Oxley, Schwartz Not Ready to Ride Into the Sunset

One has to wonder how long it will be before two of speedway’s most popular riders, San Juan Capistrano’s Brad Oxley and Costa Mesa’s Bobby Schwartz, are racing in “Legends of Speedway” exhibitions instead of the scratch and handicap races.

Oxley, 38, and Schwartz, 41, who celebrated his 25th season in racing this year, finished first and third in the season standings. In second place was another popular veteran, Brea’s Shawn McConnell, 39.

Schwartz said this year that retiring from racing has crossed his mind, but in the next sentence balked because he’s still winning.

“I don’t think Bobby wants to quit until I do, and I’m going to outlast him,” Oxley said. “I hate to say this, but I think it will come down to an injury before we’re done. It will be a forced retirement. We’re both die-hards.”

Dozens still crowd around Schwartz and Oxley after the races for autographs, but Oxley doesn’t worry about the future.

“I would like to believe as soon as we’re gone, other people will step up,” Oxley said.

“We’ve been here so long I think it has become a little bit predictable and somewhat discouraging for guys who have raced us 150 times and been beaten 149. In that respect, I think as soon as we’re out of [racing], other guys will step forward.

“Both of us [including Schwartz] were 1978 longhairs, wild and inconsistent and struggling against the established guys, and as the mantle passed, we stepped up and did what we had to do to be ‘the man.’ In any sport, you take away the top five guys, there will be others who will rise.”

But the qualities that make Oxley and Schwartz so popular--their consistency, showmanship and appreciation for the younger fans who look up to them--”a lot of those qualities never surface until later in a guy’s career,” Oxley said.

“You earn it more than just have it.”

So who will take over when today’s older--and most successful--riders finally move on?

“It’s hard to say,” Schwartz said. “If Billy Hamill [of Monrovia] and Greg Hancock [of Costa Mesa] ever come home from racing in Europe, it would be great. They could set the standard and raise the competition level of the racing.”

Schwartz also mentioned Cypress’ Sam Ermolenko and Ronnie Correy as possible successors to the throne when they return from European careers, where there is more money to be made.

Among local riders who competed in last week’s U.S. National Speedway Championship, Schwartz says Vallejo’s Charlie Venegas leads a group that includes Mammoth Lakes’ Chris Manchester, Ojai’s Eddie Castro, Riverside’s Gary Hicks Jr., and Newport Beach’s Josh Larsen.

“Venegas has the personality to promote himself and the sport correctly,” Schwartz said.

“He’s really maturing into a great rider for this country and could become a great ambassador for the sport. He has all the ingredients that make a well-dedicated and successful speedway rider.”

Venegas is 31, Castro 39, Manchester 25, Larsen 26 and Hicks 29.

Larsen finished fifth at the nationals.

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Indy Racing League series champion Kenny Brack will be at the Speedway International Racing Bistro and Bar from 6-8 tonight, signing autographs. Brack clinched the championship Sunday at the Las Vegas 500.

The Speedway Bistro, in Newport Beach, is on Pacific Coast Highway.

Jeff Ward was 21st Sunday to finish sixth in the series. Roberto Guerrero was 20th, to finish 26th on the season. Both are from San Juan Capistrano.

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Max Papis’ fifth-place finish at the first Grand Prix of Houston was the highest finish for a Toyota-powered champ car in its three-year development program.

A Toyota from Arciero-Wells Racing in Santa Margarita or All American Racers in Santa Ana has finished in the points in the last eight road course events. Sunday’s race, at Surfer’s Paradise, Australia, is a temporary road circuit. The season ends Nov. 1 at California Speedway oval in Fontana.

Papis, of Newport Beach, has scored points [finishing 12th or better] in seven of the last nine events.

He will be Bobby Rahal’s replacement next season.

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Alex Barron, driving one of Dan Gurney’s new Eagle chassis for All American Racers, was one of four drivers fined $2,500 for driving through the pits and continuing on the track during a red-flag period in Houston. Barron finished 12th.

Barron, a rookie driver, recorded the fastest lap time on Goodyear tires during the rain-shortened event.

“Our season has been fraught with frustration, but among all those, we can see we have an excellent car coming along and we’re proud of that,” Gurney said. “The Toyota engine is starting to look more and more competitive, definitely.”

Gurney announced last week that Barron will return to the team next year as the program’s sole entry unless another sponsor steps forward.

“At this point, it’s a funding issue,” Gurney said. “If you’re going to have two cars, it’s going to cost you approximately an additional $7 million or so.”

The team fielded two cars this season, the other being driven by P.J. Jones, who is leaving for Patrick Racing, and has been replaced by Vincenzo Sospiri.