Southern Oregon Speedway Racing Discussion
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Jones, Fitzpatrick, Wiesz Win Dwarf Car Nationals Features At Southern Oregon Speedway
Medford, Oregon...August 6...Shawn Jones was unstoppable in winning his third consecutive WCDCA Pro Division Dwarf Car Nationals event at Southern Oregon Speedway Saturday night. Jones took the lead from Southern California star John Isabella on a lap ten restart and pulled away from there to the impressive victory in the 30 lap race. Jones also won the Preliminary Feature on Friday. Two time reigning SODCA champion Josh King borrowed the Ryan Winter car and came from deep in the pack for an impressive second place finish. Tim Fitzpatrick held off the challenges of Antioch Speedway point leader Kevin Miraglio to win the 20 lap Veteran Division Dwarf Car feature. In the Sportsman Dwarf Car class, Ben Wiesz repelled the advances of local SODCA competitor Cody Peters to win their 20 lap race.
The Top 10 finishers in the Friday night Pro Division Preliminary Main were locked into the show, and they ran a 10 lap Fast Dash to determine the first five rows of the Main Event. SBDCA point leader David Teves made a last lap pass to win that race ahead of John Isabella and Gene "Punky" Pires. Joe Frock won the first of three 10 lap heat races ahead of Jessica Clark. The heat races set the lineup for the 20 lap B Main. Michael "Spanky" Grenert won the second heat ahead of Matt Hagerman, and local ace Camden Robustelli won his heat ahead of Southern California hard charger Ronnie Williams. After flipping his car in the Fast Dash hot laps, Josh King was given the ride in the Ryan Winter car for the B Main. Frock led from start to finish to win that race. Robustelli spun from the Top 3 just before taking the white flag as Matt Sargent finished second ahead of Grenert, King and Hagerman.
Teves brought the 24 car Pro Division down for the green flag and set the early Main Event pace ahead of Isabella and Jones. An outside move on the back stretch of the fourth lap gained Isabella the lead, and Jones made an inside pass in Turn 1 a lap later to gain second. Pires was third on lap six, and John Chrisman and Willians got together in Turn 4 for a lap ten caution flag. Jones charged into the lead on the restart as two time Antioch champion Danny Wagner settled into third. Sargent and Frock tangled in Turn 3 for a lap 14 yellow flag. King was up to 4th from 14th starting by then, and he pulled even with Isabella in a good battle for second as Jones continued to lead the restart. A low move in Turn 4 of the 16th lap gained King second. Isabella regained second on lap 18 as five cars battled closely for that position. Grenert spun for a lap 18 caution flag, and another yellow flag botched the first restart attempt. Jones continued to lead the final restart, and he pulled away to a straightaway advantage over the second place battle. A low move in Turn 4 of the 22nd lap put King back into second, and Pires made a similar move two laps later to grab third. Jones capped his dominant weekend performance with an impressive win. King salvaged something from a bad night as he finished second ahead of Pires, Wagner, Isabella, Teves, Henry Corbin III, Guy Tow Jr., James Bringster and Sargent.
Buddy Olschowka went flag to flag to win the 10 lap Veteran Division Fast Dash. Dan Geil made a last lap pass on Kevin Miraglio to finish second. Mark Biscardi won the heat race as Scott Dahlgren made a last lap pass on Dan Zuger to finish second in the ten lapper. Olschowka led the opening lap of the Main Event before surrendering the lead to Dan Geil on a lap two restart. Clay Goben spun, but he got going and was lapped on lap four as Kevin Bender ran third. Miraglio took third on lap six before Mike Miller, Guy Tow Sr. and Zuger tangled in Turn 1 for a lap seven yellow flag. Geil led Olschowka on the restart as Bender reclaimed third. A low move in Turn 4 of the ninth lap gained Tim Fitzpatrick second from Olschowka. Don Gifford and Glenn Sciarani got together on the back stretch with Sciarani flipping for a lap nine red flag. He was not injured. Fitzpatrick, Olschowka and Miraglio raced into the Top 3 on the restart, and Miraglio gained second two laps later. Fitzpatrick and Miraglio pulled away just a bit as Biscardi gained third from Olchowka on lap 13 in a close three car battle. Scott Dahlgren raced by Biscardi for third on lap 17. Miraglio ran closely behind Fitzpatrick and gathered some momentum for a pass attempt as they exited Turn 2 working lap 18. Unfortunately. Miraglio brushed the back wall and lost that momentum. That was all Fitzpatrick needed as he brought it home to victory ahead of Miraglio, Dahlgren, Bicardi, Bender, Geil, Eric Weisler, Tow, Tommy Brown and Zuger.
