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Skip Jackson has won two track championships at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa, but his last one came in 1998.
Traveling from Knoxville, Iowa, to Australia for a Sprint car race is nothing new for Skip Jackson. He's a native of Australia and raced there for years before moving to the United States, falling in love with his wife Lori and settling in the heartland of the country near one of the best dirt tracks in North America.
Skip Jackson traveled to Australia in January to race against NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Tony Stewart at Typrepower Parramatta City Raceway.
Jackson spent a week near his Australian hometown of Sydney racing at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway in December and January. He escaped the winter cold of Iowa to spend the holidays in warm, sunny Australia racing against some of the top Sprint car drivers in the world, including NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Tony Stewart.
Neither Jackson nor Stewart found much holiday cheer on the race track though. In two of the biggest races in Australia, Jackson went from leading to limping across the finish line in the final laps of both races. In one of the races, a car spun out in front of him just as he had taken the lead.
"Instead of winning the race, I ended up ninth," Jackson said. "That was more frustrating."
The 41-year-old Jackson is preparing for his 19th season at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa. He was won 25 career races at the track, good enough for ninth-best all time, and 80 races over his career.
"It's got the nationals, which is the biggest race of the year, and it's got a very strong weekly program," Jackson said.
But he is coming off one of his more disappointing seasons. He won only one race in 2009 and was seventh in the 410 Sprint car class standings at Knoxville Raceway.
"There were a lot of things that just didn't go our way," Jackson said. "Some years everything you touch turns to gold. Last year wasn't one of them. It was just a matter of we didn't quite gel as good as we could have."
Jackson won two track championships at Knoxville Raceway, but his last one came in 1998. He won back-to-back championships in 1997 and 1998. He was second in the 410 class standings in 1999 and 2002.
"At the time, you probably don't quite appreciate (the championships) as much when you look back at it," Jackson said. "I drove for a real good team back then. Everything we touched turned to gold. It makes you look back and appreciate what good people you have around you."
The 410 class season starts on May 1 at Knoxville Raceway. Jackson finished 24th in the season opener at Knoxville last year and didn't crack the top 10 until the second race of the year.
"Our goal is to win the championship," Jackson said. "Based on last year's results, that's a bit optimistic - and it probably is -- but that's the point going is to win the championship."
When the Sesnon Fire erupted in October 2008, Andrew Madrid and his family were ordered to evacuate their Chatsworth home. It was in the path of the deadly wildfire that covered nearly 10,000 acres in the west end of the San Fernando Valley in Southern California.
Andrew Mardrid wins NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division, at Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson, Arizona
Andrew Mardrid's dad told his son put his most valuable items in the family's motor home. Madrid said he gathered some paperwork, some money and all of his drag racing trophies.
"My dad told me to grab everything that was important to me," Andrew Madrid said. "I can't go back to those days. I can't duplicate that. That was important to me."
Madrid's dad estimates his son had about 150 trophies in his room. Every one of them was in the family's motor home.
"He's got a room full of trophies," said Larry Madrid, who added that all of his son's trophies took up most of the space in the motor home. When he asked his son why he decided to save the trophies, his son told him, "I can't replace these."
Luckily, the fire avoided the Madrid home. Since then, Andrew Madrid has added a few more trophies to his collection, including a pair of Wallys awarded to the winner of NHRA national events.
His most recent trophy came at Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson, Ariz., in the Super Comp division of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Pacific Division, on March 28. Andrew Madrid beat Chuck Babcock in the final race and won the first race of the Pacific Division season.
Madrid also won the NHRA Super Comp portion of the drag races at Southwestern International Raceway in 2009.
Winning the race a second time in a row was challenging because every driver and team had ample time to prepare.
"Everybody got a ton of time trials," the 20-year-old Andrew Madrid said. "Everybody was pretty dialed in for that event. Back-to-back, that was definitely pretty cool for us."
The win in 2009 was a bit of a bad omen though. Andrew Madrid was not able to repeat his performance in Tucson and struggled with his car throughout most of the 2009 season.
Mechanical problems and setbacks were the source of most of his challenges. But he has a new car and is off to a great start in the 2010 drag racing season.
