By: Rosalita Moog

Anderson, CA, June 2, 2001 Tim Smith of Gerber, Ca. said his strategy is to “get a rhythm and try not to mess up.” The 24-year-old Smith’s strategy paid off when he won his first Late Model Main Event Saturday night. At age eleven Smith started as a go-cart racer in Red Bluff. He switched to Late Model’s three years ago. The Red Bluff High School graduate hopes to get to the NASCAR circuit, but he said it takes a lot of money to get there. Smith thanks his crew chief Mike as well as his parents and grandparents. Racing is a Smith family project. Immediately after the race a very proud Denise Smith could be heard saying, “That’s my son! That’s my son!” Sean Hays of Redding, Ca. came in a close second. Terry Smith who is not related to Tim Smith came in third. Terry Smith’s crew won one first place in the pit stop competition.

Kyle Cattanach of Red Bluff, Ca won the Pro Stock Main Event. Second place went to John Pedersen of Redding, Ca. Pedersen had flames coming from the drivers rear tire, but was determined to finish. Third place went to Gary Pyszora of Redding, Ca. Gary Pyszora owns Auto City in Redding and promised to give a BIGGG discount on a used car to anyone that mentions my story. Actually, he just said a discount I lied about the “BIGGG” part.

The Pro Stock Main Event had an interesting twist. The number 47 car was the night’s mystery car. In the beginning, there was some confusion about the driver’s name. Mystery car #47 jumped out front and kept an awesome lead until lap 30. Number 47 came around turn four and drove off the racetrack leaving everyone wondering exactly who he was and why he left. It turns out the car was driven by Rusty Robinett of Redding, Ca. Robinett is the owner of Robinett’s Automotive. Incredibly, it was his very first race. When asked why he left the race he said that, “I think something broke in the distributor. I haven’t had time yet to check it out. When I came out of turn 4 it popped a couple of times and quit running I did my bets to get it off the track and out of everyone’s way.” His wife Stacie, son Jerrad and daughter Kristin, joined Robinett.

Boris Bodtetenieff who designs and prints t-shirts at T-Shirts Unlimited in Redding, Ca, won the Legends Main Event. This former two-time track champion came out of retirement to sub for Chris Raudman. Raudman was at a golf tournament where he was leading in points on Saturday. Anderson’s Mike Hubert came in second with a difference of 0.362. John Duckett of Shasta Lake City, Ca. rounded out the top three.

NEWS FLASH: LEGEND CARS FLY…Ask Bruce Jorgensen. In lap 16, Ron Copland went into a spin just past turn three, clipping Bruce Jorgensen whom was unable to go around. Jorgensen’s car was hit hard enough to send fenders flying to the north and his car flying south. Jorgensen went airborne off the side of track embankment and dropped from the air like a big rock. Jorgensen said, “I was a little surprised to be in the air.” He was slightly injured and how can I put this delicately? He landed very hard on a seat that was NOT well padded. After the race he said, “Everything feels OK now.” The car did not fair so well. It looked like a giant had stepped on it. He has his a big repair bill waiting for him.

How do you become a race sponsor and what kinds of benefits do sponsors receive? Betty and Frank Romero sponsor the #8 Late Model car driven by Zane Lovelace Roseville, Ca. Frank Romero had the following to say about becoming a sponsor. “First you must determine two things one, you have to have a sincere desire to want to help someone out. Someone that has a dream, has a vision and that you want to be a part maybe even a small part of helping that dream and vision come into fruition. Number two obviously you have to be successful in your own right to be able to afford the discretionary income to spend money on the racing effort.

If you are serious about sponsor/part ownership, the race team becomes a business enterprise. It has all the tax benefit of any small business and it is absolutely fun as you see here today we have our wives our children, we BBQ. We all take part in contributing to the race, the side benefits are too numerous to mention.”

The Romeros own an ecommerce business, shopping through the Internet, called Higher Ground Ent. They also own an electrical contracting business. Between the two business they find that, “the advertising afforded to us through the racing venue is very, very beneficial. It gives us tremendous exposure not just on the track, but in the print media, radio and television as these local events are covered. In addition to that, the publicity you get is the result of taking a very healthy form of sport and helping young people to participate and it is much preferable to the other activities young people participate in.”

If you are a business looking to spend some money on advertising and promotion, sponsor part of a car. There are numerous levels of sponsorship. You could buy the tires, paint the car, the list is endless and varied. It does not have to be a huge investment. Drivers appreciate all the help they can get. And it just sounds cool to say you sponsor a race car!