WELCOME TO RAPID ROY RACING
You can send Roy a text message at (323) 719-5423
WELCOME TO RAPID ROY RACING
You can send Roy a text message at (323) 719-5423
About Rapid Roy Racing
QUICK FACTS
THE LATEST NEWS
THE LATEST NEWS
- First Year in Stock Car Auto Racing - 1985
- Hometown - Lewiston, ID
- Sunnyvale & Santa Clara, CA
- Adopted Hometown - Redding, CA (since 1983)
- Family - Leanne (Wife), Laura, Jennifer, Ashley (Children)
- Grandchildren - Reyna, Stella, Nicolai, Sofia, Dominic
- Home Track - Shasta Speedway
- 2022 Shasta Speedway Late Model Rookie of the Year
THE LATEST NEWS
THE LATEST NEWS
THE LATEST NEWS
And yes friends, the results for 2024 as posted above are now official!
Congratulations to the 2024 Shasta Speedway Champion, Ian Elliott!
Championship Race Weekend Update:
October 12, 2024
Hello friends,
They say all good things must come to an end and with that said, our 2024 racing season has ended with the running of the Shasta 125 Cham
And yes friends, the results for 2024 as posted above are now official!
Congratulations to the 2024 Shasta Speedway Champion, Ian Elliott!
Championship Race Weekend Update:
October 12, 2024
Hello friends,
They say all good things must come to an end and with that said, our 2024 racing season has ended with the running of the Shasta 125 Championship Race on Saturday.
Our team did a fine job of car prep and we hit the track with good speed during our practice sessions.
The weekend took some turns as the track promoters changed the qualifying formats for all divisions, and ours was no exception. Our Super Late Models participated in a “knock out” elimination qualifying program. We qualified 13th fastest, with cars posting amazing speeds this weekend.
As is typical with the Shasta 125, we race against top competitors from across California and several neighboring states. Some of these teams are high-powered, million dollar teams with phenomenal race cars. We all knew we had our work cut out for us.
When the green flag waved for the start we began making our way through traffic. Unfortunately the first several laps were filled with crashes and off-track excursions. I was able to avoid the spinning cars involved and stayed clear of the danger, moving forward several positions.
The competition was intense and tight. Making our way through traffic another competitor hit the rear of our car causing us to spin into the infield where another car trying to avoid the chaos struck the back of the car, tearing away the rear fuel cell cover panel, right rear fender and spoiler. Somewhere in the melee the left front bumper and fender were also hit. Yes, the car was hurt, but so were several others.
I was able to get underway again but soon found out the car wasn’t going to be able to maintain the previous speeds. That said, this was a championship race and if I could continue until the end, there was still a chance to advance in points. Continuing on, with one break at the 3/4 mark we pressed on and made it to the checkered flag at lap 125 with a 7th place finish.
______________________
September 9, 2024 Update
We‘be learned that the race scheduled for this Saturday night (Sept. 14) has been cancelled and is being rescheduled for October 12. You may recall this was to be the date of our annual Open Comp race, the Shasta 125.
While no reasons have been cited by the track promoter for this change, a caveat to the announcement was that this race will be “the final points race “ of the 2024 season and full details of that event will be coming soon.
If you still have tickets to attend our races, those tickets will be accepted on October 12 so please mark your calendar and we will look forward to seeing you then.
Please feel free to contact me by phone, text, or email should you need follow up. I will update things for you as that information becomes available.
Thanks again for all your support, and remember, your team is available for any marketing or special events you may have upcoming, or plan to schedule.
All my best,
Roy
(323)719-5423 (voice or text)
_______________
Race Weekend Update:
August10, 2024
Hello friends,
As I like to do in keeping everyone informed, to follow is our race update for the past Saturday (08/10/2024) events at Shasta Speedway.
A month removed from our last race on July 3rd (Anderson Explodes), our team was excited for this event. We again dealt with fairly high temperatures, right at 100° as we hit the track.