His Madrid Motorsports team is planning on entering a combination of NHRA national and Pacific Division events. His next race will be in the NHRA Super Comp class at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from April 16-18.
"It's the same as far as competitiveness," Andrew Madrid said. "There are more cars, more rounds. We'll take it one round at a time and hopefully it turns out in our favor."
He also said the national events are more difficult to win because there isn't that much difference in the equipment and talent-level of most of the teams and drivers.
"It's harder to win," Andrew Madrid said. "It gets more competitive and the racing gets closer." He added that he has confidence in his car and equipment. The real challenge is preparing mentally for the races and "keeping my composure through the whole event."
The next Pacific Division race isn't until June at Top Gun Raceway in Fallon, Nev.
"I'd definitely like to keep up the points, mainly go some rounds," Andrew Madrid said. "I'd like to get another win, another few wins, but we'll se what happens."
Kevin Probst, owner of Probst Racing, boasts over 225 wins and 18 class championships since he began his racing career in 1978 at the age of sixteen. "My dad started racing the old fiberglass dune buggies back in the late 60's. He was the first guy in the Midwest to own a tubular chassis buggy from the west coast," says Kevin. "All of us on the team got our start racing buggies. One year, my brother and I raced every buggy class that was available. Sometimes we would run nine races a weekend between the two of us," says Kevin. That year, the brothers won every championship and almost all of the races they entered.
Kevin Probst has over 225 wins and 18 class championships since 1978
Today, the Probst team consists of Kevin, his dad, Steve and several other family members and friends who all work together to achieve off-road greatness at their shop in New Lenox, Illinois. Kevin races a UWeld Chassis in the Unlimited 2/Pro 2 category that his team helped develop. In 2009, the team took their truck out west to participate in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. "That season was a learning curve. I had to learn how to race the motocross style tracks that the series developed," says Kevin. "We only had three days notice to come out and start the season, so we played catch up all year just trying to get up to speed and learn the system." The team had several successful runs throughout the Lucas Oil 2009 season, including a second place finish at Round 10 in Surprise, Arizona.
Probst is now looking forward to a strong 2010 season. "I believe our success can be credited to a great team and excellent sponsors. We have been using K&N filters for as long as I can remember. These filters always keep the dirt out of our engines," says Kevin. "K&N delivers innovative products that address all of our needs on the track."
The win at USA Raceway makes it six for six in ASCS Southwest region. Photo by IBRACN Photos
Johnny P. Herrera fired up his sprint car racing career in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was named World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year, he also won their Most Improved Driver award. Herrera was once awarded the New Mexico Governor's Award, which is given to the athlete who shines the most publicity and fame on the state. Herrera wins a lot - it's kind of like a default setting for him.
When he isn't winning in his family's number 45x car, Herrera races for Larry Woodward Racing. Photo by IBRACN Photos
Recently, Herrera paid a visit to the ASCS Southwest Region race held at USA Raceway in Tucson, Arizona - he won - unabated. It was his sixth win in six ASCS Southwest starts over the past two seasons.
"I am happy that I have been both lucky and good enough to get the six wins" says Herrera. "It always feels great to win in my parents' car, regardless of what track I win at. My mom and dad enjoy winning as much or more than I do. And, regardless of all the wins they have had with Rickey Hood in the number 45x car, I really believe they enjoy being a part of my wins in the family car just a little more."
"It also feels good to win in the Southwest, where I'm from, so my fans can be a part it. It gives the fans that seldom see me race in the mid-west a chance to interact."
Herrera attributes "seat-time" as the number one reason he flat-out dominates in that region. "I have been fortunate enough to race with the very best in the business over the past 25 years. As far as set-ups, it seem I have this track figured out, it's a track similar to the ones that have always suited my driving style," adds Herrera.
Herrera races for, and with, Larry Woodward, owner of Larry Woodward Racing when he's not racing in his family's car. Along with Troy Renfro, his crew chief, the team managed to win the 2009 410 Track Championship.
