Mike Griffith: Speedway suspends drivers for 'incident'
| Thursday, Aug 21 2008 01:59 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 06:06 PM
There's nothing like a little extracurricular activity to stir the emotions at a racetrack, and that was the case Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway when Brad Pounds and Lonnie Welch went fender-to-fender after the finish of a Super Street feature race.
It ended with Pounds driving Welch's car into the front straight wall just beneath the starter's stand, quickly leaping out of his car and rushing toward Welch where track officials stopped him.
The crowd, which had been somewhat sedate despite a good race, was suddenly energized. Many fans streamed toward the catch fence to jeer or or cheer (depending on which side they were taking) and a buzz of electricity circulated through the stands.
In today's politically correct form of racing such actions are rarely seen, even at the Oildale track which was once famous (or infamous) for competitors battling in and out of their cars.
As exciting as it may have been for the fans, track owner and promoter Scott Schweitzer wants none of it, especially when he feels the shenanigans endangered track officials, which he said was the case Saturday night.
Thus, in keeping with a standard set earlier this season when American Stock drivers Rick Childress Jr. and Robert Swearengin were suspended for the entire season for separate incidents, Pounds and Welch have run their last race at Bakersfield in 2008.
"We have two more people that will be taking a vacation for the rest of the year," Schweitzer said. "That (unruliness by participants) does sell tickets but I'm going to let them know they can't get away with that crap.
"A racing deal is a racing deal and we deal with that every week. But when they start beating each other, turning one another around and jeopardize other people when the race is over that's it. Tempers do flare but there were innocent people on the track. I understand the emotions in the heat of the moment, but the bottom line is I have to protect the (track) workers."
Schweitzer said the ban extends beyond the regular season and includes all special events after the point season ends.
That hits Pounds, who has a had a rough two weeks, especially hard. Pounds had lead the IMCA Modified point race all season until he weighed in 15 pounds light after a race on Aug. 9 and was disqualified. That left him 18 points behind Gary Dutton, who can now practically waltz toward his second straight title. Pounds also has a Late Model, which he will not be able to race in the three remaining Late Model races.
Schweitzer said the message he's sending is a simple one: "If you screw around and do stuff like that you're going to be parked. Brad's a great driver. It's a shame it came down to this after a great race."
QUICK SHIFTS
* IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and Mini Dwarfs will be in action Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway. Racing starts at 6 p.m. and all fans will receive a coupon for a free ice cream.
* Jason Bowles of Ontario raced to a NASCAR Camping World West victory last Saturday night at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, moving to within nine points of Eric Holmes in the battle for the series championship. Two races remain to decide the championship. Bakersfield drivers David Mayhew, Eric Richardson and Terry Henry finished finished fifth, 12th and 13th, respectively.
* Garrett Wright of Bakersfield won the Senior Sportsman Division at the IKF 2-Cycle Sprint Grand Nationals held in Santa Maria July 30-Aug. 3.
* Buddy Shepherd finished second in Junior Sprint race Saturday night at Plaza Raceway Park in Visalia and holds a narrow point lead with three races remaining.