Our race results from July 3rd were disappointing due to having a crash with another driver. Yes, people can turn left into you on the track just like on the street. Rebuilding some front end parts and pieces left us feeling confident this weekend.
Adding to that, we now have some support from Amazing Detail, a mobile auto detailing company operated by Chris Foshee. Please remember Chris for all your detailing needs. He had the 02 looking, well, amazing.
Our qualifying efforts left us wanting, as what felt like a fast lap was lost when the car became very loose and driving through Turns 3 and 4 had us sideways. Trying to recover that lap cost some time since going sideways = lost time on an asphalt track.
A little added stress was around 4:30 my wife had to evacuate our house and property due to a fire that had broken out nearby (#LowerFire). The roads were closed around our neighborhood and there was no way I could have made it to the house in time before the CHP and Sheriffs Department had everything closed down. Leanne and I would stay in close communication throughout the evening.
Starting the Main Event in 7th we had some work in store, and with the likes of Dane Nissen, Ian Elliott, Scott Baker Craig Baker, and 2022 Track Champion Richard Knight in the first three rows, some very fast competitors would be setting the pace.
Unlike the July 3rd race, we had some very clean racing and damage was kept to a minimum. Heat and attrition though, would take its toll. We worked our way up to 4th place with about 20 laps remaining of this 60 lapper. We were able to maintain some pretty consistent lap times and finished on the lead lap in 4th.
Our team was proud of the work we’d accomplished and we’re energized for the final points race of the 2024 season which will be run on September 14th.
We hope to see you there!
Our home was untouched by the fire and the fire response teams kept it at bay, about a 1/2 mile away. Whew, dodged a bullet there; if you’re not aware, we lost our home of 25 years in 2018 to the #CarrFire, so we’re a little sketchy anytime a fire comes close.
Thanks to all our sponsors who help us make it to each race. Please be sure to support them:
O2 Employment Services
Advanced Auto Wholesale in Redding, Anderson and Red Bluff
Finish Line Collision and Customs
Northstate Tire and Wheel
Tom Loos Photography
Knights Paint Redding
Deja Vu Restaurant
Karline’s Restaurant & Bar
Amazing Detail (Mobile Detailing Service)
Bolduc Performance
Race Update - July 3, 2024
Hello friends,
Hoping everyone had a nice Independence Day holiday. My, it’s sure been hot so I’m secretly envious of any of you who were able to go boating on the lake or spend some time in the mountains (or honestly, anyplace cooler than here).
We hit the track on Wednesday, July 3rd. Upon entering the gates the outside temperature was 111° with the Olinda fire burning 5 miles north of the track adding a lot of smoke to the area. Heat inside the car was tremendous (nope, no A/C in the race car)...
Our team had spent a lot of time with car-prep in anticipation of this event and when we hit the track that preparation showed.
Taking the green flag, three cars ahead of us were involved in a crash as we exited Turn-3 and entered Turn-4. I was able to avoid contact with any of those cars although everything involving the spinning, crashing cars, the flying dirt as they spun off the track into the grass & dirt, and then back onto the track seemed to conspire against it, we survived several near misses as all three came across and directly into my racing line. We were happy to avoid the spinning mess and make our way past and back to the Start/Finish line.
Once the debris from the crash was cleaned up we were back to green. It seemed that some of the competitors were driving like it was the last lap even though we still had 90% of the race remaining.
We were making good lap times and after having passed another race car, I was focused on the next pass, which came as we entered Turn-1 (the east end of the track).
Said car (#10) pushed up toward the wall between Turns 1 & 2 and I made the move to pass underneath, having a clear path forward. Suddenly that #10 made a hard left, turning directly across the front of our car hitting the right front corner hard and continuing to spin across our front end. I pushed through the carnage determined to continue although I could feel some damage had occurred in the right front suspension and I could hear metal clattering under the hood.
Watching my gauges, I continued on, although my water temperature was by now increasing. I’d keep an eye on that and hope when the green flag waved again we’d be able to survive.
