Late Model National Superstars Invade Perris For Season Opener

National Late Model superstars Al Purkey, of Coffeyville, Kansas and Kelly Boen, of Henderson, Colorado, will be on hand to challenge the regulars when Perris Auto Speedway hosts the season opener for the Art’s Concrete Pumping Extreme Late Models this Saturday night, February 10th. Joining the Late Models will be the brand new PASSCAR Modifieds with ex-USAC/CRA Sprint Car star Mike Kirby heading the field, the MC Builders Super Stocks, Street Stocks and the Pick-A-Part Cruisers. Spectator gates will open at 5:00 PM with racing at 6:30.

Purkey is no stranger to The PAS and has visited the track’s victory circle in the now defunct Extreme Truck Series. The affable 45 year-old racer’s triumphs are well documented in the history of Late Model racing. He has won an astounding five MLRA titles and is the defending series champion. He also has a pair of NCRA championships listed on his resume and has won the incredible total of 102 main events since 1997.

Unlike Purkey, Boen has never raced at The PAS, but like Purkey his name is well-known by every dirt track fan in the nation. Boen is looking to make it a back to back-to-back sweep in NCRA championships after winning the title in 2005 and 2006. Boen has a total of 21 wins alone in NCRA action and that is just three behind Purkey and the late legend Larry Phillips who are tied for first with 24 wins each.

The regular stars at The PAS, as well as several visiting drivers from around the west who will be entering the fray, will give a hard challenge to Purkey and Boen. Most intriguing of the other entries is Cathedral City, California’s Art Peterson. Peterson is The PAS defending Late Model champion and he also won the final Extreme Truck Championship at The PAS in 2005. A victory in the Late Model Series in 2007 would make him the first ever three-time PASSCAR champion.

The Bartel’s Harley-Davidson four car team of Bill, Ron & Nick Bartels along with teammate Carla Laney of Torrance, California will all be on hand along with former PAS Extreme Truck champions Dino Napier, of Corona, California and Mike Hixson of Murrieta, California. Multi-time 2006 winner Jeff Dunham of Murrieta, California, veteran Ron Meyer of Anaheim, California, Russ Wernimont of Murrieta and two-time track Super Stock Champion Terry Hershberger of Corona are just a few of the entries for what officials are predicting will be the biggest Late Model field in the tracks history.

Modified racing returns to The PAS after a one-year absence and it is now under the PASSCAR banner. Sprint Car legend Mike Kirby, who also happens to be a former Ascot Park Figure Eight Champion who has won at The PAS in Sprint and Stock Cars, will be making his PAS Modified debut along with another former Sprint Car driver Toby Sampson. Buena Park, California’s Billy Griffin, who has won at The PAS in Late Models and Modifieds, will be on the track as well. Like the Late Models, PAS officials expect a track record number of entries for Saturday’s Modified race.

Riverside, California’s Mark Shackelford will be back behind the wheel of the Jerry & Pam Dodd owned car that carried him to the MC Builders Super Stock title in his first ever season on dirt in 2006. Like always, Henry Wesolowski Sr. will be doing double duty on Saturday opening defense of his Street title and racing in the Super Stocks as well. Rounding out Saturday’s show will be the Pick-A-Part Cruisers headed by the defending champion team of Dellario and Turner.

In addition to the big guys on the famous Riverside County half-mile clay oval, there will be a Big Wheel heat race for 5-8 year-olds. The Big Wheel race will take place during intermission. Four children will have their names drawn and they will compete on the front straightaway. The winner of the Big Wheel race will present the Late Model main event winner with the trophy.

Saturday’s PASSCAR lid lifter will feature qualifying, heats and the A main event for the Late Models and heats and A main events for all of the other classes. B main events may also be included in the Late Models, Street Stocks and Modifieds.

On Friday, the red-hot drag racing action at the Street Legal Strip at The PAS will continue. Friday’s gates will open at 5:00 PM with racing at 6:00.