4/4/10
Supers Snakebit at Madera, Vanderpool Survives for Win
by Gerald Laurie
It started out sunny and windy at Madera Speedway Saturday afternoon but then clouded over
and the temperature began to drop. A cold track and cold tires would take their tolls. For the first
of six Super Saturday events scheduled by Madera Speedway, the open wheel count was the
lowest in recent memory. By the start of practice, there were four injected Supermodifieds and
five carbureted 360 Supermodifieds in the pits. A.J. Russell was present with his number 7 SMRA
car, George Greenway(8) also had his SMRA car ready. Jim Birges sent both his number 32 and
the number 89 that he owns jointly with Ron Burger. Burger drove his car and Birges picked multi-
time 360 Super Champion Dave Tuey to run the 32 in Birges’s absence. 360 Teams present
included Kyle Vanderpool(1), Kenny Kinchen(5), Carl Johnson(07), Willie Northamer(15), and Dan
Vanderpool(17).
During practice Greenway experienced a driveline failure and was done for the evening. Dave
Tuey was fastest in practice with a lap at 12.847, followed by A.J. Russell at 13.186. The fastest
360’s were Dan Vanderpool at 13.486 and Kenny Kinchen at 13.501. Kyle Vanderpool was having
some engine issues and never got up to speed in practice.
Qualifications started with the 360’s and Kenny Kinchen set fast time at 13.650, followed by Dan
Vanderpool at 13.696, Kyle Vanderpool at 14.084, and Carl Johnson at 14.294. Northamer spun on
his attempt when the drain plug fell out dumping copious amounts of oil through turns one and
two.
Burger was first out to qualify in an open car but had the throttle cable fail before the green flag.
He made a later attempt but the cable again did not work. Dave Tuey wound up with fast time at
12.767 seconds with A.J Russell next with a lap of 13.322 seconds.
The first racing event for the open wheelers was the 360 trophy dash. Carl Johnson lined up on
the poll flanked by Kyle Vanderpool and followed by Dan Vanderpool and Kenny Kinchen. The
outside row got the jump at the start and K. Vanderpool led over Kinchen, Johnson and D.
Vanderpool. On lap three Dan was able to pass the 07 for third and that was the race. Kyle V won
over Kinchen, Dan V, and Johnson.
The open Supermodified Dash was next up, but only Tuey and Russell answered the bell as
Burger’s crew was still fitting a borrowed throttle cable. Tuey took the lead at the outset and
never looked back in the four lapper. And in so doing he cut a lap at 12.546, two tenths faster than
he qualified as he got used to the 300 extra horsepower and two hundred pounds less weight
than his normal 360 ride.
The first eight lap heat race featured the 360 Supermods. All five reported to the race track with
Kenny Kinchen and Dan Vanderpool on the front row followed by Kyle Vanderpool, Carl
Johnson, and Willie Northamer. They lined out in order on lap one and then Kyle Vanderpool took
second away from his father on lap two. By lap five Kinchen was leading over K. Vanderpool, D.
Vanderpool, Johnson, and Northamer. The yellow flew on lap six as Vanderpool the elder spun
on the frontstretch. On the restart, Kinchen led over Vanderpool the younger, Johnson,
Northamer and Dan Vanderpool. Just before the checkers, Northamer put a turn three pass on
Johnson making the finish Kinchen, K. Vanderpool, Northamer, Johnson, and D. Vanderpool.
With Burger having completed repairs, three open cars lined up for the other heat. The line-up
was Tuey, Russell, and Burger. And that is the way they finished with Burger slowing
dramatically at the end. Back in the pits, the Birges crew found a broken torque arm bracket on
the 89 and Burger was finished for evening.
As the sun set in Central California, the temperature dropped rapidly from the low fifties into the
low forties. This condition would play a big part in later events.
The scheduled fifty lap feature lined up the remaining seven cars in a combined open and 360
event. Carl Johnson and Kyle Vanderpool occupied the front row. Row two consisted of Dan
Vanderpool and Kenny Kinchen. Row three held the open cars of A.J. Russell and Dave Tuey.
Willie Northamer rounded out the field. During the warm-up laps, Tuey applied a bit too much
throttle and the car turned into the front stretch wall ending the night for the second Birges entry.
Cold tires and a lot of horsepower were the culprits.
At the start, Kyle Vanderpool blew around Johnson in turn two only to have Kinchen follow him
and then dive low to take the lead in the backstretch. Johnson was third, Dan Vanderpool was
fourth with Russell in fifth. Dan got around Johnson on lap two with Russell repeating the fete a
lap later. A.J. then passed the 17 on lap seven and took off in search of the leaders. He passed
Kyle on lap eight and went after Kinchen. The yellow hanky waved on lap ten when Johnson
stalled and coasted into the infield. Another one bites the dust.
