Ever wonder how it would feel to drive a Late Model stock car or an IMCA Modified around the half-mile Perris Auto Raceway clay oval? Thanks to NASCAR’s Kenny Wallace, race fans will get that opportunity Saturday.
The Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience is returning to Riverside County, with the session beginning in the morning and continuing through the afternoon. Classes are set for Sprint Cars, Late Models, Dirt Modified Legends and IMCA Modifieds, although the Sprint Car sessions are all booked.
Registration will take place from 8-11 a.m.
Additionally, if you do not want to drive but would like to have a ride along in a real race car, they offer that as well.
“I have never seen anything less than a big grin from people when they get out of a car at the Kenny Wallace Dirt Track Experience,” promoter Don Kazarian said. “It gives them a true perspective on what it is like to race a sprint car, late model or a modified.
“It is a real deal race car on a real famous racetrack. Unlike RC, Slot Car or I Racing, this literally puts people in the driver’s seat and they get to feel exactly what drivers feel on a Saturday night at The PAS.”
The Legends Dirt Modifieds classes are new to Perris. Five laps will cost $139 and 10 laps $199. “Taste The Dirt”, in either Late Models or Modifieds, are five laps for $199. “Intro to Dirt Package” for Late Models or Modifieds will cost $399 for 10 laps and dirt basics for either class cost $499 for 15 laps.
Prices for the ridealongs are $129 for three laps and $159 for five.
Chuck Becker Jr., a third-generation Southern California racer and three-time PAS Modified champion, will be one of the instructors.
Reservations can be placed at https://dirtracewithkenny.com/project/perris-auto-speedway/ or (401) 543-FAST.
PAS will open its 2019 season Feb. 9 with PASSCAR Super Stocks, Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds.
Speedway finals
The AMA/FIM North America Final for speedway motorcycles will be conducted Dec. 8 at Perris Raceway, located at 1205 Burton Road. It’s the site of speedway racing, not Perris Auto Speedway.
A total of 16 riders, including two wild-card entries to be decided before the 7 p.m. finals, will compete over 20 heats. The top scorers will receive preference as U.S. entries in the World Grand Prix qualifier.
“The race is not only about the spots available and not just for the European-based riders. It really is a coming together of the best riders in America for a major title, regardless if they harbor Grand Prix ambitions,” said Steve Evans, who is running the program. “For the 16 riders in the field, it will be very cool to arrive at the track, knowing you are effectively in a World Championship qualification event.”
Riders in the finals include Tommy Hedden, Luke Becker, Russell Green, Billy Janniro, Max Ruml, Ricky Wells, Gino Manzares, Ryan Fisher, Dillon Ruml, Broc Nicol, Bart Bast, Austin Novratil, Aaron Fox and Colton Hicks.
Nunes wins in Bakersfield
Doug Nunes closed the USAC California Lightning Sprint Car Series silver anniversary season by winning the second Western States Lightning Sprint Car Championship at Bakersfield Speedway, his third victory of the season.
The final restart of the race had Nunes at the point with Jarrett Kramer, Bobby Michnowicz, Dakota Albright and Cody Nigh on his tail. He streaked away at the drop of the last green. Michnowicz relegated Kramer to third with an inside pass off turn four with two laps to go. When the checkers came down two laps later, it was Nunes by almost a half straight over Michnowicz. Kramer wrapped up his championship season by finishing third, with Albright and Nigh completing the top five.
Kramer finished a healthy 275 points ahead of Nigh in the championship standings. Michnowicz, who got off to a slow start in the season, turned it around in the second half and edged Sexton for third. The championship standings featured several talented teens: Dominic Del Monte ended up fifth, followed by Aiden Lange, Eric Greco, and rookie of the year Grant Sexton. Veterans Pat Kelley and Dale Gamer finished ninth and 10th.
Pit stops
— The Factory Stock Showdown will return to the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series in 2019, expanding to eight races. The series has added the Virginia NHRA Nationals in Richmond, Virginia, and the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals in Topeka, Kansas. Redlands driver Leah Pritchett, who raced to three consecutive wins in her Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak, is the defending champion.
— Las Vegas Motor Speedway will have five consecutive nights of racing in the spring, including pairing the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and World of Outlaws events for the first time. The Star Nursery 100 K&N Pro Series West event is set for the LVMS Dirt Track on Feb. 28, as part of a double feature along with the second night of World of Outlaws racing. The Stratosphere 200 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race will follow the Dirt Track events March 1, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series race taking place Saturday. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 anchors the weekend Sunday. “We had four consecutive successful days of racing in September, and we’re excited to increase that to five days in a row next spring,” LVMS president Chris Powell said. “This racing lineup will appeal to a variety of racing fans and is further proof that we are indeed the world’s most versatile motorsports facility.”
— Logan Seavey collected his second national midget series championship, winning the USAC National Midget League title ahead of Ventura Raceway’s Turkey Night last week. A Toyota Racing development driver, Seavey captured three victories this season, establishing a 137-point advantage over second-place Brady Bacon in the standings to clinch the USAC championship a year after winning the 2017 Lucas Oil Racing Series title. “Not too long ago, I didn’t have a midget ride and here we are with the best team in the world in Keith Kunz Motorsports, winning the USAC championship,” Seavey said.
— In the 127th and final Lucas Oil Modfied Series race, Justin Johnson took the lead from Dylan Cappello with 10 laps to go and pulled away to win $3,000 and the 100-lap Triple Crown III at Las Vegas Motor Speeday. Cappello finished atop the Triple Crown standings with the most points in the three races and earned a $1,000 bonus. When the 2019 racing season begins, the series will have a new name and new management. It will be known as the Spears Manufacturing Modified Series and managed by Kern County Raceway and SRL Southwest Tour promoter Larry Collins and his staff.
— YouRaceLA is offering an “Intro to Short Track Driving Experience” at Irwindale Speedway for $99 for 10 laps, a savings of $279. The word “Irwindale” will be required at YouRaceLA.com. Vouchers for a later date can be obtained by calling (626) 358-7432.
— Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois, will have two doubleheader in the 2019 season: IndyCar and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series on Aug. 24. The first doubleheader will be the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series-ARCA Racing Series combo June 22. “Our slogan for 2019 is ‘Action is the attraction,’” Gateway executive vice president and general manager Chris Blair said. “The combination of the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combo race – two races on the same track on the same day – delivers on our promise.”
Louis Brewster can be reached at brewsterl1949@gmail.com.
