BEAT PERFECT AT CAJON

Source: Gardner/Cajon Speedway
Date: 06/22/2003

“This thing was bad to the bone tonight,” Beat pointed out as he helped his crew load his Mueller Concrete Chevrolet Monte Carlo into the hauler after the races. “This thing was actually a pleasure to drive tonight.”

All Beat had done was set fast time, come from last to first in his 8-lap heat race, and then dominate the 40-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series main event. The victory was worth $1050, including the night’s Sid’s Auto Body Hard Charger award for earning the most passing points. In addition Beat picked up a free case of Valvoline Racing Synthetic Engine Oil courtesy of Valvoline. About the only bad luck Beat had all night was that his name was not picked as one of the two weekly winners for free Trick Racing Gasoline. But David was obviously willing to let that one slide.

Eric Ferguson denied Dave Arce his first career triumph in the street stocks. Marty Schmidt inherited the victory in the shortened 17-lap pony stock main event. Perry Humphries had the bomber stock trophy in his hip pocket until he bobbled in turn two of the last of the 20 laps and handed the win to Hayden Smith. Art Nevill prevailed in the legend car contest. Like Beat, all the main event winners received a case of Valvoline Racing Oil; in fact that award went to the top five finishers in each main event.

Beat started fifth in the 21-car, 40-lap Dodge sportsman main event. He got a break at the beginning of the race when the inside row was able to move forward while the outside row had no racing room. By the conclusion of the third circuit Beat was out front to stay. At the stripe he was about five lengths in front of defending champion Danny Gay. John Manke, Stephen Peace, and Jeff Wright rounded out the top five. The event had to be stopped on the eighth go-round when Ben Carver, debuting his new car, tangled with Dan Roberts. That duo crashed into the turn three tire barrier. Neither driver was injured. That incident and two other slowdowns allowed Gay the opportunity to challenge Beat for the victory. But following each restart the current point leader would move his blue Chevrolet Monte Carlo out to the comfortable margin and then turn on the cruise control.

Beat couldn’t help but smile after the race. “Last week I made mistake with tires when I ran the same four (as the previous week) again. I abused them the week before when I ran second to John (Manke). Tonight we put tires on it and we made some adjustments on the car during the week because I had a feeling about the weather (which was cool and damp). It was just on,” he explained.

“The car was good. There is nothing else I can say,” Beat went on. “The luck definitely went my way in the heat race. There was like three spins in front of me and I missed them all. Then we got into the main event. Jack (Lee, who started on the pole) did a good job. He held his line (on the start) and everyone got sorted out.”

Beat said he would be back next week for the twin main events. He also finally opened the door to running the rest of the year when he talked about the NASCAR Sunbelt Regional Standings. Because Cajon starts the faster cars in the back of the pack for the main events, the track is at a disadvantage in that chase that compares the point leaders of nine different tracks. Currently Beat is ranked ninth based on percentage of wins and top five finishes.

“This track needs a high finishing region car,” Beat explained. “When you start the fastest cars in the back, that is the hardest thing to do. But if everything keeps going like this and I get lucky, we might be able to do something like that. I want to be the one to do it for Steve (Brucker, Cajon ’s promoter who was murdered two months ago). He and I had an on-off relationship. But right now I know the way I’m using my head, the way I’m being patient ­ he would be going, I told you. He’s always been there for me saying ‘hey kid, look what you just did.’ People like Steve influenced my driving years ago to where I am now.”

Schmidt took the checkered in the pony stock feature after pacesetting Ty Tipton skated into the crashwall exiting turn four when Shawn Muscat dumped oil all over the third and fourth turns. Tipton had led the contest from the fifth circuit after starting ninth in the 22-car field. Russ Gregson led early before yielding the number on spot to George Behlman. Point leader Hector Leon fared no better than 12th. He had moved up to fourth after starting 11th, but was black-flagged for leaking fuel on lap 7. Earlier in the night Leon had equaled his division’s record, set by Bryan Nelson back in 1995, with his eighth consecutive fast time. Trailing Schmidt as the field took the checkered flag under the caution were Douglas Wright Jr., George Behlman, Russ Gregson, and Ken Wikoren.

