program for the good of the race track. Simply put, he made an error on the schedule when he put it together. He is a busy man who also runs a business, so this one got by him. Hey, it was a mistake. The track just had its biggest turnout ever. I think a little leeway could be given, don't you?
I don't think the divisions on that night would offer a strong car count anyway. Ed was looking at a Wingless Sprint Car show, but upon looking at the surrounding schedule, he decided that there was too much else going on for him to draw a good enough car count. You don't know the half of it. There is a log jam of Sprint Car shows that weekend, but that's a subject that I'll let the recent audio show speak to. He needed something, and Hobby Stocks fit the bill. If I were to play arm chair promoter, which I will, I might have added the Hobby Stock and Mini Stock classes as non point events. You get a couple of divisions, maybe a dozen cars each, but it's enough to fill out the show.
As a promoter, you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. There are always going to be people who thrive on the negativity. It's almost as if they like it when they bring you down with their bad attitudes. They're not willing to contribute to anything positive, but if they can disrupt your positive effort, its mission accomplished. Misery loves company. Ed had to deal with a few negative things that arose leading up to Bill's race as certain divisions were complaining about their purse. You're doing something good for the racers, but there's always those who will find the negativity in it.
To me, trying to book races and maintain a weekly program is an exercise in frustration. I've had my fill up here in Medford over these past two years. I was burnt out as it was, but it's all I can do sometimes to get motivated and come out here. Its not that there aren't many great people here, but some of the negative crap is just mind blowing. At some point, there will be some stories to tell, but now is not the time. Suffice it to say, we will roll with the punches and the show will go on. I know that's how Ed looks at it at Merced too. He certainly has more passion for all of this than I feel at the moment.
Am I doing this because I want to or because I have to? I don't even know. It's difficult to write articles for the sport these days. Particularly difficult when you're dealing with typing up something about the coming races. Who's showing up? You really don't know. Drivers aren't as willing or able to run every race at a track, even if you're only giving them 12 races. They still have other things to do or will go to another track. So, as a writer, what do you tell the fans? I give it my best guess. I'm never 100% right. Probably more in the 80% range, but putting the word out is important.
The article is designed to put the word out that there is a show going on at whatever track I happen to be writing about. I try my best to let the people know who it is that will be there, knowing I won't be 100% accurate. I do not intentionally mislead people. If I don't know somebody is going to be there, I won't include their name or will put it down as they may or may not be there. Honesty in my writing. If I make a mistake, I make a mistake, but I want to be honest. The article is there for those who are interested as a means to get the excitement going.
This Racing Media operation is now six tracks deep. 5 of those tracks have articles going out to various media outlets, and I will be adding to that list. Newspapers seem more interested now in taking articles, but I cannot give them my "Gary Jacob Style" stuff. You don't throw everything but the kitchen sink into that article. It's more of a Charlie Zeno style I am going for. Give people the basic facts, drop a few names and one or two interesting points about what's happening in each division. No more than two paragraphs per class in a hype article. Too much, and you're getting nothing in the paper.
That is why I try to be as quick and to the point as I can be in my race review articles. So far, I know that I have gotten four race tracks newspaper coverage this year, and I want to increase the track total by a few more tracks. I am searching for certain tracks that aren't getting it otherwise. The small town newspapers that may print once a week or so seem more receptive. Why newspapers? Why not? They still exist, and people still read them. Plus, they have web sites that attract traffic on the web. The more exposure you get a race track, the more potential for putting more butts in the seats.
Why care about getting more butts in the seats at race tracks? Why not care just about myself and how many clicks I get on my articles and how much money I get in my pocket? Mainly, I'm an idiot. I never made this about money, and I have suffered the consequences because of that. I made it about doing what I can for the sport. The goal in getting the word out is to try and help the sport, give those racers some recognition and all of that. Plus, I like the idea that once a newspaper prints one of my articles, the drivers named in it can cut them out and put them in their scrap books. Remember scrap books? Cool things. I have a bunch of them for Antioch Speedway.
I'm a dinosaur. I will go down with the ship. I will keep reaching out to newspapers. They are more interested in getting more content, but they aren't necessarily interested in sending you a paycheck. That's okay. Most newspapers don't even give you a by line, which is okay too, although a little recognition, if nothing else, wouldn't be a bad thing. I just remember as a kid reading those articles in the Antioch newspaper, and it made the drivers larger than life to me. So, if a newspaper wants an article I write about auto racing, they're going to get it.
I am particularly delighted with the Siskiyou Daily News. That paper has been very good to me in the articles that I have been writing for the track in Yreka. I see that we're getting front cover news in the Sports Section, I get by lines and they are also sharing the stories with sister newspapers. I've seen the articles in places I would not have expected. I wish more race tracks had newspapers so enthusiastic.
I know John takes a grim view of the newspapers down in Antioch. There is an interest in articles there, but John doesn't seem as if he cares about the media efforts so much. I think with a little trade out, you could get more space. Will it make a difference in attendance? The answer is yes and no. You see, what I have learned is that it isn't any one thing that's going to make it all pop. It is a combination of things and a relentless effort. You have to deal with the fact that you might get rejected in certain avenues, but if you've done the publicity work, put it out there. Eventually they use it.
You go anywhere you can get the recognition. Newspapers, radio stations, TV stations, the internet. Put it out everywhere. Work every avenue. You have to bust your rear and for every fan. There are some tracks doing better than others. Some places have a built in audience that is just loyal to that race track, and fans are coming unless it's rained out. Other tracks have to work for everything they get, so you'd better use every means at you're disposal.
