Tommy Dunkel and Brody Lore will make their first combined team appearances on Friday and Saturday, March 10th.th and 11th, Southern California Open Class Non-Wing Sprint Car at Imperial Valley Raceway. The race will be his second event for each driver in 2022. Dunkel had previously competed in the Chile Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma in January, and Lore won both his USAC/CRA main his events at Cocopa Speedway that weekend. Month.
The Inland Rigging car is ready for imperial action. photos of the rod.
Neither team driver has experience on the Imperial Track, which is less than 30 minutes north of the US-Mexico border. Dunkel there he made one appearance and last October he finished 7th. USAC/CRA Sprint his car his series current points It will be his first race at the racing facility in many years for his leader Roa. Although it will be his first outing on the track, the Garden Grove, California-based driver will enter the event as one of the pre-race favorites.
In his second appearance on the Imperial, Dunkel recognizes the value of Lore and his longtime crew being part of the Inland Rigging Team.
“It was pretty racy,” said Dunkel of the track at the Imperial Valley Fairgrounds. “There were some dark spots and no walls. So it’s one of those horrible tracks, but you’ll be back for more. , it was really fun.Last time we were 3rd and locked ourselves on the dash.It’s going to be really huge in my limited experience.We’re getting by with really nice equipment,but Now I have a lot of experience with the team and I think this is a game changer in my driving and a big help for us.”
“That was actually one of the big deciding factors in teaming up with Brody,” Dunkel continued of the new set-up. “We present what it takes to race financially. Brett (Brody’s father Brett) and Zach (former USAC/CRA Crew Chief of the Year) (Zach Bozanich), and Brody’s experience as a driver as well.”
This week’s event follows two consecutive cancellations for the Inland Rigging team. Two weeks ago, both drivers were scheduled to take part in his USAC/CRA West Coast Series event at his track in the dirt at Kern County Raceway. But Mother Nature had another idea and the event was called off by rain. Last weekend, Lore was scheduled to attend his USAC/CRA program for two nights at Central Arizona Raceway. Mother Nature has remained stubborn again, letting the event rain as well.
It’s kind of an unknown for Lore because he’s never raced at Imperial this weekend and really doesn’t think it’s going to compare to the tracks he’s been to before.
“You see, I was talking to Justin Grau and he came up with the same thing,” Lore said in a phone call on Thursday. It might be a Ventura because it’s small. I don’t know.”
When asked how he would set up the car in such a situation, Roa laughed and continued. “The car is ready. Saturday we went out to Tom and Christy’s (Tom Dunkel and his wife, Christy). Got the girls to play some and worked on the car. Basically other than set up and gear I’m ready for the so when I get there I have to put it in gear and block it I can set it up when I see the track I can do it now but I might change my mind when I see it so Shall we?”
Dunkel will be driving one of the team’s new DRCs, while Lore will be riding Maxim. Roa isn’t too worried about running a small engine.
“Looking at the entry list, I was really surprised and excited that they[the promoters]got a good car,” Lore said. “Maybe I’m not very[excited]about the 360 right now, but I don’t know. I think the 360 can do it. It’s a little bit of a small track, and if I slide off, I’m not worried about the 360 vs 410.”
Roa, Dunkel and the other Open comp sprint car drivers on hand will practice and run the 25 lap main event on Friday night. On Saturday, they will compete for $5,000.00 to win a heat race, a B main if desired, and a 30-lap main event.
Taking place in conjunction with the California Mid-Winter Fair, this weekend’s race starts at 6pm each night. Fairgate opens at 5pm on Fridays and noon on Saturdays. Children 18 and under can race for free with a fair ticket. An additional ticket is required for admission for those 19 and older. The fairgrounds are located at 200 East 2.nd A street in Imperial, California.
Roa will be busy with USAC/CRA racing after the Imperial Show this weekend. Saturday, March 18thth, he is at Perris Auto Speedway for the Socorra Shootout.He heads to Central California for a race at Peter Murphy’s King’s Speedway in Hanford on the 24th.th and the famous Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulea on the 25ththThe 2019 USAC/Southwest Champion will take on “Arizona’s Worst Bullring” at Mojave Valley Raceway on April 1st.stDue to the heavy workload, Dunkel is unsure of the exact date of his next race after this weekend.
As usual, Roa is happy to get away from the #17R and jump into the race car this weekend. His full schedule is printed below.If you would like to contact him for open dates, please call 714-932-7994 or This email address is being protected from spambots. JavaScript must be enabled to view.
The team would like to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, “Biker” Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin filters, NGK spark plugs.
BRP PR
