copy and paste the link to see heat 2 and 3 our b main and the a sorry for the quality if you dont like it dont watch.
Here it is hot off the press! Spectacular Season Opener
Season Opening races are a bit like Christmas. You remember as a kid how you'd try to stay awake all night,filled with anticpation of all the cool gifts you MIGHT receive. Or how you had waited all year for it to come again! Well...it came ! On March 8th, the boys trailered out to our new HOME TRACK at the Perris Auto Speedway. It was a beautiful,almost spring-like day, and 28 mini-sprints showed up at the PAS, the home to the BIG BOYS with the Big Toys, to show off their new cars, display their now-infamous brand of mayhem, and put on another show for it's growing fan base. Running on the same bill as the full-size sprints,yet almost as a side-show, they opened up a huge "can of whoop-ass" on the crowd that was well received by everyone in attendance. By the end of their Main Event, the fans were cheering and yelling like no other race that I had ever heard of. By the end of this tale ..you'll know why ! Now...where to begin . After the usual 1st.race of the season Tech Session, they started the heat races, and it got better from that point on. Heat race #1 had David Bezio #2, lead Wink Schweitzer #41,Dan Hillburg #72, Paul Krueger #8r & Guy Maresch #50 to the automatic transfer positions into the A-Main, leaving Chris Dickey #11,Josh Rogers #05r,Tim (the Thrilla) Brown #22 & Mike Smith #26 to race thru the B-Main. Heat #2 had Brent Sexton #44 lead Stuart Hielscher #6,Seth Kramer #12,Jarrett (J-Man) Kramer #14 & Derek Hyde #7 to transfer spots, with Dale Gamer #17,Bill Johnson #99,Cody Brese #47r and Cody Anderlini #15c left to fight it out thru the B-Main for the transfer. In heat #3, Shane (The Brain) Rosson #1, last year's Champion,fought it out with Stuey Hielscher #9,Mike Valentine #78, Cameron Beard #0z & John Bluntach #18r for the transfers, leaving Jason Bennett #4,Jim Squire #54,AJ Bender #21r & Mike Kotlinski #88 to battle thru the B-Main to qualify for the BIG SHOW. These heat races were run on a very wet track, so the battling was exceptional, and hitting the set-up was primary to getting the transfer.The boys ran hard with every lap,used up their tear-offs' at a crazed pace and some hit the set-up...and some didn't. With the automatic qualifying positions now filled, it was on to the B-Main. With only 10 minutes time being allotted between the heat races & the B-main, it was pandemonium in the pits,as the crews were struggling to get the adjustments and fuel to the cars,and more tear-offs for their helmets. Tim (The Thrilla) Brown #22 led his pack around the track to take the checkered flag going away in the B-Main. Jason Bennett #4,Jim Squire #54,Dale Gamer #17 & Mike Smith #26 raced themselves into the transfer positions, with AJ Bender #21r getting the Alternate Qualifier spot with his 6th. place finish, which ultimately allowed him to get into the A-Main too. Bill Johnson #99, Cody Brese #47r,Chris Dickey #11,Cody Anderlini #15c,Mike Kotlinski #88 and Josh Rogers #05r failed to qualify for the BIG SHOW due to technical & mechanical difficulties.Put Em on the trailers, boys ! This set the starting grid for the BIG SHOW ! I'd like to take some time now to welcome all the new Rookies, welcome back some old racers, and thank our traveling racers for coming out to race with the CLS. Cody Anderlini #15c,who graduated early from his high school to race this season,traveled 26 straight hours (rotating drivers) from Langley, British Columbia to attend this opener with us. Cody had been a participant in last year's Best-of-the-West series,with races in Deming, Washington,Marysville, California and Laughlin, Nevada, so he has had a taste of the CLS racing mayhem and came back for more. Though Cody said he had a great time at the PAS,and it is probably the nicest track that he has ever raced at,he had to fight through some tough mechanical issues and was unable to get through the qualifiers. Leading the 2nd. heat til the white flag,was his highlight, til his chain issues arose and he had to retire. Special thanks to Bill Planko,Doug Grafstrom,J.J. Bampton & Paul Tourand for making his trip possible. Cody will be back soon...with his new car, to give us all a run for the money! Thanks for coming Cody..I'll be talking to you soon ! Cameron Beard #0z also made a long trip out, traveling down from Northern California to race with the club, but we'll be talking about him more,later in the story! Now...On to our Big Show...or Show Down ! With total excitement in the chilled air, the Lightning Sprints rolled out onto the track, before 1500 race fans,and circled the oval. The sweet smell of racing alcohol & high octane fuel wafted thru the grandstands,along with the whinning, high-pitched wail of