The CASA Chronicles (No. 12)
Keeping up with the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association
By Glenn Hopper

February 9, 2005
San Jose, CA. The California Asphalt Sprintcar Association held their annual general membership meeting at RPM Indoor Karting Center on Saturday, February 5th. CASA President/CEO Scott Clough introduced all the CASA board members to the assembled group; Carla McCreary, Vice President of Operations/Secretary/Treasurer, Ronnie LaManna, Director of Competition, Carl Branco, Chief Pit Steward, Robin Branco Chief Scorer, and Glenn Hopper, Director of Marketing, Publicity and Media Relations welcomed all in attendance.

Clough’s agenda began with recognizing all returning drivers and a trophy presentation to 2004 CASA champion Nick Rescino, Jr. Clough also thanked Mike Coy of Coy Concrete Construction for his sponsorship support of 2004.

Clough gave a brief history of CASA’s beginnings and recapped the 2004 season’s purse structure, participating partner racetracks, and the 43 different drivers who participated in CASA events last year before addressing the upcoming 2005 season. He reviewed how and why each partner track was selected, their 150-mile proximity to the Sacramento hub of CASA teams, and specifics about Carson City’s Champion Speedway second Nevada State Sprint Car Championship. Altamont’s General manager, Dennis Ortolan informed the group that on top of the $6000 guaranteed CASA purse, Altamont would guarantee each CASA race at Altamont would pay $1000 to win.

Ortolan’s information segued nicely into Clough’s next subject, the 2005 purse structure where last place pays a minimum of $200 to start and each progressive position pays more than the one behind it with a minimum $750 to win. Clough also outlined the new CASA point funds, the tire fund provided by American Racer Tires and another fuel fund provided by C.L Bryant Racing Fuels.

Clough began a detailed account of the thought process and details of how the switch to American Racer tires was made, and a set of the new tires was prominently displayed next to the podium. Clough covered all the tire specifications, availability and costs, as well as introduce the tire change compliance program whereby the first CASA race of 2005 will require an American Racer right rear tire, the second CASA event, a second American Racer tire (choice of position), a third American Racer tire (choice of position) for race number three, and by CASA race number four all competitors will have the required CASA-specified American Racer tires on all for corners of each car. This allows CASA teams to use existing tire inventories as they see fit.

There are no engine, weight or major car construction changes however CASA officials will increase the number of technical inspections over last season to insure complete compliance with all engine, fuel and safety rules. CASA inspectors have taken off-season courses in fuel sample analysis and procedures on finding illegal traction control systems. Any violation of CASA rules will be met with severe penalties.

The only significant rule change includes the use of two-way radios. Two-way radio use will be restricted to hot-lap/practice sessions and qualifying. Two-way radio communication is not allowed under racing conditions. The board is investigating the feasibility of one-way tower communication systems and will keep open to membership interests in this regard.

Race formats for 2005 remain similar to 2004 noting each partner tracks wishes for their situation. At this time all Altamont and Madera shows are scheduled for qualifying, heat races, a trophy dash and a 50-lap feature event. Ukiah will host 75-lap features and Champion Speedway will maintain a trophy dash and 100-lap CASA features.

The CASA point structure was revised to better maintain season-long balance and reward consistency of finishes and CASA support.

Clough presented the need to re-elect a new Member-at-Large to represent the general membership at all board meetings throughout the 2005 campaign. Members were encouraged to nominate and elect someone from their ranks to be in place prior to the first CASA event in April.

Glenn Hopper presented the need for continued, expanded driver participation in keeping CASA’s website driver profiles up to date and he hopes to post more details to the site in the near future.

Before adjourning to the go-kart track for some off-season shenanigans, CASA awarded magnums of vintage wine, 1997 “CASA Reserve” Zinfandel donated by Chateau Plaisant Vineyards of Prunedale, California to Carla McCreary for her tireless efforts in keeping much of the CASA contingent fed on race days, Dennis Ortolan for his belief in CASA and efforts to help get CASA a place to start, Carl and Robin Branco for their selfless volunteer contributions, Nick Rescino, Sr. for fielding the 2004 CASA championship car, and Stacy of RPM Indoor Karting Center for her gracious hospitality hosting the CASA meeting. The sixth and final bottle was to be fought for on the kart circuit; and the nudging, rubbing, bumping stylings of none other than Rescino, Jr. saw him lay claim to the big bottle of red.