The restart had Kinchen leading over Russell, K. Vanderpool, D. Vanderpool, and Northamer. A.J.
began attacking Kinchen with everything he had, but Kenny held the fast line and the two went
side by side until Russell finally completed the pass on lap nineteen. Kinchen stayed in sight of
Russell and saw what everyone saw, a fine mist and blue smoke spewing from the number 7. The
yellow flew on lap twenty three and the leader was sent to the inspection area. An oil leak was
found and Russell was relegated to the pits.
On the restart, Kinchen brushed the wall on the backstretch while leading and the yellow flew
again with Kenny sitting in the pits. On the third attempt to complete the twenty third circuit, Kyle
Vanderpool was setting the pace, Dan Vanderpool experienced a suspension failure to once
again bring out the yellow. Finally the two remaining cars took the green again with Kyle
Vanderpool leading Willie Northamer. Officials quickly decided to flag the event at thirty laps and
Kyle Vanderpool was the first 360 Super Driver to win a combined open and 360 event since the
advent of the Super Saturday format at Madera.
With the weather rather chilly on Easter Weekend and the Central California economy still
sporting a 20% unemployment rate, the conditions were evidently not conducive to a high
horsepower open wheel show. There should be three or four more 360 Supers ready for the next
Super Saturday event in May and hopefully several more open cars will show up as well. We’ll
just have to wait and see.
Madera Speedway
360 Supermodifieds
Qualifications: 1. Kenny Kinchen(5) 13.650; 2. Dan Vanderpool(17) 13.696; 3. Kyle Vanderpool(1)
14.084; 4. Carl Johnson(07) 14.294; 5. Willie Northamer(15) N/T
Trophy Dash: 1. K. Vanerpool,; 2. Kinchen; 3. D. Vanderpool; 4. Johnson
Heat: 1. Kinchen; 2. K. Vanderpool; 3. Northamer; 4. Johnson; 5. D. Vanderpool
Open Supermodifieds
Qualifications: 1. David Tuey(32) 12.767; 2. A.J. Russell(7) 13.322; 3. Ron Burger(89) N/T; 4.0
George Greenway(8) N/T
Trophy Dash: 1. Tuey; 2. Russell
Heat: 1. Tuey; 2. Russell; 3. Burger
Combined Feature: 1. K. Vanderpool; 2. Northammer; 3. Russell(-8 laps); 4. Kinchen(-8 laps); 5. D.
Vanderpool(-8 laps); 6. Johnson(-20 laps). 7. Tuey(-30laps)
Supers Snakebit at Madera, Vanderpool Survives for Win
by Gerald Laurie
It started out sunny and windy at Madera Speedway Saturday afternoon but then clouded over
and the temperature began to drop. A cold track and cold tires would take their tolls. For the first
of six Super Saturday events scheduled by Madera Speedway, the open wheel count was the
lowest in recent memory. By the start of practice, there were four injected Supermodifieds and
five carbureted 360 Supermodifieds in the pits. A.J. Russell was present with his number 7 SMRA
car, George Greenway(8) also had his SMRA car ready. Jim Birges sent both his number 32 and
the number 89 that he owns jointly with Ron Burger. Burger drove his car and Birges picked multi-
time 360 Super Champion Dave Tuey to run the 32 in Birges’s absence. 360 Teams present
included Kyle Vanderpool(1), Kenny Kinchen(5), Carl Johnson(07), Willie Northamer(15), and Dan
Vanderpool(17).
During practice Greenway experienced a driveline failure and was done for the evening. Dave
Tuey was fastest in practice with a lap at 12.847, followed by A.J. Russell at 13.186. The fastest
360’s were Dan Vanderpool at 13.486 and Kenny Kinchen at 13.501. Kyle Vanderpool was having
some engine issues and never got up to speed in practice.
Qualifications started with the 360’s and Kenny Kinchen set fast time at 13.650, followed by Dan
Vanderpool at 13.696, Kyle Vanderpool at 14.084, and Carl Johnson at 14.294. Northamer spun on
his attempt when the drain plug fell out dumping copious amounts of oil through turns one and
two.
Burger was first out to qualify in an open car but had the throttle cable fail before the green flag.
He made a later attempt but the cable again did not work. Dave Tuey wound up with fast time at
12.767 seconds with A.J Russell next with a lap of 13.322 seconds.
The first racing event for the open wheelers was the 360 trophy dash. Carl Johnson lined up on
the poll flanked by Kyle Vanderpool and followed by Dan Vanderpool and Kenny Kinchen. The
outside row got the jump at the start and K. Vanderpool led over Kinchen, Johnson and D.
Vanderpool. On lap three Dan was able to pass the 07 for third and that was the race. Kyle V won
over Kinchen, Dan V, and Johnson.
