Open Wheel Extravaganza

By Ken Keating

Strawberry Cup

This weekend Richlock Rentals sponsors the event with the fastest cars in the Pacific Northwest as the WilRoc Sprint Cars are primed and ready to compete for two very presitigious trophies presented at Western Speedway; the Billy Foster Memorial Trophy on Friday night and the Strawberry Cup on Saturday night. Billy Foster began racing at Victoria's Western Speedway in 1954. He drove his 1934 Ford Stock Car to 10th place in the final point standings. He also won his first Main Event on July 24th. In 1962, he switched to driving the more power Super Modified race cars and won the Gold Cup, the Daffodil Cup and was 1st in the season points tally. Billy turned his attentions to driving in the newly-formed Canadian American Modified Racing Association (C.A.M.R.A.) and competed throughout the Pacific Northwest in 1963. He won the Daffodil Cup race in Victoria and was crowned the C.A.M.R.A. champion at the end of the year. In 1964, he won the Strawberry Cup race and finished 2nd in C.A.M.R.A. points. Billy became the first Canadian to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1965 and was sixth fastest qualifier for the race. In the U.S.A.C. Stock Car Division, Billy was named the Rookie of the Year. Billy continued to make a name for himself in U.S.A.C. in 1966. He qualified again for the Indianapolis 500 race in 12th place. Billy lost his life in a Stock Car qualifying run at Riverside, California on January 20, 1967. he was inducted to the Victoria Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1984. Past winners include Ryan Floer, Darren Yates, and Scott Aumen with two wins each.

Sponsored by Geoff Vantreight, this trophy has been in existence since the 1960's. The Strawberry Cup is a huge trophy that weights seventy-five pounds and stands five feet three inches high. It is believed to be the biggest trophy ever produced in Idaho and was made by the Idaho Sporting Goods Company. It was made of walnut, metal tubing, gold plate, figures, and artificial strawberries. It was presented to the winner of the Canadian-American Modified Racing Association's competitions; the first winner was Billy Foster in 1964. Other notable winners include Trevor "The Tornado" Montgomery, Jason Beaulieu, Scott Aumen, and Jeff "The Hurricane" Montgomery. Last year Jeff Bird drove his Aggressive Excavating Ltd. #92 car to a convincing win in the Strawberry Cup race held here at  Western Speedway. Merv Barcelo and Darren Yates shared the front row for the start of fourty laps of racing and the action started early as Yates, Barcelo, and Jeff Bird went three wide going through turn one after just two laps. Yates and Bird touched and leaned on each other but both drivers got through with Bird taking over the lead. Over the next few laps Bird had built a pretty good lead and after a yellow flag, and on the restart, Aumen quickly moved into the second spot. On lap fifteen the yellow came out again as the throttle stuck on Aumen's #44 car putting him into the wall between turn one and two. Aumen was unhurt but his night was done. On the restart, Bird got away again with Yates now running second followed by Guy Barrett and Barcelo. About this time a very light rain began to fall but not enough to halt the race however on lap twenty-nine Chase Larson and Randy Vincent got together with both cars slamming into the wall on the backstretch. At this point the race was halted to check on the two drivers as well as what to do for the remaining laps. By the time the cars were pulled free, the rain had stopped and once the field could refire, the race would continue. Neither driver was hurt in the wreck but both had their run come to an end. On the restart, Bird got away clean again with Yates, Scott, Barcelo, and Tony Menard running the top five positions. During the red flag stoppage, Yates stated his car was a little loose and didn't think he could catch Bird and in fact no one had anything for Bird in this race as he took the checkered flag and a Strawberry Cup victory. Yates had a comfortable second place finish followed by Scott, Barcelo, and Larson taking the fifth spot on the last lap. Along with the stars currently in the WilRoc Series, this week end may also see Chris Schmelzle here. Chris has raced dirt sprints at Skagit, USAC, and with the NSRA many times as well. Along with Schmelzle, expect Sierra Jackson the young female star running with the NSRA, Jeff "the Hurricane" Montgomery, Darren Spiers, Merv Barcelo, and Ron Larson to be in the field when the Sprint Cars take the green flag Friday and Saturday night. Last Friday night, racing at Meridian Speedway in a two day Diamond Cup event, Jackson from the 21^st starting position raced to finish in second place. She backed it up with another outstanding showing winning night two's main event from her front row starting spot. As Jackson came ripping out of turn four to take the checkered flag her home crowd went ballistic for the young lady. She was followed to the line by Mike Murgoitio and Jeff Montgomery.

