Two of probably the most significant accomplishments from the 2003 season at Mercer Raceway Park were honored at the banquet on January 17. Lonny Riggs received an Outstanding Achievement Award for becoming just the second driver in the speedway’s history to win in four different classes. Riggs has scored victories in the big-block modifieds, 358 modifieds, sportsman modifieds, and stock cars at the 3/8-mile oval. Last season, Riggs’ two victories came in the two biggest modified races of the season- the $2,000 Bill Emig Memorial for big blocks and the $2,000 Little Guy Nationals for 358s.

Erin Crocker earned “The Legacy” Award, while she was racing Down Under. Crocker broke two track records in ’03. She first set a new 360 sprint standard against URC on July 5 then two and a half months later shattered the 410 mark against the All Stars. The fact that she did it against two of the most recognizable sprint car sanctioning bodies in the country makes the achievement all the more impressive. In relatively a short period of time, Crocker has become the most successful female sprint car racer in the history of the sport.

I urge everyone to read Hewitt’s Law. A very entertaining piece that really shows another side of one’s the toughest and greatest sprint car racers of all time. Hewitt’s always been one of my racing heroes and after reading his work it just reconfirms that notion. It really is a miracle that Jack Hewitt is still with us here. It’s not too hard to see that God wants to use Hewitt in ways Jack could have never dreamed of in his earlier days.

The tragic death of Don Goodson last fall made me think just how much he and J.W. Hunt were alike. The ‘Strawberry Kings’ certainly liked to give their money away at the racetracks. It makes you realize how rare a Don Goodson and J.W. Hunt really are in racing.

J.W. Hunt was certainly a one-of-a-kind. I’ll never forget 1989 at Fremont Speedway. J.W. is down on the track doing his typical WWF/Bob Weikert-style interview to get everyone riled up. This guy beside me in the grandstands is going off on old J.W. The next thing you know, J.W. and a couple of his body guards, as I guess you’d call them, are up the stands right in the face of this race fan. Now Mr. Race Fan is not so mouthy as J.W’s gang roughs the man up and his glasses end up in my 11-year-old lap. I suppose it was just a typical day at the races for Mr. Hunt. Something I’ll never forget- that’s for sure. Heck it’s the type story that should have been in Hewitt’s book.

Boy you have to really feel for Jason Johnson. Johnson was literally on top of the world. The Louisiana native was coming off his career best season in 2003 and had since added three victories in Australia, then the bottom fell out. His 18-year-old sister was tragically killed in an automobile accident, then days later he learned his ride in the states was no more. Long-time Ohio car owner, All Harrison, pulled on the plug on the HTI #22 citing increasing politics in sprint car racing. It sure will seem like strange without the #22, Ray Pullins’ #29, and Denny Ashworth’s #92 on the All Star tour and in the Buckeye State.

It appears that Guy Webb’s All Stars and Florida speedplants East Bay and Volusia have their “differences” squared away and the All Stars will return to the Sunshine State in ’05. It’s kind of a shame it couldn’t have been hashed out back in the fall. Seems weird to be seeing press releases stating the above prior to this year’s non-sanctioned sprint races at both tracks, which we’ve heard and seen little about during the off-season. It’ll be interesting to see how both the fan and spectator turnout is. One thing’s for certain, Danny Lasoski, is the clear cut favorite.

Lasoski’s quotes from the Chili Bowl on the World of Outlaws in Australia were interesting. “Not a chance,” Danny said when asked if he’d be docked points. “I told Ted (Johnson), ‘Go without me.’ I made my plans to come here. I knew for a fact that it was gonna be a special event. And I wasn’t gonna jeopardize the rest of my year just to go to Australia. I’ve been there five years. And I enjoy going, but I didn’t wanna have a race car and two motors tied up from November to February.” (From Kevin Eckert)

The United Racing Club (URC) has always impressed me. Their professionalism speaks volumes. From their staff, to their card-carrying members, to their sponsors right down to their yearbook, everything is first class. When they roll into a track, it’s the World of Outlaws of 360 racing. One tidbit that speaks for itself is that 7 of the top 11 in points actually drive for a car owner, and I’m not talking about a family member. It’s not a surprise that the nation’s oldest sprint car sanctioning body just keeps on ticking. This is one club that has its act together and keeps the ship pointed in the right direction.

