CRASH A WAKE-UP CALL PURSLEY'S CAREER IS NOW IN GEAR.Byline: Anel Laj Staff Writer The interest in racing began with his dad, but the desire for cars didn't happen until after the accident. Greg Pursley, a Newhall resident, was at one point considered the top private racer racer, name for several related swift, slender snakes, especially those of the genus Coluber. All of the racers are nonpoisonous, nonconstricting, day-active snakes. The black racer, C. at Willow Springs Raceway Willow Springs International Motorsports Park is located near Rosamond and Lancaster, California, and is about an hour north of Los Angeles. It is a historic race track, in existence more than fifty years, with the first race in 1953. The main track is a challenging 2. in Palmdale. However, an unexpected turn of events changed his life. Pursley, going into a turn at 160 mph, lost his balance and crashed. He was in a wheelchair wheel·chair or wheel chair n. A chair mounted on large wheels for the use of a sick or disabled person. wheelchair, n for more than a month with a broken leg, ankle, and foot. It was then that his wife, Heidi, and his father, Russ, convinced him to switch from bikes to cars. It proved to be a good decision. Pursley, who's been racing a few years now, has made a name for himself on the Featherlite Southwest Series Tour. He hopes to continue improving his standing and will have a great opportunity to do that this weekend at the Ford L.A. Street Race. ``(The accident) kind of woke me up a little,'' Pursley said. ``Pretty much my dad and my wife wouldn't let me anymore. They told me I would have a better chance in a car. Racing is in my blood. I love to do it and I've been fortunate enough to do it full-time.'' Pursley, who ranks sixth in the Featherlite Southwest Series standings with 1,151 points, won the pole position pole position Noun 1. (in motor racing) the starting position on the inside of the front row, generally considered the best one 2. an advantageous starting position Noun 1. at the L.A. Street Race in 1998 and 1999 with Crown Motor Sports. He participated in a few Featherlite Southwest Series races only last year but was very successful winning the FSWS-NT at Irwindale Speedway Irwindale Speedway is a motorsports facility located in Irwindale, California. It features banked, paved 1/2 and 1/3 mile oval tracks. It is mainly used for USAC sprint car and regional NASCAR races. . Pursley also won nine races at Irwindale in the super late model division. However, Pursley separated from Crown Motor Sports this past month and was without a team for one race, losing championship points in the process. He said that they had different agendas. Pursley wanted to compete in more championship races and Crown Motor Sports wanted to promote its company. ``That probably was a turning point (the crash) and changing teams, but change is something that happens all the time,'' Pursley said. ``It got to the point where it had to happen. I needed to go to a place where I could win championships. ``We still talk to each other and everything. I learned a lot from those guys, and I have no hard feelings towards them.'' Crown Motor Sports was unavailable for comment as it was preparing its vehicles for the L.A. Street Race. Ironically i·ron·ic also i·ron·i·cal adj. 1. Characterized by or constituting irony. 2. Given to the use of irony. See Synonyms at sarcastic. 3. , Pursley joined Star Nursery, a Las Vegas-based team, that came in second at the L.A. Street Race two years in a row behind Crown Motor Sports. Pursley knows that racing is unpredictable with drivers and teams changing goals and expectations. But what started as a short-term Short-term Any investments with a maturity of one year or less. short-term 1. Of or relating to a gain or loss on the value of an asset that has been held less than a specified period of time. deal at Star Nursery ended up as a full-time job. ``Actually it was kind of a coincidence Coincidence is the noteworthy alignment of two or more events or circumstances without obvious causal connection. The word is derived from the Latin co- ("in", "with", "together") and incidere ("to fall on"). . He was out of a ride and we were looking,'' said crew chief Bobby Meyn. ``It's kind of convenient. Our expectations are pretty high. He had pole two years in a row at the L.A. Street Race and we're always looking to win a race. ``He gets along with everybody and everybody respects him for his abilities and knowledge. Actually I'm learning quite a bit from him.'' In the short time that Pursley has been with Star Nursery, he's already driven in a couple of races and finished second at Sears Point Sears Point is a prominent landform jutting into the historic reaches of San Pablo Bay in Sonoma County, California, USA. This hill is the southernmost peak of the Sonoma Mountains and forms the southwestern ridge above Tolay Lake. Raceway. After the L.A. Street Race, he's scheduled to race at Irwindale, Albuquerque and Denver. The switch to Star Nursery proved beneficial for Pursley and looks promising. His goals are being met and expectations are being fulfilled ful·fill also ful·fil tr.v. ful·filled, ful·fill·ing, ful·fills also ful·fils 1. To bring into actuality; effect: fulfilled their promises. 2. . More races, more championships and more money. |
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