Press Release by Jim Pluhar
Santa Maria, CA 8-26-09

$1,500.00 to win and $100.00 to start the "A" main event is expected to draw a large number of Papich Construction IMCA Modifieds to Saturday night's Five Star Grafix Modified Clash at Santa Maria Speedway. MMI Factory Stocks and Toste Grading & Paving Mini Stocks are also on the race card.

Arroyo Grande's Chad Weber leads a two-way tie for second place in the Modified championship between Tony Toste, of Arroyo Grande, and Doug Thornton, of Santa Maria, by 42 points. Santa Maria drivers Danny Lauer and Daylan Coffey fill in the top-five with Lauer 55 points out of first and Coffey trailing by 72.

Dale Sylvester, of Arroyo Grande, continues at the top of the Factory Stock standings with a 39 point advantage over Michael Frazier of Santa Maria. The next three in the points are separated by 3 markers. Arroyo Grande's Kevin Linson is 42 out of the lead, Lompoc's Brandon Brickey, Sr. is 43 back, and Atascadero's Mike Leland is 44 points in arrears.

Tom Grzincic, of San Luis Obispo, is still well out in front of the Mini Stock division despite losing only his third race of the season August 15. Grzincic is 64 points in front of Jeremy Heroux of Nipomo. Heroux is the only driver in the same zipcode as the point leader. Third place Kurt Larsen and fourth place Dustin Ensign, both of Nipomo, trail by 127 and 153 points respectively. Arroyo Grande's Robby Cervantes is 178 points behind the leader in fifth.  

Spectator gates now open at 4:00 p.m. Hot laps will begin at 4:30 p.m. and racing at 6:00 p.m. Admission prices will be: $14.00 for adults, $12.00 for seniors & military and their spouses, $5.00 for kids 6 to 12, with children five and under free. Parking and camping is always free. Santa Maria Speedway is located 1/4-mile north of the 101/166 interchange on Hutton Road.