Speedway fiesta - special event adds flavor to normal menu of racing

July 17, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - A hatred of tacos nearly cost Annita Braun a trophy Saturday night, while Mike Thomas got some late luck to claim one of his own.

The two racers were among the biggest stars of a wild night of racing at North Star Speedway in Wasilla, home to the Valley's only asphalt oval racing track.

Braun beat out fellow bandolero-class driver Carly Meacham in a &#8220taco race,” during which the two young drivers had to circle the track before heading into the infield to down their tasty Mexican staple. But while Braun took a big lead after Meacham spun out in turn two, her lead nearly evaporated as she struggled to finish off her meal.

&#8220I hate tacos,” she admitted following the race.

Meacham, on the other hand, said she's a taco fan and had no trouble with the entree. Braun barely beat Meacham out of the taco-eating portion and narrowly held on for a spicy win.

Standing next to her trophy following the race, Braun said there really was no secret to winning the wacky race.

&#8220There was no key,” she said.

While laughing and picking lettuce from their cars, both teenage girls said they had fun, but the taco race likely will be their last attempt to join the ranks of the world's top competitive eaters.

&#8220I don't plan on doing it next year,” Meacham said.

The taco race was the highlight of several events geared toward youngsters during the kid-themed evening. In addition to the taco race, the track also played host to a couple bicycle races and a tennis ball toss in which spectators vied for prizes by tossing balls toward the bed of a pickup.

Track manager Karen Akers said one of her biggest goals as a racing promoter is to ensure that an evening at the track is as fun-filled and exciting as possible for spectators. So each Saturday during the track's weekly &#8220Saturday Night Thunder” race series, she tries to add some kind of special event or theme to spice things up.

&#8220I like to keep the fans involved,” she said.

She said a big part of that is making sure that young fans take a good impression away from the track.

&#8220The kids really look forward to that kind of stuff,” she said.

While Saturday's theme was centered around kids, Akers said she always strives to make North Star - which features an on-site playground complete with swing set - a place where families can feel comfortable.

&#8220I want a family atmosphere here,” she said.

But it wasn't all fun and games Saturday. In between the giveaways and special promotions, plenty of intense racing action took place. North Star is home to some of the top stock car drivers in the state, and each weekend holds races for six or more classes of race cars in three heats of action.

Those races can get plenty serious, as evidenced by the night's most exciting race, the legends-class feature.

Legends cars are 5/8 scale replicas of stock cars from the 1930s and 1940s. Tight rules govern the class, and each car must have the same size engine and tires - which makes for some pretty close racing.

In the final legends race of the night, season points leader Mike Thomas grabbed the lead from the beginning and looked to be in firm command heading into the final laps. But with five trips around the track remaining, Thomas slowed as he came up on a lapped car. That's when second-place Tim Mills saw his chance, making an audacious pass just on the inside of Thomas, and ripping away the lead.

&#8220He got slowed up with that car and I just went under him,” Mills explained after the race.

Seconds later, a car spun out back in the pack, leading to a caution flag. Just after the restart, Thomas made a move on Mills and the pair briefly came together.

This time Thomas got the better of the confrontation, moving to the front of the pack as Mills was left spinning.

&#8220It happens,” Mills said. &#8220It's racing. That's how it goes.”

Following his win, Thomas said he had nearly written himself off before his final pass.

&#8220I thought I'd lost it,” he said.

Thomas praised the driving of Mills in the race, which he said could have gone either

way.

&#8220He's an excellent driver,” Thomas said.

Close races are the norm in the legends class because of the tight regulations put on how cars can be set up. Thomas said the competitive nature of the class is what drew him into legends racing.

&#8220Usually it's the largest number of cars and the most competitive,” he said.

The duel between Thomas and Mills wasn't the only story during the final legends race. After the spin-out that caused the first caution, veteran driver Al Palma found himself at the back of the pack, the recipient of a penalty he felt was undeserved.

&#8220They like to send me back for some reason,” Palma grumbled after the race.

