Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Henderson’s Flores driven to win at Lake Havasu

Friday, Oct. 16, 1998 | 11:15 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand's motor sports notebook appears Friday. His golf notebook appears Tuesday. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

As if a disappointing season with a new team wasn't enough motivation for Rob Flores to do well in this weekend's International Jet Sports Boating Association World Finals at Lake Havasu, the Henderson resident will be fueled by a little extra incentive.

"A lot of people have already counted me out just from (my sixth-place finish in) the nationals," the 29-year-old Flores said. "The word is going around that I'm washed up and I can't win.

"It's the usual sports stuff: When you're on top, you're the greatest and when you're not winning, you're washed up. So it's really driving me to go out and win, just to prove to everybody that I can."

Flores, a Western High graduate, heads into the Pro Ski event with some added confidence, as well. After switching from Kawasaki to Yamaha jet skis this season, Flores struggled with his new team, Mission Yamaha, until recently.

"Like anything else, it takes time (to make the adjustment) and we didn't get the boats until the week of the first national race, so it wasn't like I had any time to get the feel of the boats, either," Flores said.

"We were basically playing catch-up right from the get-go. It's pretty frustrating winning half the events last year and barely losing the championship, to struggling to break in a new team and boat this year."

After winning five IJSBA National Tour races in 1997 and finishing second in national championship points, Flores knew something was wrong. But Flores, who also was set back by an early season bout with chicken pox, never could put his finger on his problem -- until he climbed aboard a competitor's Yamaha midway through the season.

"It was pretty hard on me mentally and there were times I sort of doubted myself," he said. "Then, about halfway through the tour, I rode somebody's else's ski and it was quite a bit faster. So I knew then I was off the pace."

Flores headed back to Henderson at the end of the national tour in an attempt to regain his competitive edge.

"I came back here, got a new mechanic and we rebuilt the skis and changed some stuff. We went to Havasu to test and I was running away from all the top guys," Flores said. "I've sort of surprised some people already so I'm really looking forward to this race.

"I want to win this thing and prove some people wrong."

NASCAR

Boyd Gaming group and Sam's Town Hotel/Casino have announced that they are extending their motor sports sponsorship to include the NASCAR Winston West, Southwest Series and Craftsman Truck Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next month. Sam's Town ventured into the motor sports arena earlier this year, sponsoring the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race at LVMS. ...

Speaking of trucks, defending series champion Jack Sprague holds an 18-point lead over Ron Hornaday for the championship with three races remaining. The trucks are at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif., this weekend, go to Phoenix International Raceway Oct. 24 and end the season Nov. 8 at LVMS.

CART

Las Vegas resident Paul Tracy confirmed this week that he is remaining with Team Kool Green after signing a new three-year contract with team owner Barry Green, with whom he exchanged heated words at the Texaco Grand Prix of Houston.

The altercation developed after Tracy crashed while trying to overtake teammate and eventual race winner Dario Franchitti.

"My original deal was for this year and next," Tracy said. "Halfway through the season, Barry approached me and wanted to sweeten the deal. I think he knows his long-term future is with me, and I know my long-term future is with him."

Tracy said that despite what has amounted to a difficult season this year, he is convinced he can win with Team Kool Green.

"We have had a lot of bad luck," he said.

"I have made some mistakes and the team has made some mistakes. But we've learned a lot, and I think we're in position to do what (Chip) Ganassi has done the last three years."

Target/Chip Ganassi Racing has won the past three PPG Cup titles after struggling for several years.

"I have had a frustrating year, but I think we have been competitive and that everything is starting to jell," Tracy said.

IRL

Team Menard owner John Menard told the Indianapolis Star/News this week that he would remain in the IRL in 1999 and is looking at competing in CART, as well.

Menard has been rumored to be interested in starting a CART team, bringing in Robby Gordon as a driver with Toyota power. Menard also has fired crew chief Larry Curry and replaced him with Thomas Knapp, who worked with driver Greg Ray in 1997.

Ray is believed to be the front-runner to replace Tony Stewart, who is leaving Team Menard for a full-time ride in NASCAR's Winston Cup Series.

Backmarkers

Las Vegas competitors Tim Arden and Jay Matthews won their classes in the National Hot Rod Association Division 7 ET Finals last weekend at Los Angeles County Raceway. Arden took the Pro Division with a time of 12.50 seconds at 127 mph while Matthews won the Motorcycle Division with a time of 8.32 seconds at 165 mph. Matthews also won the motorcycle category of the Gamblers Bracket event on two successive nights.

Las Vegas was the only team to have winners in two categories. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway team, which consisted of 40 drivers, also finished in the top five of the 15 teams. ...

A non-points drag race for five categories will be presented Saturday night at LVMS. Gates will open at 4 p.m., with eliminations set for 8 p.m. ...

Today's drawing for starting positions in the legendary SCORE Baja 1000 desert race will be held live via the internet with special "Meet the Racers" appearances at 14 different sites in four states and Mexico. The actual live drawing for starting positions in each of the 23 classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in Newport Beach, Calif.

In Las Vegas, the SCORE "Meet the Racers" appearance and the live drawing link will be held at Chuy's Restaurant, 4660 S. Durango Road. There will be race vehicles on display along with a driver autograph session featuring local drivers, along with SCORE prize giveaways for the public. The live drawing also will be posted on the Internet at www.score international.com.

The 31st Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, the final race of the 1998 Laughlin SCORE Desert Series, will be held Nov. 10-15 in Baja California.