News | Article from The Press Enterprise

Racing becomes family affair

by Matt Calkins

Fontana (June 20, 2007) - No matter how many times one of the two cars he owns takes the checkered flag, Jimmy Rouse Sr. just can't seem to win. Driving one of his Stock Car USA rides at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino is his son, Jimmy Rouse Jr. Driving the other is his wife, Michele Rouse, who is Jimmy Jr.'s stepmother.

If Michele happens to beat Jimmy Jr. in a Stock Car USA race, Jimmy wonders why his father hasn't worked enough on his car. If Michele happens to get passed by her 14-year-old stepson, like she did last month when she placed second behind Jimmy Jr., she asks her husband why her ride is being neglected.

In other words... "It's brutal," Jimmy Sr. said. Though the San Bernardino County family sure is producing results. Through five races at Orange Show, Jimmy Jr. is second in the Stock Car USA standings while Michele is third.

Jimmy Sr. is actually 14th, but considering he won a title at Irwindale Speedway three years ago, he figures he's proven himself and now spends most of his time helping his family members. He actually helped Michele crack into the sport when they met six years ago, and she later became the first woman to win a main event at Irwindale.

But he was also quick to point out that Jimmy Jr. is fifth in the Late Model standings as well, has the track record at Orange Show for his class and thinks he'll turn some heads in two years, when he's old enough to race at Irwindale. For now, though, Jimmy Sr. is trying to help his family surge past Bloomington's Mark Whitson, who leads the Stock Car division and has won all but one race. As far as settling the debate on who's more talented between Michele and Jimmy Jr.? Well, he'll leave that up to them.

"If he (Jimmy Jr.) beats me, I think it's because he has a faster car that day," said Michele, who joked that if Jimmy Sr. went a month without working on her car, it would be grounds for divorce. "The guys out there say I'm the one to beat."

Jimmy Jr. has a different take.

"If I beat her, I think it's because I outdrove her," said Jimmy, who aspires to race on NASCAR's Nextel Cup Series one day. "She has the better car."

It's all love, though. After each race, the family hangs out at Denny's to talk about the night, not holding back emotions. And both Jimmy Jr. and Michele agree they'd rather see the other win the race over another competitor. Though according to Jimmy Jr., that other competitor won't likely be his father anytime soon.

"Michele's my main competition in the family," he said. "Because she's, you know, good."

Brutal.

Playground Gets Race Theme

Fontana-area children, with assistance from KaBOOM! and volunteers from The Home Depot, will create drawings of their dream playground today at 1 p.m. at North Tamarind Elementary School.

Their ideas will be the basis of a new racing-themed playground to be built in coordination with the Inland Empire United Way at North Tamarind Park on Aug. 30, with members of the Joe Gibbs Racing team as well.

The playground build is part of The Home Depot's Racing to Play program (which is partnered with Joe Gibbs Racing and KaBOOM!) aimed at making a positive impression on children living in NASCAR race communities.

Races Salute Formula Fords

More than 30 vintage and current Formula Fords will race in two events at California Speedway on Saturday and Sunday, each race saluting the "Birth of Formula Ford 40 Years Ago."

Drivers from as far away as Virginia, Idaho and Colorado will compete. Racing begins at 8:30 a.m. each day and the infield will be open. Two-day admission is $25.

Reach Matt Calkins at 951-368-9649 or mcalkins@PE.com

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