The open Supermodified Dash was next up, but only Tuey and Russell answered the bell as
Burger’s crew was still fitting a borrowed throttle cable. Tuey took the lead at the outset and
never looked back in the four lapper. And in so doing he cut a lap at 12.546, two tenths faster than
he qualified as he got used to the 300 extra horsepower and two hundred pounds less weight
than his normal 360 ride.
The first eight lap heat race featured the 360 Supermods. All five reported to the race track with
Kenny Kinchen and Dan Vanderpool on the front row followed by Kyle Vanderpool, Carl
Johnson, and Willie Northamer. They lined out in order on lap one and then Kyle Vanderpool took
second away from his father on lap two. By lap five Kinchen was leading over K. Vanderpool, D.
Vanderpool, Johnson, and Northamer. The yellow flew on lap six as Vanderpool the elder spun
on the frontstretch. On the restart, Kinchen led over Vanderpool the younger, Johnson,
Northamer and Dan Vanderpool. Just before the checkers, Northamer put a turn three pass on
Johnson making the finish Kinchen, K. Vanderpool, Northamer, Johnson, and D. Vanderpool.
With Burger having completed repairs, three open cars lined up for the other heat. The line-up
was Tuey, Russell, and Burger. And that is the way they finished with Burger slowing
dramatically at the end. Back in the pits, the Birges crew found a broken torque arm bracket on
the 89 and Burger was finished for evening.
As the sun set in Central California, the temperature dropped rapidly from the low fifties into the
low forties. This condition would play a big part in later events.
The scheduled fifty lap feature lined up the remaining seven cars in a combined open and 360
event. Carl Johnson and Kyle Vanderpool occupied the front row. Row two consisted of Dan
Vanderpool and Kenny Kinchen. Row three held the open cars of A.J. Russell and Dave Tuey.
Willie Northamer rounded out the field. During the warm-up laps, Tuey applied a bit too much
throttle and the car turned into the front stretch wall ending the night for the second Birges entry.
Cold tires and a lot of horsepower were the culprits.
At the start, Kyle Vanderpool blew around Johnson in turn two only to have Kinchen follow him
and then dive low to take the lead in the backstretch. Johnson was third, Dan Vanderpool was
fourth with Russell in fifth. Dan got around Johnson on lap two with Russell repeating the fete a
lap later. A.J. then passed the 17 on lap seven and took off in search of the leaders. He passed
Kyle on lap eight and went after Kinchen. The yellow hanky waved on lap ten when Johnson
stalled and coasted into the infield. Another one bites the dust.
The restart had Kinchen leading over Russell, K. Vanderpool, D. Vanderpool, and Northamer. A.J.
began attacking Kinchen with everything he had, but Kenny held the fast line and the two went
side by side until Russell finally completed the pass on lap nineteen. Kinchen stayed in sight of
Russell and saw what everyone saw, a fine mist and blue smoke spewing from the number 7. The
yellow flew on lap twenty three and the leader was sent to the inspection area. An oil leak was
found and Russell was relegated to the pits.
On the restart, Kinchen brushed the wall on the backstretch while leading and the yellow flew
again with Kenny sitting in the pits. On the third attempt to complete the twenty third circuit, Kyle
Vanderpool was setting the pace, Dan Vanderpool experienced a suspension failure to once
again bring out the yellow. Finally the two remaining cars took the green again with Kyle
Vanderpool leading Willie Northamer. Officials quickly decided to flag the event at thirty laps and
Kyle Vanderpool was the first 360 Super Driver to win a combined open and 360 event since the
advent of the Super Saturday format at Madera.
With the weather rather chilly on Easter Weekend and the Central California economy still
sporting a 20% unemployment rate, the conditions were evidently not conducive to a high
horsepower open wheel show. There should be three or four more 360 Supers ready for the next
Super Saturday event in May and hopefully several more open cars will show up as well. We’ll
just have to wait and see.
Madera Speedway
360 Supermodifieds
Qualifications: 1. Kenny Kinchen(5) 13.650; 2. Dan Vanderpool(17) 13.696; 3. Kyle Vanderpool(1)
14.084; 4. Carl Johnson(07) 14.294; 5. Willie Northamer(15) N/T
Trophy Dash: 1. K. Vanerpool,; 2. Kinchen; 3. D. Vanderpool; 4. Johnson
Heat: 1. Kinchen; 2. K. Vanderpool; 3. Northamer; 4. Johnson; 5. D. Vanderpool
Open Supermodifieds
Qualifications: 1. David Tuey(32) 12.767; 2. A.J. Russell(7) 13.322; 3. Ron Burger(89) N/T; 4.0
George Greenway(8) N/T
Trophy Dash: 1. Tuey; 2. Russell
Heat: 1. Tuey; 2. Russell; 3. Burger
Combined Feature: 1. K. Vanderpool; 2. Northammer; 3. Russell(-8 laps); 4. Kinchen(-8 laps); 5. D.
Vanderpool(-8 laps); 6. Johnson(-20 laps). 7. Tuey(-30laps)