Ferguson regained the number one spot in the street stock standings with his second win of the season in the street stocks. Ferguson is just a single marker ahead of Arce, who continues to knock on the door of victory lane. Arce had worked his way into the lead past Kenny Hall after starting eleventh on lap 13. But a lap later Hall looped it in turn three all by himself and Arce found his rear view mirror full of Ferguson on the restart. On lap 18 Ferguson edged in front. Arce maintained his second place ahead of Gordon Anderson, rookie Mark Holland, and Rob Freeman, who debuted his brand new Monte Carlo.

It looked for nearly all of the 20 lap fetaure as if there would be a first time winner in the bombers. Humphries and Thomas Osborne battled back and forth for the lead. In third most of the way was Bob Blew, another racer seeking that elusive first win. The race was clean with only a single slowdown that came five laps from the finish. Humphries got back past Osborne on the restart while Smith was still back in fourth. He passed Blew on lap 17 and slipped by Osborne on the next to the last lap. Only that fateful bobble by Humphries in turn two of the final round allowed Smith to get past and gain his third career win. But Smith became the seventh different driver to find his way to victory lane in the division this year. In a three wide scramble to the finish line, Blew took second with Osborne in third, and Humphries in fourth. Rick Hagen got back by Greg McCown into the point lead by finishing fifth. McCown was ninth.

The legends had a fierce battle at the front between Nevill and Tom Landreth until lap 12 when their nearest pursuers got caught up in a multi-car stackup in turn one caused by a blown engine. For the remainder of the way, the veteran Nevill stayed just a couple of lengths in front of Landreth. Bob Landreth was third. Eric Brett ran fourth. Micah Nourse took fifth.

Fast Time

David Beat, Santee; Time - :16.354.

1st Heat (8 laps)

1. Bob Wickey, San Marcos; 2. Dan McKenna, Ramona; 3. Jack Lee, Vista; 4. Billy Hoagland, Santee; 5. Dee Cable, Santee; 6. Rod Hildebrand, Alpine; 7. Ben Carver, El Cajon; 8. Dan Roberts, Lakeside; 9. Bill Parenteau Jr., Santee; Time - 4:13.35.

2nd Heat (8 laps)

1. David Beat, Santee; 2. Jerry Gay, San Diego; 3. Danny Gay, Lakeside; 4. Mike Mendenhall, Santee; 5. Scott Moses, Chula Vista; 6. Stephen Peace, El Cajon; 7. Rick Chavez, Lakeside; 8. Jeff Wright, San Diego; 9. John Manke, Ramona; 10. Ron Overman, Lakeside; 11. Claude Bell, El Cajon; Time - 5:39.99.

Main event (40 laps)

1. David Beat, Santee; 2. Danny Gay, Lakeside; 3. John Manke, Ramona; 4. Stephen Peace, El Cajon; 5. Jeff Wright, San Diego; 6. Mike Mendenhall, Santee; 7. Ron Overman, Lakeside; 8. Claude Bell, El Cajon; 9. Jerry Gay, San Diego; 10. Scott Moses, Chula Vista; 11. Dee Cable, Santee; 12. Dan McKenna, Ramona; 13. Billy Hoagland, Santee; 14. Bob Wickey, San Marcos; 15. Jack Lee, Vista; 16. Ryan Gay, El Cajon; 17. Rick Chavez, Lakeside; 18. Ben Carver, El Cajon; 19. Dan Roberts, Lakeside; 20. Bill Parenteau Jr., Santee; Time - 40:10.72.

Fast Time

Richard Hinze, Lakeside; Time - :17.754.

