By Windy McDonald

Manzanita Speedway’s season that started nine months ago is now entering its "Special Events" season which starts Saturday night with "The Ultimate Challenge" which features Spanky Spangler and his Hollywood stunt show. Spangler is a Phoenix resident and is known worldwide for his daring stunts. Immediately following the stunt show, monster trucks Bounty Hunter and Iron Outlaw will be at Manzy for the first time ever.

The show will be supporting the 100 club and the Future is Now Foundation. The show starts at 7:00 and tickets are available at Manzanita’s office and can be ordered by phone at (602) 843-8587.

The Super Stock Touring Series will be running their final race of the year at Manzy on October 17th with Factory Stocks and Bombers running the support shows.

The next night marks the running of the Buddy Taylor Memorial with the ASCS running on the half mile track with Midgets, Southwest Modlites and Mini Sprints on the short track.

The track will be dark Friday night, October 4 but the Saturday night show has something for everyone as The Family Fireworks night sponsored by The Parker Store puts ASCS Sprints, Midgets, Dwarf Cars and Factory Stocks on the one third mile oval. The Parker Store has lined up a great fireworks display for the event. The race marks the end of the points season for all four divisions.

The bombers figure to be out in full force for the running of the Ecology Auto Parts 150 lap Enduro on November 1st. The winner of the long grind will pick up a check for $1000.

The Grand Daddy of them all will bring the nation’s top sprint car drivers to town for the 40th running of the NAPA Auto Parts/Budweiser/Parker Store Western World Championships. The ASCS sprint cars and a support class will run Thursday night November 6 and they will join the USAC National and USAC/CRA on Friday and Saturday nights, November 7-8.

JJ Yeley has confirmed his entry in the Western, one of the few major races he has failed to win. Southwest Late Models will stage their Western World Championships on November 14-15 and the Barnett Dirt Modified Nationals will join the late models both nights.

The last special event will close out the season with the running of the Dwarf Car and Mini Sprint Nationals November 21-22. When the final checkered flag falls, the gates will close and the Manzanita Staff will begin working on more improvements to the track and get ready for the 2009 season.