the motors, letting everyone know that "something wicked this way comes". The flag had dropped...and all hell broke loose as they charged towards the 1st. turn. A couple of rows back, Jarrett (J-Man) Kramer #14 had started to check up behind Stuey Hielscher #9, but not soon enough, and he launched over the right rear of the # 9 car.Similar to being sent off a ramp, his car rocketed towards the wall, slammed hard, rebounded to the track on it's lid , then rolled.He landed with a full twisting gainer...up-right... After his Uncle Bob and father Billy checked out the car,yanked on the wing (a hopeless case) and J-Man started it up, he was back...all the way back to the rear of the pack for the re-start! It is just like the J-Man to shake it off...and carry on! They circled again, charged the starting line and actually got in a couple of laps, with David Bezio #2 , Stuey Hielscher #9 and Shane Rosson #1 going into turn #1 close together.David went low, checked up because of lapped traffic and got tangled up.While David was spinning towards the bottom,Stuey clipped his rear end and spun it on the top. Shane Rosson, coming hard, now checked up and started a long,slow spin also. Yellow came out and all three cars,1st,2nd. & 3rd.were sent to the back for the restart. Brent Sexton #44 got the jump and never looked back. Bezio and Rosson attempted a hard charge forward, but Shane jumped a lapped cars left front tire and broke . Both David and Shane had charged all the way back to about 6th or 7th. J-Man had charged back to a top 10 position by now,all the while fighting a bent front axle with severe toe-in conditions,and a horribly torn up lid. And now we had Cameron Beard #0z, who had originally started at mid-pack, chasing down Brent.He had his/Dr. Brad's EMC/Suzuki 1000 (alky) flying, cleanly running whatever line he deemed necessary to keep going forward. Cameron drove a great race to capture a second place finish for the night, thanks to a little help from the "spinners",and was grateful to Dr. Brad,his family,Kenny Good and Zach (son). Stuart Hielscher #6 came through the pack to get his 1st podium finish of the year,after his success with the new car at Laughlin. Driving his Performance by Rosson Racing, HenchCraft Racing Products,The Graphics Co.,Custom Dirt Work,Morris & Son trucking, Wilbec Powder Coatings sponsored HenchCraft to 3rd.place, he wanted to thank his family for the good times and all the help. Seeing Stuart running up front has been very cool, as he has made huge sacrifices to his racing career,so that he can get his son's car (#9) going strong.Now they both have potential championship cars that are capable of making a run for the trophy. Brent Sexton captured his fourth season opener win in a row.Once getting to the front,courtesy of David,Stuey & Shane, he had to hold off Cameron and Stuart.He stated that "after looking up at the tote board and seeing that he was 1st., he never looked back. Driving his Sunset Glazing,Greg & Angie Dawson,NGK Spark Plugs,Scott & Jimmy Keyes,Performance by Rosson Racing,Antonelli's Deli,Hard-Core Metal Polishing,Sexton Fire Protection HenchCraft to the victory, he wanted to extend special thanks to his wife, Holly ,son's Dalton and Grant,and father Gary for allowing him and helping him to chase the dream! He also dedicated this race to his recently passed grand mother. Everyone I talked to couldn't stop speaking about how great the crowd was at this race.I've even gotten E-mails from new fans of the CLS racing club..at least they are fans NOW! What a great show the boys put on for the fans at Perris. I've even had quite a few people tell me that the CLS boys stole the show! There is way to much to report about at this race.I'd initially wanted to give even more details, include more names, tell more of the story...but I don't want to give it all away so soon. You really need to get out to see the boys do it in person. With the new helmet radios being used at this race , and the feedback being VERY positive, with a change of race director, a lot of new cars & drivers, and a new beginning , the future looks really great for the CLS this year. Maybe you should be a part of it too! Next race is a two day event at Imperial Raceway in El Centro, Ca. The fans love the Boys there too! After this season opener at Perris, I'm figuring that there will be quite a few guys that will be wanting to redeem themselves at El Centro. Brother Bill..."momma said there would be days like that" ! Special message to ZoomGirl...welcome aboard ! The fun starts on Saturday and carries over to Sunday. Better Check this one out... That's my story...and I'm sticking to it! Charlie Johnson Team #99 Lug-Nut-Twister & Teller-of-Tall-Tales
copy and paste the link to see heat 2 and 3 our b main and the a sorry for the quality if you dont like it dont watch.