After a few yellow flag laps to clean the track and realign the field of cars, we were again under the green flag. Unfortunately by now my engine’s water temperature had increased to 235° and climbing. Within another lap the decision was made to come in due to that temperature increasing to 250°. Another couple of laps and we’d be begging for engine failure, which would be disastrous.
Once in the pits and able to have a look at the damage, the decision to pull off was confirmed to be the best decision we could have made. The entire fan shroud was torn away from the radiator making it impossible for air to be drawn through. The right front wheel was bent terribly, so much that team members expressed surprise that it still held air. Finally, it appears we had bent components on the right front suspension.
So in the end it was an inauspicious conclusion to what we’d hoped would be a great night for us, but we will be back.
Our next race is scheduled for August 10th; perhaps the weather gods will smile on us and bring some cooler temperatures. That combined with some better luck gives us hope for a strong finish! So for now, we’re back to work getting this hot-rod back into “raceable” condition…
That’s a wrap from the Anderson Explodes, Shasta 100 Late Model race! We truly thank you for all your support!
RACE UPDATE - June 1, 2024
Wiith great anticipation and excitement we approached the first race of the 2024 season at Shasta Speedway. This year we are endeavoring to assist John Henke, a fellow racer from Amherst Junction, Wisconsin who faced near fatal injuries in a snowmobile race crash last December. Part of our racing program will include fundraising to assist John and his family with the enormous medical and rehab expenses incurred as a result of his crash. Under the banner #HenkeStrong we are “Racing With John” this season.
We hit the track for practice and very quickly found that an electrical problem was causing the car to run poorly. Unsure of the culprit, we dove into the engine compartment to see what could be found. After replacing several components and trying to narrow down the culprit, we hit the track for qualifying. Our frustrations returned as none of the adjustments or replaced parts had cured our problem. Between qualifying and the Main Event, we tried still to determine what was wrong.
This brings us to the Meet & Greet held by the speedway before the Main Events roll off. I had requested an interview to address the audience and introduce our #HenkeStrong “Racing With John” campaign. The track announcer Scott Murphy allowed me to speak and as a result we began to immediately start receiving donations for John. I was also able to sign many, many autographs while handing out our sponsor & hero cards and the Meet & Greet was a great success.
Back to pit area soon after, the team made more attempts to eliminate the electric gremlin that was causing us problems and with the cars heading out onto the track, we decided to take the green flag to start the race. If the problem persisted we would come back in and call it a night since we didn’t want to hurt the engine, which would ruin our entire season.
As we approached the green flag, the car was running terribly and so we made the lap under green and our night had to be cut short. As a result, we were credited with a 6th place finish, as other cars too had issues and failed in the race.
Not the start of the season we had hoped for but we will correct course and move forward. Our next race is on July 3rd, when Anderson Explodes during the annual race and fireworks show!
Hope to see you there!
Roy and the O2 race team
___________________________
- 5/30/2024 Déjà Vu Restaurant and KARLINE’S Restaurant and Bar commit to partner with our team for the 2024 season at Shasta Speedway
- 01/11/2024 ADVANCED AUTO WHOLESALE commits to return for 2024 race season
- 01/10/2024 O2 Employment Services commits to return for 2024 race season
__________
On Saturday, April 6th we’ll be joining our sponsor ADVANCED AUTO WHOLESALE for the Grand Opening of their new store at 1155 Market St. in downtown Redding. Come down and find the CAR, SUV or TRUCK that you need.
Don’t forget to bring the kids and meet members of our team. We’ll be signing autograph cards and will have a grand prize drawing that we know you’ll like!
