‘Candy man’ tradition lives
Keith Danser had an idea 12 years ago to reward children at Las Vegas Motor Speedway by throwing candy into the grandstands.
The kids loved it. And even after Danser quit racing at the Bullring and moved to Hutchinson, Kan., the tradition lived on.
This year’s Keith Danser Kids Candy Toss Night is set for Saturday night at the Bullring. Unfortunately, Danser’s health will keep him from flying in to attend.
“I was so excited about coming back, but I have some health issues that won’t let me travel,” Danser said this week. “But I sure hope to be there next year.”
Danser worked tirelessly to develop Kids Candy Toss Night by getting donations of gifts and, often, by spending his own money to buy prizes. The speedway has picked up the effort, and 10 bicycles and other gifts will be given away Saturday.
Along with regular racing in the NASCAR All-American Series, Ed “The Outlaw” Jones will perform exhibition wheelstands in his Jelly Belly Stagecoach, which is a replica coach with a supercharged Chevrolet engine. …
One young racer who will not compete is Bear Rzesnowiecky, who is in Charlotte, N.C., to attend Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup event and to compete in Late Models races at Hickory Motor Speedway and Tri County Speedway in North Carolina. …
Andrew Phipps of Simi Valley, Calif., won the SuperClean Modified Series 75-lap feature late Saturday at the Bullring.
Christian Copley, 16, of Santa Ynez, Calif., won the 40-lap West Coast Pro Trucks feature.
Other winners were Justin Johnson (Thunder Roadsters), Jeremiah Wagner (Legends Cars), Gary Wyatt (Bombers) and Christian Warren and Amanda Gubler (Bandoleros divisions).
• LVMS DRAGSTRIP — Carl Cannavo defeated Glen Copley to win the Super Pro title Saturday in the Jerry’s Nugget Championship Drag Racing Series at the LVMS dragstrip.
Other winners were John Irving (Pro), John Phlegar Jr. (Sportsman), Rick Newport (Motorcycle) and Jon Irving (High School). Winners in NHRA Jr. Dragsters were Tristan Craig (Lightning) and Cody Parsons (Novice).
• DEATH VALLEY — Pahrump’s Mike Lysinger won for the fifth time in the Mini Stock division Saturday at Death Valley Raceway in Amargosa Valley.
Other winners were Dan Fitzgerald and Donny Berger (IMCA Modifieds), Eddie Sharon (Micro Sprints), Dan Snowden (Super Stocks) and Richard Gast (Modified Minis).
• INDY — Sam Schmidt just missed qualifying a car for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500, but the Henderson resident’s Sam Schmidt Motorsports team qualified four cars for today’s Freedom 100 developmental race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Schmidt driver James Davison of Melbourne, Australia, will start second today. Schmidt drivers have won four of the previous five races.
• DESERT RACING — Rob MacCachren is the points leader in Pro 2 and Pro Buggy divisions of the Championship Off Road Racing series after four rounds, and Menzies Motorsports teammate Bryan Freeman is first in Single Buggy.
Racing from Saturday’s CORR event in Primm will air at 4 p.m. Saturday on Speed (Digital 329). …
Registration and technical inspection for the 40th annual SCORE Baja 500 will begin Thursday in Ensenada, Mexico. The race will start May 31.