Spectacular Season Opener
Season Opening races are a bit like Christmas.
You remember as a kid how you'd try to stay awake all night,filled with anticpation of all the cool gifts you MIGHT receive. Or how you had waited all year for it to come again!
Well...it came !
On March 8th, the boys trailered out to our new HOME TRACK at the Perris Auto Speedway.
It was a beautiful,almost spring-like day, and 28 mini-sprints showed up at the PAS, the home to the BIG BOYS with the Big Toys, to show off their new cars, display their now-infamous brand of mayhem, and put on another show for it's growing fan base.
Running on the same bill as the full-size sprints,yet almost as a side-show, they opened up a huge "can of whoop-ass" on the crowd that was well received by everyone in attendance.
By the end of their Main Event, the fans were cheering and yelling like no other race that I had ever heard of.
By the end of this tale ..you'll know why !
Now...where to begin .
After the usual 1st.race of the season Tech Session, they started the heat races, and it got better from that point on.
Heat race #1 had David Bezio #2, lead Wink Schweitzer #41,Dan Hillburg #72, Paul Krueger #8r & Guy Maresch #50 to the automatic transfer positions into the A-Main, leaving Chris Dickey #11,Josh Rogers #05r,Tim (the Thrilla) Brown #22 & Mike Smith #26 to race thru the B-Main.
Heat #2 had Brent Sexton #44 lead Stuart Hielscher #6,Seth Kramer #12,Jarrett (J-Man) Kramer #14 & Derek Hyde #7 to transfer spots, with Dale Gamer #17,Bill Johnson #99,Cody Brese #47r and Cody Anderlini #15c left to fight it out thru the B-Main for the transfer.
In heat #3, Shane (The Brain) Rosson #1, last year's Champion,fought it out with Stuey Hielscher #9,Mike Valentine #78, Cameron Beard #0z & John Bluntach #18r for the transfers, leaving Jason Bennett #4,Jim Squire #54,AJ Bender #21r & Mike Kotlinski #88 to battle thru the B-Main to qualify for the BIG SHOW.
These heat races were run on a very wet track, so the battling was exceptional, and hitting the set-up was primary to getting the transfer.The boys ran hard with every lap,used up their tear-offs' at a crazed pace and some hit the set-up...and some didn't.
With the automatic qualifying positions now filled, it was on to the B-Main.
With only 10 minutes time being allotted between the heat races & the B-main, it was pandemonium in the pits,as the crews were struggling to get the adjustments and fuel to the cars,and more tear-offs for their helmets.
Tim (The Thrilla) Brown #22 led his pack around the track to take the checkered flag going away in the B-Main.
Jason Bennett #4,Jim Squire #54,Dale Gamer #17 & Mike Smith #26 raced themselves into the transfer positions, with AJ Bender #21r getting the Alternate Qualifier spot with his 6th. place finish, which ultimately allowed him to get into the A-Main too.
Bill Johnson #99, Cody Brese #47r,Chris Dickey #11,Cody Anderlini #15c,Mike Kotlinski #88 and Josh Rogers #05r failed to qualify for the BIG SHOW due to technical & mechanical difficulties.Put Em on the trailers, boys !
This set the starting grid for the BIG SHOW !
I'd like to take some time now to welcome all the new Rookies, welcome back some old racers, and thank our traveling racers for coming out to race with the CLS.
Cody Anderlini #15c,who graduated early from his high school to race this season,traveled 26 straight hours (rotating drivers) from Langley, British Columbia to attend this opener with us.
Cody had been a participant in last year's Best-of-the-West series,with races in Deming, Washington,Marysville, California and Laughlin, Nevada, so he has had a taste of the CLS racing mayhem and came back for more.
Though Cody said he had a great time at the PAS,and it is probably the nicest track that he has ever raced at,he had to fight through some tough mechanical issues and was unable to get through the qualifiers.
Leading the 2nd. heat til the white flag,was his highlight, til his chain issues arose and he had to retire.
Special thanks to Bill Planko,Doug Grafstrom,J.J.
Bampton & Paul Tourand for making his trip possible.
Cody will be back soon...with his new car, to give us all a run for the money!
Thanks for coming Cody..I'll be talking to you soon !
Cameron Beard #0z also made a long trip out, traveling down from Northern California to race with the club, but we'll be talking about him more,later in the story!
Now...On to our Big Show...or Show Down !
With total excitement in the chilled air, the Lightning Sprints rolled out onto the track, before 1500 race fans,and circled the oval.
