Allen Fifth in Cruiser Standings
by Joe Naiman

Ramona High School graduate Dennis Allen finished fifth in the standings in his initial auto-racing season.

Allen, who now lives in Fallbrook, teamed with Jim Ramsey in the Perris Auto Speedway’s Cruiser class, in which one driver controls the steering wheel and brake pedal and the other driver controls the gas pedal.

"This was great," Allen said of the season. "It certainly surpassed my expectations."

The top-five finish came despite missing two of the season’s nine races.

"I’m very happy with that," Allen said of finishing fifth. "I think the consistency all year was what was the thing. That’s what got us there."

Allen, Ramsey and crew chief Mike Lackey began turning the 1977 Thunderbird into a racecar in late January. They opted to ensure that the car would perform well rather than try to have the car ready for the season’s first race in February, and Ramsey and Allen first raced May 31.

Ramsey handled the steering wheel while Allen controlled the throttle.

They finished fifth in their initial race May 31 and fourth in their next race June 14. They were among the top five finishers in five of the seven races in which they competed, including a third-place finish Aug. 30.

"It was a good experience, fun experience," Allen said. "I’m happy with the season."