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HOMETOWN BOYS TO CHALLENGE SCRA LEADERS.
BY Dan Fleisher
It’s time to show off in front of the local fans and that’s exactly what “Bakersfield Boys” Rusty Carlile, John Iturriria, Matt Day, and Ron Tjaarda hope to do this Saturday night when SCRA 360 Wingless Sprint Cars return to Bakersfield Speedway for their second appearance of 2007.
Carlile, who sits third in the season’s point chase with 596, behind Peter Murphy (739) and Davey Pombo (650), has been consistent all year, complying eight top-five finishes in nine outings, including two seconds, two thirds, three fourths and a fifth. He is eager to move up the latter with a victory in the 30-lap feature. Iturriria has improved each time out and is seeking to crack the top-10 in points. He currently sits 12th with 239 markers. Day will be making only his fourth start of the season but feels extremely comfortable on the smaller 1/3-mile clay track compared to Kings Speedway’s 3/8-mile facility, SCRA’s home track, and hopes to bring smiles to the faces of his family and local supporters. Tjaarda will appearing for only the third time and is looking for quality seat time.
Meanwhile, Murphy and Pombo, who between them have captured the last eight main events, look to extend their dominance. Murphy has won five straight at Kings while Pombo has recorded three wins during the season including the last stop at Bakersfield on May 12.
Other featured players include 16-year-old Michael Faccinto, who is fresh off a second-place finish at Kings on July 21, and other teenage rivals John Niggli, Justyne Hamblin, Myles Bishop, Adam Frith-Smith and Jace VanderWeerd. Veterans Jeff Gardner, Richard Harvey Jr., Clark Templeman, Albert Pombo and Steve Conrad hope to slow down the rookie onslaught.
A large turnout of drivers are expected to vie for the purse and honors, and will compete in three or four heat races, a possible “B” main, the exciting six-lap Passing Masters Dash and the feature |
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