The sweet smell of racing alcohol & high octane fuel wafted thru the grandstands,along with the whinning, high-pitched wail of the motors, letting everyone know that "something wicked this way comes".
The flag had dropped...and all hell broke loose as they charged towards the 1st. turn.
A couple of rows back, Jarrett (J-Man) Kramer #14 had started to check up behind Stuey Hielscher #9, but not soon enough, and he launched over the right rear of the # 9 car.Similar to being sent off a ramp, his car rocketed towards the wall, slammed hard, rebounded to the track on it's lid , then rolled.He landed with a full twisting gainer...up-right...
After his Uncle Bob and father Billy checked out the car,yanked on the wing (a hopeless case) and J-Man started it up, he was back...all the way back to the rear of the pack for the re-start!
It is just like the J-Man to shake it off...and carry on!
They circled again, charged the starting line and actually got in a couple of laps, with David Bezio #2 , Stuey Hielscher #9 and Shane Rosson #1 going into turn #1 close together.David went low, checked up because of lapped traffic and got tangled up.While David was spinning towards the bottom,Stuey clipped his rear end and spun it on the top.
Shane Rosson, coming hard, now checked up and started a long,slow spin also.
Yellow came out and all three cars,1st,2nd. & 3rd.were sent to the back for the restart.
Brent Sexton #44 got the jump and never looked back.
Bezio and Rosson attempted a hard charge forward, but Shane jumped a lapped cars left front tire and broke .
Both David and Shane had charged all the way back to about 6th or 7th.
J-Man had charged back to a top 10 position by now,all the while fighting a bent front axle with severe toe-in conditions,and a horribly torn up lid.
And now we had Cameron Beard #0z, who had originally started at mid-pack, chasing down Brent.He had his/Dr.
Brad's EMC/Suzuki 1000 (alky) flying, cleanly running whatever line he deemed necessary to keep going forward.
Cameron drove a great race to capture a second place finish for the night, thanks to a little help from the "spinners",and was grateful to Dr. Brad,his family,Kenny Good and Zach (son).
Stuart Hielscher #6 came through the pack to get his 1st podium finish of the year,after his success with the new car at Laughlin.
Driving his Performance by Rosson Racing, HenchCraft Racing Products,The Graphics Co.,Custom Dirt Work,Morris & Son trucking, Wilbec Powder Coatings sponsored HenchCraft to 3rd.place, he wanted to thank his family for the good times and all the help.
Seeing Stuart running up front has been very cool, as he has made huge sacrifices to his racing career,so that he can get his son's car (#9) going strong.Now they both have potential championship cars that are capable of making a run for the trophy.
Brent Sexton captured his fourth season opener win in a row.Once getting to the front,courtesy of David,Stuey & Shane, he had to hold off Cameron and Stuart.He stated that "after looking up at the tote board and seeing that he was 1st., he never looked
back.
Driving his Sunset Glazing,Greg & Angie Dawson,NGK Spark Plugs,Scott & Jimmy Keyes,Performance by Rosson Racing,Antonelli's Deli,Hard-Core Metal Polishing,Sexton Fire Protection HenchCraft to the victory, he wanted to extend special thanks to his wife, Holly ,son's Dalton and Grant,and father Gary for allowing him and helping him to chase the dream!
He also dedicated this race to his recently passed grand mother.
Everyone I talked to couldn't stop speaking about how great the crowd was at this race.I've even gotten E-mails from new fans of the CLS racing club..at least they are fans NOW!
What a great show the boys put on for the fans at Perris.
I've even had quite a few people tell me that the CLS boys stole the show!
There is way to much to report about at this race.I'd initially wanted to give even more details, include more names, tell more of the story...but I don't want to give it all away so soon.
You really need to get out to see the boys do it in person.
With the new helmet radios being used at this race , and the feedback being VERY positive, with a change of race director, a lot of new cars & drivers, and a new beginning , the future looks really great for the CLS this year.
Maybe you should be a part of it too!
Next race is a two day event at Imperial Raceway in El Centro, Ca. The fans love the Boys there too!
After this season opener at Perris, I'm figuring that there will be quite a few guys that will be wanting to redeem themselves at El Centro.
Brother Bill..."momma said there would be days like that" !
Special message to ZoomGirl...welcome aboard !
The fun starts on Saturday and carries over to Sunday.
Better Check this one out...
That's my story...and I'm sticking to it!
Charlie Johnson Team #99
Lug-Nut-Twister & Teller-of-Tall-Tales