Raceway drivers get smoked

There were no fireworks July 3 at the Anderson Fairgrounds, but all was not quiet.

Hundreds of fans cheered as their favorite racecar drivers put the pedal to the medal at the Shasta Raceway.

Late models, Modifieds, Mini-Stocks and Bombers competed in a trophy dash and again for the feature event.

The competition was high as each racer drove onto the track.

Although most drivers said they take part in the sport for fun, competition is a huge motivator.

“When I was in high school I played football, and football players always get their adrenaline going right before the game,” said Bomber driver Chester Brown. “This, to me, is three times as high to me as any football game I’ve played in.”

When Mini-Stock driver Ken Krause was asked what his favorite part about racing was, he simply replied, “winning.”

“We are trying to win the championship,” he said.

Krause drives three hours from Sacramento to compete at Shasta raceway, and said the long drive is well worth it.

“This is a very beautiful track to race on,” he said. “And everybody is kind of like family here. Everybody helps each other out.”

The racers said competing isn’t as easy as driving a car onto the track. It takes a lot of commitment, both financially and through the time and energy put into the cars themselves.

“Racing is only about eight percent of it,” Mini-Stock driver Gary Mangels said. “There’s a lot of work that goes into it.”

Brian King has raced his new Late Model car just four times. “I’ve been building this car since last year,” he said. “It’s doing real good.”

King said working on the cars is almost as much fun as racing them.

“I always liked wrenching on the motors and building,” King said.

Because of the strong commitment it takes to race, many drivers have made their hobby into a family affair.

Paul Sabourin recently passed the car he’s been racing for more than decade down to his stepson, Chris Kuska.

“He’s a good kid,” Sabourin said. “He’s been doing real well, and I just wanted to reward him.”

After about a month and a half of racing, Kuska said he can see himself racing for a longtime into the future.

“I love it. It’s like a different world,” Kuska said. “You just get zoned in and you don’t see anything except for the racecars and the track.”