71-year-old Williams 10th in California series

J.R. Williams finished the 2006 California Pavement Series in 10th place. The 71-year-old Carson City resident, a professional USAC Focus Midget racer, said it was quite a thrill to finish in the top 10.

The series began in March and didn't finish until Thanksgiving with the National pavement race in Irwindale, Calif. "It was a long, hard season," Williams said.

Despite missing one race and crashing in another, Williams also took 12th in the dirt series.

"I missed the top 10 in the dirt series due to a crash at Bakersfield earlier in the year that cost me a lot of points and then I missed the Fourth of July race in Ventura due to my daughter's wedding. Still, what dad what dad wouldn't miss anything in the world for the honor of walking his daughter down the aisle?"

For the second straight year, Williams qualified for the Focus Nationals. In the dirt race at Ventura, Calif., Williams missed the A main by two spots due to engine failure.

He began ninth in the B main and needed to finish sixth to make the transfer. He moved up to seventh with two laps left. Williams thought he had a chance to make the A main, but began spinning due to a rear axle breaking.

"That's racing luck and we'll make it next year," Williams said. "Once again we towed the race car about 30,000 miles during the season.

"I couldn't have done it without the help of my sponsors Carson Dodge/Chrysler and Les Schwab Tires. My 2003 Dodge Ram 3,500 Diesel just turn 120,000 miles and still makes it up and down over the Sierras every weekend towing a 9,500-pound race car trailer. I've never had a better two vehicle and don't see why it won't last me another three or four years."

Williams will be honored at the USAC awards banquet to be held on Friday, Jan. 26 in Monrovia, Calif.

"The youngsters I race against are really tough competition," Williams said. "They have four things going for them: faster reaction times, they're absolutely fearless, their daddys have deep pockets and they have pit crews to help them out.

"I do it all myself - but then if anything goes wrong I don't have anyone to blame but myself."