Not one to let a bad call get him down, however, Palma rallied to grab second place, racing past the unfortunate Mills just before the finish. Palma said he was running so hot he may have even pulled out a win if he'd had a little more time.

&#8220I'd have got my buddy Mike here,” he said, gently ribbing Thomas as the two drivers hung out in the pits following the race.

Palma and his daughter, Amanda, embody the family atmosphere track manager Akers said is so important at North Star. Both father and daughter are drivers in the legends class, and Amanda Palma started her career as a result of coming to the track with her father.

Now competitors, the Palmas said they've got a friendly rivalry on the track - although Al said Amanda hasn't quite caught him in the speed department.

&#8220Not yet, anyway,” he said.

Amanda Palma said she gets some grief from the other drivers because of the perception that her dad - not one to shy away from trading paint - takes it easy on her.

&#8220Everyone says he's nice when he goes by me,” she said.

But if Al Palma is taking it easy on his little girl, he better keep an eye on the rearview mirror.

&#8220If I had an opportunity, I'd bump him. I just haven't had a chance,” she said. &#8220Yet.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com

GCI Saturday Night Thunder

North Star Speedway

Wasilla

Legends

Heat 1 - 1. Mike Thomas, 2. Jeff Landrum, 3. Al Palma, 4. Tim Mills, 5. Michelle Black, 6. Brenda Hecht, 7. Doug Johnstone, 8. Rodney Pucak, 9. Keith Lord, 10. Amanda Palma, 11. Erika Bills, 12. Lud Larson, 13. Kelly Sawyer

Heat 2 - 1. Al Palma, 2. Mills, 3. Pucak, 4. Landrum, 5. Thomas, 6. Amanda Palma, 7. Black, 8. Lord, 9. Hecht, 10. Larson, 11. Johnstone, 12. Sawyer

Feature - 1. Thomas, 2. Al Palma, 3. Black, 4. Landrum, 5. Amanda Palma, 6. Pucak, 7. Lord, 8. Johnstone, 9. Mills, 10. Sawyer, 11. Hecht, 12. Larson

SST

Heat 1 - 1. James Elliot, 2. Dean Thompson, 3. Al Ulman, 4. Eric Wittner

Heat 2 - 1. Elliot, 2. Ulman, 3. Thompson, 4. Wittner

Feature - 1. Wittner, 2. Ulman, 3. Elliot, 4. Thompson

Late Models

Heat 1 - 1. Damian LaMountain, 2. Jon Simmelink, 3. Tim Mutch

Heat 2 - 1. Simmelink, 2. LaMountain, 3. Mutch

Feature - 1. LaMountain, 2. Mutch, 3. Simmelink

Bandoleros

Heat 1 - 1. Andy Schwochert, 2. Cyrus Powers-Kyte, 3. Annita Braun, 4. Hannah Lewis, 5. Carly Meacham

Heat 2 - 1. Schwochert, 2. Powers-Kyte, 3. Braun, 4. Meacham, 5. Lewis

Feature - 1. Schwochert, 2. Lewis, 3. Meacham, 4. Braun, 5. Powers-Kyte

Thunder Stock

Heat 1 - 1. Eric Wittner, 2. Keith Jones, 3. Artie Niemi, 4. Rich Schwab, 5. Damian LaMountain, 6. Sharlotte Sandstede

Heat 2 - 1. Schwab, 2. Jones, 3. LaMountain, 4. Niemi, 5. Wittner

Feature - 1. Wittner, 2. Jones, 3. Schwab, 4. LaMountain, 5. Niemi

Mini Stock

Heat 1 - 1. Mike Schwochert, 2. Andy Schwochert, 3. Jim Menard, 4. Alex Schwochert, 5. Bryan Barber, 6. Ray Butler

Heat 2 - 1. Alex Schwochert, 2. M. Schwochert, 3. Menard, 4. Barber, 5. Andy Schwochert

Feature - 1. Andy Schwochert, 2. Alex Schwochert, 3. Butler, 4. Menard, 5. M. Schwochert, 6. Barber