ORGANIZED STOCK CAR RACING RETURN TO WILLOW SPRINGS?

Source: Dave Grayson
Date: 08/11/2008

The Late Model teams on hand featured an interesting blend of driver age and experience levels. The veteran drivers were represented by Randy Wilkins, John Penning, John Krantz, Richard Hooper, Gary Clifford and Chris Peedan who is a multi time track champion at the Willow Springs Speedway. Representing the young lions, as well as the future of southern California Late Model racing, were Austin Murphy, Broc Murphy and Jimmy Rouse Jr.

The open practice was coordinated by Jeff Murphy, of the Lancaster-California based After Hours Racing, who is seriously considering leasing the speedway to conduct some special Sunday afternoon races there. Murphy had plenty to look at and listen to during the afternoon at Willow Springs. Following the initial practice period After Hours Racing hosted a bar b que lunch. It was also a time to discuss the possibility of bringing stock car racing back to the Willow Springs Speedway for the first time since 2005. The teams were very positive about the concept and there was an enthusiastic exchange of ideas regarding how a racing series at Willow Springs could work. Equally as important was the fact that there were a lot of smiles and laughter during lunch. Everyone was having a great time.

After lunch the teams expressed an interest in conducting a mock qualifying run. It was an opportunity that crew chiefs used to examine their car's handling and speed while under the clock during the two lap runs. While all of the qualifying times were relatively close to each other, it was young Jimmy Rouse Jr who set the fast time overall by touring the Willow Springs Speedway's quarter mile oval in 15.07 seconds. After the session Jimmy Rouse Sr the young driver's car owner, crew chief and more importantly dad ripped off one of the best lines heard all day when the said "hey Murphy not only did I take the fast time from you but I also ate all of your groceries."

After the practice session was concluded Jeff Murphy said "I think everybody got at least at least 300 laps on their cars. Everybody had a good time and there was no damages. Every body is going home with a smile on their face. We're definitely going to do this again." All of the positive input from the practice has apparently enticed Murphy to add the name promoter to his long term racing resume. Commenting on future plans he said "We are talking to the track officials here about putting on a New Years weekend race here probably on the third and fourth of January. We can't officially commit to it yet until we get approval from the track. Once we receive approval we going to call the weekend "The Hang Over Nationals". We are hoping to have Late Models, Street Stocks, Legends, Bandoleros and maybe even some sort of Sprint Car series. Right now we will begin a sponsor search to help pay some of the bills for the race weekend. We've only got a little over three months to pull this off so I'm keeping my fingers crossed."

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