The “Dirty Dozen” who have bolted for Boundless’ World of Outlaws Late Models brings back thoughts of those who left DIRT for the short-lived USNA of the modified sect. For awhile it seemed like the world was good for Doug Bland’s Xtreme Series. Boundless could have bought Xtreme and really made headlines, but then again they’ve been trying to do that with the WoO & DIRT. Guess they figured this time it was easier to start their own than to acquire. Time will tell how everything will shake out.

Like it or not, crate engine racing is slowing seeping into all facets of racing. A few years, this little talked about subject is now starring in the faces of promoters and racers across the country. Thunder Road’s (VT) Tom Curley has preached about the success of his program for years at the Promoter’s Workshops. Crate engine divisions are not for everyone, but the implementation in the right situation can save many types of classes and keep drivers in racing for the long run.

We must realize local racing is not touring body racing. Too many times we’re more worried about those around us than what’s actually the best for ourselves. There are very few, and I mean very few, Williams Groves of the world that can put their local racers head-to-head with the best the World of Outlaws have to offer. The same goes for all divisions across the board at locals tracks near you. How many local drivers today go on the road and compete? In fact, most racers stick to their home track and maybe one other night. There are very few three-night-a-week racers anywhere in any division. We all know change is hard, and I’ll be first to fight change, but sometimes in the long run change is good.

While speaking of change, does NASCAR really need to change its Cup point system? Would they have changed the system had Matt Kenseth won eight races? I don’t think so. Kenseth will be forever known as the champion who caused the change. All those years NASCAR’s brass always told us they were happy with the system. While I know change is inevitable, I think in certain situations consistency and tradition speaks for itself. One thing is certain, you won’t be able to compare Winston Cup Champions with Nextel Cup Champions.

Joe Gibbs has been so successful in everything he puts his efforts to. I’m real curious to see if he can get the Daniel Snyder’s Washington Redskins back on track. The ‘Skins haven’t been the same since his departure.

Last time I mentioned that the internet has given anyone that wants to a chance to speak their mind. When you come to think of it, there are a lot of columnists in print that leave little to be desired and it amazes me that they are where they are.

Whatever happened to Racing Champion’s die-cast sprint cars?

I still find myself laughing as hard at “Seinfeld” repeats as I did when they initialed aired.

Okay I’m starting to get off track; time to put this one to rest…In 1940, American teachers listed the worst problems as talking out of turn, chewing gum, cutting in line, and running in the hall. In contrast, teachers in 1990 said the top problems were drug use, alcohol abuse, pregnancy, suicide, rape, robbery, and assault! And that was 1990! You think about and until then I’ll be filtering spam at mleone@infonline.net.

- posted by Deon @ 8:03 AM

 
Behind the Checkered Curtain

January 8, 2004

By Mike Leone



Welcome to 2004! What better way to ring in the new year than to see live racing. Traditionally New Years Day features racing at tracks across America. Past experience for me includes the famous Hangover event at Sandusky (OH) and the day following at Mansfield (OH).



With fair and relatively mild weather forecasted, I made the trek to Anderson (IN) Speedway, which is located 45 miles northeast from downtown Indianapolis on Pendleton Avenue in the city of Anderson.. Since 1949, Anderson has been home of the “Little 500” for sprint cars- 500 laps around what Anderson calls “The World’s Fastest High-Banked Quarter-Mile Oval” two days before the running of the Indianapolis 500.



Anderson is one of those tracks you can feel the history and nostalgia even with temps in the mid-40s and support-division, amateur-type racing. A good crowd and approximately 100 cars turned out for action in the stock cars, strictly stocks oval and figure eight, FWD mini stocks, and mini cups.



The figure eight racing was wild, stock cars were turning 12-second laps, there were some hellish crashes, and the mini stocks saw last lap contact between first and second place, which resulted in the apparent winner being Dqed by “race control,” as they called it, in a wild victory lane ceremony. What a way to start 2004! Anderson’s oval and figure eight accounted for my 70th and 71st racetracks.



I don’t know if it’s the time of the year and/or the types of divisions competing, but these winter events sure bring a different breed of people out of the woodwork. You sure do see some sights, but nothing will ever beat Sandusky’s Helmet Lady or the guy that played with the turbo heaters. Oh it takes all types in this world.



Onward and upward to better things and hey, live racing is better than BCS ‘bs’ any day. Can we please create ‘any’ kind of College Football playoff system and eliminate the stupid co-national champions? I digress.