Friday night Preliminary Feature winner Cody Peters won the Sportsman Division Fast Dash ahead of Ben Wiesz and Bud Lorenz. Kyle Jones took the checkered flag ahead of Ryan Klein and Brett Olney to win the ten lap heat race. Peters led the opening lap of the Main Event, but Wiesz found himself in the lead a lap later as Peters stalled on the back stretch with a flat tire. Ken Radabaugh took the lead on the restart, but Wiesz reclaimed the lead a lap later. An outside move on the front stretch of the sixth lap gained the flying Peters third from Tim Reeder, and he made a similar move two laps later to take second from Radabaugh. Peters quickly moved in to battle Wiesz for the lead as Radabaugh had his hands full battling Jones for third. Jones took third from Radabaugh on lap 15 just before a yellow flag flew for Klein. Wiesz maintained the lead on the restart as Peters searched high and low for a way around. However, Wiesz kept his cool and collected a well earned victory ahead of Peters, Jones, Radabaugh, Reeder, Olney, Randy Slater, Lorenz, Klein and Joe Sanders.
Race Results
Pro Dwarf Cars
Heat
1-Joe Frock, Jessica Clark, James Bringster. Heat 2-Michael Grenert,
Matt Hagerman, Ryan Martinez. Heat 3-Camden Robustelli, Ronnie
Williams, Matt Sargent. Fast Dash-David Teves, John Isabella, Gene
Pires. B Main-Joe Frock, Sargent, Grenert, Josh King, Hagerman. Main
Event-Shawn Jones, King, Pires, Danny Wagner, Isabella, Teves, Henry
Corbin III, Guy Tow Jr., Bringster, Sargent, Chad Cardoza, Hagerman,
Brock Peters, Williams, Kalvin Morton, Grenert, Robustelli, Jeremy
Blackhere, Jessica Clark, Rob Gergel, Jeff Fitch, Dylan Chrisman,
Martinez, Frock, John Chrisman.
Veteran Dwarf Car
Heat-Mark
Biscardi, Scott Dahlgren, Dan Zuger. Fast Dash-Buddy Olschowka, Dan
Geil, Kevin Miraglio. Main Event-Tim Fitzpatrick, Miraglio, Dahlgren,
Biscardi, Kevin Bender, Geil, Eric Weisler, Guy Tow Sr., Tommy Brown,
Zuger, Mike Miller, Olschowka, Clay Goben, Glenn Sciarani, Bill Van
Praag, Jerry Hauck, Don Gifford.
Sportsman Dwarf Car
Heat-Kyle
Jones, Ryan Klein, Brett Olney. Fast Dash-Cody Peters, Ben Wiesz, Bud
Lorenz. Main Event-Wiesz, Peters, Jones, Ken Radabaugh, Tim Reeder,
Olney, Randy Slater, Lorenz, Klein, Joe Sanders, Dennis Hiveley.
Minter Drives Trotter Car To OTRO Hardtop Victory
At Southern Oregon Speedway
White City, Oregon...August 6...Subbing for Bill Trotter, Mark Minter won the 15 lap OTRO Hardtop Main Event Saturday night at Southern Oregon Speedway. Minter claimed the four lap Trophy Dash victory earlier in the evening, and his win snapped a three race win streak for Trevor Thomason. Jimmy Del Castille finished a season best second.
Minter started the evening off by winning the four lap Trophy Dash ahead of Del Castille. Thomason ended up with the six lap heat race win ahead of Del Castille after Minter's car caught fire while leading. Del Castille led the opening lap of the Main Event before Minter drove Bill Trotter's red #46 car past him into the lead. Thomason pitted off the back stretch as Dean Cass settled into third. Cass was making his first start of the season. Wylie Powell pitted the Dusty Trotter car on lap five, and Minter had a straightaway lead by lap seven. Minter lapped both Chris Mehrer and Brian Crouch by lap 12. Minter collected the victory ahead of Del Castille. Cass was lapped on the final lap as Mehrer, Crouch, Powell and Thomason completed the finishing order.
Race Results
OTRO Hardtops
Heat-Trevor
Thomason, Jimmy Del Castille, Dean Cass. Trophy Dash-Mark Minter, Del
Castille, Wylie Powell. Main Event-Minter, Del Castille, Cass, Chris
Mehrer, Brian Crouch, Powell, Thomason.
Jones, Weisler, Peters Kick Off Southern Oregon
Dwarf Car Nationals With Wins
White City, Oregon...August 5...Taking full advantage of his front row start, Shawn Jones led from start to finish to win the Pro Dwarf Car Preliminary Main Event in the Friday night opener for the WCDCA Dwarf Car Nationals at Southern Oregon Speedway. A regular with the NCDCA and SBDCA groups in California, Jones is the defending race champion, and he held off SBDCA Dwarf Car point leader David Teves for the victory. Taking the lead late from NCDCA regular Kevin Bender, SBDCA regular Eric Weisler won the 20 lap Sportsman Main Event. Bender spun late, allowing NCDCA star Buddy Olschowka to finish second. Rising young SODCA star Cody Peters won a mid race duel with Brett Olney to get his first Main Event win in the Sportsman class 20 lapper. Ben Wiesz benefited from an Olney spin to finish second. The Top 10 finishers in each race were locked into Saturday's Main Events.
The Pro class had 32 cars and ran four ten lap heat races. Teves beat CDCA star John Isabella by a good margin to win the first heat race. Jones won his heat ahead of SODCA star Kalvin Morton. SODCA point leader Brock Peters won his heat ahead of club rival Chad Cardoza, and reigning SBDCA champion Gene "Punky" Pires won his heat ahead of Camden Robustelli. Drivers who didn't make the cut battled in the 15 lap B Main to earn the remaining starting spots in the 24 car Preliminary Feature. Sin City Dwarf Car veteran Matt Sargent won that race ahead of Guy Tow Jr., Jeff Fitch and Jeremy Blackshere. Teves drew the pill for the Main Event and a #2 came up to put him on the outside front row next to Jones. Jones raced into the lead at the start with Teves not far behind in second. B. Peters settled into third with Pires and Isabella in close pursuit. A low move in Turn 4 of the tenth lap gained Pires third, and John Chrisman spun on the back stretch for the only yellow flag on lap 11. Jones continued to lead Teves and Pires as Isabella raced past Peters for fourth. Jones and Teves pulled away from the pack with Jones leading by about four car lengths when the checkered flag flew. Pires punched his ticket into Saturday's race with a third place finish as Isabella, Peters, Justin Yanez, two time Antioch Speedway champion Danny Wagner, Morton, Cardoza and two time reigning SODCA champion Josh King followed him into that race with their Top 10 finishes.
The Veteran Dwarf Car group ran three ten lap heat races and Antioch Speedway point leader Kevin Miraglio won his race ahead of Sin City racer Bill Van Praag. NCDCA regular Scott Dahlgren won his heat ahead of past SBDCA champion Mark Biscadi, and Kevin Bender won the last heat ahead of Buddy Olschowka. All 16 competitors ran the 20 lap Main Event, which had to be restarted after Biscardi spun exiting Turn 2, triggering a multi car pileup. Miraglio led the restart ahead of Bender and Van Praag. A low move in Turn 4 of the third lap gained Bender the lead from Miraglio as Olschowka and Weisler both raced by Van Praag for third and fourth. A low move in Turn 3 of the fourth lap gained the flying Weisler second from Miraglio as Olschowka followed closely in third. The lead three cars staged a good battle up front, and Olschowka made a low pass in Turn 4 of the ninth lap to take second from Weisler. Weisler came back strong on the outside to reclaim the position a lap later. Bender and Weisler began to pull away in slower traffic, and the battle heated up on lap 17 as Weisler made an inside pass in Turn 2 to take the lead from Bender. On lap 19, Bender spun in Turn 2 trying to regain the lead, and Weisler cruised to victory from there. Olschowka finished second ahead of Tim Fitzpatrick, Dan Geil, Miraglio, Bender, Van Praag, Jerry Hauck, Zuger and Tommy Brown.
