S&S Motorsports picks up a hard fought win

SALT LAKE CITY - It was a long race weekend for S&S Motorsports of Carson City and a dozen other supermodified race teams from the West Coast.

After winning the 50-lap supermodified race at Altamont Raceway Park in Tracy, Calif., Saturday, the teams made the tow of more than 700 miles to Salt Lake City Sunday for another 50-lap feature race at Rocky Mountain Raceways.

The trip was mired with numerous stops for an ailing tow vehicle. With no relief in sight, Steve Shaw and Tom Silsby, owners of the No. 98 racecar, cashed in a couple of favors from fellow racers. With the help of Danny, Kathy and Amy Barnes, Eric Silsby of Minden, and the crew of racer Jeff Russell from Boise, Idaho, the baby blue "dust bunny" found its way to Salt Lake City.

At the track, driver of the No. 98, Troy Regier, of Dinuba, Calif., began a battle of trying to get a good setup on the car, going from a tight to loose condition. The team figured the complication was coming from a new right rear tire, one of a different compound than it had raced on before.

Regier managed to take fast time in qualifying, with Barnes coming in second-fast. Regier also won his heat race with Rick Veenstra finishing second and a sprint driver from the local track taking third.

Jeff Russell won the second heat with Barnes finishing second and Whitey Janssen of Dayton third.

In the main event Regier started 10th. Veenstra, who had a strong car all night long took the early lead in the race with Russell running second. The race was an exciting one, going green flag from start to finish. But that made it difficult for the drivers to adjust their racecars during the race.

"The track was bad, the car was bad ... I just couldn't get it to work," said Regier. "With no yellows I couldn't make the adjustments I needed to.

"I didn't think I could ever win this race. But I went to the high side and passed both Jeff and Rick. I think I finally got the lead on lap 41. It was a great race. Great for the fans, too."

"Everybody was fighting with this new tire," Shaw said of the new compound. "It made it tough to get a good setup.

"It was a big team effort and we finally got it done. Troy was searching the track to see where the car would work well.

"We owe a big thanks to Danny Barnes, Kathy (Barnes), Amy (Barnes), Eric Silsby, and Jeff Russell and his crew for helping us get to the race. We had our difficulties to say the least. But the group worked hard, very hard, to give Troy a good car.

"And we got it done, with Troy's help. It was a good win for us."

Regier recorded his 65th feature win Monday. Rounding out the field were: Veenstra, Russell, Jim Birges, Kirk Wartman (driving for Courtney Lewis and Mike Burts of Reno), Barnes, Janssen, Ernie Coppo, Rick Cameron, Pat Whittet and A.J. Russell (driving the No. 10 owned by Birges).

The next ASA/WSSRL race is Sept. 23 at Madera Speedway in Madera, Calif. For information, visit www.wssrl.com.