Document text
77 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, September 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 20, 2004 Winningham emerges as ‘sprint’ force By DON HUNT Mail Tribune T.J. Winningham has yet to post a victory since resuming his stock car racing career last season, but the Gold Hill resident is quietly enjoying a stellar summer in the sprint car division. Winningham, 46, leads the points race at the Southern Oregon Speedway and — more impressively — he stands seventh in points in the highly competitive Northern Sprint Tour. "It took me all of last year and part of this year to get comfortable in the seat," Winningham says. Winningham raced 410 sprint cars while living in the Bay Area during the 1980s and ‘90s, but went into retirement after moving to the Rogue Valley in 1991. He began helping out Bill Nutter the following summer, joined the pit crew of Ron Smith — his son-in-law — a couple years ago and got the itch to race so badly that he finally bought his own car last summer. "The itch never left," Winningham says. Advertisement Winningham did nothing of note last season, but this year he’s notched a pair of seconds at the Southern Oregon Speedway and fared well in several NST events. His best finish there was a third at Lebanon on July 14. That same night, he won the dash for cash and took second in his heat. "I started on the pole that night and had the lead for the first two laps, but I bobbled on the third lap and Brent Kaeding passed me," says Winningham, who finished fourth in another NST feature race in Lebanon. "The NST is very competitive, but I can hang with those guys." Winningham drives a 2001 Maxim chassis with an under powered 650 horse motor. He’s looking forward to 2005, when the NST will require drivers to operate ACSC engines, which will feature modified cylinder heads that will prohibit drivers from enlarging exhaust ports. "Right now I’m under powered," Winningham says, "but that’s going to change next year when the new head rule comes in. Next year, I think we can win the NST championship. That’s going to be our goal." Winningham credits crew chief Stevie Jones with much of his success this summer. Jones, whose brother, Mike, stands third in the pro stock points race, is a meticulous mechanic who recognizes the smallest of flaws in the car, Winningham says. "He found a small leak in the power steering the last time we raced in Medford," Winningham says. "If that goes unchecked, we probably break. Stevie is one of the reasons we’re doing so much better this season. He knows set-ups and he knows engines, and he’s just a very observant person." The normally mild-mannered Dustin Jenks deliberately slammed into the back of Lenny Toolenan at the Siskiyou Motor Speedway last Saturday following a modified feature race in Yreka. The incident occurred after Toolenan had banged into Jenks during the main event. Toolenan went on to finish third, behind winner Dennis Silva and runner-up Scott Lenz, while Jenks, who was second at the time of the collision, wound up 13th. "Lenz bumped into me first, but I hardly felt him," Jenks said. "Then I look over my right shoulder and here comes (Toolenan) driving through me. It was so blatant. "The guy drove over his head all night long." Yreka race officials didn’t penalize Toolenan for rough driving. Lenz narrowly missed his 11th modified feature victory Saturday but added to his commanding lead in the California UMP standings. The Shady Cove chiropractor, who has 10 wins, two seconds and a third in 18 starts this summer, ranks 30th nationally in UMP points. Lenz has slid down the national ladder in recent weeks, primarily due to a lack of races. Both the Yreka and White City tracks were closed for one week because of county fairs. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities