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          RACE RECAP JULY 28TH – MAYOR’S CUP RACING FOR A CURE

  5 Cities, 1 Cup, 1 Great Cause!

BY Sam Oshins

VICTORVILLE- Last Saturday night was no ordinary night at the best side-by-side wild ride in the High Desert. Not only was there great racing for an commendable cause but pride and bragging rights were on the line, as Mayors and Representatives from five of the local cities strapped in for the 2^ndannual Mayors Cup which was sponsored by Above All Pest Control and A Absolute Transport and the American Cancer Society Relay For Life.

 

The night was also special as Wheel2Wheel welcomed in Liz McGiffin and the entire Relay for Life organization, to help us race for the cure. Cancer effects everyone and that was well represented on the evening as Jefro Blalock mentioned in his well received opening words. Geoff Fritsch also helped bless all those affected by the disease with two prayers on the evening.

 

Stevie and Sean Rogers ran a memorial lap for their mom who died from cancer one year ago, we also recognized all the survivors in attendance by lining them up and giving them a survivors cap and commending them on a fight well done. The night was very illuminating and hopefully helped raise more awareness and maybe even brought some resolution.

 

Other festivities included a raffle in which all the proceeds went to Relay for life, as well as event T-shirts that also benefited the organization. The icing on top of the cake was that twenty percent of each admission went to relay for life, thanks to all of you who came out and supported. Event T-shirts will be available throughout the remainder of the race season.

 

Lets talk about the action on the track, for the second year in a row Mayors and Representatives from 5 of our local communities raced in support of cancer awareness and bragging rights for their city.

 

Only Barstow Mayor Julie Hackbarth- McIntrye returned from last year’s event and despite a valiant effort she came 5^th! New Apple Valley Mayor Art Bishop had the weight of last year’s victory by former Mayor Scott Nassif to deal with, and despite a solid second place finish it was not meant to be. Hesperia Councilman Jeremiah Brosowske who is the youngest city official in the entire region came home fourth.

Another rarity occurred at Wheel2Wheel on Saturday as somebody in the pits was a more colorful character the 500 Pro Class Driver Buck Blair, Adelanto Pro Tem Mayor John “Bug” Woodard claimed to be slightly insane before the race, Woodard ended up third despite his crazy run.

 

Victorville is not only home to Wheel2Wheel Raceway but now can claim that the Mayors Cup is theirs for this year, as City Manager Keith Metzler drove Tim Lucero’s 39 kart to victory.

 

As for the Wheel2Wheel classes, in the Intermediates Stevie Simpson claimed victory and cemented his rookie of the year bid. Braden Streuter began his impressive night by grabbing silver and tightening the point’s race to one. Jayden Manchester finished third and remains on the point leader with forty-eight points. Defending Champion Ricky Simpson finished fourth and is still within striking distance to defend his crown.

 

In the Junior Dirt Karts Cole and Lydia Browne finished first and Second and Point leader Cash Culp finished third. Culp holds a nine point lead over Lydia Browne and with the victory Cole Browne moves into third, ahead of Dax Rucker.

 

Braden Streuter concluded his career night with a victory in the restrictor plate class, point leader Justin Taylor claimed silver and 500 pro class veteran Buck Blair grabbed third. Marilyn Tippets went for a wild ride but walked away under her own power. Taylor has a ten-point lead over impressive rookie Trent Johnson and another rookie Stevie Rogers sits third.

 

Family is a huge part of Wheel2Wheel, the Streuter’s were a very happy family Saturday night because not only did Braden get a first and second, dad Brian returned to Wheel2Wheel after a hard flip with a brand new car and won the 500 Pro Class. John Aden and Bobby Taylor finished second and third and inched closer to point leader John Alonso. Alonso had some tough luck on the evening but retains a seven-point lead as he peruses his second track championship (2006).

 

The final race of the night was interesting to say the least, but after some issues got sorted out Dacey Blalock got the victory and now shares the point lead. Heidi Jo Erickson got second and sits third in the points, and the final step of the podium went to co-point leader Jefro Blalock, the Blalock’s each have forty-four points and sit nine above Heidi Jo.

 

Our next race will be August 11^th, gates open at 5 and racing starts at 6, admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids and children under 5 are free.

 

Don’t forget to check us out on social media!

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                    A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, ALL LITTLE BIT OF THAT! A GOOD MIX.

BY: Sam “Smash” Oshins: June 20^th, 2018

Saturday June 16^th, 2018 was a frigid early summer evening, but a little cold front and a breeze didn’t stop the drivers of the fastest eighth mile around from strapping in and going slide ways.

 

Not only was the weather a little off kilter but the race results were a mixed bag of former champions and rookies making statements.

