BETTER LUCK THIS TIME.

Byline: Tim Haddock

FONTANA - NASCAR Winston West Series driver Bill Sedgwick admits that racing on super speedways is not his strength. And the Acton driver's record over the last two seasons at super speedways on the Winston West series supports his admission.

Even though Sedgwick says he believes he can win the series points title or at least be in the top five, he is not looking forward to this weekend's Pontiac Wide Track Grand Prix 200 at California Speedway in Fontana.

``I'm like a rookie when it comes to super speedways,'' Sedgwick said. ``I'm just hoping to get through this thing in one piece.''

Coming off a 26th-place showing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a race in which he wrecked his main car in qualifying and had to compete in his backup, Sedgwick looks to California Speedway with caution.

Last year, Sedgwick finished 24th at Fontana, having to bail out of the race because of engine trouble. In his last four Winston West races on super speedways, Sedgwick has an average finish of 22nd. His best was a 12th place at Las Vegas last year.

So it's no surprise he wants to get past this weekend and is looking forward to better days as the season progresses.

``We've struggled a little,'' Sedgwick said. ``We're trying to spend a little more time in the shop this week. Unless we keep having bad luck and dropping behind, we're not going to be able to shine when we get to the road course and short tracks.''

It would seem Sedgwick is looking past Fontana to what is hoped will be greener pastures at Irwindale, Laguna Seca and Portland, the next three stops on the Winston West schedule. Portland Speedway is where he won his only race of 1999.

And even though Sedgwick said he has been struggling this season, the two-time former Winston West champion won the pole at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield for an event there last month. Plus he is among series leaders for laps led.

It's only a matter of time before Sedgwick returns to victory lane, maybe even at the place he least expects it, California Speedway.

--Featherlite: While the Winston West Series makes a stop at California Speedway to run with the Winston Cup and Busch Grand National circuits, the Featherlite Southwest Series drivers make a stop at Irwindale Speedway tonight for the Food 4 Less 100.

One driver who is planning on making the most of the Southwest Series stop at the half-mile oval is Super Late Model driver Ben Walker of Canyon Country. Walker won Irwindale's last Super Late Model feature two weeks ago and he is hoping his winning ways will overflow onto the Southwest Series event.

Walker will run in both the Super Late Model and Southwest Series races. But he will have stiff competition in the Super Late Model event. Not only have the three Super Late Model events produced three different winners this season at Irwindale, but Walker's brother Tyler, a World of Outlaws veteran with three career victories on that circuit, is planning on entering a Super Late Model car.

And don't be surprised if Tyler Walker and a few other drivers, including even Sean Woodside of Saugus, decide to pull double duty with the Southwest Series in town.

--Partnership over: While Walker is preparing for the Southwest Series race tonight, one of the circuit's top rookies is calling it quits. Larry Krieger of Thousand Oaks ended his partnership with CBA Motorsports, owner of his Southwest Series car.

In a prepared statement, Krieger said that the partnership ended because it has not progressed as smoothly as had hoped. In order to preserve his rookie status, Krieger decided not to continue racing on the series this year. There have been two races on the Southwest Series, one at Phoenix International Raceway and the other at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield. Krieger finished in the top 15 at Mesa Marin.

Krieger also announced that he will enter his Grand American Modified car at Irwindale Speedway. Krieger is the defending points champion at Irwindale Speedway, and even though he has missed the season's first three events, he said he is ready to defend his title.

--Super Stock: T.K. Karvasek of North Hills continued his dominance of the NASCAR Super Stock division at Irwindale Speedway tonight. Karvasek won his third feature of the season.

In addition to winning his third Super Stock main, Karvasek also won the figure-8 feature. The only time Karvasek didn't take the checkered flag in the Super Stocks was when he finished second to Doug McComb of Thousand Oaks three weeks ago.

In other action at Irwindale Speedway, Dave Hessing of Canyon Country won the first of two Twin 40 NASCAR Late Model features. James Weston of Goleta won the second Twin 40 main event. J.J. Ercse of Lakewood won the USAC Three-Quarter Midget main and Bob Reed of Riverside won the NASCAR Mini Stock main.

--Local update: Marc Hart of Ventura was fourth in the SCRA Sprint Car main event tonight at Parris Auto Speedway.