Cody Peters won the first ten lap Sportsman heat race ahead of NCDCA competitor Ken Radabaugh. Kyle Jones won the second heat ahead of Ben Wiesz. All 13 cars started the Main Event, and Wiesz raced into the early lead ahead of Brett Olney. A lap one caution flag flew when Joe Sanders stalled on the back stretch. Olney led Peters on the restart. Tim Reeder did a complete 360 on the back stretch on lap three and kept going. Ryan Klein spun in Turn 2 for a lap four caution flag. Peters presented a serious challenge to Olney on the restart as the two battled side by side at times. A low move in Turn 4 of the tenth lap gained Peters the lead. Olney spun off of Turn 2 and into the infield on lap 12, losing a lap in the process. Peters lost a straightaway lead when a lap 16 caution flag flew for a multi car crash in Turn 2. Peters led Wiesz and Bud Lorenz on the restart, and the lead trio ran in order to the checkered flag. Tim Reeder salvaged a fourth place finish ahead of Josh Fuller, David Braun, Dennis Hively, Wiesz, Olney and Klein..
Race Results
Pro Dwarf Car
Heat
1-David Teves, John Isabella, Josh King. Heat 2-Shawn Jones, Kalvin
Morton, Danny Wagner. Heat 3-Brock Peters, Chad Cardoza, Ryan Smith. Heat 4-Gene Pires, Camden Robustelli, Justin Yanez. B
Main-Matt Sargent, Guy Tow Jr., Jeff Fitch, Jeremy Blackshere, Jimmy
Bringster. A Main Event-Jones, Teves, Pires, Isabella, Peters, Yanez,
Wagner, Morton, Cardoza, King, Sargent, Joe Frock, Mike Martinez,
Blackshere, Robustelli, Fitch, Michael Grenert, Tow, Ryan Smith, Ronnie
Williams, Colby Wiesz, Bringster, Matt Hagerman, John Chrisman.
Veteran Dwarf Car
Heat
1-Kevin Miraglio, Bill Van Praag, Guy Tow Sr. Heat 2-Scott Dahlgren,
Mark Biscardi, Dan Geil. Heat 3-Kevin Bender, Buddy Olschowka, Dan
Zuger. Main Event-Eric Weisler, Olschowka, Tim Fitzpatrick, Geil,
Miraglio, Bender, Bill Van Praag, Jerry Hauck, Zuger, Tommy Brown, Don
Gifford, Tow, Glenn Sciarani, Dahlgren, Biscardi, Mike Miller.
Sportsman Dwarf Car
Heat
1-Cody Peters, Ken Radabaugh, Tim Reeder. Heat 2-Kyle Jones, Ben
Wiesz, Ryan Klein. Main Event-Peters, B. Wiesz, Jesse Lorenz, Reeder,
Sean Fuller, David Braun, Dennis Hively, Josh Wiesz, Brett Olney, Klein,
Joe Sanders, Jones, Radabaugh.
Fox, McIntyre, Butler Score Feature Wins
At Coos Bay Speedway
Coos Bay, Oregon...August 6...Ken Fox added his name to the winner's list with his 25 lap Winged Sprint Car feature win Saturday night at Coos Bay Speedway. Other winners in the Les Schwab Racing Series program included Kelly McIntyre in the Late Model feature, Wayne Buter in the Sportsman class, Brody Montgomery in Hornets and Rob Lauver in the Mini Outlaws.
Scott Fox got the Winged Sprint Car program started with a fast lap of 13.735, beating the 13.931 of Lawrence Van Hoof. Recent feature winner Erin Lyons won the four lap Trophy Dash ahead of Van Hoof. Van Hoof also chased John Black across the line for a second place finish in their heat race. S. Fox held off point leader Dave May to win the first heat race. May gave Ken Fox all the pressure he could handle before Fox grabbed the checkered flag first in the Main Event. May settled for second ahead of Black, Van Hoof, S. Fox, Duke Johnson, Ryan Kingery, Lyons and Kirk Hebson.
