Colorado River Late Model Series Twin Mains To Highlight Action At The I 10 Speedway Saturday
BY DAVE GRAYSON
The Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway will open its spectator gates this Saturday for the latest round of their current Winter Blast Racing Series will a full schedule of diversified racing divisions on the quarter mile paved oval located at the Colorado River Fairgrounds in Blythe-California. The hot racing action will be highlighted by the return of the Colorado River Late Model Racing Series who will be treating fans to twin main events. Also making a return to the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway will be the fan favorite Street Stock Division along with the always fun Factory Stocks. The special guest division will be the WRA, Western Racing Association, who will display and race their fine collection of antique open wheel cars. Local education will be saluted by the speedway with the night being declared "Blythe Schools and College Night."
The Colorado River Late Model Series is hosted by both the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway along with the Havasu 95 Speedway in Lake Havasu City-Arizona. From the very beginning this has been highly competitive racing program and has turned into a championship shoot out between drivers Austin Murphy and Mark Schriner. Murphy will be going into Saturday night's race with a 18 point lead over Schriner. Muprhy finished second in the series' February 21st feature in Lake Havasu City while Schriner had to settle for eighth. The 18 point spread between the two drivers is the largest points gap that we've seen all season. But that current gap is still too close to make any championship assumptions. Any combination of good and bad racing luck, on the part of either driver could recreate the skin tight points battle that we've seen all season long.
However the series points leaders found themselves having to deal with an unexpected source of competition at the Havasu 95 Speedway race from Miles Copenhaver. The 19 year old driver, in the Paul Copenhaver Motorsports Ford, is planning to run the 2009 Super Late Model Series at the Toyota Speedway At Irwindale and was looking for some pre season seat time. The team had a one race sponsor deal to cover the trip to Lake Havasu City with a contingency that said a top three finish would earn them a trip to this Saturday night's race in Blythe. Copenhaver won the feature race that night following a close finish over Austin Murphy.
That means there's going to be a new level of intensity when the Late Models take the track at the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway on Saturday night. First off the series will be running twin 25 lap features which is tantamount to a double point night. That's going to loom large for the championship efforts between Murphy and Schriner. Secondly, both drivers are going to have to hone their racing edges just a little bit sharper to prepare for another night with Copenhaver in the starting field. The Colorado River Late Model Series alone is going to be worth the trip to the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway this Saturday night.
After a brief break in their schedule the speedway's Street Stock division will be making their first appearance since November 29th. The teams will be resuming a tight points battle led by 68 year old ageless wonder Ralph Adams. Going into Saturday night there are only ten points separating the top four drivers in the division standings. Richard Selph and D J Lonie are tied for second in the standings only six points away from Adams. Also a major player in this championship battle is Bryant Sutterfied who is holds down fourth only ten markers away from the leader. In this past this division has always been known for intense competition.With the points standings being this tight the competition from Saturday night's main event could be off the charts.
The fan favorite Factory Stock division is always a highlight during any given night of racing at the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway because of its racing format that is often no holes barred. Justin White leads the points standings going into Saturday night based on a double points feature win followed by three consecutive top five finishes.
The Western Racing Association,WRA, is a special treat for racing fans at every speedway they visit. Often referred to as a moving museum, this group is dedicated to the preservation of open wheel race cars from the past and their legacy in American racing. The restoration jobs on these cars are pristine and they put on quite a show on the track. Off the track they love to meet with the fans and answer questions about the cars. The Blythe racing fans are really going to love this group.
The Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway will open their spectator gates this Saturday at 4 pm with the racing getting underway at 6 pm. General admission tickets are $10. Tickets for seniors, 55 plus, as well as handicapped fans and military personnel are $8. Teen prices are $5 for ages 13 to 17 while kids prices are $3 for ages 6 to 12. Kids five and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. The speedway also offers a family package special for $20 which admits two adults and two kids age 17 and under.
For out of town race teams and fans the Best Western, Flying J, Motel is the official lodging of the Lucas Oil I 10 Speedway. They offer spacious rooms at affordable rates and are located just a short drive to the speedway. For reservations call 1 800 292 9711. On line reservations are also available.