Bristol Motor Speedway
Notes: Modified standout joins Parker at Manzy
From series, track and staff reports
Lonnie Parker Jr.
It's taken for granted that Lonnie Parker Jr., Arizona's winningest Late Model driver in recent years, will be competing at the Nov. 14-15 Barnett Harley-Davidson Nationals at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Ariz. But Parker will be joined by modified ace Anthony Madrid of Phoenix, who will drive the Parker Concrete-sponsored Late Model normally driven by Parker's father.
Madrid's talents in a modified are unquestioned as he captured the championship on the 2008 Barnett Harley-Davidson DIRTcar Modified Touring Series. The 32-year-old Madrid ranks third on Manzanita’s all-time victories list with more than 120 checkered flags in a variety of divisions. Prior to this weekend, he has a single Late Model start — a victory in the June 28 Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series event at Manzanita.
“I asked (Madrid), ‘Are you sure you want to run a Late Model again? You’re undefeated right now!' ” Parker joked. Parker’s ride offer to Madrid comes after the two men became friendly this year at local quarter-midget races. Madrid has been attending with his children for several years and Parker joined him in ’08 with his 5-year-old son.
While Madrid will try to keep his Late Model record spotless, Parker, the five-time SWDLMS champion from El Mirage, is eyeing the possibility of his richest win on the famed half-mile oval in Phoenix. Late Model drivers will battle for a $1,500 winner's purse in the Friday opener and a $6,000 winner's purse in Saturday's finale.
“I’ve always liked racing at Manzanita, but I never seemed to have any luck there,” said Parker, whose misery in limited Manzy appearances over the past decade includes a crash that left him with a serious foot injury when he was 21. “It felt good to finally have everything go right and get a win there (Sept. 13). Hopefully we can do it again this weekend.”
Of course, Parker knows he’ll have to be at the top of his game to end the weekend standing in Manzanita’s victory lane. He’ll have all his usual SWDLMS rivals to deal with, including points runner-up Mark Fowler of Peoria, Ariz., Tommy Hussak III of Picacho, Ariz., Mike Tahtinen of Casa Grande, Ariz., Jerry Fincher of Laveen, Ariz., and Brad Williams of Tucson — plus plenty of talented long-distance travelers who will raise the competition level.
Among outsiders expected are Hall of Famer Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., 2008 Western Allstars champ Chris Shannon of Merced, Calif., defending Barnett Harley Davidson Nationals winner Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colo., Scott James of Greendale, Ind., Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas, Calif., A.J. Kirkpatrick of Castroville, Calif., John Duty of Portland, Ore., Mike Kirby of Anaheim, Calif., and Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo.
“I’m excited to race with the kind of guys who are coming in for this show,” said Parker, who drives a family-owned GRT Race Car. “They’ll be tough to beat, but it lets you see where you’re at. When you don’t get many chances to run against guys from other areas, you don’t know how you stack up with them.” — Kevin Kovac
WILD WEST SHOOTOUT UP IN THE AIR: The Wild West Shootout, a five-race stretch of Super Late Model racing held annually in January, won't be hosted by Central Arizona Raceway in Casa Grande, Ariz., in 2009 because of contract dispute between promoter Benji Lyons and the Pinal County Fairgrounds, Lyons said. The promoter is scrambling to schedule the events at USA Race Park in Tucson, Ariz., and Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Ariz., between Jan. 10-18, or possibly leasing the Tucson oval to promote all five events himself, Lyons said last week. "I just want to see the thing keep going," Lyons said of the winter event that has frequently drawn 50 or more entrants, including several drivers from the Midwest. Central Arizona first hosted the Early Thaw in 2001; Lyons later took over from original promoter Ernie Mincy and renamed it the Wild West Shootout. Attempts to reach Lyons this week for an update on plans were unsuccessful. — Todd Turner
FORMER MUSKINGUM COUNTY CHAMP DIES: Rob House, the 2001 Super Late Model champion at Muskingum County Speedway, died at his Dresden, Ohio, home on Nov. 7 after a two-year struggle with brain cancer. He was 43. House was a long-time regular at Muskingum County and other regional tracks in his No. 24 Late Model. Among his biggest victories was a $4,000 triumph on June 24, 2000, in Mid-Atlantic Championship Series action at Muskingum. He worked at the Longaberger basket company in his hometown for more than 20 years. Among survivors are his wife of 16 years, Stephanie, along with three daughters, Melissa, Allison and Lauren. — From staff reports
THUNDERHILL WON'T MAKE UP $10,000 EVENT: The inaugural Thunder at the Hill event at Thunderhill Raceway in Summertown, Tenn., won't be made up after weather forced postponement of the Oct. 24-25 event, promoter Wayne Burns said. The track does plan another event on Dec. 6 for the second annual Christmas Race for Kids, an event for the track's regular classes, including Late Models. Fans planning to attend should bring a non-perishable food item and an unwrapped toy for a child under 14. — From staff reports
ODDS AND ENDS: Zach Johnson of Lowry, Minn., was honored as the weekly WISSOTA Late Model points champion for the second straight year on Nov. 8 in St. Cloud, Minn., at WISSOTA's postseason banquet. ... Elkins (W.Va.) Motor Speedway co-promoter Shelia Cross plans to start the 2009 season running Saturday nights for the first month. Elkins has traditionally run on Fridays. Cross has taken over promotership of the track along with Anthony Tomaro. ... Boyd's Raceway in Ringgold, Ga., has rescheduled its twice-postponed $5,000-to-win special for Nov. 29. The Mid-Nite Oil Racing Fuel 50 for Super Late Models highlights the program, which begins at 5 p.m. ... Columbus (Miss.) Speedway flagger Bob Blaxton died of a heart attack on Nov. 1 at his Woodland, Miss., home. He was 49.