 

The Junior Dirt Karts pinned veteran Cash Culp against five impressive rookies. On this night rookie Cole Browne would hold off the money machine of Culp, another rookie Lydia Browne claimed the final step of the podium.

 

As for their Standings Culp holds on to the points lead by seven over Lydia Browne, Cole Browne sits third heading into July. Lydia Browne currently sits in prime position to win Rookie Of The Year.

 

Ryan Bond a 2017 Rookie Of The Year held off current point leader Jefro Blalock to not only grab the checker on the evening in the Senior Dirt Karts. Bond also closed the point lead to one measly point. Dacey Blalock finished third and completed the trifecta of the top three in points grabbing the podium.

 

2017 Intermediate Champion Ricky Simpson inched one step closer to a title defense Saturday night by grabbing the win over younger brother Stevie. This is the second race in a row that the Simpson’s have pillaged the top two spots. Jayden Manchester has lead the points all season and finished third to keep that streak alive, Ricky Simpson and Manchester each have 28 points.

 

Veteran Justin Taylor continued his conquest of the Restrictor Plate class by holding off rookies Trent Johnson, Stevie Rogers and Braden Streuter. Taylor and Johnson each sit at 32 points atop the class, Rogers has 28 points and the class remains wide open.

 

2006 500 Pro Class Champion John Alonso put the class on notice Saturday night by grabbing the win. The win propelled Alonso into first place in the points with a six- point advantage over Bobby Taylor. Taylor finished second on the evening and veteran Buck Blair continued to excel in his return after early seasons struggles finishing third. Nate Robinson remains third in points despite having car trouble Saturday.

 

Wheel2Wheel Raceway will be back in action on Wednesday July 4^thfor our annual Firecracker Derby.

 

IMPORTANT: Gates will open one hour early at 4PM and racing starts at 5PM. Every one in attendance will have a great sit for the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds fireworks show, which will directly follow the conclusion of racing action.

 

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. You can also view videos from the past on our YouTube page.

 

Until Independence Day don’t miss a moment of the best side-by-side wild ride in the High Desert!

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   Race Recap June 2nd, 2018-  Fast Returns Shake Up The Points

BY: Sam ‘Smash’ Oshins

VICTORVILLE- On Saturday June 2nd Wheel2Wheel Raceway kicked off its summer swing and did not disappoint, the night was highlighted by some massive returns of championship favorites Buck Blair and Bill Martin.

The Intermediate class kicked things off with a sibling rivalry at the top two steps of the podium as Stevie Simpson picked up the win and defending champ Ricky Simpson continued his title defense. ‘The Bandit’ Brayden Miller-Bushey moved into fourth in the points with a third place finish. Class veterans Cash Culp and Braden Streuter rounded out the top five.

In the Junior Dirt Karts they continued to keep the points race tight as Lydia Brown grabbed the victory and closes Cash Culp’s point lead to five. Culp cashed in all his nickels and dimes and grabbed the silver step on the podium, newcomer Ashton Perfect closed out the podium. Championship contenders Dax ‘Big D’ Rucker and Cole Browne added on to their points finishing 4th and 5th respectively.

The Senior Dirt Karts saw the return of defending champ ‘Wild’ Bill Martin after a two race hiatus. Martin earned the victory and on a side note if Wheel2Wheel had a hall-of-fame Martin would definitely be in it. Jefro Blalock finished second and currently leads the class by two points over last years rookie of the year and this weeks second runner up Ryan Bond.

Restrictor plate class rookies continue to impress as Stevie Rogers finished third on the night and stands at third in the points behind class vet Justin Taylor and fellow rookie Trent Johnson. Johnson holds on to the points lead by one point after a fifth place finish, Taylor won the evening to continue his ascent to the top. One of the elder statesman of the class John Estes finished second holding off Rogers and Christian Lockmann.

Another return to the track was last years third place point finisher Buck Blair. Blair blew his motor in the season opener and on Saturday he put the 500 Pro class on notice by dominating the main event. Former class champions John Aden and John Alonso rounded out the podium and currently sit second and third in the points behind Nate Robinson. Robinson rounded out the top five finishing behind Blair, Aden, Alonso and Bobby Taylor.

Wheel2Wheel will be back in action Saturday June 16th at 6pm in an evening sponsored by AlarmCo.

Gates open at 5pm, but until then stay up to date with everything Wheel2Wheel by checking out our socials.

Until next time don’t miss a minute of the fastest side-by-side wild ride in the High Desert!

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Race Recap May 12th – Race Number Three Sets A New Record!

By: Sam ‘Smash’ Oshins

 

Saturday May 12th was a spectacular late spring evening for some fuel burning, mud slinging, madness.

