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CLEAR Temp: 70 °F Wind: SSW at 3 mph Saturday, August 30, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 25, 2003 In The Pits Win-starved Estremado on comeback trail By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Four years ago, Dan Estremado dominated the modified division at the Southern Oregon Speedway. That was the year promoter John Skinner told the modified drivers to put wings on their cars, a controversial move that most drivers despised. But not Estremado, who won 14 of the 21 main events in 1999. Advertisement Estremado’s crew chief at the time — Bert Beck — had been around winged race cars in the past and had an uncanny knack for setting up Estremado’s car to hug the one-third mile track. "And for whatever reason, that winged car seemed to fit my driving style," Estremado says. "The wing kept the car more stable, and Bert always had the car set up right. "It was just one of those years when we could do nothing wrong." But so many drivers complained about the wings that they went away the following season. And so did Estremado’s superior ways. He’s won only a couple of main events since that magical summer and has gone more than two years without a victory. Estremado’s win drought has coincided with the absence of Beck, who left the track in a huff at the start of the 2002 season after his son, Rick, had his winnings taken away by track officials for allegedly causing a wreck in a modified race. "Bert was basically the nuts and bolts of our success," says Estremado, who turned 50 in March. "Losing him was a huge blow." But Estremado has persevered, and despite failing to secure a victory, this season he’s worked his way into second place in the modified point standings, trailing only Jeremy Richey. Estremado looked especially strong in his last outing on July 14 when he finished third in the main event despite getting taken out midway through the race. "If it wasn’t for that accident, we felt like we would have won that night," says Estremado, who is still operating the same car — a 1998 Dirt Works — that he drove to the title four years ago. "That’s the best the car has felt all season." Estremado hasn’t been able to talk Bert Beck into coming back, but Rick Beck has returned and is helping Estremado in the pits. "Now that Rick is back helping us, I think we can win this thing," Estremado says of the points title. "And I think it’s only a matter of time before we return to the winner’s circle." DRIVERS FROM THE Medford area have proved time and again that they’re among the best on the West Coast. Put them on a foreign track, and they always seem to hold their own. Such was the case last weekend when Jon DeBenedetti competed in the Dirt Magazine Modified Challenge, a $10,000-to-win race in Fort Morgan, Colo. Some 125 cars from throughout the country showed up for the three-day show. DeBenedetti initially failed to make the 50-lap main event, but he finished second in a qualifying race that punched his ticket to the feature. Despite starting 22nd in the 25-car field, he wound up 11th. "We had some trouble getting the car set up right the first two days," DeBenedetti said. "The track was dry but also incredibly smooth — and that threw us for a loop. "We put on different shocks, different springs and different wheel offsets that last day, and changed the air pressure. If we would have known Thursday and Friday what we knew Saturday, we would have gotten a better starting position." As it was, DeBenedetti passed about half the field and was in the lead pack of eight cars when the race ended. "We went the first 39 laps without a caution flag," DeBenedetti said. "I’ve never gone that many uninterrupted laps in my life." Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times