Keep in touch with all CASA activity through the CASA website: www.casaracing.com
 

Chronicle #13

The CASA Chronicles (No. 13)
Keeping up with the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association
By Glenn Hopper

March 1, 2005
San Jose, CA. As the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association gears up for it third year of fast and furious oval track pavement racing, dubbed “Tire Burning Thunder” for the 2005 season, the growing club looks forward to it’s most ambitious campaign yet. Still with the same number of scheduled races as in 2004, seventeen, there is a distinct difference in this years schedule. Year one saw all 10 CASA events at Altamont Raceway Park and for year two, Champion Speedway added the 4-race Nevada State Sprint Car Championship Series as an integral part of the overall CASA championship. Altamont hosted eight races and one Shasta Raceway Park date comprised a 17-race series. CASA year three brings some welcomed new additions.

The 2004 Champion Speedway format proved highly successful and provided the vision to formatting the 2005 season. “We were very pleased with CASA and our fans response to the great racing they provided,” said speedway general manager Les Kynett. “The goal we were both (CASA and track management) shooting for, that of building a local fan base for a traveling series is well underway.” CASA recognized that local tracks have difficulty in promoting a traveling series that visits only once or twice per year. The intent was to jointly build a sprint car fan base at any track where CASA participated. With fan bases being established at both Altamont and Champion, cultivation of new fans was a primary factor in forming new partnerships with Ukiah and Madera Speedways.

As the 2005 schedule was drafted, and with the addition of two new venues, the reduction in the number Altamont races was a by-product of both early scheduling and Altamont's then pending sale. However, this situation positioned CASA to act on a unique opportunity. With specific guidelines to keep each of the four tracks within a 150-miles of CASA’s "hub" radius, Sacramento, each track area contains specific racers that can participate in CASA shows. CASA’s North Bay members, those who hail from Santa Rosa, Cotati, and Petaluma will have five "home track" events at Ukiah. Bay Area/Sacramento members can both call Altamont home, Central Valley/Fresno-based racers get the home court advantage at Madera and our Carson City/Reno members have home dates at Champion in which to defend their turf.

The true opportunity becomes more clearly defined when CASA racers realize that at least one-fourth of the schedule, regardless of their location, is run at what could be considered their home track. One-fourth of the membership has shorter travel distances at each event, and multiple opportunities to race in front their local fans and for their local sponsors. CASA expects to have full contingents at every track and as addend incentive will offer each track as a CASA-internal track championship. The Nevada State Sprint Car Champion will be crowned from the four Champion Speedway events, the inaugural “Grape-stakes Sprint Car Champion” will be determined at Madera’s four races, an Altamont Raceway and Arena Champion will be celebrated at the super-fast Tracy half-mile, and Ukiah is issuing a special challenge to our Nevada-based members with their “California-Nevada Wine Country Shootout Series” In all, four individual track championships will be awarded within the overall CASA Championship format.

CASA is very excited to pursue the opportunities created as off-season testing begins at Altamont March 5th, and can hardly wait to fulfill the promise of the 2005 season.

Keep in touch with all CASA activity through the CASA website: www.casaracing.com

The CASA Chronicles (No. 14)
Keeping up with the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association
By Glenn Hopper

May 9, 2005
San Jose, CA. Does it only rain on race day here in California? At this writing the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association has lost two of it’s three race dates early in the season. Scheduled race number two at Ukiah and race number three at Madera were both season debuts for CASA at those tracks, and it was hoped each race could build on the momentum generated after such a good showing in CASA’s opener at Altamont. Which now seems like eons ago. Looking for positives in all this rain, at least both those races were postponed before any CASA teams made the treks to a soggy track.

