Editor’s Note: In a nod to our 91 years of history, each week SPEED SPORT will look back at the top stories from 15, 30 and 60 years ago as told in the pages of National Speed Sport News.
15 Years Ago — 2010
News: The IZOD IndyCar Series continued to expand its relationship with Mazda when the Japanese auto manufacturer became the title sponsor of the Road to Indy development ladder.
The announcement was made during the annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show at the Orange County Convention Center and featured IZOD IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard.
“I’ve been involved in a few very exciting press conferences in the last month and a half, but I’d like to say that, in my opinion, this be one of the most exciting,” Bernard said. “I think today is exciting not only for the IndyCar Series, it’s exciting for open-wheel racing.
“Having the stability of a major company that has a passion for growing the and building stars, it was a match made in heaven. We are very thrilled to see this happen today,” Bernard said.
The sponsorship covers the entire Road to developmental program, which includes U.S. F2000 National Championship Series, Star Mazda Championship Series and the Indy Lights Series.
“Mazda is pleased to partner with lndyCar to young talent,” said Robert Davis, vice president of Product Development for Mazda North American Operations. “While we are most recognized for cars, Mazda’s heritage in open-wheel racing dates back to 1984. Mazda has been a partner in the Star Mazda Championship since 1990, so this is a great fit for our company, our series partners as well as the drivers and teams.”
Mazda will contribute more than $2.5 million toward the developmental ladder as part of the multi-year agreement that runs through the 2013 season.
Winners: Doug Horton has 10,000 reasons to love NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Series racing after driving his Adams Used Auto Parts Warrior to victory in Saturday’s sixth annual NeSmith Chevrolet World Championship Race at East Bay Raceway Park.
Starting sixth, Horton rode in the fifth spot for the first two-thirds of the 100-lap event before making his move to the front and taking the lead on lap 72 to claim the $10,000 top prize. It was
a big payday for the driver using a $5,000 GM Performance 604 crate engine, a form of racing that the winner has a lot of respect for.
Tim McCreadie, who was the fast qualifier of the 44 entrants and earned the pole for Saturday’s main event, led 60 laps of the race in quest of his second-straight World Championship Race win, but came up one spot short and finished second in the Image Skin Care Rocket. Randy
Weaver came on strong at the end of the race and finished third in the Cardinal Paint and Body Warrior.
Dennis Franklin and Jeff Smith rounded out the top five.
Jonathan Davenport took the lead at the outset before slower traffic allowed McCreadie to catch and pass him for the lead on lap 12. From there, McCreadie withstood a number of
restarts, pulling away to as much as a six-second lead, while his competitors, including Horton, jockeyed for position behind him.
Using restarts to his advantage, Horton worked his way toward the front. overtaking Smith for second on a lap-69 restart. He then set his sights on McCreadie, driving by on the outside in turn four to take the lead on lap 72. From there, he withstood the race’s sixth and final restart with 19 laps to go to earn the victory.
30 Years Ago — 1995
News: Chrysler Corp. is going road racing in 1996. The company will support a North American road racing program bolstered by both American and Canadian based racing teams.
PacWest Racing, which fields a two-car Indy car team, will assist Chrysler in developing its 2-liter Dodge Stratus Super Touring Car, while Southwind Motorsport of Toronto, will campaign two factory-built Dodge Viper GTS-Rs in the North American GT class.
The Pac West effort will see Dominic Dobson as the lead driver of a two-car team in the North American Touring Car Championship.
“The affiliation with Dodge makes it that much better,” said PacWest Racing Managing Partner and CEO Bruce McCaw. “Chrysler’s commitment to advanced automotive technologies and their willingness to apply them to the Stratus Touring Car is very impressive. We’re looking forward to this important partnership with them.”
PacWest is scheduled to receive its first car in February and Dobson, a veteran of seven Indy 500 starts, will begin testing immediately.
The Canaska/Southwind team will compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and other IMSA events.
“Chrysler is thrilled to have Canaska/Southwind Motorsport go racing with us, as our first Viper GTS-R partner for North America,” said Louis P. Patane, executive director of brand marketing. “This relationship fits perfectly with Chrysler’s Motorsports philosophy: to develop racing vehicles from within our Platform Team system which challenge and inspire our engineers, and to provide these vehicles and our support to selected private teams.”
Winners: Greg Biffle strengthened his bid for a NASCAR touring series ride with his second straight NASCAR Winter Heat Series 150-lap feature victory Sunday at Tucson Raceway Park.
After winning the opener of the nationally televised six-event late model series opener 2 weeks ago, Biffle said he “had some feelers” about a five- or six-ride SuperTruck deal.
“One of the main reasons I came down is to get a ride,” said the 25-year-old chauffeur who won 28 of 43 late model events last season at Portland (Ore.) Speedway and TriCities Speedway in Washington State.
He has one Winston West ride in the Winter Heat finale here Jan. 21,1996, the Winston
West season opener. Biffle, however, wants a more permanent gig.
Tony Izzo, a regular at Tucson, finished second among a field of 28 in the 150-lapper.
Izzo ran third behind pacesetter Biffle and Chris Trickle through much of the race.
Trickle’s car caught fire briefly after it hit the wall in turn four on the 125th lap. He was not injured.
Izzo tried to run down Biffle,but was hampered by nine yellow flags that produced 50 caution laps.
On the undercard, John Sweeney won the 25-lap Grand American modified race.
60 Years Ago— 1965
News: William J. Hitz, who earlier this month took over as the first full-time Secretary-Treasurer in the 50-year history of the International Motor Contest Ass’n, is certainly no procrastinator.
Dedicated to the sport of speed, the exacting administrator got into the swing of things without delay.
Hitz brings to IMCA a diversified background, complete with successes in the business community and has already started to broaden the image of the organization.
One of the first moves by the new secretary was to announce the expansion of IMCA into the field of modified racing. Sanctions will be offered to at least 20 tracks in the Midwest and zone directors will be appointed.
Minor rules changes for sprint car, stock and compact car meets will be announced shortly Hitz said. The changes will enable local track operators to license car owners, drivers and mechanics to race under a standard set of rules on short tracks.
Hitz noted the local operators will benefit from IMCA contacts with the auto industry.
Under the new setup, winners at the local tracks will race in state championships, most likely during the fair. The organization has an immediate goal of 20 tracks in the Midwest and may eventually expand into other sections of the country.
Winners: Joe Conroy spent most of his first afternoon at the Community Arena in Steubenville, Ohio, spinning out as a result of various mechanical ailments.
His performance was such that one press box observer remarked, “If Joe would be going as fast straight ahead as he is in circles, he’d run away with these races.”
But that’s life, or racing if you prefer.
Conroy and Big Bear car owner Mike Garcia came back and got the last laugh. Conway left them all behind in a fine display of racing in the three-quarter-midget feature.
Conroy, with his car cured of any mechanical problems, went right to work, winning the third heat. He followed up with a victory in the 15-lap semi feature and then added the bit one.
The old pro of indoor auto racing, Tommy Gray, won a heat and Herb Reed took the other.
Roger Ramsey dogged Conroy all the way to finish second in the main event and newcomer Frank Palosa finished third.