We arrive at 10:00 AM and Q-97 FM radio will be there from 2:00 - 5:00 PM.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
SHASTA SPEEDWAY
THE LATEST NEWS
SHASTA SPEEDWAY
Shasta Speedway is located in Anderson, California on the grounds of the Shasta District Fair and Event Center. It was built in the 1940's and opened in 1947. Local historians tell us that it began life as a dirt horse racing track and was 3/8-mile in length. The track held it's first full season of auto racing in 1951. In the early
Shasta Speedway is located in Anderson, California on the grounds of the Shasta District Fair and Event Center. It was built in the 1940's and opened in 1947. Local historians tell us that it began life as a dirt horse racing track and was 3/8-mile in length. The track held it's first full season of auto racing in 1951. In the early 1970's the track was run as a 1/4 mile dirt track but in 1972 the track configuration changed to a paved 1/3 mile oval. Local businessmen Gary Cressy and Bill Schmitt began co-promoting the track and races.
In 2004 the track was reconfigured to its current 3/8 mile paved oval, promoted by George Wade. The pits were also leveled and an amazing amount of concrete poured to create a new pit area; no more grass, dust and mud!
Several track managers and promoters have brought their experiences to Shasta with varying degrees of success . In 2016, local businessman Dave Twyman took the reigns. With diligence and perseverance, in 2024 Twyman continues to improve the quality of the show with each season. In 2023 Twyman secured a date with the ARCA Menards Series - West (formerly known as Winston West, and K&N West series); the race was very competitive, with a full field of cars and packed grandstands. Twyman expects the ARCA Menards Series - West to return in 2024 and subsequent years.
Over the years many famous racers have crossed the Start/Finish line at Shasta. These include Jim Robinson,Jim Walker, Bill Sedgwick, Rick Carelli, Jimmy Insolo, Hershel McGriff, Bobby and Donnie Allison, Mark Martin, Mike Chase, Mike Skinner, Ron Hornaday Jr., Derrick Cope, and Bill Schmitt, among others.
Local driver, Roger Gannon is the all-time victor at Shasta. Roger won at least 230 main events in a variety of Late Model and Sportsman cars and secured a total of 14 track championships. One of the smoothest drivers to ever grace the track, Roger was a force to be reckoned with wherever he raced, and was nearly unbeatable at Shasta.
The track can hold up to 3,000 race fans in its covered grandstands.
Our Team
Rapid Roy’s Race Car
SHASTA SPEEDWAY
Rapid Roy counts on his team to help prepare the race car and make it to the track in race-ready condition.
For the past two seasons the team has included:
CREW CHIEF: Brian Haynes
CAR CHIEF: Brady Barlow
CREW MEMBER: Brian Barlow
CREW MEMBER: Jody Wohlford
CREW MEMBER: Gage Briggs
SPOTTER: Tim Doyle
Rapid Roy’s Race Car
Rapid Roy’s Race Car
Rapid Roy’s Race Car
Race Car Info
The car began life in January, 1999 and was built by Craig Raudman’s Victory Circle Race Cars in Bakersfield, CA.
Originally built as a Super Late Model for Mesa Marin Speedway, it was converted to a NASCAR Southwest Tour car in September, 1999. First built for driver Charles Utz, it carried the number 66.
The Victory Circl
Race Car Info
The car began life in January, 1999 and was built by Craig Raudman’s Victory Circle Race Cars in Bakersfield, CA.
Originally built as a Super Late Model for Mesa Marin Speedway, it was converted to a NASCAR Southwest Tour car in September, 1999. First built for driver Charles Utz, it carried the number 66.
The Victory Circle chassis number is VC0136
CM
and is a Perimeter chassis (as opposed to a Straight Rail Chassis).*
.
We run a Chevy small block built by Panella Engines. It is mated to a Rankin 4-Speed and 9” Ford Full Floater differential through a Quartermaster mfg. multi-disk clutch.
The body is made up of both fiberglass and plastic panel components manufactured by Five-Star Race Car Bodies out of Concord, NC.