Another positive is that any of the teams who may have missed the curtain at Altamont, surely have had enough time to ready themselves for Ukiah on May 14th. Yet another positive, everyone is chomping at the bit to get racing again. Now all we need is a little help from the weatherman and Mother Nature.

Ukiah does not have Friday practice available due to their go-kart schedule however, the pit gates open on Saturday at 11:00 AM and practice is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM, so CASA teams will have ample time air-dry any rain related issues.

Without a doubt, some of the best news CASA could receive during this long rain delay came from the ratings department of Comcast SportsNet television. Comcast Cable TV and Altamont Raceway and Arena had teamed up this off-season to produce a half-hour racing show called Altamont Speed Week, to highlight all the racing activity at Altamont. And after two preseason introduction shows, the first race highlight program for opening night featured the CASA event as 22 ultra-fast sprint cars took to the historic half-mile. Brian McClish’s trophy dash win and the bulk of the CASA 50-lap feature won by Nick Rescino, Jr. took center stage on the broadcast and with some excellent footage and a very competitive race, many CASA teams saw considerable TV time. The broadcast is tape-delayed the following Sunday morning to literally millions of cable subscribers covering nearly the entire Western States.

But being the focus of the shows opener and seeing CASA so prominently featured on TV wasn’t the best part of the news. Comcast and industry experts set early viewership expectations at numbers achieved for similar broadcasts and calculated the available audience to arrive at a best-case scenario of the show returning a point-2 (0.2) rating; or approximately 4,400 households tuning in for Sunday’s 9:30 AM show. When the results were tabulated after the first airing, Altamont Speed Week featuring CASA had drawn five times the industry expectations! A full 1.0 share, which translates to 22,000 households were watching CASA sprint cars racing at Altamont. Comcast stated that using their own formula, 66,000 people all over the Western States saw CASA racing on just the first airing of the program. The show airs, in its entirety, up to eight times per week until the next installment is produced from the following race. This gives sports fans several opportunities to tune in at different viewing times and can attract hundreds of thousands of viewers. Nearly as many people watched Altamont Speed Week in the first showing than many local tracks can draw in yearly attendance. This was certainly great news to Altamont management and serves as an excellent way of getting still more fans to attend live races.

What exactly does all this good news mean to the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association? It means CASA opportunities are growing as the organization gains strength and market share here on the west coast. CASA is very excited to see what the rest of the 2005 season can bring. If it ever stops raining…

Keep in touch with all CASA racing activity through the CASA website: www.casaracing.com

The CASA Chronicles (No. 15)
Keeping up with the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association
By Glenn Hopper

July 6, 2005
San Jose, CA. I just realized that the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association has completed its 34th racing event, the Inaugural Mike McCreary Memorial 100. Thirty-four? Big deal. It’s not even a normal commemorative number, why should 34 be noteworthy? Well the number 34 sticks in my mind two ways. First it’s the traditional number of events the big boys of NASCAR once ran per season and second, I remember when my dad was chairman of the rules committee for San Jose Speedway back in the 70’s and he commented how aggressive the schedule was one year – that it had 34 races just like the Cup guys. So I guess I’ll take a minute and look at our deal at race number thirty-four.

Now keep in mind, I know full well how racing has changed over the years. Back in the aforementioned 70’s my dad and uncle ran any combination of Kearney Bowl or Clovis on Friday nights, San Jose Speedway every Saturday, and Sundays may have been Clovis if not on that Friday, Altamont and/or Madera. I remember one weekend seeing Lloyd Beard run Friday at Clovis, Saturday at San Jose, then I went with him from Sunday afternoon's show at Altamont, to Sunday nights show at Madera, arriving just in time to qualify. Four races in three days, that doesn’t happen anymore around here. But I wanted to illustrate how dedicated real racers can be and how to some, 34 races might be the one-third mark of a season, not season number three.

For CASA, it comes during season number three. In part, from a changing of the times and also by design. The times we race in today are significantly different from those I grew up in. Hardly anyone races on any night except Saturday. Gone are most Friday and Sunday shows. And a day race, when was the last one of those you attended? And if there were other weekend opportunities, how many of them run under the same rules so they would attract the same cars? So here we are, at one race per week, maximum.

