1986 Suncrest Motorhomes 100
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| 1986 Suncrest Motorhomes 100 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||
| Willow Springs | ||||||||
| September 28, 1986 | ||||||||
| Fin | Driver | |||||||
| 1 | Ron Esau (RES) | |||||||
| 13 | George Esau (RES) | |||||||
| 15 | Scott Lee (RES) | |||||||
The 1986 Suncrest Motorhomes 100 was a Southwest Tour event held at Willow Springs Raceway on September 28, 1986. Eventual season champ Ron Esau won his fourth and final race of the year to clinch the championship. His father, George Esau finished 13th in his final career start.
[edit] Race Review
Ron Esau thinks he may have found his long-sought opening to NASCAR's Winston Cup stock-car tour.
The 32-year-old Lakeside driver last week clinched NASCAR's first Southwest Tour Grand American championship.
"I've won a lot of races and some series in the past," said the 1978 Cajon Speedway champion and 25-time winner at the local track, "but this is the first time I've won a nationally recognized series. "Sure, it's got to help. How much is something we'll have to wait and see."
Esau has been waiting for his chance for nearly a decade.
"The Southern boys like to say you have to pay your dues," said Esau. "I think I've paid my share."
Esau wants to go to the South and race against the best, but he thinks his first opening could come at Riverside International Raceway Nov. 15-16. Not only will he complete the Southwest Tour that weekend, he'll drive James Hylton's car in the Winston Cup event. Esau, who barely failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 last year, has started four previous Winston Cup events.
"NASCAR needs a driver from the West Coast," said Esau, a former Winston West Rookie of the Year.
Esau has won four of the 12 Southwest Tour races. He has finished in the top five nine times and out of the top 10 only once. In the last four races, he has three wins and a third. Last week he won the Suncrest Motorhomes 100 at Willow Springs (near Rosemead) after running as far back as 23rd because of an extra pit stop to change a flat tire.