The Hardtops Are Coming To Orland Raceway

Orland, CA...Throughout the 1950s and into the 1970s, Hardtop racing was featured at race tracks throughout California. The last track standing in the Hardtop movement was Vallejo Speedway, and it's division finally ended in 1979. The story of the division in California might have ended there if not for the vision of long-time promoters Mike McCann and Chuck Prather.

McCann, who eventually did promote Orland Raceway for a couple of seasons, was promoting Sunset Speedway in Banks, Oregon at the time. He started his own Hardtop division up there. In 2002, McCann and Prather headed up a group of drivers to make a special visit to California in September. The tracks they visited were Sacramento Raceway and Orland Raceway. The winner of both events was Steve Lemley. Incidentally, Lemley's winning car is now owned by Ken Clifford and driven by Jason Clifford.

After Prather started a Hardtop division and ran it at a few tracks in California during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, movements began in the Northern California and Southern California areas. Hardtop racing was alive and well. The California Hardtop Association has been competing for over a decade with their old 1940's Coupe and Sedan race cars.

Last season, Rich Hood invited the group for a pair of visits and the shows were so entertaining that the fans wanted more. Saturday night, they get their wish as the California Hardtops return along with the Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks and Micro Sprint divisions.

Jason Armstrong won the first Hardtop appearance last season ahead of Ron Ruiz and Ken Clifford. Armstrong had won a Pure Stock race at the speedway a year earlier and was looking forward to putting his Hardtop on the 1/5 mile dirt oval. Next time out, Jason Clifford set a good pace up front and scored the victory ahead of Dave Reed and Ken Retzloff.

The California Hardtop racers consider Orland one of their favorite tracks to visit. A field of 8 to 10 racers is anticipated, and the above mentioned drivers are all active this season. Others to watch for include Joe Shenefield, Roger MacShain, Dennis Armstrong and Dave Mackey.

The Pure Stock division has been giving the fans some great shows so far this season. Jeremy Langenderfer is the reigning champion, but he's far from having a slump so far as a three-time feature winner. His most recent victory came ahead of another past division champion, Paul Stevens. Stevens and Richard Vanderploeg are the other feature winners so far. The talent-laden field includes such noteworthy competitors as past champions Steve Martin, Brad Ray and Jerry Bartlett, Cody Bundy, Amanda McAbel and Ben Matlock.

The Mini Stock division has been very competitive this season with three winners in the four races held so far. Barbara Crain is the only two-time winner as double division racer Paul Stevens and reigning champion Tom Davis are also winners. It wasn't until the most recent race when Davis finally got his first victory of the season. These three are anticipated this week along with Sean Perry, Jason Libbee and two-time champion John Kirkpatrick.

BJ Martin has won championships in multiple 4-cylinder divisions at the speedway and he's also a 600 Micro feature winner this season. At the special winged and non winged 600 Micro event earlier this month, young Cody Gray picked up victories in both classes. Others on the roster include Jarrid Carter, Kyra Michelet and Tony Alosi.

James Barnes has won a pair of 250 Micro features as he leads the local chargers so far. Kylie Porath picked up a win in her one start. Other drivers on the roster this year include Ronnie Heyer, Pax Gonzales, Zach Webster and reigning champion Jackie Whitson Jr.

Saturday's program should be another good one. The California Hardtops have some nice looking machines and they put on a good show for the fans. The popular Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks and Micro Sprints make this a well-rounded program. For further information, find Orland Raceway on Facebook.