News Feed
July 1, 2010
BY DAVE GRAYSON
Those thunder making, ground shaking, open wheel modified cars will be returning San Bernardino-California to take on the always challenging Orange Show Speedway, July 10th. The Lucas Oil Modifieds, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, will be running the Magnaflow Exhaust Products 75 on the Orange Show Speedway's quarter mile paved oval.
In addition to the high flying wheel to wheel racing their fans have come to expect, the series will be bringing a skin tight points championship race with them. Coming into the Magnaflow Exhaust Products 75 there are six points separating the top three drivers in the championship standings and only a 14 point separation among the top five drivers.
Moreno Valley-California's Jim Mardis will be returning to his long time home track looking for his second victory of the year. Mardis is a former stock pony division champion at the Orange Show Speedway and he knows the fast way around this track like he knows his name and address.
His sponsorship program was completely enhanced with the pre season announcement that the series presenting sponsor, Rockstar Energy Drink, will also be sponsoring his #51 modified. The Mardis operation also has sponsorship from Jam Sportswear, Lucas Oil, Scoreboard Bar and Grill, MTS Construction and Mardis Photography. Mardis comes in the July 10 event on top of the championship standings with 176 points based on one win along with three top five and four top ten finishes.
Right behind Mardis is Doug "Hound Dog" Hamm who is only four points out of first in the standings based on a highly consistent three top five and four top ten finishes. The Las Vegas based driver of the #4x Crispy Critters Pest Control modified is considered by many observers to have one of the most improved teams in the series. They ran the series' full season for the first time last year and spent it taking copious notes on their set up at each track. The effort has apparently paid off this year.
Third in the standings is the long tall Texan James Cole who commutes from San Antonio to race in the Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink Modified Series. The driver of the #11 Screen Pro Graphics-Swenson Racing team was considered to be a pre season favorite for the championship. He's currently a close six points away from the top of the standings. He's also a former series' winner at the Orange Show Speedway and knows how to get the job done there.
But the one driver that everyone is watching is Lake Havasu City-Arizona's Chris Gerchman. The driver of the #26 Peggy Sunrise Cafe modified suffered a hard crash during the series' season opener and found his name listed on page two of the points standings. However the team quickly rebounded to their championship status form by winning the next three series events in a row. He's now only 12 points away from the top of the standings. Gerchman is a solid pre race favorite for the Orange Show Speedway event and is also expected to make the final resolution of the championship run most interesting.
Fifth in the standings, and just 14 points away from the leader, is Burbank-California's Tim "Poncho" Morse. The driver of the #10 Morse Muffler and Exhaust modified has also been a model of consistency in terms of finish positions, qualifying and trophy dashes. It's just a matter of time before this driver parks his car in the Sunoco victory lane for the first time. It could easily happen at the Orange Show Speedway.
When the Magnaflow Exhaust Products 75 takes the green flag July 10th at the Orange Show Speedway it will definitely live up to its name. The fans will be treated to 75 full green flag laps of racing. The series does not count yellow caution flag laps.
Despite lingering economic uncertainties in our country, the Lucas Oil Modified-Rockstar Energy Drink Modified Series still continues to enjoy healthy car counts which in turn has created highly entertaining racing for the fans. A part of that is the support these race teams receive from the series officials and sponsors. When a winning driver parks his car in the Sunoco Fuels Victory Lane he gets a check for $1,000. The other competitors are guaranteed at least $250 just for taking the green flag in the 75 lap feature. There are also sponsored contingency bonuses such as fast time, clean pass, hard charger as well as bonuses for the winners of the B main and trophy dash.
In addition to the excitement of the Lucas Oil-Rockstar Energy Drink modifieds, the Orange Show Speedway and its promotion team, Best In The West Racing, will be treating their fans to fast paced racing action from their Jam Sportswear late model, Pick A Part street stock, Budweiser legend, Pick A Part Outlaw figure eight and OHV go kart divisions. Additionally, the Magnaflow Exhaust Products 75 will be video taped by Channel 3 Productions to be aired at a later date.
On July 10th the spectator gates will open at 4 pm. A driver autograph session will be held at 6 pm with racing beginning at 7 pm. Fans can dial upwww.bestintherestracing.com and www.lucasoilmodified.com for complete details.
In addition to its title sponsors the Lucas Oil Modified Racing Series, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, is supported by a highly potent marketing concept known as "Team Lucas". Team members include: Lucas Oil Products Inc, Maganflow Exhaust Products, E3 Spark Plugs, General Tire, K&N Performance Filters, GEICO Powersports, CANIDAE All Natural Pet Food, MAV-TV, Dart Machinery and Rockstar Energy Drink.
The series is additionally strongly supported by a series of associate sponsors that include: Eibach Springs, Hoosier Tire West, Budweiser, Blue Water Resort & Casino, Sunoco Race Fuels, Franks Radio, Racing Plus and MAC Tools.