1st Heat (8 laps)

1. Kenny Hall, Lakeside; 2. Jason Pontsler, Poway; 3. Bob Meese, Poway; 4. Josh Green, San Diego; 5. Randy Buell, San Diego; 6. RJ Stockman, Lakeside; 7. Ron Nava, Encinitas; Time - 2:28.03.

2nd Heat (8 laps)

1. Todd Phelps, El Cajon; 2. Gordon Anderson, Lem Grv; 3. Ivan Harrison, Santee; 4. Rob Overman, San Diego; 5. Dave Arce, Santee; 6. Richard Hinze, Lakeside; 7. Eric Ferguson, El Cajon; 8. Rich Green Jr., El Cajon; 9. Rob Freeman, Santee; 10. Mark Holland, San Diego; Time - 2:27.29.

Main event (25 laps)

1. Eric Ferguson, El Cajon; 2. Dave Arce, Santee; 3. Gordon Anderson, Lem Grv; 4. Mark Holland, San Diego; 5. Rob Freeman, Santee; 6. Bob Meese, Poway; 7. Randy Buell, San Diego; 8. Rob Overman, San Diego; 9. Ivan Harrison, Santee; 10. Todd Phelps, El Cajon; 11. Kenny Hall, Lakeside; 12. Richard Hinze, Lakeside; 13. Josh Green, San Diego; 14. Rich Green Jr., El Cajon; 15. Jason Pontsler, Poway; 16. RJ Stockman, Lakeside; 17. DJ Weinman, Vista; 18. Ron Nava, Encinitas; Time - 15:20.40.

Fast Time

Hector Leon, Santee; Time - :18.371.

Dash (4 laps)

1. Hector Leon, Santee; 2. Marty Schmidt, El Cajon; 3. Douglas Wright Jr., Santee; 4. Ed Hale, El Cajon; Time - 1:14.66.

1st Heat (8 laps)

1. Darrell McKee Jr., San Diego; 2. Russ Gregson, El Cajon; 3. Trevor Maynard, Lakeside; 4. George Behlman, Santee; 5. Len Cartwright, Lemon Grove; 6. Michelle Bishop, Poway; 7. Shawn Muscat, Escondido; 8. Andre McKay, San Diego; Time - 2:33.94.

2nd Heat (8 laps)

1. Ty Tipton, Spring Valley; 2. Marty Schmidt, El Cajon; 3. Hector Leon, Santee; 4. Ken Wikoren, San Diego; 5. Douglas Wright Jr., Santee; 6. Bud Brant, El Cajon; 7. Ed Hale, El Cajon; Time - 2:30.03.

Semi (10 laps)

1. Rob Dinsmore, Ramona; 2. Chris Vaughn, San Diego; 3. Bill Parenteau Sr., El Cajon; 4. Robert Minnick, El Cajon; 5. Amber Lee Harmon, San Clemente; 6. Chad Harmon, San Clemente; 7. Shayla McEntarffer, El Cajon; Time - 3:13.26.

Main event (20 laps)

1. Marty Schmidt, El Cajon; 2. Douglas Wright Jr., Santee; 3. George Behlman, Santee; 4. Russ Gregson, El Cajon; 5. Ken Wikoren, San Diego; 6. Ed Hale, El Cajon; 7. Darrell McKee Jr., San Diego; 8. Trevor Maynard, Lakeside; 9. Rob Dinsmore, Ramona; 10. Len Cartwright, Lemon Grove; 11. Chris Vaughn, San Diego; 12. Hector Leon, Santee; 13. Bill Parenteau Sr., El Cajon; 14. Robert Minnick, El Cajon; 15. Ty Tipton, Spring Valley; 16. Shawn Muscat, Escondido; 17. Tim Beeney, Escondido; 18. Michelle Bishop, Poway; 19. Bud Brant, El Cajon; 20. Andre McKay, San Diego; 21. Chad Harmon, San Clemente; 22. Amber Lee Harmon, San Clemente; Time - 15:29.99.

Fast Time

Rick Hagen, El Cajon; Time - :20.045.