By today’s standards, running once each Saturday from mid March to mid October would be far too many races for most teams. Even those track/sanctioning bodies who do schedule along these timelines often have their primary show take either a night off to run a big combo deal (King of California, North/South Civil War, etc.), break for the fair or give a guest club an occasional prime night at their track. A big Late Model show, Grand American Modifieds, Midgets or some other form of visitors often give the weekly sprint car guys a week off here and there throughout the season.

Not having a true home base puts CASA in that group of racers that visits others tracks. We are scheduled as guests at tracks that likely cannot run us on a weekly basis. While we would like to race as often as possible, at this point in our development it is unlikely we could sustain 20-plus car fields for 25-30 events per year. However, nothing precludes us from growing into that position. So this is where we are at race 34 and what we’re dealing with between week 34 and 35.

Everyone in CASA works very hard to build this organization. And it is a work in progress. The promoters we race with all have CASA’s best interest in mind because we in turn, have their interests and success in our mind. But at this point we must consider ourselves as guests of the tracks we run. While it would be wonderful to be an established sanctioning body with 50 years of experience and a full paid staff to handle every little detail or occurrence that might present itself, we are at this point, still the new kids on the block. We can and do make suggestions to promoters and their staff and we have developed a very good working relationship with all the folks we race with, but we are not in a position to dictate how they run their facility, and what the promoter can and can’t do. The promoter’s, like all promoters, have and do exercise their options as they see fit in the best interest of their track and fans. However, no decision is ever made without regard to the big picture and the long-term health of these relationships.

That said, regardless of the preparation, level of hard work and all the things that happen behind the scenes, some events, like any other event in sport, are going to better than others. We, like everyone in this game, will have good days and yes, maybe even bad days. When we have a good day we take pride in it but still look for areas to improve. If we have a bad day we still do the same. Our 34th race was not our best. It was however not from lack of effort. In fact more effort was put into this event that any other.

The excitement (tinged still with sadness) of the Inaugural Mike McCreary Memorial 100 led to special dedicated bonus lap money making this the richest event in CASA history. It is a stepping-stone for the future. The intention is to build this into the richest pavement sprint car event in the west if not the nation. But the operative word here is not “richest” which many people will mistakenly read, but “build.” This will have to be built. It will require hard work and dedication, over and above all the work currently being done to stage this series in general. Every facet of CASA is simultaneously being built. It is no small feat to have started this thing from scratch and nurture it into what it will one day be.

Will we stumble? Will we make mistakes? Sure we will, who in this business hasn’t? Even the big time players have some black eyes in their history. Remember the 1981 Indy 500? USAC took 4 months and a court case to determine Bobby Unser the winner after Mario Andretti was photographed on the yard of bricks as the winner the morning following the race. And who was it that passed the pace car with two laps to go and got disqualified to lose Indy in a huge misunderstanding? Foyt and Boat in victory lane at Texas when they weren’t even on the lead lap? And of course this year’s U.S. Grand Prix at Indy will likely be the biggest black eye for years to come, illustrating that any and all organizations can and will have difficult moments. But we will all have more successes than failures. And we’ll measure each success and failing appropriately in the context of the big picture. Currently, and after a less than stellar night at the first McCreary race I expected some criticism, its human nature. Its very easy for those who don’t appreciate the hard work required criticizing those who don’t do the work specifically toward their intentions. But it’s okay, we’re harder on ourselves so we can deal with it, but I would appreciate it if criticisms were in the appropriate context.

Keep in touch with all CASA racing activity through the CASA website: www.casaracing.com

The CASA Chronicles (No. 16)
Keeping up with the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association
By Glenn Hopper

September 1, 2005
San Jose, CA. In what most people might think is the winding down portion of a racing season as we hit Labor Day, the “unofficial” end of summer, let me tell you that is hardly the case for those of us working behind the scenes to bring the racing community a 2006 racing season. What I’m learning, even more so than last year, is that producing a racing series is a never-ending circle of activity.

