News/Events  

September 20, 2007

Tony Hunt Closes CASA/USAC “Best in the West” Season with a Madera Victory – Kaplan Claims “Best in the West” Title – Jo-Jo Helberg Crowned CASA Champion
By Glenn Hopper

9-15-07 – Madera, CA
In a busy night for race officials, scorers, and point auditors, three major activities filled the speedway environment. First, Defending California Asphalt Sprintcar Association champion Tony Hunt closed out the 2007 season capturing the 50 lap CASA/USAC “Best in the West” series finale with an impressive win at Madera Speedway’s one-third mile oval. Second, the event closed out the CASA/USAC “Best in the West” series in which Hunt was dethroned as champion by young Ryan Kaplan. Kaplan ascended to the throne with a near flawless season, converting 460 of a possible 480 points towards the championship. And third, an accomplishment not seen in CASA’s history, 2006 Rookie of the Year Jo-Jo Helberg upped his performance to Championship status becoming the first driver to win Rookie of the Year honors then take the CASA title in only his sophomore season.

Hunt, who last season dominated all the available series titles last season, has witnessed the emergence of the aforementioned young tigers first hand, but ran impressively in beating all comers on this night. Kaplan did however secure fast time honors over a sparse field of 11 entrants.

Heat race honors went to Bradley Galedrige aboard the Swanson number 17 subbing for the Swanson boys who were competing elsewhere, and 17 year-old Helberg, who with his heat win needed only to take the green flag in the feature to secure his first CASA championship.

Veteran Shauna Hogg and Eric Humphries paced the field to green in the feature with Hogg leading lap one. Helberg hustled past on lap two and led until lap 16 when last year’s champ had something to say about running at the front. Hunt slipped by Helberg on lap 16 and began clicking off laps towards the finish line. Newly crowned “BITW” champ Kaplan managed his way past Helberg as well, and Hogg and Galedrige engaged in a spirited battle that lasted a good portion of the event.

By the final laps, Hunt had lapped his way to the top five runners making his run look more comfortable than it was, knowing the caliber and confidence of the drivers behind him. As the checkers fell, the “Three Champs” Hunt, Kaplan, and Helberg all headed for the podium, while Hogg prevailed in her battle for fourth over Galedrige who took fifth.

Sixth was Jim Kaiser who not only showed great consistency throughout the season but marked improvement in performance that secured him second place in the season long CASA points battle. Two-time CASA champ Nick Rescino, Jr. was seventh followed by local favorite, Anthony “Cannonball” Simone who thrilled the crowd with a spinning finish in eighth, followed by Humphries and new comer Jimmy Riddell in 10th. Greg Anderson suffered steering woes and did not make the call for the feature.

Next up: CASA will hold its annual corporate board meeting and plan the Championship banquet. For banquet information or any CASA activity, visit www.casaracing.com

Madera Speedway Results

September 20, 2007

Kody Swanson Wins CASA/USAC at Altamont
By Glenn Hopper

9-8-07 – Tracy, CA
Kingsburg California’s Kody Swanson, wrested the lead from Idaho’s Mike Murgoito just past the halfway point of CASA/USAC’s “Best in the West” pavement sprint car 50 lap feature event at Altamont Motorsports Park’s wicked-fast half mile. The 2005 USAC Western States champion once again put the family-owned number 17 in victory lane - a familiar place he and his brother Tanner have both visited sharing the cockpit at different times throughout the season.

Reigning CASA, USAC, and “Best in the West” champ Tony Hunt laid down fast time in qualifications over a 17 car field. Heat one was captured by Murgoito and the second preliminary heat went to Eric Humphries earning his first event win on the big track in a sprint car.

Tim Barber and Murgoito paced the field to the green flag with Murgoito gaining the lead in his orange number 80. He held the point until Swanson, from the number five starting spot, overhauled him and never looked back. Murgoito held fast to finish second over Barber in third, CASA point leader and 2006 Rookie of the Year, Jo-Jo Helberg ran a strong fourth, and USAC and “Best in the West” point leader, Ryan Kaplan posting a top five finish.

Rookie Jimmy Riddell ran an excellent sixth, Ryan Burdett was seventh, Jim Kaiser was solid eighth followed by Scott Clough’s best run of the year in ninth and Brian McClish was credited with tenth.

Two-time CASA champion Nick Rescino Jr’s struggles continued as did the fortunes of heat winner Humphries, 2005 CASA Rookie of the Year Nick Green, Shauna Hogg, Matt DeMartini, and defending champ Tony Hunt who all rounded out the group of those not making it to the checkered flag for an assortment of reasons.

