Photo By Gaye Allen

When the racing community took a blow earlier in the year with the closing of Manzanita Speedway, Many became skeptical as to how certain Venues would accommodate Sprint Car Racing. Bugs Norbury  took that as a call to action!

 With every resource  available to the Norbury Family, Recruiting both Mom and Dad, He came up with the idea to put on a show in Prescott Valley that would attract Sprint car racers from all over the state to do battle in the back yard of  the Yavapai County Fairgrounds. His plan was met with success. Later with two more Open Comp Shows on the schedule for Prescott Valley Raceway in 2009, the idea came up to try to promote them and turn them into well attended Races where Sprint Cars would come and compete for a better purse. Well, with two successful shows on the books, despite setbacks including Paul Norbury Sr. going to the Hospital due to a heart attack, Prescott Valley Raceway rolled out another successful Open Comp Sprint Car show Last Saturday Night.

  The Open Comp Show at Prescott seems to be gaining momentum among Prescott area fans. When the announcer asked how many were there to see the sprint cars, there was a resounding cheer that went through the crowd showing support.

  The weather was once again perfect, and the Sprint Car Main Event was over by 9:15. The track was “as good as any” commented Dan Reagles owner of the 44 car driven by Jeremy Sherman. Rick Stewart Of Stewart Fabrication and owner of the 61 car driven by Jeff Slinkard commented also on how well the track was prepared. Stewart also expressed interest in more shows scheduled for next year. The tow trucks and push trucks worked on it during the break to make sure the track would have plenty of action for the Main Event.

  There was good support for the Sprints with 3 heat races. Those that wandered the pits after the show had plenty of accolades. Fans and teams commented on how much they loved to come to Prescott Valley.  The Saturday night program consisted of 5 divisions in all and the entire show was finished around 10:30. 

 Eighteen cars started the Main Event and before the field could complete the first lap, Cliff Lee ran in to trouble ending in a spectacular flip directly in front of the on-looking crowd. A few laps later a mishap would bring out the yellow sending Jeremy Sherman to the pits with a flat tire and bent battle bar. The rest of the Main Event went smoothly with good wheel to wheel combat among the leaders.

   Congratulations goes to RJ Johnson on another win.  Josh Pelkey took the Second place honors only hours after finding out there was an empty seat in the Marcum owned 85 car. Nathan High picked up the third place award after struggling with an uncooperative sprint car protesting contaminated fuel.

The heat races also entertained the fans with close action. The second heat was the local Challenge Cup contenders battling it out for a top position in the Main event. Heat Race wins went to High, Mankel, and Slinkard. The Fifty Dollar Top Dog award went to Tim Beal in the #6 Beal’s Autobody Car.

  Special thanks also goes to Scott and Lewella Sutton for their help at the back gate and for tech. Also Cottonwood Auto Supply (NAPA), ABC Body Shop, Rex Calderwood of MP Environmental Services, and Bugs Norbury who contributed to the purse. Bobby and Debbie Marcum of Mountain Valley Performance supplied the trophies for the top three.

 Posted below is the final results for the Main Event:

1     77m  RJ Johnson
2     85    Josh Pelkey
3     12    Nathan High
4     61    Jeff Slinkard
5     85x   Bobby Marcum
6     6      Brian Swinehart

7     91    Larry Gibson
8     74    Derek Williams
9     8     Tim Beal
10   76A  Art Mankel
11   93    Justin Quinn
12   3     Denny McVae
13   7     Cris Beal
14   54    Dan
15   44    Jeremy Sherman   DNF
16   44x   Mike Walker
17   32    Cliff Lee  DNF
18   5x    Jody Wirth  DNF

Photo By Gaye Allen

The first heat was loaded with many of the top 360's that compete with ASCS and ASCA. With Marcum on the pole, they are ready to take the green.

Photo By Gaye Allen

Challenge Cup Cars in the second heat put on a show for the crowd. The Challenge Cup Division is a great way to get started in sprint car racing. Our hats off to the Challenge Cup entries that support Open Comp Night.

 

Photo By Gaye Allen

The third heat lineup with Slinkard and Williams on the front row

Photo By Gaye Allen

Who says the Challenge Cup Guys can't represent? Art Mankel Skillfully makes his way on the outside of Justin Quinn.

Photo By Gaye Allen

Jeff Slinkard and Bobby Marcum nose to tail coming in to turn 1

Photo By Gaye Allen

Art Mankel triumphed over some stiff competition in the second heat

Photo By Gaye Allen

Cliff Lee argued with the front straight wall at the start of the Main Event

Photo By Gaye Allen

Pelkey and High duke it out between turns 1 and 2 in the Main Event

Photo By Gaye Allen

RJ Johnson had to battle his way to the front for the Main Event.

Photo By Gaye Allen

Here are two of the Beal's Autobody entries. Tim Beal works hard to field these beautiful cars in support of both the Challenge Cup Divisions, and the 360's

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