 

Wheel2Wheel Raceway held it’s third race of the 2018 campaign with Vanilla Ice sound checking in the background.

 

A new track record was set as a whopping twenty intermediate drivers showed up to duke it out on the fastest eighth mile around.

 

So with twenty cars came some format changes instead of the normal two heats the drivers were split into three, also only two drivers advanced out of the dash and the last chance qualifier only advanced one to the main.

 

Keep in mind the drivers in this class can be as young as 4 years old, to say there was a lot of pressure would be an understatement, however for class veteran Braden Streuter pressure wasn’t an issue as he became the first repeat winner of the season. Class mainstay’s Sean Rogers and Jayden Manchester rounded out the podium with last years champion Ricky Simpson falling one spot short.

 

In the junior dirt karts Cash Culp cashed in to become the second repeat winner in 2018. Cole Browne finished second and Lydia Browne held off newcomer Hannah Sellers to finish third.

 

In the Senior dirt karts class favorite ‘Wild’ Bill Martin was absent so things were wide open and the Beeson Boys took advantage as Gary Beeson grabbed the top spot holding off championship hopefuls Jefro Blalock and Ryan Bond.

 

Speaking of Ryan Bond he ran double duty on the night also finishing a career high fourth place in the Restrictor plate class. Will Browne grabbed his first victory of the season holding off impressive rookies Trent Johnson and Stevie Rogers.

 

In the 500 Pro class Bobby Taylor in a new car claimed gold just weeks after totaling a car in the first lap of the season. Championship contenders John Aden, Nate Robinson and John Alonso finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

 

Wheel2Wheel also welcomed in some mini Dwarfs and they successfully spiced up the program.

 

After three races all the classes are looking very competitive. The intermediate class points are currently lead by Jayden Manchester with 20 points with Braden Streuter and Sean Rogers following closely behind with 15 and 16 points.

 

The Restrictor class is lead by rookie Trent Johnson with 21 points he is chased by another rookie in Stevie Rogers (16 pts) and one of the Championship favorites Justin Taylor (16 pts).

 

The JR karts standings are very close with Cash Culp at 23 points, Lydia Browne with 17 and Cole Browne and Dax Rucker tied for third at 15 points.

 

The SR karts are wild Jefro Blalock leads the class with 18 points but is only one point ahead of Ryan Bond, with the race victory Gary Beeson moves into a tie for third with Dacey Blalock.

 

In the pro class Nate Robinson holds the keys to the castle with 21 points followed by everyone’s favorite chimney sweep John Alonso with 18 points. Third place is a three horse race between veterans John Alonso and Bobby Taylor and 2017 Restrictor champ Daniel Smissen.

 

Wheel2Wheel Raceway will be back in action on Saturday June 2nd!

 

Don’t miss a minute of the best side-by-side, wild ride in the High Desert.

 

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THE LUCK OF THE IRISH & CASH MONEY: A PLETHERA OF FIRST TIME WINNERS

BY: Sam ‘Smash’ Oshins

 

It’s no secret that Wheel2Wheel Raceway is a family affair; on Saturday in the pleasant desert evening the entire drive behind Wheel2Wheel raceway became a reality again!

 

The luck of the Irish finally came to fruition for the Blalock’s as Jefro and his son Dacey each grabbed their first track victories. Dacey won the senior dirt kart main event holding off veterans Ryan Bond and Heidi Erickson.

 

Another interesting note, Dacey’s win is the first step in the field’s attempt to dethrone reigning champion ‘Wild’ Bill Martin.

 

As for the elder Blalocks’ victory, Jefro fulfilled a promise he made in a recent interview by defeating John Aden in the open kart class.

 

However the Blalock’s weren’t the only first time victories.

 

In the 500 class, First Place Motorsports owner and class veteran Nate Robinson finally broke through holding off ‘ The Flying Chimney Sweep’ John Alonso and Bobby Taylor.

 

After last races insane rollover it’s great to see Bobby Taylor jump right back into the action and get a top 3 finish.

 

Speaking of jumping back into action Bobby’s son Justin Taylor grabbed his second consecutive win in the restrictor plate class holding off impressive rookie’s Trent Johnson and Stevie Rogers.

 

The trend of first time winners continued in the junior dirt karts as Cole Browne grabbed his first top step after holding off Lydia Browne and Cash Culp.

 

Speaking of money Cash Culp was on the money in the intermediate class and took the top spot on the podium holding off Jayden Manchester and Sean Rogers.

 

Race number three on the season for Wheel2Wheel Raceway will be Saturday May 12^th, gates open at 5pm and racing start’s at 6pm.

 

In the meantime catch up with the updated points and driver profiles on Wheel2Wheelraceway.com

 

Until next time we cant wait to see you at the best side-by-side wild ride in the high desert!