Next up: CASA will co-sanction with USAC Western States for round 8, the final event of the 2007 “Best in the West Series” when Madera Speedway hosts the championship clinching event at their beautiful third-mile on Saturday September 15th. For more information on CASA activity, visit www.casaracing.com

Altamont Motorsports Park Results

September 4, 2007

Kaplan Wins CASA/USAC “Best in the West” Thriller at Altamont
By Glenn Hopper

8-18-07 – Tracy, CA
In another action-packed CASA/USAC 50-lap feature, Chico, California’s Ryan Kaplan squeezed past 2005 USAC champ Kody Swanson with two laps remaining to take a thrilling win.

The evening’s second heat winner Shauna Hogg paced the field with Richard Bailey, fresh back from his tumble at Madera along side, but two-time CASA champion and heat race number one winner Nick Rescino, Jr. powered into the lead from his third starting position before a lap was complete and held the point until lap eight when Swanson swept past for the lead. Action was hot and heavy throughout the pack of 15 starters. Cautions for Jimmy Riddell’s spin and go, a spectacular spark filed front stretch crash by Matt DeMartini after a left rear wheel separated itself from his mount catching Greg Anderson in the fray and relocating him to the work area to fix a dragging belly pan, and a second spin by Riddell helped keep an already close lead pack even closer.

The leader Swanson had 2005 and 2006 CASA Rookies of the Year, fast timer Nick Green and Jo-Jo Helberg, engaged in a heavy battle just behind his bumper for a significant portion of the race. Equally close were Kaplan, Rescino, Hogg and defending CASA champ Tony Hunt. As the race evolved into a 150 MPH pressure cooker, contact was made down the back straight, and Green went spinning towards the infield for another caution. Green expressed his displeasure with the change of fortunes that ended his evening, and the field prepared for a restart.

Swanson again held the point but Helberg and Kaplan kept applying the pressure; Helberg down low and Kaplan on the top groove. Kaplan’s momentum and pressure swept him past both Helberg and then Swanson and with two laps to go his Black #21 was in front. During the intense action at the very front, Tony Hunt had closed ground and was quickly on and past Swanson and Helberg as well. When the white flag waved not one position in the top four was secure.

The furious last half-mile rush to the checkers saw Kaplan ahead by couple lengths at best and Hunt inching ahead of Swanson as the pack of four came off the last turn close enough to “fit under a blanket.” At the same instant Kaplan caught sight of the finish line, Swanson and Hunt touched on the front straight sending Hunt into a wild smoky spin across the line for second while Swanson evaded Hunt crossing third and Helberg dashed through the tire smoke for fourth. Greg Anderson in a fine drive returning from the back of the field took a well earned fifth place.

Sixth place went to Brian Geiszler, seventh to Laura Hayes, eighth to Hogg, Jim Kaiser was ninth and Anthony Simone finished tenth. Riddell hung in for an 11th place finish at the checkers. Rescino who retired with a flat left rear tire during the Green caution was credited with 12th, Green 13th, DeMartini was 14th and Bailey’s early retirement dropped him to 15th.

Next up: CASA will co-sanction with USAC Western States for round 7 of the “Best in the West Series” when Altamont Motorsports Park again hosts the pavement pounding sprinters at their ultra-fast half-mile on Saturday September 8th. For more information on CASA activity, visit www.casaracing.com

Altamont Motorsports Park Results

July 17, 2007

Tanner Swanson Victorious in Altamont CASA/USAC “Best in the West” Feature
By Glenn Hopper

7-14-07 – Tracy, CA
Young Tanner Swanson, leading contender for CASA Rookie of the Year, posted another strong showing in winning his second feature of the season and second Altamont event in succession. In an especially spirited battle, Tanner took the lead from 2004 CASA Rookie of the Year Nick Green, recently returned to California pavement racing, at the halfway point of the 50 lap tilt and pressed on throughout the second half of the CASA/USAC “Best in the West” event and under the checkers to seal the deal.

In earlier action Tanner Swanson also posted fast time at 16.739 to out-time a 14 car field. Heat race number one went to USAC point leader Ryan Kaplan and heat number two was taken by Green.

Next up: CASA will co-sanction with USAC Western States for round 6 of the “Best in the West Series” when Altamont Motorsports Park again hosts the pavement pounding sprinters at their ultra-fast half-mile on Saturday August 18th. For more information on CASA activity, visit www.casaracing.com

Altamont Motorsports Park Results

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