'Play Day' attracts more than 60 cars to turn laps on new All American asphalt
By Steven Blakesley - All American Speedway
Press release from All American Speedway
Over 60 race cars converged on All American Speedway, Saturday, for
the first play day on the newly repaved quarter-mile oval in Roseville.
The open practice session was the first chance for drivers to prepare
for the Thunder Valley Casino Championship Cup Series in 2005. This
year’s season is the 50th for the track located on the Placer County
Fairgrounds.
All the divisions that compete at the speedway were represented,
including the premier weekly division, the Modifieds.
Nearly 15 of these radical open-wheeled cars ran. 2004 Bomber champion
Roy Smith took his first laps in a Modified, as did former Street Stock
driver Ronnie Richards. Championship contenders Ryan Peter of Rio Linda
and Rich Lindgren of Orangevale also took laps.
Street Stocks, Bombers, and Mini Stocks -- the other three Thunder
Valley-sponsored weekly divisions--had high turnouts.
John Cummings of Rescue and Mark Sharp of Rocklin made their debuts in
the Street Stock division.
Both 2003 champion Jason Romero of Cameron Park and 2004 champion Chris
Marks of Auburn appeared in the Mini Stocks.
2004 Bomber championship runner-up Jim McCully of Roseville led over 15
Bombers in practice.
The new West Car Late Model series had a group of their highly-tuned
stockcars practicing. This series utilizes cars similar to that of the
former Pro Stock division. They will be competing five times in 2005
with 100 lap events.
2003 Pro Stock champion Byron Gonzales of Orangevale and 2004 Pro Stock
main event winner Travis Combs of Sacramento appeared, along with four
other cars.
Gary Glenn of Orangevale practiced both his Late Model and his
Modified. He will be running all five Late Model races, along with a
limited schedule of Modified races.
"The track is different," Glenn said about the new asphalt. "It needs
to get some rubber on it cause its loose."
Four California Mini Cup Racing Association Young Guns were at the
track, with Robert Czub of Sacramento the only non-rookie. For Mini-Cup
rookies Joshua Czub, age 9, Taylor Fields, age 10, and Mychal Tripioli,
age 10, the practice provided a first look into the world of
motorsports.
The CMRA drivers drive half scale NASCAR look-alike cars.
There was also a Legend car and a surprise visit by local tour
late-model driver Zane Lovelace.
"I wish my car was legal here," Lovelace said. "Last year we practiced
and it seemed to only be fast on the high-line, but now the bottom
works well too."
All American Speedway will host play days for the next two Saturdays
with fans allowed to watch for free from 12-6 p.m.
April 2nd is opening night with the regular four divisions of
Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers will be competing
along with the CMRA Young Guns.
For more information on the track, visit www.allamericanspeedway.com or
call (916) 786-2025.