In Late Model qualifying, Tom Perry made the only 14 second lap as his 14.911 effort beat McIntyre's 15.032 for fast time. Medford point leader Mike Linder won a close race ahead of Bill Hitner to claim the Trophy Dash. Kelly McIntire won his heat race ahead of Medford visitor John Dees. Coming off of his feature win a week ago in Medford, point leader Nathan Augustine won his heat race ahead of Thor Kristenson. In the rapidly run 25 lap Late Model feature, Augustine ran strong in his bid for another win, but McIntyre prevailed by about half a straightaway. Hitner was a solid third ahead of Perry, B. Dees, John Dees, Linder, Kristenson and Kristy Grout.
The Sportsman division has been a battle between point leader Wayne Butler and rookie Dylan Siewell lately. Butler got it started by besting the qualifier's list with a lap of 15.914. Russ Blean was second quick at 16.530. The Street Stocks had four cars as Jeff Krossman's lap of 16.913 was quickest of the group. Siewell was a double preliminary winner as he won his heat race by a straightaway ahead of Rhett Eastman and claimed the four lap Trophy Dash ahead of Butler. Butler won his eight lap heat race in front of Krossman's Street Stocker. The Main Event continued the trend of smoothly run races, and Butler got the win by just under a straightaway ahead of Siewell. Blean just beat Eastman back to the line for third as Brody Montgomery was the final lead lap finisher. Jeff Thurman, Josh Kralecek and the Street Stock of J. Krossman were all a lap down as the Street Stocks of Tim Young and that division's point leader, Daniel Land, rounded out the Top 10.
The Hornets were about to have one of their best races of the year. Dominant point leader Jeremiah Reiber set the quick time of 17.798 to beat the 18.276 of Ryan Siewell. Reiber had a pair of seconds as he finished behind Adam Barber in his heat race and Montgomery in the four lap Trophy Dash. He lost both races by less than a second, but he fell out with four laps remaining in the Main Event. The other heat race win went to second ranked Jeremy Beard in front of William Hitner. Montgomery and Siewell battled fiercely down the stretch in the 25 lap Main Event, and Montgomery won a near photo finish with Siewell. Beard was a distant third ahead of Jason Greer and Hannah Robinson. Tom Williams was the final lead lap finisher and Robert Vandre, Hitner and Reiber made up the remainder of the field.
The potent VW Beetle was the class of the feild in the Mini Outlaws division. Rob Lauver set fast time of 16.885, which even bested the quickest Street Stock lap. He then won the Trophy Dash and his heat race. Point leader Ryder Johnson was the other eight lap heat race winner. Lauver won the Main Event by over a half lap in front of the unidentified driver of the #64 car. R. Johnson, 2015 champion Samuel Talon and John Henry made up the remainder of the Top 5, all on the lead lap.
Collins First Repeat Hobby Stock Winner At Orland Raceway,
Webster, Davis Claim Third Victories
Webster, Davis Claim Third Victories
Orland, CA...July 30...Orland Raceway closed the month of July with another four division program on the one-fifth mile dirt oval, and some familiar names returned to the winner's circle. Shannon Collins won his second straight 20 lap Hobby Stock Main Event to become the first repeat winner in the class. Dan Webster gained significant ground in the Mini Truck championship battle with his third win of the season, while Tom Davis also won his third Mini Stock Main Event of the year. Reigning 600 Micro Sprint champion Jeromie Crismon won their 20 lap Main Event.
Point leader Steve Martin opened the evening with another eight lap heat race win over reigning 250 Kart champion Jess Garland. Martin only has the one feature win this season, but he has been the model of consistency. To win at Orland, you have to go through him to do it. Shannon Collins cleared a path and won another battle with Martin for his second straight feature triumph. Martin settled for his division leading fourth second place finish ahead of Garland, newcomer Amanda Koop and Cody Bundy.
Despite missing the opener, Dan Webster has been gaining steady ground on point leader William Fogle in the Mini Truck division. Webster battled reigning champion Keith Ross all night, starting with his win in the eight lap heat race. Ross has things dialed in much better lately, but he was still no match for Webster in the Main Event as Webster won for the third time this year. Rich Hood made his first start of the season with a nice third place finish ahead of point leader William Fogle, who leads Webster by just ten points in the championship battle. Brent Allinger finished fifth ahead of Jeremy Callen and Jeff Bennett.