1st Heat (8 laps)

1. Perry Humphries, San Diego; 2. Darrell Moore, El Cajon; 3. Thomas Osborne, San Diego; 4. Kevin Gantz, Spring Valley; 5. Marty Lehrke, San Diego; 6. Bob Blew, Santee; 7. Steve Freeman, National City; 8. Bill Holland, El Cajon; 9. Robert Bradley, Escondido; Time - 2:49.27.

2nd Heat (8 laps)

1. Chris Boyer, San Diego; 2. Randy Hart, National City; 3. Brian Fitzgibbons, El Cajon; 4. Greg McCown, El Cajon; 5. Hayden Smith, San Diego; 6. David Whisenant, Murrieta; 7. Scott Denton, Fallbrook; 8. Jeff Coskey, Santee; 9. Mark Wendell, Santee; 10. Mike McGlone, Fallbrook; 11. Rick Hagen, El Cajon; Time - 2:44.51.

Main event (20 laps)

1. Hayden Smith, San Diego; 2. Bob Blew, Santee; 3. Thomas Osborne, San Diego; 4. Perry Humphries, San Diego; 5. Rick Hagen, El Cajon; 6. Brian Fitzgibbons, El Cajon; 7. Kevin Gantz, Spring Valley; 8. Chris Boyer, San Diego; 9. Greg McCown, El Cajon; 10. Bill Holland, El Cajon; 11. Darrell Moore, El Cajon; 12. Mark Wendell, Santee; 13. Marty Lehrke, San Diego; 14. Mike McGlone, Fallbrook; 15. Robert Bradley, Escondido; 16. Jeff Coskey, Santee; 17. Steve Freeman, National City; 18. Scott Denton, Fallbrook; 19. David Whisenant, Murrieta; 20. Randy Hart, National City; Time - 13:20.19.

Fast Time

Tom Landreth, Alta Loma; Time - :18.745.

1st Heat (8 laps)

1. Warren Merrifield, Pasadena; 2. Frank Chavez, San Diego; 3. Don Stone, Lodi; 4. Denis Meyer, Carlsbad; 5. Bill Bonney, San Clemente; 6. Kevin McMahon, Long Beach; 7. Fred Chavez, Santee; 8. John McIntyre, El Cajon; 9. Chuck Carter, Spring Valley; 10. Larry Alsop, Fountain Valley; Time - 2:38.74.

2nd Heat (8 laps)

1. Tom Landreth, Alta Loma; 2. Art Nevill, Acton; 3. Bob Graham III, Alpine; 4. Eric Brett, Ramona; 5. Bob Landreth, Alta Loma; 6. Joel Vines, Lakewood; 7. Micah Nourse, Irvine; 8. John Isabella, El Cajon; 9. Dave Riggs, Lakeside; 10. Cory Miles, Garden Grove; Time - 2:33.96.

Main event (20 laps)

1. Art Nevill, Acton; 2. Tom Landreth, Alta Loma; 3. Bob Landreth, Alta Loma; 4. Eric Brett, Ramona; 5. Micah Nourse, Irvine; 6. Mark Gaiser, Anaheim; 7. Don Stone, Lodi; 8. Denis Meyer, Carlsbad; 9. Larry Alsop, Fountain Valley; 10. Frank Chavez, San Diego; 11. Joel Vines, Lakewood; 12. Dave Riggs, Lakeside; 13. Kevin McMahon, Long Beach; 14. Warren Merrifield, Pasadena; 15. Bob Graham III, Alpine; 16. Chuck Carter, Spring Valley; 17. John McIntyre, El Cajon; 18. Fred Chavez, Santee; 19. Cory Miles, Garden Grove; 20. John Isabella, El Cajon; 21. Bill Bonney, San Clemente; Time - 34:03.71.

DESTRUCTION DERBY Tom Bales, Lake Morena ATTENDANCE 1825

See Also .:

• Cajon Speedway Track Page

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