Also appearing this week end is the WilRoc Lites and the very competitive Old Time Racing Association Series with their brand of open wheel excitement. Both Series raced here on May 21st. This program was the Annual Hall of Fame Night with several Hall of Fame members introduced prior to the start of the Feature race with the O.T.R.A. Series competing for the Jim and Lorraine Memorial Trophy. The Hall of Fame was open and several fans took the opportunity to view the profiles and memorabilia of all the great racers that fill the Hall. James Miller and Kail Beck shared the front row for the start of thirty laps of racing in the Feature event for O.T.R.A. with George "The Jet" Jenson taking the lead after the second lap. Over the next few laps several cars jockeyed for position with James Campbell taking over the second spot followed quickly by Tom Cinnamon after seven laps. Jenson opened up a pretty good lead but Campbell reeled him in by lap fourteen and began a relentless pursuit of the leader. Behind him Cinnamon and Larry Joyce made their way up and into contention after Campbell put a light bump on Jenson momentarily slowing both drivers. Campbell and Jenson drove side by side for several laps until lapped traffic became a factor with Campbell dropping all the way back to fourth and Joyce taking his turn running door handle to door handle with Jenson still leading. Joyce actually won a drag race and led lap twenty-seven by a very slim margin over Jenson as he tried high and then low to gain the edge needed for a victory. At the chequered flag it was George "The Jet" Jenson taking the win followed by Joyce, Cinnamon, Campbell, and Roger Beck rounding out the top five in a great race start to finish. A very emotional Jenson accepted the Jim and Lorraine Memorial Trophy presented by Hall of Famer, Roy Haslam, his sons Mike and Robbie, and the newest of the Haslam family Courtenay and Peyton, Robbie and Mike's daughters respectively.  

Fourteen high powered wingless Sprint Cars lined up for thirty laps of racing led by Wayde Heckford and Eli Ross as the WilRoc Lites came around to see the green flag for their first Feature event of the year. Heckford got the quick jump as did Steven Dardengo moving into second before lap one was complete. Behind them Darryl Morneau, Robbie Haslam, and Jesse Dardengo were in a tight battle for the next positions. On lap seven Dardengo grabbed the lead followed by Heckford and Haslam just before the yellow came out for a spinning Chris Root on turn four. Frank Mayell also needed a push to the pits on this same yellow as his came came to a stop on the frontstretch. On the restart, Dardengo again grabbed the lead followed by Heckford and Haslam. On lap eleven Haslam took over running second with Deter Lejeune taking the third spot and Guy Barrett, driving the #5 car, moving into fourth. Over the next several laps Lejeune and Haslam ran side by side and bumper to bumper with lap cars also a factor. At the chequered flag it was Jesse Dardengo with the win followed by Haslam, Lejeune, Barrett, and Chris Root rounding out the top five positions.

 

Past Winners: 

BILLY FOSTER MEMORIAL TROPHY:

2004 / 2005 - Darren Yates #91, 2006 Scott Aumen #44, 2007 Ryan Floer #92
2008 Scott Aumen #44, 2009 Guy Barrett #42, 2010 Matt Mansell #14 

STRAWBERRY CUP TROPHY:

2002 - Trevor Montgomery #17,  2003 - Randy Vincent #2,  2004 - Jeff Bird #55

2005 - Jason Beaulieu #90,  2006 - Scott Aumen #44,  2007 - Scott Aumen #44

2008 - Jeff Montgomery #33, 2009 - Matt Mansell #14, 2010 - Jeff Bird #55