In CASA’s first season, we dealt primarily with Altamont Raceway in starting our fledgling club. For 2004 we added Carson City’s Champion Speedway and a race at Shasta Raceway Park. Those two seasons of experience led to us here at CASA to expand to Ukiah and Madera Speedways as we continued to grow the club. Last year there were many meetings and arrangements made to forge this 2005 season and schedule, prior to the Promoters Workshop in Reno in December 2004. The intent was to secure dates with tracks and give as much lead-time and flexibility as possible for the upcoming season. While it seemed that many things still had to be adjusted, for the most part all the early efforts were well spent. On the minus side, schedules needed to be revamped to accommodate all manor of things both in and out of our control, however on the plus side, the lead-time allowed us that flexibility. And as I look back on the season in its final stages, I think our early proactive approach was not only useful but essential.

I’m reminded of that “early worm” concept again this year—even earlier. Since early August, yes a whole month ago, we have been in the planning stages for the 2006 season. An off-season you ask? Not anymore. This upcoming year, and I’m suspecting every year, presents new sets of challenges.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is dealing with the future, or potential lack of a future, of racetracks in our region. The mortality rate among racetracks is difficult to deal with on every level. Equally difficult is sorting through the rumored closures of racetracks, potential management changes, and timelines. It is also disconcerting that the track “information” we hear about is often not what the track managers tell us directly. Dealing with rumors surrounding western US tracks complicate all dealings with other tracks. To illustrate, a rumored “closing” at such-and-such means a new series at so-and-so raceway—if ABC Speedway closes, all the cars are going to XYZ Speedway. These situations destabilize what existing track managers and promoters are trying to do and complicate what we try to do with them.

Unfortunately, one track closure we are assured of is that of Carson City’s Champion Speedway. Les Kynett, long-time general manager of Champion confirmed several months ago that the property had been sold and the likelihood of a 2006 season was minimal. This week Kynett confirmed that not only is this certainly the last season at Carson City but the last race scheduled for September 24th was being scratched in order to give those who have purchased lighting and other fixtures of the property, time to remove those items before the bulldozers and rippers tear out the track on the 27th. Therefore the last race ever at the track known over the years as, Tahoe-Carson (T-Car) Speedway, Silver State Raceway and now Champion Speedway, will be on September 17th, with the 100 lap CASA race as part of the 42nd Annual Silver State Classic, one of the longest running same-track traditions in the west.

Kynett and the speedway are hosting a no-cost picnic and barbeque in the pit area to thank all racers, fans, and supporters of the venerable high-banked speedway since it’s opening in 1964. Long time track supporter Model Dairy will be cooking up Italian sausages, burgers and more, and handing out Pepsi’s and Dr. Pepper’s from noon until 3:00 pm when it will be time to get ready for the final send-off race. Kynett is inviting many people associated with the track over the years and hopes to “send this thing out with style.”

CASA is saddened that Champion will no longer be part of our immediate future. Unfortunately, several Carson Valley based cars support our events at Champion and may have difficulty supporting CASA efforts farther from their home. Conversely, knowing Carson City will not be on our schedule opens opportunities for other venues. Preliminary discussions are ongoing with all types of scenarios and tracks involved.

Having recently renewed talks with USAC Western States and testing the waters of a co-sanctioned event at Stockton 99 on August 27th will present a whole new set of challenges as CASA goes forward in 2006. There is a great deal of work to be done regardless of how these many scenarios play out. The USAC/CASA event was a success in many respects, car count among the most obvious. Without debating which competitors are most closely affiliated with which club, many have run with both organizations in this and previous years, roughly half the 27 car count were from each group. A good pit gate and grandstand gate was promising to see. Concessions made on tires produced a little chest pain for some but did serve to supply real-world information about mixing tire brands and types. While more work needs to be, and will be done on the details, it is generally agreed that running on a common tire is most likely a forgone conclusion.

