I had to do an article this week! Saturday night at Wayne County Speedway put on the most fabulous kids night I have ever seen in all my years of racing. When we walked through the gate the kids were given tickets for free ice cream, pop corn, and hot dog. Then the were given 5 free tickets to play carnival games at 6:30p. As we walked further in we were stopped and each child given a huge bag full of, pencils, pens, balloon, all kinds of little toys ect. The place was just buzzing with excitement, as each child could hardly contain themselves. One race team set up a table and was doing free face painting. The kids were lined up all night long getting their favorite drivers number painted on their little cheeks. Another late model team had a coloring contest going on that passed some more fun time. As soon as the opening ceremonies were over the kids took off to play their games. There were carnival games lined along the back of the grandstands, and areas around the food court. I was so busy chasing kids and games I almost missed my husband winning his heat race. For every game the children won they were given a ticket and then traded their tickets in for prizes after they were over. They barely got the kids settled from the games and the heats were over and they brought all the drivers on the front straight away and turned the kids loose to go see their favorite driver. All the drivers were giving pictures and Frisbees, candy, all kinds of fun things. My father-in-law was busy putting little wide-eyed kids in and out of our race car all night, as were some of the other drivers. After the track cleared from autographs they proceeded to call ticket numbers for free bike giveaways. They gave out 10 bikes, 10 CDplayers, and a bunch of other toys donated by sponsors and drivers. I never seen such a bunch of happy and excited children. It was a class act evening, and I have to say hats off and thanks to Ernie and his crew at WCS. As for the racing that evening it was really good also. Jay Howes computer business took care of the transponder fees for the modifieds that needed them. Well, it brought the cars in because 26 cars showed up and they had to run a consi since they only start 20 cars.
Fast Qualifier-Danny Dean
Heat 1 - Larry Kugel, Danny Dean, Randy Gray, Jeremy Scott, David Liles
Heat 2 - Matt Shroyer, Jay Howe, Kyle Brown, Andy Parsons, Gary Hubbard
Heat 3 - Scott Stiffler, Bryan Casey, Ed Robinette, Rick Wolford, Ron Miller
B Main - John Brokaw, Bob Shellhorn, Gary McGregor, Dave Bodkins, Darrick Hubbard
FEATURE - Dean, Shroyer, Casey, Stiffler, L. Kugel, Brown, Howe, Gray, Parsons, Brokaw, D. Hubbard, Robinette, G. Hubbard, Scott, McGregor, Bodkins, R. Miller, Wolford, Shellhorn, Liles
Check out www.waynecountyspeedway.com for photos news and points. WCS is off for demo derby on the third, and are going to run 360 sprints on July10th, so I will not be back there till the 17th. May head up to Raceway 7 Friday, not sure of next week. Happy 4th to all!!
Its been a few weeks since I've written an article. Figured I better catch up or Deon might fire me. I ended up at Sharon a couple weeks due to a cancellation at WCS and another week-end my husband was out of town working , so, I made the 5 mile trip over again. They are pulling a ton of 'e-mods' as sharon calls them. There were four heats and a consi of 18-20 cars. The facility is beautiful, and has new changes everytime I go there, but as much as I hear the praises of sharon speedway, I hear a lot of drivers and fans alike say how they miss the old, "homey" Sharon track. I think the track pulls in a different crowd now, and a lot of fans and drivers a like have changed. Even some of the personel and officials, have expressed thoughts of by-gone days, and memories that are now just that...memories. I was surprised that with their 60 plus field of stockers, and 40 plus "emods", and full fields of the other classes, with their new 6 lap heat races, and 8 lap consi changes. I suppose their theory behind that is to move the program along, but with that many cars trying to make the show in that little of time, seems to be a recipe for more cautions and disasters. Course I have to comment on their lap and a half they give you to warm up your car. Their hot lap session is not even worth getting there in time to run. The one night I was there the track was beautiful and smooth, the next week it was so rough, if I was a driver I would have loaded and left. I seen car after car rip stuff off and junk equipment on those terrible track conditions. In spite of the pros and cons, to a lot of us it does not matter who owns the track, it is simply 'Sharon Speedway.' It is the track that we grew up at or drove our first race car at, and maybe even won our first race at..the legend of Sharon Speedway will always live on regardless of ownership. I have not been there enough to comment on their drivers, but some of the ones that amazed me the two nights I was there was Rick Robinson in the 34R. Ricks been driving for 2 years full time in the emods and has consistently ran up front all year. Another one is Howard Fraley. I remember back in 95-96 time zone, when you just prayed he was not in your heat race. He was the track squirrel, but he consistently commands attention since he got back into the emods last summer. Jeff Sharp seems to be the man to beat this year from my few nights of observation, but there seems to be plenty of talent through the field.
As for my 2 cents on my home track at WCS, there seems to be much controversy on different issues so far this year. I like the track, and I can only hope things will continue to work themselves out. There have been many articles written and opinions expressed, and I refuse to jump to one side or the other. I believe that there are some problems that need to be addressed, but with changes come the good and the bad, as I mentioned earlier concerning sharon speedway. I have personally not been the object of some of these difficulties, but have friends who have. From my point of view, the person the race track forgets about the most is the person that makes the show go on. It is not the owner, the flagman, the fans, ...it is the DRIVERS! As A drivers wife, I have to take this chance to say, inspite of how anyone else has been treated or not treated, there are very few promoters/owners that treat their drivers like Mr. Coffman does. I am so tired of racing at tracks close to my home, that cannot even cover their drivers pit pass. There are very few racers that truly race for the money, but when you show up at a track to put a show on for their fans, which, mind you, is costing you thousands of dollars,...is it not just curtesy to at least pay the drivers way into to you track so he can run the show for you. It cost $22.00 to get into sharon speedway, and $20.00 for tow fee. Which brings me back to my point about Ernie Coffman, 100.00 to start and 75.00 tow fee (if you do not make the show). Now I hear the remarks about the transponder fee, if you race there. If you own one its good for any track you will ever need to use it again. If not, you can rent it for 25.00. Now lets do the math, $100.00 to start, 25.00-pit pass, 25.00 -transponder fee (unless you own one, your still left with 50.00 to 75.00 [depending on renting or owning transponder) for gas or whatever other expenses you incur.
As a driver, you have to appreciate an owner that appreciates you. Also this last week, when the RWT was in town, Ernie paid the entrance fee for all his hometrack drivers. The extrem late models are coming to town, and since Ernie's drivers do not normally run Goodyear tires, He is buying a set , mounted on wheels for all of his Saturday night late model drivers. Someone said that comes out to 700.00 per driver. If there is a problem, he is always in the pit area and willing to listen and help where his drivers are concerned. I cannot comment first hand on the other issues, but to us drivers so far this year, Ernie has been very kind, and helpful.
Before I close, I will comment briefly that the RWT was in town last Saturday. This is a far tow for some of those southern boys. The Definboughs towed close to six hours, and I believe Dave would have won it but his soft tire gave out too soon. I am afraid the fans were somewhat disappointed in the show. There were not that many quality cars that usually come with the RWT. A few of the guys that got provisionals were credited to 5-7 cautions each. Usually the guys that get the provisionals are past champions or are in the top 5 in points. The guys that got them last week had only been at one race this year. Which brings me to another thought , maybe the high price in fuel is keeping a lot from traveling as much. There were 7 cautions in 6 laps, but once we got to lap 15 or so it was good racing. Larry Kugal and Mark Dickson put on a show coming thorough the field. Larry started 13th and finished 2nd, and Mark 21st and finished 6th. Paul Wilmouth Jr. won in the Hassey Chassis house car.
Thats all till next time......