After winning the first two races of the season in the Mini Stock class, Tom Davis disappeared. He recently resurfaced at Susanville, where he was Main Event winner. Davis returned to Orland and won his heat race ahead of point leader John Kirkpatrick. Davis continued that momentum with his third Main Event win ahead of title contender Robert Hunt. Barbara Crane took the wheel of the team's #23 car that had been piloted by Jeff Bennett this season and drove to a solid third place finish ahead of Steven Spears, Kirkpatrick and Seth Libbee.
The 600 Micro Sprint action found Rick Gutzke winning the eight lap heat race ahead of point leaer Jeromie Crismon. Crismon won the battle with Gutzke for the Main Event victory. 2500 Kart point leader Andrew Love was third as Rick Alonzo was a feature scratch.
Saturday night, August 13th is the Thomas Schmite Memorial Race. Thomas was a beloved Orland resident who lost his fight with cancer in 2010. He left behind a daughter, Lexi, who was only two years old at the time. Every year, the family holds a fund raising event in his honor where they give back to the community. The Schmitke Memorial has donated to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Fight for Chris, Prayers for Paislee and Ty Roenspie. Divisions on the card this week include the Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks, Mini Trucks and 600 and 250 Micros. For further information, check out www.orlandraceway.org.
Olexewicz Two For Two In July
At Diamond Mountain Speedway
Susanville, CA...July 4 & 23...The month of July meant special 4th Of July and Lassen County Fair races at Diamond Mountain Speedway in Susanville, and both events were crowd pleasers. Past IMCA Modified champion Chris Olexiewicz won both of his division's events and was the only double winner in the three classes. The Fair Race on July 23rd saw Dan Dias win the Strictly Stock feature and Orland visitor Tom Davis come out ahead in the Mini Stock race. The July 4th race saw reigning champion Richard Longacre win the Strictly Stock Main Event while past champion Larry Whitebird was the Mini Stock winner.
Susanville's IMCA Modified division is quietly having a solid year so far after six races. There were 15 cars for the July 4th event and the July 23rd Fair Race offered up 13 competitors. In the Fair Race, it was a pair of past champions battling at the head of the pack as Chris Olexiewicz scored the win ahead of reigning champion Wade Kennemore. Larry McCracken held on for a season best third place finish ahead of Late Model veteran Bill Pearson and Chris Nieman. Quincy star Jeff Olschowka was sixth ahead of point leader Matt Murphy, Quincy point leader Chase Nieman past champion Jeff Chew and Mitch Murphy. The July 4th race was another win for Olexiesicz, and this time he was pursued closely by Pearson in what was his best finish at the track this year. Mitch Murphy out ran Chris Nieman for fourth as Neven Kennemore rounded out the Top 5. Past Quincy champion Erica Buhr finished sixth in front of Matt Murphy, Galen Hainline, Chase Nieman and Steve Bejeck. Olexiewicz is the only repeat winner in this division so far after six races.
The July 23 podium for the Strictly Stock division was also a season best effort for all three drivers. Dan Dias won his first Main Event of the season ahead of Chris Annas and James Huffman. Jason Emmott was fourth in the 11 car field ahead of Shayna Robertson, reigning champion Richard Longacre, Ian Upton, Fred Kresge, Nathan Howard and Larry Foster. July 4th turned out to be a big night for Longacre as he won his heat race and scored his second feature win of the season. After three third place finishes this season, Nathan Howard improved on that with a season best second in front of the season best third for Skeeter Bethel. Jim Erie was fourth in front of Mike Nichols, Emmot, Chico visitor Earl Adams, heat winner Annas and Kresge.
Orland Raceway competitor Tom Davis had a couple of nice visits to Susanville in July Mini Stock action. The Fair Race was the highlight for Davis as he battled local star Larry Whitebird for the victory. Wyatt Spaulding matched his best finish of the season in third as Joe Marlow and Billy Gibson completed the Top 5. Megan Wilson was sixth in front of reigning champion Kyle Belli, Trenton Longacre and Bob Feller. The July 4th race featured a solid 13 car count with Whitebird and division rival Belli winning heat races. Whitebird won for the second time this season with Davis in close pursuit. Feller held off Belli for the third place finish, and Marlow began a good month with his fifth place finish. Larry Foster, Gibson, Raymond Talavera, Gabrielle Lewis and Tyler Eckles made up the rest of the Top 10.
For more information on when these three divisions race again, go to the official website at https://lassencountyfair.org/interim-events/diamond-mountain-speedway/
