Barona Speedway Gears Up for Season Opener

By Johnny McDonald

One thing you can say about Todd Salazar, he hasn't quit his day job.

Yet, the 35-year old Ramona equipment operator turned race promoter will open his fifth season April 15 at Barona Speedway, San Diego's last auto racing outpost. Fortunately, this has become a family promotion with a heap of help from some close confidants.

The season opener will include street, pony and factory stocks (from Cajon Speedway), Dwarf 600s and kids' mini-dwarfs. Because the entry list has exceeded 100, racing starts at 6 p.m. and can go as late as midnight.

"We race every other week, alternating with the drag strip," Salazar said.

Under a different management, a junior drag racing roundup is scheduled there on April 8 and 9. San Diego Antique Drags' spring nationals are scheduled, too, on the second day.

"You could have pretty much run what you brung last year but we have adopted new rules for the stock cars and have consolidated the factory and bomber classes," Salazar said. "These and the Pony's are the only ones from Cajon that are adaptable to our dirt (quarter-mile) track."

Cajon Speedway was a paved three-eighths oval track.

He said the factory division has grown from 10 to maybe 26, streets between 13 and 15 and Ponies up to 15.

Salazar intends to boost his advertising campaign, even using some television in hopes of filling his 3,000 seats.

He credits longtime friends Paul Dyke and Greg Domain for their valued assistance in putting on these shows.

"I spend Wednesday through Sunday on the promotion, sometimes getting home from work, showering and eating dinner then going to the track until midnight," Salazar said.

Obviously, you have to love the sport to keep those hours.

Salazar said he was hooked at the age of 5 when he was taken to Cajon Speedway.

"I spent a lot of time there and became acquainted with Kevin Brucker, whose family operated that track," he said.