Am I talking logic or rubbish? I'd like to think I know a few things, but maybe I don't? If I knew more, I might have my own place to live and be living in the town I'd like to be in right now. Maybe I know nothing. Maybe I know something that can help the sport? The Racing Media operation is just my attempt to use my knowledge to help the sport. I know there are other media people out there who do this and have their hands out. They do what they get paid for. What I learned a long time ago is if you hold your hand out, people turn you down, but if you give it to them, they take it. My hope was that one day there would be appreciation and I would be rewarded. Many years later, I'm still waiting. What is it my sister used to say? "As long as I owe you, you'll never be broke?" I miss my sister.
I don't do anything that I am doing with any expectations from any of the race tracks. If they feel that I am being of any help whatsoever, they can help me. The Tip Jar exists, and they can use it. It doesn't matter. I'll still do what I do. I made the commitment to get through the 2018 season, and damn it, I'm going to. I'm walking around on the little Southern Oregon Speedway track as I dictate my thoughts here, because I don't have clippers to trim the blackberry bushes. I wasn't really needed here for this trip, but I came here as moral support for Mike.
I did have a bit of an epiphany here today when I started thinking about the things we have done at this race track through the years. We? I've only been here since 2016. This is only my third season. However, I understand that I am a link in the chain here. What I do does help make some sort of difference in the history and legacy of this race track. It was here before I got here, and it will be here after I leave. However, I have had the good fortune to be given the opportunity to do something. I have. In some ways, it doesn't really feel very rewarding, and it's making me feel more run down. In other ways, damn, look at what we've done. Not bad at all. Maybe we can do a few more good things before we're done.
I've been a link in the chain at Antioch Speedway. Not just because I ran my magazine for all of those years, but because I was on the staff for three years doing many different things. Plus, I was there at the start with Don O'Keefe Jr when we put the Wingless Spec Sprint division together. What we did helped ensure that they had a chance to get things going and make it to what is their 20th year. Pretty cool. I've been a link in the chain at Merced Speedway. Worked there for a full season and was there for several races in the two years that followed. Chuck and Mary Lee thought I did enough that they were going to present me with a trophy at the banquet I unfortunately was unable to make once my ride cancelled. Still, I know the positives I was involved with. Two years at Chowchilla Speedway as well, the little track that could. Whoever thought that place would happen? I knew I had to be there helping Tom get it started. If they had a promoter with a clue last year, it might still be here.
What brought all of this out today? I don't really know. I'm not feeling 100%, and I haven't been really thrilled about things going into this season anyway. And, there are other personal things that I will not get into here that need to be addressed, probably away from racing. I'll never truly get to them as long as this sport is the center of my life. Problem is, it always demands that of me for me to do what I do. I like to have a personal life too. I learned that in my time away.
I watch people bitch and moan about the sport and how bad things are. The promoter is this or that. This promoter is a prick. That official is a jerk. Why are you there? If you hate it so much, why are you there? Racing is a passion. Racing is what we do for fun. When it starts becoming stressful and negative to you, you're doing the wrong thing. It's your own emotions and instincts telling you that you need to make a change in your life. Sitting around being negative about things all the time isn't doing you or the sport any good. Racing doesn't owe you anything. Bring a good attitude, and chances are you are going to have fun. If you're prepared to take the bad with the good, because there are bad nights, you'll do just fine.
It goes without saying that the sport has seen it's better days, but guess what? It's still here. Many, many tracks are still out there. There are people who would like to shut them down. They want to build a strip mall. They want to build houses. They just want the noise to go away. They'll come up with any reason to shut it down. Let that sink in. That track you love to hate may not be there for you to hate for long. We are damn lucky to have these places. Maybe we don't always have the car counts we used to, but at least there is some sort of show going on. There are always ways for you to be part of the solution to help make things better.
I suppose that is one of the things that keeps me going. I know I'm not going to better my own life here. I'm only buying time, or maybe putting things off until I get around to them, but those issues are still there waiting to be addressed. In the meantime, the things I do, I hope, will have a positive impact on the sport. If not, the one thing I can say is at least I tried.
I have higher hopes for what we're doing up here since I'm right in the middle of everything, and the frustrating and nerve racking part of the whole thing is I just don't know if it's going to work. Is anything that we're doing really sinking in? Opening day is April 28th, so we'll start finding out soon. Still thinking that this might be my last year, regardless of what the outcome is. I'd like it to be a good outcome. But then again, don't we all want to see success in our endeavors?
Last week, I wanted to start doing little feature articles for the blogs. I don't know how that's going to work out as I am getting very busy now. I don't have much time for anything, so doing other articles may not really be in the cards. I have a special article that I will run on the Jefferson Blog this year looking at some of the old tracks that were in Oregon and the possibility of finally getting a tenth outdoor oval track somewhere in the state. I have also begun working on an article about being a promoter in racing and some of the things these people have to deal with. As fans or competitors, you may go through the gate and think everything is just there. I guarantee you, there was a lot more that went into making it so seamless than you realize.
Look at it from this perspective. Whatever happens on race night is the center of your reality. As a promoter, that whole race track is your reality. One person or one racer's issue is only part of what the promoter experiences. While the person who feels wronged somehow may think there was something intentional going on, the promoter is simply trying to run the show and make sure people are doing what needs to be done. They may not even realize you have an issue until you bring it to their attention. Perspective.
I don't know if any of this made sense, but I do know I've said enough. Until next time...
