RACE THAT WASN'T WON'T BE AGAIN.Byline: TIM TIM Timothy TIM Technical Interchange Meeting TIM Transient Intermodulation Distortion TIM Time Is Money TIM The Invisible Man (movie) TIM Telecom Italia Mobile (Italian cellular provider) HADDOCK MOTOR SPORTS John Watkinson's latest track championship will look impressive on a resume. He had an undefeated season, set qualifying records and was untouchable untouchable Former classification of various low-status persons and those outside the Hindu caste system in Indian society. The term Dalit is now used for such people (in preference to Mohandas K. and without equal in the NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Grand American For sports car racing association formed in 1999, see . Grand American was a NASCAR sanctioned series of pony car stock cars. The series ran from 1968 until 1971. The series was sometimes called the Baby Grand series. Modified class 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. . Closer inspection will reveal the season only had three races and Watkinson was unceremoniously crowned champion when he went to the track's Web site and saw a red check mark next to his name. No victory laps, no post-race celebrations, no opportunity to thank his fans and crew for helping him through the season. ``It was so disheartening dis·heart·en tr.v. dis·heart·ened, dis·heart·en·ing, dis·heart·ens To shake or destroy the courage or resolution of; dispirit. See Synonyms at discourage. , just the way it ended,'' said Watkinson, a driver from Canyon Country. The last race of the Grand Am season was Sept. 9. Only four cars showed up to qualify. One car wrecked in practice. A second car ran out of gas during the pace laps for the race. Only two cars started the race. It ended after four laps with Watkinson taking the checkered check·ered adj. 1. Divided into squares. 2. Marked by light and dark patches; diversified in color. 3. Marked by great changes or shifts in fortune: a checkered career. flag. He said he was embarrassed to win a race like that, but it wasn't a complete loss. Watkinson gave his trophy to his cousin's son, 11-year-old Dalton Ross, who has cerebral palsy cerebral palsy (sərē`brəl pôl`zē), disability caused by brain damage before or during birth or in the first years, resulting in a loss of voluntary muscular control and coordination. . ``It didn't mean anything to me, and I thought it would make his night,'' Watkinson said. ``It put a smile on his face.'' At least something good came out of a night when the Grand Am class at Irwindale Speedway most likely had its last race. Watkinson said he has been told by a track official that the Grand Am class is going to be replaced by another series next year. One official said the track is interested in bringing back the Grand Am cars next year and increasing the number of drivers to race. One thing is for certain: If there is a Grand Am season at Irwindale Speedway next year, Watkinson won't be back to defend his championship. He sold his car to a driver who races at Altamont Motorsports Park Altamont Motorsports Park is a motorsports race track located in Alameda County in Northern California between the towns of Tracy and Livermore. It first opened on July 22, 1966, and has variously operated under the names Altamont Speedway, Altamont Raceway, in Tracy. Watkinson said he is considering entering the NASCAR Super Trucks division at Irwindale Speedway next year. Presently he is undecided. There were nine races scheduled to start the Grand Am season. Some were rained out at in the spring. No make-up dates were announced. Six races were canceled over the summer. Track officials said low car counts prompted some of the cancellations. Watkinson said moving the Grand Am cars from the half-mile track to the third-mile infield led to some drivers boycotting the races. At one point, Watkinson said he was pleading with other drivers to get them to show up for races. He and others offered drivers tires to entice them to race. Nothing worked and the car counts diminished until only four cars showed up for the Sept. 9 race. It turned out to be the last race of the year for the Grand Am drivers. Even though Watkinson didn't have the opportunity to celebrate his championship at the track, he is expected to be included in the banquet to honor the year's track champions. Perhaps then he can enjoy a proper celebration. The NASCAR Super Late Models, Super Trucks, Legend Cars, Banoleros and a demolition derby demolition derby n. A contest in which drivers crash old cars into each other until only one is left running. are scheduled to race at Irwindale Speedway tonight. Gates open at 4 p.m. Races start at 7. timothy.haddock(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3715 |
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