The Chili Bowl has to be considered one of the biggest short-track races of the year. Not because of the payoff, but what other event can bring together 218 cars from a wide diverse and cross of racing? NASCAR’s Tony Stewart, Kenny Schrader, Jason Leffler, & Kasey Kahne, NHRA’s Ron Capps, World of Outlaw’s Danny Lasoski & Randy Hannagan, late model’s Rick Eckert & Bart Hartman, stars J.J. Yeley, Jimmy Sills, Dave Darland, Tracy Hines, Jay Drake, Wally Pankratz, Corey Kruseman, Bud Kaeding, Gary Wright, Robbie Flock, Johnny Heydenreich, Boston Reid, Rickie Gaunt, & Aaron Berryhill, and throw in the nation’s top midget racers and you have quite the assemblage of short-track racers.



While the Chili Bowl will be going on in American soil, Down Under at Parramatta City Raceway in Australia, the World of Outlaws will be competing in their first ever overseas event. A lot of eyes will be closely watching how this event goes down. While the event has been promoted all along as a WoO event, the big question is, will points be awarded? With Danny Lasoski in Tulsa and other so-called WoO point chasers not competing, the prospects of awarding points seems highly-doubtful. Even Erin Crocker, who is supposed to run the full WoO sked for Mike Woodring, will skip the WoO event for alternative Aussie sprint racing. Since I was a little kid, I have always wanted to go to Australia to see sprint cars and God-willing I will make it one day.



Chris Matthews will celebrate his first ever track championship January 17 at Mercer Raceway Park’s banquet. The former go-kart and 305 sprint car standout will then head to Florida for 360 competition at East Bay. Matthews capped off the season with a career best third against the 410s on August 23 then finished runner-up to Scott Bonnell in the 360 finale on September 28.



Speaking of Bonnell, the 2004 season will not get started as soon as planned. A snowmobile accident last month may keep the Fairview, Pa. racer sidelined until April missing Florida Speedweeks and early central Pa. competition. Definitely a disappointment for Bonnell, who couldn’t have ended 2003 any better. A $4,000 Bully Hill 360 Fall Nationals crown at Black Rock, a charge from 24th to 5th against the All Stars at Mercer, and a his second straight win in the 360 finale at Mercer capped off an unbelievable three-week stretch in September.



Will any All Stars break ranks and compete in the non-All Star events in Florida? Most have said no and so far according to the East Bay entry list it appears the answer will be no. The closest All Star member that could be called a semi-regular that has entered thus far is Danny Smith.



University of Northwestern Ohio (UNO) President, Jeff Jarvis, owns and operates Limaland (OH) Speedway and is part owner of the NRA 360 Sprint Invaders. The western Ohio series will make three appearances in 2004 at Mercer Raceway Park. UNO student, Andy Paden, had a breakout season in 2003 with four victories in the sportsman modifieds including his first career win on Flag Day- June 14 (my birthday). The Greenville, Pa. racer’s three other wins all came on the final lap and ended the season with seven straight top two finishes.



The PA 305 Sprint Series do a great job promoting themselves. An affordable spec engine and a reasonable, fair purse for all concerned has helped this series grow with baby steps each year. This year appears to be their best yet with visits to some high-profile tracks and what should be record car counts as 40 teams are already active. The series says, “A competent race car can be on the track for less than $10,000, utilizing a one-year-old rolling chassis and a new spec 305 engine.” Rod Ort does a nice job with their website at www.pa305sprints.com.



Michigan’s Chad Blonde is a true outlaw sprint car racer. Ohio’s Jason Dolick can really wheel a sprint car. He was a winner in micro sprints and was fast last year in Pete Grove’s 360. What ever happened to former WoO racer, Lance Blevins?



The third edition of the History of America’s Speedways Past and Present is now available. Allan Brown’s third edition. Brown’s latest work boasts more than 850 pages some 300 more than 1994’s second edition. You can add this book to your racing library by sending $35 by check or money order to P.O Box 448, Comstock Park, MI, 49321-0448. Brown also publishes the National Speedway Directory and the National Sprint Car Annual.



Condolences go to the families of former racers Steve Ungar and Jim Brauer, who both passed away over the Christmas holiday.



The internet has allowed anyone that wishes to express their opinion publicly through websites, columns, and message boards, and it definitely doesn’t discriminate on proficiency, written talent, intelligence, or the like. Good or bad, it’s here to stay. You think about that and thanks for reading. Still waiting for Boundless to take over the WoO at mleone@infonline.net.
- posted by Deon @ 11:28 PM