Other components include:
Richardson Full Containment Seat
AUTO METER 10,000 RPM Tach
MSD Ignition System
All Star Racing and QuickCar Gauges & Switches
RACEQUIP Window Safety Net & 5-Point Safety Belt System
Bolduc Performance prepared Holley Carburetor
Schoenfeld 180° Headers & Exhaust
Before coming into our shop and being prepared for competition at Shasta Speedway our race car spent several years of inactivity stored in the desert heat of Southern California.
It was ultimately used as a movie prop in one of the FAST AND FURIOUS franchise movies where Hollywood AI technology moves the car and ultimately blows it up during one of their many crash sequences. The car was red, carried the number 4 with checkered flag graphics that followed the numbers. It was driven by fictional driver “JAY-R.”
*Perimeter vs Straight Rail Chassis:
If you run a line down the middle of a car, the perimeter rail Late Model Stock will have the same distance from the center line to the outside of the frame rails on both sides of the car.
In a straight rail Super Late Model, the right side frame rail runs in a straight line, from front to back. Meanwhile, the driver compartment rail sticks out from the center line where the driver is sitting. The right side rail runs perfectly straight from the nose to the tail, thus straight rail.
-Source Shorttrackscene.com
Rapid Roy races in the Super Late Model Division
Official 2024 Race Schedule
Rapid Roy is scheduled to race all of the remaining race dates:
August 10, 2024
September 14, 2024 event has been canceled
October 12, 2024 - Championship Night (Shasta 125 Open Show, final race and final points race for 2024)
Marketing Partners/ Sponsors
Our Partners
KIDS LOVE RACE CARS
JOHN HENKE FUNDRAISING
Help Raise Funds For John’s Medical Care and Physical Therapy
At Rapid Roy Racing, we are passionate about Motorsports. Whether you are a professional driver, a weekend racer, or just a fan, we all look out for our fellow racers.
Our friend John Henke is a professional snowmobile racer from Amherst Junction, Wisconsin; he recently turned 32. A Pro Champ Ice Oval racer and John’s used to letting it all hang out on the Pro Snowmobile circuit. As fellow racers and race fans, we all like to keep up with what other racers are doing in their respective sports, which, as Paul Harvey used to say, brings me to “The Rest Of The Story.”
John Henke was involved in a horrific snowmobile racing crash in early December in Beausejour Manitoba Canada.
After leaving his home in Amherst Junction, John traveled up to Beausejour for a big racing event. It was during one of the heat races that John was involved in a high speed crash. Critically injured Emergency Medical Services quickly began to render aid. At the hospital he was given a less than zero chance of making it though that first night but by the grace of God he made it.
John endured what is known as an internal decapitation, where the skull separated from his spinal column, obviously a very traumatic and tragic injury.
After massive surgeries and extraordinary life saving events in both Canada and the US, John was ultimately moved into the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago, a hospital specializing in rehabilitation services for spinal cord injuries. John has shown tremendous improvement and progress at Shirley Ryan over the past 5 months. On May 25, 2024 John returned home to Amherst, where his therapy will be ongoing.
John hasn’t eaten since before the crash due to the slow healing of the cranial nerves which severely affects his ability to speak and swallow. The therapists are working with John and optimism is very high that he’ll regain his abilities to speak, chew and swallow food but for now all of his nourishment comes via feeding tubes. Like me, John is a huge fan of pizza and he longs for the day when he can enjoy his first slice.
We will be honoring John throughout our 2024 season at Shasta Speedway. We plan to assist John and his parents by helping to raise funds for the incredibly expensive surgeries, physical therapy treatments and rehabilitation, along the myriad of other expenses that will continue to accrue during his recovery period.
I am including a link to John’s Go Fund Me page below if you’d like to assist using that program. We will also be accepting donations at the track that we will forward to John and his family. Remember, every little bit helps.
Look for the 02 Super Late Model at Shasta Speedway and we hope you’ll drop by and help.
Thank you for your support.
Rapid Roy Race Team
Go Fund Me
https://www.wsaw.com/2024/01/09/amherst-man-long-road-recovery-after-near-deadly-snowmobile-crash/