So where are we so far here? Let’s see. Investigating working with USAC and all manner of scenarios that might entail; scheduling, Western States versus CASA Regional support, point formats, tire programs, and participating tracks, purses and more. Don’t forget existing track contracts, ability or willingness to travel and the impact of potentially $4-a gallon gasoline. We are also having continued discussions with ASA, individual tracks both currently on our schedule and not yet part of our program. We also have interest from other associations who would like to work in conjunction with CASA and we will be meeting with them as well.

If this sounds confusing, it is. However don’t be misled that CASA is in a state of confusion or is vulnerable to any negative forces. This is how short track racing works out west in the new millennium. We don’t have 30 consecutive Saturday nights set aside for us at West Capitol Raceway, Kearney Bowl, or San Jose Speedway. NARC doesn’t get invited to a dozen tracks a year anymore. Folks, things have been different for sometime now. Change is evident in everything. Those who adapt to that change, plan well, anticipate, and work the hardest, survive. Those who don’t, suffer the consequences. CASA is working very hard and fully expects to provide quality pavement racing here in California for many years to come, but it won’t be without some change and adaptation to such change. If I can be forgiven for mixing metaphors, there are few if any calm, cool, deep pools in the world these days; it’s all “whitewater” and regardless of your place on the raft, everyone can expect to do some heavy paddling.

CASA is willing to do the bulk of the work but is reliant on all the players doing their share to ensure long-term success. 2006 will be a new and exciting chapter for CASA—it’s already underway.

Keep in touch with all CASA racing activity through the CASA website:  www.casaracing.com

Chronicle #17

The CASA Chronicles (No. 17)
Keeping up with the California Asphalt Sprintcar Association
By Glenn Hopper

December 11, 2005
San Jose, CA. The California Asphalt Sprintcar Association recently completed their third season of competition, closing out a 16-race campaign at Madera Speedway on October 8th. The “Tire Smoking Thunder” of CASA entertained fans at four different venues, each comprising four events throughout the spring, summer and fall. CASA toured the ultra-fast half-mile of Altamont Raceway and Arena, The high-banked quarter-mile bullrings of Ukiah and Carson City’s Champion Speedways, and the third-mile facility of Madera.

CASA’s car count ranged from a dozen to as high as 23 and a core group of 12 made almost every race. CASA benefited from local support at Champion, a few North Bay racers made a majority of Ukiah events, a couple Central Valley cars contributed to Madera shows and with NCMA’s assistance, Altamont frequently had the best car counts of the season.

The championship was he closest ever with four cars entering the final event with a mathematical chance of securing the title. Defending champ Nick Rescino, Jr. was pressed throughout the season by young Nick Green who needed only to finish two spots ahead of Rescino in the finale, but Rescino staked his claim with a victory and Green had to settle for runner-up point honors.

The CASA Rookie of the Year competition was nearly as close. With three declared rookies each competing in top notch equipment, the race to declare a top rookie was hard fought between Trever Cummins from the dirt cars, 18 year old Green from road race go karts and fellow 18 year old Jessica Helberg from outlaw dirt karts. All three got off to a very fast start and began posting impressive qualifying efforts and excellent feature finishes. Cummins had perhaps the slightest advantage early on but unfortunately was unable to enter all events. Green hit the track running as well and with each lap looked more and more like a potential winner. Helberg, with the least overall experience of the three, picked up on everything very quickly. Any rookie mistakes were only committed once and her progression was swift. As she become comfortable in her new ride she also became a threat.

Both Green and Helberg made frequent appearances in the fast car trophy dashes and both even set fast times, Helberg at Ukiah and Green at Altamont and Madera.

The top 10 drivers finished as follows: (1) Nick Rescino, Jr. (2) Nick Green, (3) Glenn Hopper, (4) Tony Iacobitti, (5) Jessica Helberg, (6) Joe Hauck, (7) Marvin Mitchell, (8) Scott Clough, (9) Ryan Baumgartner, and (10) Earle Stanton.

Both Jeff Gardner and Brian McClish finished outside the top ten but recorded CASA feature wins, Gardner with five and McClish with one win.

Now its on to Championship Awards Dinner planning!

Keep in touch with all CASA racing activity through the CASA website: www.casaracing.com

Chronicle #18