11/8 As Jonnie rolled out onto the track this past Saturday night at Orlando Speedworld the announcer was happy to welcome him to the track and to point out to the crowd that this was Jonnie's very first Bandolero race! The newly numbered #2 went to the back of the pack as any first race "rookie" driver must do and waited for the Orlando Dodge pace truck to exit the track. The race started and Jonnie did his best to stay with the pack and at least finish the race without an incident. The track announcer praised young Jonnie for a good race and the crowd gave him an applause. I sat next to the car while Jonnie was waiting for the start of the main race. I told him to have fun and maybe even try to pass a car or two and we could call the night a success. This was actually the last points night for the Bandoleros and these drivers had raced all year to get to this point. Some of the drivers were not there only because they could not change their positions with a good or bad finish. But the drivers that were there were eager to get a chance to win now that the two time champion Critter Saile was gone. Jonnie again had to start at the rear but this time seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere. As the #2 moved into fourth place the announcer was excited to see this kid Jonnie Varga doing a decent job on his first night out. Soon the #2 car made a pass into the 3rd position and again the announcer announced his name and seemed very surprised. A few more laps went by and it was obvious it had become the Jonnie Varga show at Orlando Speedworld. Jonnie was now challenging for second place. Jonnie ran a perfect line around the track and simply waited for the veteran driver ahead of him to slip up. It didn't take long for his competitor to go just a little high out of turn four and Jonnie slipped underneath to make the pass. The crowd cheered for the new driver and the announcer carried on about this new kid. The #2 was now in second and was gaining on the leader but there would not be enough laps remaining to catch him. Jonnie was more than happy to take home a second place finish in his very first Bandolero race! The other drivers didn't seemed so thrilled to see this new driver anymore. I will never forget this night at the track. On Sunday Jonnie raced his quarter midget in Tampa and placed third in the A Main.


11/1 Jonnie will take over the #12 Ellis Mechanical Bandolero (pictured above) for the remaining two races of the season at Orlando Speedworld! Critter Saile is moving up to Legends and will let Jonnie finish up the season in his two time championship car. For more information about Bandolero racing go to www.600racing.com . Jonnie's Light 160 quarter midget is a 6hp open wheel style of racing. Bandoleros are a 30hp version of a stock car and they race at the local big tracks! See www.orlandospeedworld.org for information about the track. Jon Beau Motorsports is currently in negotiations with Tara Varga on the purchasing of this car.

10/26 We completed the last night race of the season at Tampa last night. With just two more day races left at Tampa Jonnie is still second in the points standings. Last night Jonnie made a good pass which put him in first with about seven laps remaining. Unfortunately that gave two other cars just enough time to catch him and put him back to third. Jonnie was a little loose in the A Main due to the near frigid temperature of 66 degrees at 9pm! Out of the eleven cars we were able to take home a fourth place finish.

10/19 USAC has announced a new quarter midget program for 2009. Until now QMA has been the only quarter midget program in the country. See www.usacracing.com for details. USAC has what it takes to better promote quarter midget racing and it's drivers.

10/18 Last weekend Jonnie finished 6th in the Light 160 division in Tampa. It is not what we were hoping for but we gained a couple points on some competitors. If you have some time see this website for some pictures of the new Valvoline GT car! www.racepix.exposuremanager.com

2008 Light GX 160 Season                        Final Points Standings

Tampa Bay - 3 - 1 - 4 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 7 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 4 - 3 -

2007 Junior Honda Season                         

Mid Florida - 2 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 2                                            3rd
New Smyrna - 1 - 4  - 4 - 4 - 6 - 10                                                          4th               
Florida Cup Series - 4 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 2 - 4 - 10 - 3                                                 4th

2006 Junior Honda Season

Mid Florida finishes - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2                        1st
Tampa Bay finishes - 2- 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1                        1st
Florida Cup finishes - 1 - 1 - 4 - 5 - 4 - 2 - 3                                                            1st