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All
Press Releases by Cindy Spies
October 17, 2004
Spies
Makes History
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It might
be the longest white flag lap in racing history. After nearly
three weeks, it's official: Cindy Spies is the Pro Stock Division
champion at the Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino.
Spies, the 45-year old mother of two from Palmdale, has been
declared the champion after Orange Show officials decided
Wednesday to cancel the final scheduled Pro Stock event on
Oct. 30.
With several 100-lap events at tracks around the region, OSS
officials feared they wouldn't get a sufficient car count
to race.
"The season is over, so we won the Pro Stock Division
at OSS!" exclaimed Spies. "I'm the first woman ever
to win the championship in Pro Stocks at Orange Show Speedway."
"My crew chief (Art Bojorquez) thinks I'm the first woman
ever to win a championship at an ASA track." The American
Speed Association (ASA), which sanctions Orange Show Speedway,
has not denied Bojorquez's claim.
Spies still has soreness from the cracked rib, sprained rib
cage and a contusion on her left hip left from when she was
taken-out in the Sept. 11 race by a driver who admitted that
he had done it on purpose. The wreck completely destroyed
her car.
Spies courageously drove a rented race car in the Oct. 1 race.
Despite a broken tie rod and cracked brake rotor that only
aggravated her injuries, she finished that event 10 points
ahead of her closest competitor.
Now, Spies discloses, she raced only after talking her husband,
Gordon, out of an initial decision to give up her quest.
Spies feared his wife would be a target.
Now, she is -- for praise. Plus, it's another historical milestone
for women in racing.
"I couldn't come that close to my goal, just to quit,"
Spies said. "Even if I didn't win the championship, it
was important to go back and show those guys that you can't
just hit a girl, wreck her car and expect her to walk away
from the sport. She can't.
"Yes! We did it! I want to thank everyone for their love
and support. This one's for all of you."
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