"I'd like to thank Larry and Lori Woodward for supporting my career. He is one of the best car owners around racing. I don't just drive for him, I respect him and I'm proud to call him a friend."
Herrera says his ultimate racing goal is to get back to a more extensive World of Outlaws schedule. "But, I would be okay running a true ‘Outlaw' schedule too, which will allow me to do some ASCS 360 Racing, USAC non-winged racing, or maybe go back and defend my 2009 Knoxville Track Championship. As long as I am racing something, somewhere and running well, I am good."
"My relationship with K&N is great; they are one of the best product sponsors I have. I had the pleasure of meeting Bob (Harris) and I respect him. He offered me product assistance no questions asked, and I thank him and K&N for supporting me and the cars I drive. K&N Sprint Car filters, spray oils and cleaners for the filters, plus our K&N apparel and banner, are all products we use," comments Herrera.
Herrera will be running the family 45x car this weekend, April 9 and 10, at the ASCS Lucas Oil Sprint Car Dirt Car Series presented by K&N. "We will continue to run the Herrera 45x until the Woodward Racing Season begins," remarks Herrera.
Equipe Jaronn will run two Alpines and two BMW M3 E30s for the upcoming race season
Randall Lawson was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 1962. He started racing Go Karts in the early 1980's. "European championships, but I had no talent in those days," laughs Lawson. He then began participating in Touring Car races in 2000 when his talent quickly became evident. Lawson scooped up four Dutch Touring Car Series Championships, the 2009 Youngtimer Division II Championship, finished in the top ten in 99 races out of 108 and took 47 podium finishes.
Equipe Jaronn's 1979 Renault Alpine A310 V6
Lawson is the founder of the successful race team, Equipe Jaronn, which has been tearing up the tracks across Europe since 2000 but didn't start racing under that name until 2006 when the team competed in the Dutch Youngtimer Touring Car Challenge. "This historic race series is for cars from the sixties until late eighties. We made the decision to race with an unusual car, our Renault Alpine A310 V6, which was not intended as a circuit racer, but as a rally car. We took up the challenge and created a circuit winner," says Lawson. Today, the Renault Alpine competes against the likes of BMW M3 E30 series, DeTomaso Panteras, Porsche 911 Carreras and Ford Escort MKIs and still manages to win races and take podium places. "In 2006, 2007, and 2009, our team became champions in the Division II which includes racecars from 1976-1981," says Lawson.
In 2009, Randall Lawson finished in the top ten in 99 races out of 108
Made in 1979, the Renault Alpine is one of only a few that has raced on the tracks in Europe. "As far as we know, there are only a handful of these cars in competition use in the world. Ours is not a car you often see. It is difficult to drive as it was never meant to race on a track, but it is also a lot of fun. With only 220bhp and 1000kg weight, you must drive it smoothly if you want to go fast. That's what people say I'm good at. Racing for me is only for fun, but of course it is nice to be a champion. I find that it's more important that after a race weekend, we can say that we had a lot of laughs. If you never take it too seriously, good results will come to you," says Lawson. His team outfits the Renault exclusively with K&N products. "One thing we absolutely can't do without is the best material on our car. Our team uses only the best stuff and after several tests, K&N provided us with the best air filter. Our V6 engine is in the back of the car and it's a very hot place. Our Weber carburetors need lots of air and K&N made the only filter which worked to our satisfaction," says Lawson. "The engine produced an extra 8bhp and that's a bonus, of course!"
Lawson and his team are preparing for the upcoming season and will run four cars, two Alpines and two BMW M3 E30s. They look like the Renault Alpine team to beat this year, not only in the Netherlands, but in Europe as a whole. "Of course, we are going for podium finishes again this season in races at Assen, Spa Francorchamps, Zolder, Zandvoort, Nurburgring and Le Mans. We are also planning to race a second Alpine that we are currently testing. It will also have K&N air filters," says Lawson. Ron Kluit, famous Dutch Touring Car driver of the European Touring Car Championships in the late seventies will be behind the wheel of the second car. "He's a worthy opponent and I will have to work even harder just to beat my teammate. That is going to be so much fun!" says Lawson.
