Cactus Classic: The Southwest Event Kicks Off with Practice

The long week at the Cactus Classic held at SRS Raceway in Arizona is under way. It’s only practice, but already the fast guys are making their mark. The first thing drivers are confronted with is the track. The surface is very unusual and the best way to describe the clay is like the stuff that gets thrown on a pottery wheel. It’s wet, sticks to everything and grabs your car in every direction. The best thing that works for the muck is slick tires, firm inserts and no sauce (sauce is illegal anyways).

The layout has all of the classic features, but the center 5-pack section that really tests the stock drivers.

Out on the track, the features are fairly typical, but the center rhythm section includes a double that goes right in to a triple. The mod guys have no problem negotiating it it, but the stock guys are cringing. Apart from a few of the fast stock guys (I can count them on one hand), making the triple is all about timing, suspension, power, and even some good ‘ol fashioned luck. It is, and probably will be a crucial section for the race and will be a huge factor in the final outcome. It forces those who are apprehensive, to go for it in order to fend off a pass and hold their position- make it and you gain about .3 sec per lap. Huge.

The clay surface is sticky and sticks to everything- think wet pottery clay.